Initiatives celebrating Manitoba's arts and crafts, encouraging Aboriginal entrepreneurship, and lending a voice to home-based business owners were announced today by the Province of Manitoba and Western Economic Diversification Canada as part of the official launch of Small Business Week 2003.

Federal, provincial and municipal officials were on hand to sign a proclamation declaring October 19-25 Small Business Week, in honour of the powerful force behind Canada's and Manitoba's growing economy: small and medium-businesses. The theme of Small Business Week 2003 is "YOU'RE THE POWER behind the Canadian economy, let's share the energy!"

"Smaller arts and cultural industries are gaining in prominence nationwide and represent a $22 billion contribution to Canada's economy," said Manitoba Industry, Trade and Mines Minister MaryAnn Mihychuk. "To further accelerate these industries in Manitoba, the province is pleased to announce a $117,000 contribution to the Uniquely Manitoba Gift Show - an exciting new program designed to foster excellence and increase critical mass in new product development and marketing expertise and allow Manitoba cultural products to be sold worldwide."

Uniquely Manitoba, Prairie and Northern Originals is part of a strategy to support visual arts, crafts, and specialty food producers. Supported by various organizations, including Western Economic Diversification Canada, the program will assist in developing and marketing products and will culminate in the Uniquely Manitoba Gift Show in Winnipeg, March 21 and 22, 2004. More information is available at http://www.uniquelymanitoba.ca/.

"The importance of small business and entrepreneurship can't be overestimated; they are invaluable to our economy, particularly in the West," said Stephen Owen, Secretary of State (Western Economic Diversification) (Indian Affairs and Northern Development). "Western Economic Diversification Canada is proud to serve alongside entrepreneurs through its Business Service Network partners and will continue to offer programs and services that support their efforts."

The newly-established Home Business Advisory Council will act as a focal point for networking, information and learning. The Canada/Manitoba Business Service Centre, federal, provincial and city officials, as well as private sector representatives will work together to make the advisory group a hub for the thousands of home-based businesses. For more information, visit the website at http://www.homebusinessmanitoba.ca/ or call the C/MBSC at 984-2272 or toll free at 1-800-665-2019.

The Aboriginal Business Service Network, administered through a partnership between the Canada/Manitoba Business Service Centre and Community Futures Partners of Manitoba, is encouraging Aboriginal entrepreneurship through a new business plan competition. The competition is open to all new and existing Aboriginal businesses in all sectors/industry categories. All proposals must be submitted by noon on June 5, 2004 to the C/MBSC and the winner will be announced June 15, 2004. The top business plans will receive a matching equity contribution of up to $15,000 from the Urban Aboriginal Strategy.

Small Business Week is a national initiative led by the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC), in cooperation with the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, with the support of national and local sponsors, and pays tribute to the accomplishments of the owners and managers of small and medium-sized enterprises.

"At BDC, we know it is hard work being an entrepreneur, so we want to make sure Manitoba's and Canada's entrepreneurs are equipped to survive and thrive in today's business world," said Wellington Holbrook, Vice-President and Area Manager, Business Development Bank of Canada. "The BDC is proud to encourage entrepreneurs to share the energy generated by their own success - through these examples we are all inspired to reach higher and to accomplish more. Fostering innovation, improving productivity and ultimately encouraging the development of more small and mid-sized business is what Small Business Week is all about."

"The Canada/Manitoba Business Service Centre is celebrating 10 years of helping entrepreneurs and small business operators achieve their business goals," said Shannon Coughlin, General Manager, Canada/Manitoba Business Service Centre. "The satisfaction of owning your own business - whether it's one person working from their home or a 100-person operation - is appealing to many people."

For more information on Small Business Week activities in Manitoba, visit http://www.cbsc.org/manitoba or http://www.bdc.ca/.

For additional information, contact:

Jacquie Sippola
Communications Officer
Western Economic Diversification Canada
Winnipeg, Manitoba
(204) 983-0280

Nadine Delisle
Communications Coordinator
Communications Services Manitoba
Winnipeg, Manitoba
(204) 945-3810
http://www.gov.mb.ca/