Alberta's women-owned businesses to receive support from federal government
A federal program is providing $860,000 to support two organizations that provide resources for women-led companies and gender-diverse entrepreneurs in the Prairie provinces.
The initiative is supported by Prairies Economic Development Canada, and provides just under half the funds to the Calgary Immigrant Women's Association, and the slightly larger portion to an organization called Movement51.
Bobbie Racette, founder and CEO of Virtual Gurus, has received assistance from Movement51 in the past.
She says this will help break down barriers for other entrepreneurs like her.
As a queer, Indigenous female CEO in the tech industry, she says she faced hardships and discrimination starting out.
"Nobody would hire me just because of who I am and who I look like, and so I needed to find a job, so I created my own work-from-home position," said Racette.
Her tech business continues to grow, with more than 40 employees and increasing opportunities to mentor other startups.
Another 550 women across the Prairies are expected to benefit from Movement51, as part of the funding program announced Friday in Calgary.
The other recipient organization is the Calgary Immigrant Women's Association (CIWA).
Its portion of program funding will focus on newcomer entrepreneurs, providing training covering business plans, business registration and licences, and finances.
"These two organizations are going to help women entrepreneurs learn, but also start off and support their business development and growth," said George Chahal, Member of Parliament for Calgary Skyview.
CIWA leaders say this program is timely.
"It is no secret that the pandemic hit women harder than anyone, and specifically immigrant women," said Paula Calderon, CEO of CIWA.
Lara Jane King received training through CIWA earlier this year, and launched her handmade jewelry business When Janey Makes in October.
"It's like I found my passion. I want to make things and I made things but I didn't sell them, so it was just piled up in my place. So I thought, why not start a business? So here we are."
The CIWA training program includes 60 women, bringing the total estimated to benefit from the federal funding to more than 600.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Russian warship armed with advanced missiles sails into western Atlantic in strategic 'chess game'
In an unusual move, the Russian Defence Ministry broadcast that one of its newest warships, the Admiral Gorshkov, had tested the strike capabilities of a hypersonic Zircon missile in a virtual drill.

Canadians fighting in Ukraine, despite no monitoring from government, speak out on war and loss
On Feb. 27, 2022, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said his country needed fighters, and foreigners were welcome to join the front line in the defence against Russian aggression. Some Canadians were among the first to answer the call.
Newly discovered asteroid makes one of the closest approaches of Earth
An asteroid the size of a box truck made one of the closest passes of planet Earth ever recorded.
Home Depot gave personal data to Meta without valid customer consent: watchdog
The federal privacy watchdog says Home Depot shared details from electronic receipts with Meta, which operates the Facebook social media platform, without the knowledge or consent of customers.
Provincial governments not jumping to act on tighter alcohol warning guidelines
Politicians in charge of provincial and territorial liquor laws aren't hurrying to adopt or promote newly updated guidelines that advise a steep drop in Canadian drinking habits.
Retain nurses before recruiting nurses from other provinces: association
Efforts to lure nurses from other provinces are underway in several parts of the country, but the head of a national nurses association says the poaching won't solve anything unless working conditions are improved.
Auschwitz anniversary marked as peace again shattered by war
Auschwitz-Birkenau survivors and other mourners commemorated the 78th anniversary Friday of the liberation of the Nazi German death camp, some expressing horror that war has again shattered peace in Europe and the lesson of Never Again is being forgotten.
No more expensing home internet bills to taxpayers, Tory and Liberal MPs told
The federal Liberal government is joining the Opposition Conservatives in no longer allowing its members of Parliament to expense taxpayers for home internet services.
No reason for alarm in Canada after cough syrup deaths in other countries: health agency
Following the deaths of more than 300 children from contaminated cough syrups in several countries, Health Canada says it's been more than a decade since similar cases were identified here.