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Canada's New Government Invests in Increased Opportunities for Women Entrepreneurs
Women entrepreneurs throughout the Lower Mainland will have greater access to business education and mentorship as Canada’s New Government, through Western Economic Diversification Canada, announced $100,000 in funding today towards the Forum for Women Entrepreneurs of BC (FWE BC) for four entrepreneurship initiatives.
Nina Grewal, MP for Fleetwood-Port Kells, made the announcement at a launch event hosted by the Forum for Women Entrepreneurs of BC on behalf of the Honourable Rona Ambrose, President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister of Western Economic Diversification.
“Canada’s New Government is committed to supporting women entrepreneurs and the vital role they play in strengthening the Canadian economy,
” said MP Grewal. “Our investment of $100,000 for these initiatives will increase opportunities for women entrepreneurs and help British Columbia’s business sector continue on its path of dynamic economic growth.
”
Funding will enable FWE BC to deliver four entrepreneurship initiatives over a two-year period. The four initiatives include an e E-Series Training Session, a Mentor Program, Roundtables and a Student Internship Program.
For more information on the four initiatives, see attached backgrounder.
“Having Western Economic Diversification Canada as a partner will significantly assist with the enhancement of our current programs and will enable us to provide additional value and resources to our members,
” said Jill Earthy, Executive Director of FWE BC.
The FWE BC is an organization for women building and leading high-growth companies. Launched in BC in August 2002, its mission is to mentor and educate women entrepreneurs through its four programs: the E-series Program, Roundtable Events, a Student Internship Program and a Mentor Program.
Western Economic Diversification Canada is a department of the Government of Canada that works in partnership with the provinces, industry associations and communities to encourage diversification of the western economy, as well as to represent the interests of the West in national decision-making.
For additional information, contact:
Jill Earthy
Executive Director
Forum for Women Entrepreneurs BC
(604) 516-9250
jill@fwe.ca
http://www.fwe.ca/
Sandra Souchotte
A/Manager Communications
Western Economic Diversification Canada
(604) 666-1318
WD Toll-Free Number:1-888-338-WEST (9378)
Teletypewriter (TTY): 1-877-303-3388
WD Website: www.wd-deo.gc.ca.
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Backgrounder
Western Economic Diversification Canada announced $100,000 to the Forum for Women Entrepreneurs of BC (FWE BC) to deliver four women’s entrepreneurship initiatives in Vancouver. The initiatives are designed to help lower mainland women grow their businesses through education and mentorship.
The four initiatives are:
- The Entrepreneur Series (E-Series): a series of entrepreneurial training sessions that runs from January to June for women with high-growth, leveragable businesses. Industry experts, venture capitalists, professional advisors and experienced entrepreneurs who instruct women on specific topics, teach these weekly sessions. The program currently has 57 graduates and another 13 women entrepreneurs completed the program and graduated in June 2007.
- The Mentor Program: matches women entrepreneurs with volunteers who have business experience. This program builds mutually beneficial relationships between the men and women in the business community. Entrepreneurs in the program are active women entrepreneurs with established businesses who are seeking to improve and grow their companies. They must have specific learning objectives in order to be accepted into the program.
- Roundtables: Held twice a year in the spring and fall, these sessions bring FWE BC members and other business leaders together for discussions focused on specific topics.
- Student Internship Program: Each year, the FWE BC Student Internship program invites 4 to 5 women students to participate in a one-year internship program working with venture capitalists, private equity firms and entrepreneurs in BC. The students are also charged with running a fundraising campaign for FWE BC, for which they must pitch their idea to the FWE BC Board in order to receive seed capital to implement and operate a business.
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