Accelerating Growth for Women Entrepreneurs

Montréal business workshop will showcase success stories and provide women entrepreneurs with business growth resources

Montréal, Québec, April 26, 2006 – BDC, RBC Financial Group and Le Réseau des femmes d'affaires du Québec are presenting Accelerating Growth for Women Entrepreneurs workshops this afternoon at 1:00 p.m. at the Omni Hotel in Montréal. The session will provide participants with a forum to share their experiences and to hear from experts about how to successfully implement business growth strategies. Today's event is part of a series of similar workshops held across Canada.

"Canadian women entrepreneurs represent an increasing economic force," said Joy Playford, Regional Director, Special markets at BDC. "But, according to Industry Canada, over half of businesses run by women entrepreneurs are in a slow-growth stage of development."

Women entrepreneurs today own one-third of all Canadian companies, paying the salaries of nearly
2 million people. The top 100 women entrepreneurs in Canada generate over $2 billion in revenue annually. What's more, women now own increasing numbers of small companies outside of traditional service sectors, such as biotechnology, robotics and manufacturing. Last year, women represented 64% of new business creation. But women entrepreneurs face unique challenges when it comes to growing their business, as the majority of women-owned businesses tend to have fewer employees, export less and request less financing.

Today's workshops will provide opportunities for women to leverage the successful experiences of other women entrepreneurs, to network with community resource people, and to learn about topics like financial growth, marketing, exporting, and Human Resources planning.

As well, a reception to launch the 2006 RBC Canadian Woman Entrepreneur Awards – the biggest and most prestigious honour for women business owners in Canada – will be held today at 5:00 p.m. at the Omni Hotel. The deadline for nominations for these awards is July 31, 2006; the winners will be announced November 21, 2006. 

About BDC
BDC is a financial institution wholly owned by the Government of Canada. BDC plays a complementary role in delivering financial, investment and consulting services to Canadian small business, with a particular focus on the technology and export sectors of the economy. 

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About Our Keynote Speakers:

Jocelyna Dubuc, President, Spa Eastman
Spa Eastman is well known internationally for the superior quality of its services. Therapists work professionally and with the utmost respect for each guest. Every care session performed by one of Spa Eastman's therapists promises to bring calm, serenity and relaxation. In the last four years, Spa Eastman has been awarded the Prix Reconnaissance Estrie as well as Or aux Grands Prix from the Québec Ministry of Tourism.

Johanne Berry, President, Les Services de Placement Télé-Ressources
In 1985, at 29, Johanne Berry started her own business specializing in recruiting and hiring temporary and permanent staff. Within three years, Les Services de Placement Télé-Ressources became a leader in this sector, winning several awards: Qualité Totale des PME from the Mercuriades in 1995 and 1997; the Mercure de l'Entreprise de l'Année as well as Mercure Orientation Clientèle in 2000. In 1996, Les Services de Placement Télé-Ressources obtained its ISO 9002 certification, a first in the Montréal recruiting sector. In that same year, Johanne was honoured by the Action femmes d'affaires committee of the Montréal Chamber of Commerce and was selected as Femme de mérite by the YWCA in the Business, Professions and Entrepreneurship category.

Carole Bellon, President, Groupe Bellon Prestige
In 1995, after having graduated from HEC Montréal and having acquired years of experience in the business, Carole Bellon succeeded her father at the helm of this one hundred year old business. Having inherited a strong family entrepreneurial spirit, Carole, an innovative leader with a team approach, managed to achieve a 30% annual growth in the last four years by focusing on the commercial market. Groupe Bellon Prestige, a four generation family business established in 1895, designs and manufactures over 8000 canopies, industrial products and top quality canvas covered structures each year. It also provides repair and warehousing services to its clients. In 2005, Carole Bellon won the Woman of the Year award from Prix femmes d'affaires du Québec in the medium size entrepreneur category.