March 8, 2005 St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador The Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) and the Newfoundland and Labrador Organization of Women Entrepreneurs (NLOWE) are partnering together to host several events to celebrate International Women's Day. An open house at NLOWE's office on Elizabeth Avenue will take place today, where those interested can find out about business through NLOWE and ACOA. At 12:00 p.m. a networking luncheon will be held at the Fairmont Hotel with local entrepreneur Wilma Hartman, managing director of newfoundlandandlabrador.com, owner of Digital Daisy Inc., and partner in AppleCore Interactive, who will discuss her experiences as an entrepreneur. Several other luncheons will also take place this week: at the Mount Peyton Hotel in Grand Falls-Windsor today with guest speaker Michelle Critch, owner/operator of Hair Alive and a Certified Karate instructor with three clubs operating in central Newfoundland and Labrador; at NaGeira House in Carbonear tomorrow with guest speaker Kathi Stacey, host of the popular Local Living Program ¿ "My Town" and development officer for the Baccalieu Trail Tourism Association and; at the Mamateek Inn in Corner Brook on Thursday with guest speaker Maxine Hoskins, owner of MAXimum Home Support Services Inc. "This is a day to celebrate the accomplishments of all women, and in particular, I am proud to recognize the achievements of women in business in Atlantic Canada," said the Honourable Joseph McGuire, Minister of ACOA. "Women business owners help advance our economy, and our communities, and the Government of Canada is committed to providing them with the tools and support they need to compete and succeed." "The Women in Business Initiative, established by the federal government, assists women business owners in overcoming the challenges they face," said the Honourable R. John Efford, Minister of Natural Resources Canada. "This program enables women to grow their businesses by helping them to strengthen their management and business development skills, and become more involved in areas such as innovation and exporting." ACOA's Women in Business Initiative (WBI) is one of the tools business owners can use to further expand their business markets and skills. It provides programs and services to help improve the growth and competitiveness of women-owned businesses in Atlantic Canada. The WBI is delivered in partnership with NLOWE and the Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Community Business Development Corporations. "Women are a driving force of the economy of the province, and are leading the way in new business development, and NLOWE is proud to play a lead role in this success. International Women's Day is an opportune time to celebrate the achievements of our members and clients, and acknowledge the support of our partners, without whom NLOWE would not be able to continue to provide services to thousands of women in the province," said Nena Abundo, executive director, NLOWE. According to Statistics Canada, in the past decade, women in Atlantic Canada launched three times as many new businesses as men, while nationally, women started twice as many businesses as men. They are creating jobs and generating spin-offs in their communities. The WBI aims to help address the unique challenges of women entrepreneurs by: strengthening their management capabilities and business development skills; improving access to capital and business support services; increasing exports and increasing the number of women operating in knowledge-based industries. International Women's Day was established in 1977 by the United Nations to provide an opportunity to reflect on the progress made to advance women's equality, to assess the challenges facing women in contemporary society, to consider future steps to enhance the status of women and to celebrate the gains made in these areas. This year, Canadians are celebrating International Women's Week from March 6 to March 12, with the highlight being International Women's Day on March 8. The theme this year is You Are Here: Women, Canada and the World. FOR BROADCAST USE ONLY: The Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) and the Newfoundland and Labrador Organization of Women Entrepreneurs (NLOWE) are hosting several events to celebrate International Women's Week, including an open house at NLOWE's office and luncheons featuring local entrepreneurs in St. John's, Grand Falls-Windsor, Carbonear and Corner Brook. The events will give women an opportunity to network, and to find out about business support available to them through NLOWE and ACOA. According to Statistics Canada, in the past decade, women in Atlantic Canada launched three times as many new businesses as men, while nationally, women started twice as many businesses as men. International Women's Day was established in 1977 by the United Nations and this year's theme is You Are Here: Women, Canada and the Word. - 30 - For more information, please contact: Valérie Poulin Director of Communications Office of the Honourable Joseph McGuire Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (613) 941-7241 Doug Burgess Director, Public Affairs ACOA (709) 772-2935 Nadia Power Communications Coordinator NLOWE (709) 754-5555 ext. 232
