Women in Business Info-Guide

Summary

This fact sheet is a document designed to help you navigate through the various resources available to women in business. The selected items provide a helpful overview. The list is not exhaustive. Further information on each item can be obtained by contacting the organization directly or by contacting the Canada/Nova Scotia Business Service Centre at 426-8604 or 1-800-668-1010 .

Women Entrepreneurs of Canada  
Women Entrepreneurs of Canada (WEC ) is a federally incorporated, non-profit organization. It was founded in Toronto in 1992 to serve the interests of established women entrepreneurs.

The mission of Women Entrepreneurs of Canada is to encourage and foster the growth, development, and success of women entrepreneurs in Canada. WEC provides a dynamic environment, high-quality programming, and opportunities for women entrepreneurs to enrich and enhance their personal and professional lives.

For further information, please contact:
Women Entrepreneurs of Canada
Toronto Chapter & Head Office
Address: 460 Bluestream Road
Waterloo, ON N2K 2R7
Tel.: 1-866-207-4439
E-mail: wec@wec.ca
Web site: http://www.wec.ca

Centre for Women in Business
A not-for-profit resource centre sponsored by Mount Saint Vincent University. The Centre provides the following services: business counselling, workshops, professional development, seminars, entrepreneurial training, networking, international partnership, student involvement, business circles, and a resource room.

For further information, please contact:
Centre for Women in Business
Address: The Meadows, 2nd Floor
Mount Saint Vincent University
166 Bedford Highway
Halifax, NS B3M 2J6
Tel.: (902) 457-6449
Fax: (902) 443-4687
E-mail: cwb@msvu.ca
Web site:http://www.msvu.ca/cwb

RBC Canadian Woman Entrepreneur Awards 
The Awards Program is an initiative of RBC Financial Group. The program started in 1992 with the goal of providing national recognition for the growing number of women entrepreneurs in Canada , many of whom were running multi-million dollar companies and yet were largely invisible. By shining some light on these exciting women, young women were provided with role models and encouraged to think about self-employment as a career option.

To apply for an award, information may be obtained from:
RBC  Financial Group
Phone: (416) 923-1688
Toll-Free: 1-800-354-3303
Email: info@powerpointgroup.com
Web site: www.theawards.ca

Halifax Women's Network
Are you a professional or businesswoman who would like to grow your business through networking with other women? Gain self-confidence and public-speaking skills? Would you enjoy socializing and sharing professional expertise and ideas? If you answered yes to any of the above, the Halifax Women's Network is for you! It provides networking and support services to: develop contacts, share professional expertise and ideas, exchange information, and learn new approaches in business.

For further information, please contact:
The Halifax Women's Network
Address: P.O. Box 1647
Halifax, NS B3J 2Z1
E-mail: info@halifaxwomensnetwork.ca
Web site: www.halifaxwomensnetwork.com

Women in Business Initiative (WBI)
The Women in Business Initiative (WBI) is designed to improve the growth and competitiveness of women-owned businesses and increase their representation in Atlantic Canada's emerging growth sectors. The WBI focuses on strengthening management capabilities and business development skills of women business owners, improving their access to capital and business support services, and increasing involvement of women-owned business in exports and knowledge-based industries.

For further information, please contact:
Canada/Nova Scotia Business Service Centre
Address: 1575 Brunswick Street
Halifax, NS B3J 2G1
Phone: (902) 426-8604 or 1-800-668-1010
E-mail: halifax@cbsc.ic.gc.ca
Web site: http://www.cbsc.org/ns

Women Inventors Project
The Women Investors Project is a non-profit organization working to increase the number of successful inventors and entrepreneurs in Canada. The Project supports the innovative and scientific endeavours of Canadian women through programs that educate and heighten public awareness.

For further information, please contact:
Women Inventors Project
Address: 107 Holm Cresent
Thornhill, Ontario L3T 5J4
Tel.: (905) 731-0328
Toll-free: 1-877-863-2471
Fax: (905) 731-9691
E-mail: womenip@sympatico.ca
Web site: http://www.womenip.com/

INTERNET SITES OF INTEREST:
http://www.ccsd.ca/pubs/2000/wd/index.htm
"Bringing down the Barriers" combines the personal experiences of Ontario women with disabilities along with statistical information to provide a new assessment of some of the labour market challenges that they might face. Though this book contains information derived from interviews with women in Ontario , the same barriers also exist for women in all Canadian provinces and territories.

http://www.businessweek.com/tocs/womenbiz.htmhttp://www.businessweek.com/tocs/womenbiz.htm
The cyberspace where you'll find the stories about how women are coping at work -- success stories and horror stories alike.

http://www.royalbank.com/sme/women/
As part of their commitment to help women entrepreneurs achieve their aspirations, the RBC Royal Bank provides an online community for sharing news, contacts, experiences and resources for Canadian women interested in growing their businesses.

http://www.cdnbizwomen.com
This one-stop resource site offers all kinds of information for women in business, including finance advice, links to business services, Web marketing tips and inspiring success stories. Try the cross-Canada directories to locate fellow entrepreneurs in your field or in your region, or to register your own business.

http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/businesswomen/menu-en.asp
The Businesswomen in Trade Web site was developed by International Trade Canada (ITCan) for women entrepreneurs who lead small and medium enterprises to meet their special information and assistance needs that are relevant to exporting and export activities.