May 2019 – WESK - Women Entrepreneurs of Saskatchewan

Released on – May 8th, 2019

SASKATOON, SK – Women Entrepreneurs of Saskatchewan (WESK) is proud to announce that the Celebration of Achievement Award has been presented to national award winning entrepreneur and public speaker, Jess Tetu. WESK is excited to be highlighting the province’s female business leaders at their 2019 Celebration of Achievement & Entrepreneur Awards gala, presented by Conexus Credit Union in Saskatoon, May 22nd.

WESK’s Celebration of Achievement Award pays tribute to an exceptional female entrepreneur who has built a business in Saskatchewan with a significant impact on the economy and on the community.

A self described ‘serial entrepreneur’ Jess Tetu is the sole owner of four Just For You Day Spas in Saskatchewan & Alberta, the Founder & CEO of Lia Reese Canada, (Saskatchewan’s Beauty Brand), and she is also the Co-Founder of E306 Business Consulting. Her love of being an entrepreneur is paralleled by her commitment to giving back and Jess volunteers her time on many community and charity foundation boards in Saskatchewan. Tetu has also created her own not-for-profit charity – 4seventyone Recovery Resources – assisting individuals and families dealing with addiction.

Jess believes that community has been a strong foundation for her success, “ I was extremely supported by my community growing up and I just feel like it was my responsibility now, to be in a position where I was successful, to give back to that community.”

WESK CEO Prabha Mitchell states, “extraordinary women deserve to be celebrated and WESK is giving female business leaders in our province the recognition they deserve.” Four additional awards of excellence will be presented at the gala in May, recognizing outstanding Saskatchewan female business leaders in the following categories: Community Involvement, Innovation, Growth & Expansion, and Indigenous Entrepreneur.

The Community Involvement Award sponsored by Nutrien, is presented to an entrepreneur that has been a leader in creating ways of conducting business that has a positive impact on the community. The finalists are: Olivia Coffyne (Diamonds of Detroit), Shelley Gordon (Uniglass Plus Ziebart, 6th Avenue Carwash), and Jeanny Buan (Mylynh Bridal).

The Innovation Award is sponsored by RBC and is presented to an entrepreneur that is pushing conventional boundaries and is disrupting and reshaping their industry through groundbreaking achievements in bringing innovation to market. The finalists are: Jolene Watson (Clarity Coaching & Development), Briana Brownell (Pure Strategy Inc.), and Alisha Esmail (Road Coffee).

The Growth & Expansion Award sponsored by ISC will be presented to a female entrepreneur that has successfully developed and implemented a strategy that has resulted in rapid growth and increased profitability and shows the potential for future growth and success. The finalists are: Meagan Barabash (Bravo Dance Company), Colleen Haussecker (Canadian Organic Spice & Herb Co.), and Arlene Wicinski (Off Side Hair Zone).

The Indigenous Entrepreneur of the Year Award is presented to a leading Indigenous business that shows plans for future growth and viability over the long term and demonstrates a long term commitment to the community. The finalists are: Heather Abbey (Indig Inc.), Arlene Wicinski (Off Side Hair Zone), and Kimberly Parent (Saskatoon Salsa Dance Company).

“We would like to congratulate and thank all of the finalists for the contributions they are making are changing the face of business globally and right here at home in Saskatchewan” stated Mitchell.

Tickets for the Celebration of Achievement & Entrepreneur Awards available at https://wesk.ca/e/awards-gala/

For more information:

Katelyn Bruce
Marketing & Communications Officer WESK
T: 306.477.6286

About WESK

Women Entrepreneurs of Saskatchewan’s (WESK) vision is for all Saskatchewan entrepreneurs to have an equal opportunity to achieve success and recognition. Entrepreneurship is a catalyst for independence, economic development, employment, growth, innovation, and equality. For more than 20 years, WESK has worked with hundreds of women, helping them start, purchase, and expand businesses. WESK is a non-profit, membership-based organization that provides business advisory and support services; start-up, purchase and expansion lending; mentoring and networking’ and a variety of learning opportunities from seminars and webinars to events. Since 1995, WESK has provided more than $30 million in loans and professional advice to women across the province. Together, women entrepreneurs and WESK have shaped and enhanced the Saskatchewan economy. WESK is supported by the Western Economic Diversification Canada.

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Released on May 2, 2019, by the Government of Saskatchewan

The Government of Saskatchewan, through the Status of Women Office, is pleased to announce the creation of an advisory committee to examine the entrepreneurial gender gap in Saskatchewan. The advisory committee is created and funded through a partnership with Women Entrepreneurs of Saskatchewan (WESK).“Women help drive the economy of Saskatchewan in a number of ways,” Minister Responsible for the Status of Women Office Tina Beaudry-Mellor said. “Our government is working to ensure the participation of women in the growth of our entrepreneurial ecosystem through many initiatives. This partnership with Women Entrepreneurs of Saskatchewan will help us continue to do that by examining one of the key barriers to scaling-up their businesses that we have heard all over the province, and that is access to capital.”The advisory committee will be made up of representatives from government, the entrepreneurial community, and financial and legal professions. The entrepreneurial gender gap examination will take place over the course of one year, with the goal of helping business leaders and the Government of Saskatchewan better understand women entrepreneurship, specifically barriers Saskatchewan women encounter such as access to venture capital and financial support.

In Saskatchewan, 34,600 women are self-employed, reflecting 16.5 per cent growth over the last to years – the third highest growth rate in Canada. Saskatchewan’s women entrepreneurs contribute to the economy in many sectors such as construction, manufacturing, health services, finance and technology.

“Supporting women to scale their businesses is imperative for economic growth in our province,” WESK CEO Prabha Mitchell said. “Advancing women’s equality in the creation of economic activity has the potential to increase GDP in our country by $150-420 billion. The endorsement of this priority by the Government of Saskatchewan positions our province as a leader in examining and addressing the gender entrepreneurship gap.”

WESK is a non-profit organization that works with Saskatchewan women to assist them with starting, buying or expanding a business and to achieve their entrepreneurial goals.

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Source: https://www.saskatchewan.ca/government/news-and-media/2019/may/02/women-advisory-committee

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Month: May 2019

WESK’S Celebration of Achievement and Entrepreneur Awards Gala 2019 – Female business leaders to be recognized with Entrepreneur Awards

Government Of Saskatchewan Supporting Women Entrepreneurs Through Creation Of Advisory Committee

Released on May 2, 2019, by the Government of Saskatchewan