In 1919, Moses, whose business career included the presidency of the Strathmore Paper Company, head of a bank and numerous business directorships, designed a program aimed at providing high school students with practical business experience through starting and managing their own businesses. From one office, one program, and 100 students, JASA has grown to include the Calgary office as well as regional offices in Red Deer, High River, Lethbridge, and Medicine Hat. Some of the early boosters and board members of JASA were David E. Mitchell, Bud McCaig, and Ron Southern. A full suite of inter-related programs is now delivered to more than 30,000 young people in southern Alberta schools in partnership with volunteer business consultants. Volunteers are, and will continue to be, an integral component to the successful delivery of JA programs.
Financial support is provided primarily by corporations and foundations.
JASA's vision is to excel in providing innovative programs that stimulate and inspire elementary and secondary students. JASA's mission is to inspire and educate young Canadians to value free enterprise, understand business and economics, and develop entrepreneurial and leadership skills. By aspiring to these goals JASA will continue to inspire and educate young Canadians to value free enterprise, understand business and economics, and develop entrepreneurial and leadership skills. This was initially accomplished through an after school program that gave students the opportunity to run their own company under the direction of a business volunteer. Today all programs except the original, Company Program, are offered in elementary, middle and high school.