Women's Enterprise Centre Blog: Breaking News

Winnipeg Sustainability Leaders Course Begins in March

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 04:38:00 PM

The International Institute for Sustainable Development in Winnipeg is piloting a training opportunity for young professionals. The Sustainability Leaders Program is an innovative training course designed to develop leadership for the Green Economy by building the skills and knowledge necessary to help businesses improve their operational sustainability and management. Participants, who must be between the ages of 18 and 35 and employed by a Winnipeg business, will get from this course: • A strong understanding of the green economy and knowledge of the benefits associated with greening your business • Strategies for leading and managing change in a business setting; • Ideas and tools for increasing the sustainability of your business; • Skills related to increasing your impact and visibility as a business; • The opportunity to become part of a network of young businesspeople and organizations interested in and working on sustainability issues in Winnipeg Application Instructions and Information

Baby Butz Goes to Hollywood for the Golden Globe Awards

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 11:25:00 AM

Majda Ficko, President of Winnipeg-based Olen Cosmetics announced that their Baby Butz cream, has been invited to be a part of the “Boom Boom Room" Gifting Suite for the Stars at the Golden Globe Awards on January 13 and 14, 2012. Developed by glamour guru Jayneoni Moore, the Boom Boom Room not only puts top childrens’ brands in the hands of celebrity Moms and Dads, it has been credited with turning products into celebrity favorites and media sensations. Read more…

Winnipeg Wedding Dress Designer Contributor for HuffPost Canada

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 04:47:00 PM

Renowned wedding dress designer Justina McCaffrey, was a recent contributor to Huffington Post Canada, the recently unveiled Canadian version of the AOL-owned website and content aggregating blog that covers world news, business, politics, entertainment and style. McCaffrey has joined other prominent Canadians contributors including David Suzuki and Elizabeth May. Check out Justina’s f irst Huffpost contribution and keep your eyes open for more.

Local Entrepreneur Advocate for Beyond Borders

Thu, 08 Dec 2011 12:00:00 AM

Nancy Vardalos Ginakes, inventor of the Safe2Go child safety harness has taken her interest in child safety a step further. After hearing Winnipegger Rosalind Prober speak about Beyond Borders, the organization she helped to found as Canada’s global voice against child exploitation, Nancy decided to get involved. Now a Beyond Borders Board Member, Nancy is hoping that other Manitoba businesses with an international reach will also get involved to help advance the rights of children everywhere to be free from sexual abuse and exploitation. The 9th Annual Beyond Borders Media Awards took place at The Fort Garry Hotel in Winnipeg on November 21. To learn more, contact Nancy at nancy@safe2go.ca

Local Product Awarded the PTPA Seal of Approval

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 09:59:00 AM

The PTPA (Parent Tested Parent Approved) Media Awards celebrate product excellence. Manufacturers submit their products and services for evaluation by over 40,000 Volunteer parent testers. Baby Butz Cream by Olen Cosmetics of Winnipeg is an all-natural barrier cream that is licensed by Health Canada as a Natural Health Product. It's thick creamy formulation adheres to the skin to heal and prevent diaper rashes and skin irritants. Baby Butz Cream is made in Canada without alcohol, perfumes or chemicals.

Anywhere But Here

Fri, 18 Nov 2011 10:01:00 AM

Local jazz artist Janice Finlay will launch her new CD on November 24 at the Canadian Mennonite University Laudamus Auditorium. National and international radio and print media campaigns will begin in early 2012. To learn more about Janice, visit www.classactmusic.com

Looking for Women Entrepreneurs

Tue, 15 Nov 2011 02:03:00 PM

The Stu Clark Centre for Entrepreneurship is launching a marketing campaign that highlights entrepreneurs who have gone through the Asper School of Business or graduated from the University of Manitoba with a Bachelor of Commerce. They have found lots of male graduates to highlight but are looking for women. If you are interested, please contact the Stu Clark Centre

Ten Companies that are Changing the Way We Eat

Thu, 13 Oct 2011 05:52:00 PM

Best Cooking Pulses Inc. (BCP), the Portage la Prairie agribusiness owned by sisters Margaret Hughes and Trudy Heal, were highlighted in the October 6, 2011 edition of the Globe and Mail’s Small Business Report. The story showcased BCP and nine other Canadian food-related companies that are doing things differently, all with successful results. Launched in 1936 by Margaret and Trudy’s grandfather, the sisters got involved in Best Cooking Pulses in 2004. Already a successful business that had two processing plants, the sisters have been able to take the company to the next level. They now sell split peas in South America, Europe and Russia, and exports pea flours and fibre to South America and the European Union. Recent studies have shown the health benefits of pea fibre which can be used in everything from baked goods to processed meat products. As a result, BCP’s flour products are being incorporated into private-label low-fat muffins, Weight Watchers’ cakes and some cereals. According to Margaret, being certified with the WEConnect Canada program has become increasingly important as they grow their business and develop partnerships with large multi-national corporations. Read the Globe and Mail story on Best Cooking Pulses and the other Canadian companies.

Sweet Opportunity

Fri, 07 Oct 2011 11:52:00 AM

The Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra is providing an opportunity for small businesses to showcase their products and services at their “Chicks ‘n Chocolate” fundraiser to be held on November 3 at the Concert Hall. For $250 a 10’ x 10’ station can be purchased in their New York-themed event that will entertain and amaze 400-600 Winnipeg women. Should be lots of fun and a ‘sweet’ opportunity! Call WSO’s Carol Cassels at 949-3965 or email ccassels@wso.mb.ca.

Just Watch Me

Fri, 30 Sep 2011 01:59:00 PM

Are you are an entrepreneur with a disability and have a business success story to share? If so, you could win $1000 in the recently announced Community Futures Entrepreneurs with Disabilities Program video contest called ‘Just Watch Me’. All you need to do is create a two to three minute video and submit it by October 31, 2011. Open to people with self-identified disabilities or ongoing health conditions living in rural Western Canada, the contest aims to get more people with disabilities interested in being their own bosses. For inspiration, check out the contest website homepage which features the story of Vancouver Island’s Al Berman, owner/operator of Berg Bikes. An elite athlete, Al has been a wheelchair user since 2000, and now operates a successful and satisfying business creating hand-made, customized bicycles for enthusiasts around the world. The winning video in the “Just Watch Me” contest will be chosen by a judges panel and public voting process. The winner will be announced on December 2, 2011, in recognition of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (December 3rd). For more information, visit http://www.communityfuturespanwest.ca/contest/

Toastmasters at WEC

Fri, 30 Sep 2011 09:34:00 AM

Learn the art of speaking, listening, and thinking – vital skills that promote self-actualization and communication while enhancing business leadership potential. Held at the Women’s Enterprise Centre of Manitoba on Wednesdays from noon – 1 pm, the Headliners Toastmasters club is open to women and men. New members welcome. For more information visit http://headlinersclub.freetoasthost.org/ or call Heather Stephens at 988-1860.

Winner of My Gold Mine Survey Draw

Mon, 19 Sep 2011 12:02:00 PM

Our congratulations and thanks go to Lynn Martin of To the Penny Accounting Services in Winnipeg. Entrepreneurs who completed the My Gold Mine online survey were entered into a draw for a cash prize of $500 and Lynn was the lucky winner. My Gold Mine, the newest initiative at the Women’s Enterprise Centre of Manitoba is a research project to help us understand if and how entrepreneurs use their financial statements to make strategic business decisions. Once we know how the financial information is used and where gaps exist in its application, we will be able to develop programs to assist entrepreneurs to tap into the wealth of understanding that is available when the information is 'mined'. Thank you to everyone who completed the survey and to the following organizations that helped us circulate the survey to their networks: Canada/Manitoba Business Service Centre Community Futures East Interlake Community Futures Parkland Community Futures Triple R Manitoba Chambers of Commerce Entrepreneurial Foundation of Saskatchewan Women Entrepreneurs of Saskatchewan Alberta Women Entrepreneurs Women’s Enterprise Centre of BC

The Funding Portal

Tue, 19 Jul 2011 10:53:00 AM

Launched in 2011, The Funding Portal is the one-stop go-to resource for businesses to search and access the $12B Canadian public funding marketplace. The Funding Portal distributes a weekly newsletter service. Every Tuesday, The Funding Portal will send subscribers a newsletter highlighting new funding programs, announcements about businesses that have received funding, profiles of important public sector decision-makers and feature articles on trends and upcoming events, all on a need-to-know basis.

Win a $100,000 Small Business Grant

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 04:13:00 PM

Explain the biggest challenge your business faces today and how a $100,000 grant would help you overcome it. A panel of business experts will review every entry, and if the most compelling is yours, you’ll win $100,000 courtesy of TELUS. Plus, your company will be profiled in the pages of the Report on Business. Go to the G lobe and Mail website for details. Deadline for submissions is July 6.

TuTuMUCH wins Best Children's Documentary

Wed, 15 Jun 2011 04:02:00 PM

Merit Motion Pictures and vonnie VON HELMOT film, two Winnipeg-based, women-owned production companies won the Best Children's Documentary at the 11th China International Film Festival for their documentary TuTuMUCH. Directed by award-winning filmmaker Elise Swerhone, TuTuMUCH follows nine young ballet dancers as they plié, pirouette and compete for highly coveted spots in an intensive four-week professional ballet summer program at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School. Leaving behind their families and friends, often for the first time, each girl confronts the painstaking and sometimes rewarding realities of actually living her dream. Launched in 1989, the China International’s Children Film Festival is fast becoming one of the largest such events in the world. The biannual festival aims to foster communication between creators of children’s films worldwide and the development of the Chinese children’s film industry. VONNIE VON HELMOLT FILM is an internationally recognized producer of features, television movies, series and documentaries. The company’s previous dance feature, Dracula: Pages from a Virgin’s Diary, directed by Guy Maddin, won numerous international film festival awards, and Emmy and was named one of Canada’s Top 10 Feature Films of 2003. MERIT MOTION PICTURES is an award-winning production company founded by executive producer and industry veteran Merit Jensen Carr, which specializes in producing multi-platform programming for the international market.

Manitoba Family Enterprise of the Year Award

Fri, 04 Mar 2011 12:12:00 PM

Congratulations to the Chabot Family, owners of Chabot Implements Co. Ltd. They are the recipients of this year’s Manitoba Family Enterprise of the Year Award that was presented on March 2 by the Canadian Association of Family Enterprise. Congratulations also go to award finalists: Friesen Family, owners of Landau Ford Lincoln Sales Ltd. and the Dufresne Family, owners of The Dufresne Group.

CBC'S Dragons' Den 2011 Audition Tour Announced

Fri, 18 Feb 2011 11:04:00 AM

On February 12 DRAGONS’ DEN takes to the road for the Season Six audition tour, stopping in a whopping 36 cities. Entrepreneurs from across the country are getting yet another chance to enter the DRAGONS’ DEN in a bid to score some high-powered financial backing for their business ventures. Open auditions are taking place in Winnipeg on Saturday, March 12th from 11am to 7pm at CBC Manitoba, 541 Portage Avenue, Studio 41. DRAGONS’ DEN gives aspiring entrepreneurs the opportunity to pitch their businesses to a panel of wealthy Canadian business moguls – the Dragons. Successful pitchers will have a chance to earn real investment – from the Dragons’ own pockets! The stakes will be even higher as the Dragons prepare for Season Six – they’ll be looking for the biggest and best deals from coast-to-coast. No experience is necessary to audition. Interested entrepreneurs should be prepared to pitch their business in under five minutes. If they can convince the DRAGONS’ DEN production team they are ready for the limelight, they could be invited to face the Dragons when the upcoming season is filmed in Toronto. Interested entrepreneurs are asked to apply online and bring a completed application form to the audition. For more details, including a full list of cities and dates, visit cbc.ca/dragonsden. The current season can be seen Wednesdays at 8 p.m. (8:30 NT) on CBC Television and has averaged over 1.7 million viewers per week. The recent January 12, special “Second Chance” episode drew a series high of close to 2.2 million viewers*. DRAGONS’ DEN is a hit on air, and online, boasting an active and engaged online community. Full episodes, exclusive behind-the-scenes content and details on the audition tour can be viewed at cbc.ca/dragonsden . * Based on overnight unconfirmed PPM Data For further information, please contact: Jane Collins CBC Communications Officer jane.collins@cbc.ca

Cover Story

Wed, 02 Feb 2011 12:12:00 PM

Congratulations to Justina McCaffrey of Justina McCaffrey Inc! One of her original wedding gowns is featured on cover of the 2011 edition of Grace Ormonde Wedding Style New England. Paired with a spectacular necklace by Vera Wang, the gown can also be found in an inside fashion spread entitled ‘Fashion Canter’. Winnipeg-based McCaffrey is an award-winning, internationally acclaimed wedding dress designer who is known for her ethereal designs that show off a bride’s curves. Grace Ormonde Wedding Style was launched in the U.S. in 1998 and has become an icon in the wedding industry where specialists showcase their products and services.

Celebrating Exceptional Manitobans

Mon, 31 Jan 2011 10:14:00 AM

Celeste Brunel with her Women’s Enterprise Centre business advisor, Maurice McCarthy. Congratulations to Celeste Brunel of Celestial Designs! On January 27, 2011, Celeste was presented with the “Arts Award” at the Future Leaders of Manitoba Awards event held in the Grand Ballroom of the Fort Garry Hotel Conference Centre. An accomplished interior designer, Celeste has developed a collection of abstract and contemporary wall décor pieces, giftware and bedding. Her work was recently featured at the Umbra Concept Store and is available at all 34 Urban Barn Stores in Canada. She has a cross-Canada distribution system and is in the process of setting a U.S. distribution network. The Future Leaders of Manitoba Awards honour young professionals who are committed to staying in Manitoba and contributing to the continued social and economic growth of our Province.

Nominations accepted for the 2011 Manitoba Woman Entrepreneur of the Year Awards

Wed, 22 Dec 2010 12:59:00 PM

Do you know a deserving Manitoba Woman Entrepreneur? The Nominee is either an equal partner, a 50% (or more) shareholder, or sole owner in a business that has been registered and in operation in Manitoba for a minimum of three consecutive years. Her operation is a full-time venture and from it she draws her main source of income. Don't delay....nominate today!