Women’s Enterprise Centre

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Women play an important role in the creation and operation of small businesses across Canada. In British Columbia, women own 35 percent of small businesses and the number continues to grow. In addition to running their own business, women are often the primary managers and caregivers of their families. The role of balancing many responsibilities brings with it many unique experiences and challenges. To address the needs of women entrepreneurs Western Economic Diversification Canada established the Women's Enterprise Initiative in 1995 to provide business information and services to women entrepreneurs.

The B.C. Women's Enterprise Centre (WEC) provides complimentary business counseling, resource information and referrals, business-to-business linking and a variety of innovative training programs. The goal of WEC is to ensure entrepreneurship is viewed as a viable option for women of all ages, and to ensure women have access to the capital and services they need to develop and grow their business.

Women's Enterprise Centre invests in enterprising women across B.C. with loans of up to $100,000, repayable over a few months to a maximum of five years. Over 22 percent of the loans provided to WEC clients have helped to secure funding from other lenders and program providers.  Unlike traditional banks or other funding providers, WEC BC loans are accompanied with ongoing business coaching and training to ensure women have the resources to reach their full potential.

Over the past 10 years, more than 50,000 B.C. women have benefited from WEC services, including business advice, loans and skills training. Over this period, the Women's Enterprise Centre of B.C. has:

• Provided an estimated $7.5 million in direct financing to women-owned businesses;
• Assisted 166 existing businesses grow or stabilize, through additional loans, training and/or counselling;
• Improved the business skills of nearly 11,000 women in 1,032 workshops and seminars;
• Helped eliminate barriers by increasing access to information and resources, and by referring clients to complementary services; and
• Reponded to the changing needs of women entrepreneurs through ongoing evaluation, and renewal of programs and services.

For information contact: 

Women's Enterprise Centre

Head Office:
Suite 201, 1726 Dolphin Avenue
Kelowna, BC, V1Y 9R9
Toll Free 1-800-643-7014
Local Tel: (250) 868-3454
Fax: (250) 868-2709
Website: www.womensenterprise.ca

Vancouver Office:
Suite 82, 601 West Cordova Street
Vancouver, BC, V6B 1G1
Toll Free: 1-800-643-7014