Comeback Catalyst expands free entrepreneurship program for formerly incarcerated Canadians

Comeback Catalyst offers a free six-week entrepreneurship program designed to help formerly incarcerated Canadians overcome employment barriers by launching their own businesses.

Since launching, the national non-profit has supported more than 160 graduates and helped launch 46 businesses. Over the next three years, it plans to work with 390 additional participants while introducing new supports focused on business growth and financial literacy.

Formerly incarcerated Canadians face significant obstacles in the job market. According to co-founder and CEO Lucy Cullen, the average annual income among formerly incarcerated Canadians is approximately $14,000, while a criminal record can make finding employment significantly more difficult.

The program teaches participants how to develop and launch a business idea while providing access to a community of people with similar experiences. Participants have developed businesses in industries including clothing, landscaping, catering, roofing, and food production.

Many applicants already have business ideas but lack the resources, confidence, and professional networks needed to move forward. "Many of our applicants already have business ideas but are looking for the knowledge, mentorship and support to launch or relaunch them," Cullen said.

Cullen spent 12 years building startups and teaching entrepreneurship before starting Comeback Catalyst. She also spent time advocating for improved food quality within Canada's justice system, and launched the organization after she and a wider team were given the opportunity to pilot an entrepreneurship program for people affected by the justice system.

While entrepreneurship offers another pathway to economic opportunity, Cullen emphasizes that the organization does not position business ownership as a replacement for traditional employment. "There is a significant need for more fair-chance employment opportunities in Canada," she said. "Our goal isn't to position entrepreneurship as a replacement for employment, but to provide another pathway to economic opportunity." People impacted by the justice system often face multiple challenges while rebuilding their lives, including unstable housing, difficulty accessing financial services, weakened support systems, and ongoing stigma.