Applications open until October 20 at impactxsummit.ca
Building on the success of last year’s inaugural event, St. Francis Xavier University will once again host the Impact X Summit on Entrepreneurship & Social Change. The event takes place November 21–22, 2025.
The two-day summit brings together high school and university students from across Atlantic Canada to share ideas and pitch ventures that drive social impact through entrepreneurship. The event is hosted in partnership with the StFX DiscoverBox, the Gerald Schwartz School of Business, the Coady Institute, the Bachelor of Education program, the StFX Advancement Department, and the StFX Alumni Association. Impact X combines learning, mentorship, and competition to help young innovators turn their ideas into action.
“We are excited to host Impact X again, social innovation is part of who we are,” says Paula Brophy, Program Manager, Local Innovation and Enterprise, Coady Institute. “StFX and the Coady Institute continue the legacy of Father Jimmy Tompkins and Dr. Moses Coady, who believed in the power of people working together to create meaningful change.”
This year, Impact X 2025 introduces an exciting new component — a community impact partner. Drawing on feedback from the inaugural 2024 event, Impact X has been working with the Canadian Association for Community Living (CACL) – Antigonish, who will join the summit to help broaden its social impact while offering additional experiential learning for participants. Through this partnership, attendees will gain insight into CACL’s meaningful work supporting inclusion and community development in Antigonish.
Participants will work alongside CACL – Antigonish during the summit on a real-world community impact challenge, helping develop creative ideas that strengthen inclusion, accessibility, and employment opportunities for people of all abilities. This hands-on collaboration will allow participants to see how social innovation can make a tangible difference in local communities, a cornerstone of the StFX and Coady tradition.
WORKSHOPS, SPEAKERS, PITCH COMPETITIONS
Impact X includes workshops, impact speakers, a founders’ panel, and multiple pitch competitions, where students can win funding to advance their ideas. Last year, participants pitched over 40 ventures ranging from sustainable food solutions to youth mental health initiatives, with students traveling from the Maritimes and Ontario to take part.
For many students, Impact X is their first introduction to social entrepreneurship — an experience that can open unexpected doors. Theodore Gingras, now a first year StFX student, attended as a high school competitor.
“I didn’t know about Impact X until my high school accounting teacher and football coach, who’s a StFX alum, mentioned it,” says Mr. Gingras. “My mom always talked about how food banks are good but inefficient, so I came to Impact X to explore a better solution. What stood out was that anyone with an idea could be part of it, whether you’re refining a business or just starting out.”
He recalls two highlights:
“Listening to Tareq Hadhad, CEO of Peace by Chocolate, was incredibly inspiring,” he says. “And the Pitching for Rookies workshop by Darren MacDonald really helped me prepare for my first-ever pitch.”
Now part of the Impact X team as a marketing strategist with Echo Marketing, Mr. Gingras encourages other young changemakers to apply.
“Although the focus is the pitch competition, there’s so much more to the weekend. Take advantage of every chance to meet people and share your ideas. Some of the people I met last year are now my classmates and friends.”
Impact X is supported by the Nova Scotia Department of Advanced Education, along with StFX’s Gerald Schwartz School of Business, the Coady Institute, and the StFX Alumni Association, among others.
📅 Event Dates: November 21–22, 2025
🕓 Application Deadline: October 20, 2025
🌐 Apply now: impactxsummit.ca
📖 Read more about past events: StFX News – Impact X Summit
