WESK Introduces a New Era of Recognition: 50 Women Entrepreneurs to Be Celebrated at WEOTY 2026

SASKATOON, SK – Women Entrepreneurs of Saskatchewan (WESK) is proud to unveil the inaugural class of honourees for the 2026 WESK Entrepreneurs of the Year (WEOTY), a reimagining of the organization’s long-standing annual WESK Gala and a celebration designed to recognize more women, more stories, and more definitions of success. WEOTY shifts the focus from selecting a small number of winners to celebrating the accomplishments, leadership, impact, and resilience of 50 women entrepreneurs from across Saskatchewan.

Unlike traditional award programs, WEOTY was intentionally designed to be entrepreneur-first rather than business-first. The new model recognizes women whose impact extends beyond revenue figures alone and creates space to celebrate innovation, community leadership, culture-building, resilience, growth, and long-term contributions to Saskatchewan’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.

The celebration will take place at 5 PM on September 16, 2026, at Prairieland Park in Saskatoon, bringing together entrepreneurs, business leaders, community partners, and supporters from across the province for an evening dedicated to storytelling, connection, and recognition.

“For many years, recognition programs have not fully reflected the diversity of experiences, pathways and contributions that drive success,” said Miriam Johnson, CEO of WESK. “But women entrepreneurs build businesses for many different reasons and in many different ways. Some are creating jobs, some are changing communities, some are building incredible workplace cultures, and others are redefining industries. WEOTY allows us to celebrate success in all its forms and acknowledge the remarkable women driving Saskatchewan forward every day.”

The evolution comes after extensive reflection on how recognition programs can better represent the realities of entrepreneurship today. Through WEOTY, WESK has expanded recognition opportunities from a small group of award recipients to more than 50 honourees while introducing multiple recognition categories designed to reflect diverse entrepreneurial journeys.

Through a selection process involving entrepreneurial ecosystem organizations and groups serving equity-deserving communities, WESK aimed to ensure the honouree list reflects the diversity, talent, and innovation found across the province.

Together, these women represent a powerful cross-section of Saskatchewan entrepreneurship. Their businesses and leadership are creating jobs, strengthening communities, fostering innovation, supporting families, and helping shape the future of Saskatchewan’s economy.

“The stories behind these entrepreneurs are inspiring, but they’re also imperative to the future of our economy,” added Miriam Johnson. “We have a saying in our industry: ‘see it, be it.’ When women entrepreneurs are visible, it helps create pathways for future generations of women to see what’s possible. WEOTY is about celebrating achievement, but it’s also about building momentum for the future.”

WEOTY serves as the official kick-off to the 2026 WESK Summit and reflects WESK’s ongoing commitment to advancing opportunities for women entrepreneurs across Saskatchewan.

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About WESK

Women Entrepreneurs of Saskatchewan (WESK) is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting women entrepreneurs at every stage of business. Through financing, training, networking, mentorship, and advocacy, WESK works to help women entrepreneurs start, grow, and scale successful businesses while contributing to a stronger Saskatchewan economy.

Media Contact

Michael Betteridge
Brand Manager, Women Entrepreneurs of Saskatchewan (WESK)
(306)530-0827
mbetteridge@wesk.ca