McNally's Business and Innovation Program

In September 2024, McNally School began offering the Division’s new alternative program, Business and Innovation, in Grades 10 to 12.

Business & Innovation 10 exposes students to five different facets of business: Entrepreneurship, Personal Finances, Accounting, Investment Planning, and Marketing. These introductory modules are delivered in partnership with Junior Achievement Canada, and are designed to allow students to learn what pathways within business education they might like to pursue.

Business & Innovation 20 is offered in collaboration with YELL Canada, a Registered Canadian Charity that aims to empower the next generation of leaders by fostering the entrepreneurial mindset. The focus of these courses are on learning all the core concepts of lean entrepreneurship such as: design thinking, resiliency training, marketing, financial projections, and Business Model Canvas. Within the courses a diverse selection of inspiring entrepreneurs and business leaders come in as guest speakers and mentors to share stories and advice. Students in these courses work in groups to create a business venture together, identify and test assumptions, pivot businesses if necessary, and ultimately prove and validate their concept. Students learn to problem solve together and communicate effectively with their mentor who acts as their guide and a liaison between the team and the broader entrepreneurship community. At the end of each course, students participate in the annual Venture Challenge where teams of students from across the province compete in presenting their business venture to a panel of judges made up of community members, entrepreneurs and investors.

Business & Innovation 30 is a dual-credit opportunity between McNally and MacEwan University that allows students to further their studies while earning credits in a university course. Successful completion of this course includes 5 advanced CTS high school credits, as well as 3 university credits from MacEwan's School of Business. As part of this course, students will also gain experience by participating in our new school enterprise: McNally Makes, where we are seeking to bring the amazing skills being learned at McNally into products and services available for the general public. This opportunity gives students a chance to participate in the ongoing operations within a business-oriented environment, gaining experience in planning, marketing, sales, customer relations, and financial analysis.

Here is an overview of our course pathway for the Business & Innovation Program:

Visit the Business and Innovation program page on epsb.ca for more details and to see if it is the right fit for your child.

McNally Makes

McNally Makes is McNally High School’s signature experiential learning initiative; a dynamic hub where creativity, skill-building, and real-world learning come together. Designed to complement academic programming, McNally Makes offers students hands-on opportunities to explore passions, develop practical skills, and connect learning to life beyond the classroom.

At its core, McNally Makes is about doing. Students design and create custom projects that are ordered by members of the school and broader community. These projects may include design work, 3D printing, custom orderes such as posters or T-shirt printing, and other made-to-order products. Students work from an initial request through design, production, and delivery, building both technical and professional skills while responding to authentic client needs.

Students gain hands-on experience working within a business-oriented environment, developing skills in planning, marketing, sales, customer relations, teamwork, and financial analysis. This opportunity allows students to connect classroom learning to real-world application while building confidence, professional skills, and career awareness

Open to All

McNally Makes is open to all McNally students. No matter where students are starting from, there is space to explore, create, and grow. Programs are designed to be welcoming, flexible, and responsive to student voice.

McNally Makes — Learn by doing. Create with purpose. Grow with confidence.

Interested in placing an order with McNally Makes? Click on this link to submit an order!