November 19th marks a day of celebration and recognition for women business owners
VANCOUVER, British Columbia–(BUSINESS WIRE)–To celebrate the vital contributions women entrepreneurs make to the B.C. economy, The Forum and WeBC (formerly Women’s Enterprise Centre) are thrilled to announce a collaboration with the Province of B.C. to officially proclaim November 19th as Women’s Entrepreneurship Day.
Women’s Entrepreneurship Day is an opportunity to recognize and honour the critical role women-owned businesses play in strengthening our local economy. Women now make up nearly 40 percent of business owners in B.C. – ranking second highest among Canadian provinces.
“From launching dream businesses, to creating communities and finding new ways to do business, women entrepreneurs have so much to be proud of,” says Jill Earthy, CEO of WeBC. “This day will ensure women entrepreneurs are honoured for their imaginations, ingenuity and drive.”
“Today is a day to celebrate the power and potential of women entrepreneurs, while recognizing the barriers they’ve overcome and trials they’ve endured to build thriving businesses,” acknowledges Paulina Cameron, CEO of The Forum. “Women entrepreneurs play an essential role in strengthening our economy, nourishing our communities and creating meaningful impact.”
British Columbia joins 144 countries worldwide in bringing awareness of the significant economic and social impacts of women-owned businesses in their communities. Especially given the COVID-19 pandemic, women entrepreneurs are playing an essential role in the ongoing economic recovery.
“The pandemic presented new challenges for women looking to launch and run their own businesses and many rose to the occasion,” said Selina Robinson, Minister of Finance. “From pivoting to online platforms to finding innovative solutions to the challenges of the day, women business owners continue to support their communities, employees, and families through these tough times. I encourage everyone to show your appreciation today and every day by supporting local women entrepreneurs in your community.”
The Forum and WeBC are non-profit organizations dedicated to supporting the success of women entrepreneurs in B.C. through mentorship, skills development, education and gender-lensed funding. Working together with the Province, WeBC and The Forum have made possible the official proclamation of Women’s Entrepreneurship Day.
Alice Grey, founder of iHeart Fat Fudge Foods Inc. in Langley has turned to WeBC and The Forum for support in building her business. She is one of the almost 180,000 women business owners in B.C. sees Women’s Entrepreneurship Day as an opportunity to reflect on the power of community.
“Although many of us have been physically separated because of the pandemic, we’ve also come together as a community to support each other like never before,” says Grey. “More and more people are paying attention to where things are made and who made them because they want to support their local small business owners.”
Women have been disproportionately affected by the global pandemic, particularly small business owners and those who identified as Indigenous, Black, people of colour or other equity-seeking people. WeBC and The Forum have seen this inequity firsthand and are working to create awareness and provide solutions to barriers such as access to financing and networks. These organizations serve thousands of women entrepreneurs each year by recognizing their unique needs and growth pathways.
“Women are leading the charge when it comes to building resilience in our families and communities,” said Grace Lore, Parliamentary Secretary for Gender Equity. “We all have a role to play in creating a more equitable and prosperous future for ourselves and our children. Women’s Entrepreneurship Day is an opportunity to celebrate the successes of women in our communities and inspire future generations of women to take a chance and invest in their own ideas.”
“We’re working to ensure women in this province have access to the skills training and opportunities for development they need to be competitive in today’s changing business world. Women in B.C. have worked hard to grow their businesses and be leaders in this province during this challenging time and we want to acknowledge their efforts. As we continue to recover from this pandemic, we are committed to removing the obstacles many women entrepreneurs face and building a better B.C. for everyone,” said Brenda Bailey, Parliamentary Secretary for Technology and Innovation. “As we continue to recover from this pandemic, we are committed to removing the obstacles many women entrepreneurs face and building a better B.C. for everyone.”
Women’s Entrepreneurship Day event:
To mark the inaugural Women’s Entrepreneurship Day in B.C. WeBC and The Forum will host a virtual celebration to mark the official proclamation with The Honourable Selina Robinson, Minister of Finance, Parliamentary Secretary Grace Lore and Parliamentary Secretary Brenda Bailey.
Media and members of the public are invited to attend the proclamation, followed by a panel session featuring inspirational women entrepreneurs, and virtual networking.
Friday, November 19, 2021
1:00pm – 2:30pm
Location: online
Event Details & Registration
About The Forum
The Forum is a Canadian charity that energizes, educates, mentors, and connects self-identified women entrepreneurs across Canada — promoting strengthened economies and thriving communities. Over 20 years, over 10,000 entrepreneurs have been impacted through its education programming, mentorship and deeply supportive community. For more information visit www.theforum.ca.
About WeBC
WeBC (formerly Women’s Enterprise Centre BC) is a provincial non-profit organization that has been supporting women business owners across the province for over 25 years. Working with our regional partners, we’ve provided thousands of entrepreneurs with business loans and expertise, training, resources, and peer network support to help businesses grow and thrive. For more information visit www.we-bc.ca.
Women’s Entrepreneurship Day
To learn more about Women’s Entrepreneurship Day, visit: www.womenseday.org
Contacts
Media:
Paulina Cameron, CEO of The Forum
604-773-8078
www.theforum.ca
Jill Earthy, CEO of WeBC
604-290-4236
www.we-bc.ca
