Lest We Forget: Sprott student consultants working with Juno Beach Centre in France
This year June 6 marks the 78th anniversary of D-Day – the largest combined operation in history and a pivotal event that led to liberation of France in the second World War. Students from Carleton University’s Sprott School of Business are working with the Juno Beach Centre to expand the memorial and cultural centre in Normandy, France – a tribute to the 45,000 Canadians who lost their lives during the War, including 5,500 in the Battle of Normandy and 381 on D-Day.
A team from the Sprott Student Consulting Group (SSCG) is working on a project for the Juno Beach Centre Association – the Canadian non-profit organization that owns and operates the French museum – to find new avenues to engage corporate Canada and partner with new donors for their upcoming expansion campaign.
“We are really excited about this project, and we certainly appreciate the support,” said Alex Fitzgerald-Black, executive director of the Juno Beach Centre Association. “We have worked with the Sprott Student Consulting Group in the past and it’s always been a great experience.”
“The students come with their own experiences which adds a lot of value. Also, our staff primarily has a history background, so collaborating with people with a business background provides a different perspective on how to do things.”
The museum welcomed 100,000 visitors in 2019. Acknowledging the potential for continued growth in the post-pandemic world, the association wants to run a campaign to raise funds and expand the museum’s boutique and cafeteria. The funds raised will also go towards updating and modernizing Faces of Canada Today, an exhibit that showcases Canada and informs visitors about the country and its place in the world.
Jonah Eng – team lead for the project and fourth-year Bachelor of International Business student at Sprott – said that the opportunity to apply lessons he has learned in school has been quite valuable.
This project marks SSCG’s fourth collaboration with the association. In the past, teams of students have worked to expand their digital presence, evaluate their existing partnerships and provide an assessment of existing and planned future programs.
Alex Bouchard (MBA/20), a tourism development advisor for the Government of Yukon, worked with the Juno Beach Centre Association on their digital strategy as a Sprott student consultant while completing her MBA.
“A lot of things I did during the project helped me get my current job; because I got to show the real-life experience I had with social media and marketing.”
For the Juno Beach Centre Association, they appreciate the opportunity to provide students with valuable work experience that will help them in their education and careers.
“I think we’re a fairly unique organization in Canada – a charity that runs a museum in another country – which creates a very interesting case study for the students,” Alex said. “I think it gives students experience that they may not get working with other organizations.”
Get involved with the Sprott Student Consulting Group
The Sprott Student Consulting Group is comprised of undergraduate and MBA students who work in interdisciplinary teams on a wide range for projects for diverse organizations that address business needs and opportunities. Students are also responsible for running the enterprise supporting the group.
Organizations interested in exploring how the Sprott Student Consulting Group can help are encouraged to contact Andrew Webb.
The Sprott Student Consulting Group is currently seeking students for the summer term. Students with third- or fourth-year standing may register for BUSI 3800 or BUSI 4800 and receive course credit. Sprott MBA students can apply for course credit through BUSI 5997 or as their internship – please speak to your advisor. Volunteer positions are also open to any Sprott student. For more information, visit the current student information page.
[Photo Credits: Juno Beach Centre Association]