WATERLOO—Tom Henderson, a fourth-year Laurier business student and owner of ProScape Land Design & Construction, has been named one of two regional champions in the Advancing Canadian Entrepreneurship (ACE) Student Entrepreneur Competition, sponsored by CIBC.

In the first stage of the competition, Henderson was named Ontario champion. In the second phase, he became one of two regional champions who will move on to compete against six finalists at the ACE National Exposition in Toronto May 6. The national champion will receive a $10,000 cash prize and represent Canada at the Global Student Entrepreneur Awards.

“We are overwhelmed by the calibre of entrepreneurial ventures developed by our students at Laurier this year,” said Ginny Dybenko, Laurier’s dean of business and economics. “This is an outstanding achievement and we are very proud of Tom.”

Founded in 2003, Proscape designs and builds outdoor living spaces for private homeowners. Services range from site design and plant installation to retaining walls, woodwork and water features. Henderson plans to expand his company, which currently employs eight people.

“It is a great honour and the award justifies the past five summers of extremely hard work and dedication,” said Henderson. “It is unique programs such as the ACE Student Entrepreneurship Competition that truly develops and inspires young entrepreneurs across Canada.”