1. NEW PROGRAM FOR WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS
Do you want to bid successfully on large procurement opportunities? Being a certified business through
WEConnect Canada can help you.
WEConnect Canada is a non-profit certification organization dedicated to the economic advancement of
women-owned businesses in Canada. They provide female entrepreneurs with the opportunity to connect
with corporate, public sector and fellow WEConnect members.
WEConnect Canada, launched in March, 2009, is the affiliate organization to WEConnect International,
WEConnect United Kingdom, WEConnect China and WEConnect India.
The organization was created to provide fair, full and equal participation for women in business. Their
corporate members to date include: IBM, BMO, Walmart Canada, Pfizer, Staples, Manpower, Merck Frosst,
Cisco and Accenture.
WEConnect certifies women-owned businesses and is an internationally recognized accreditation. To
become certified, the business owner must complete an application form, provide requested
documentation and host a site-visit for WEConnect executives.
It is required by WEConnect that applicants' businesses are owned, managed and controlled entirely or
primarily by women; at least 51% of the business must be woman operated.
Once certified, an annual fee allows WEConnect members to have access to the WEConnect database and
members may participate in a variety of training, mentoring and coaching seminars as well as networking
events.
For more information about WEConnect Canada, visit www.WEConnectCanada.org. For application
information, contact Laraine Kaminsky, WEConnect Canada's Lead Strategist at 1-877-857-3888, or
lkaminsky@WEConnectCanada.org.