Impact Hub Ottawa

📢 New research shows women-owned businesses are gaining ground— and are core to Canada’s economic future. This month we had two events (March 5 for our English audience and March 19 for our French audience) to launch our 2025 State of Women’s Entrepreneurship (#SOWE) executive summary, which gives us an important snapshot of how women entrepreneurs are driving innovation, exports, sustainability and job creation across Canada. 🔍 Key insights:  ✅ Women-owned businesses now make up nearly 20% of private sector enterprises.  ✅ They employ close to 1 million people and generate over $90B in revenues.  ✅ In 2024, women-led firms outpaced others in revenue growth and led in innovation.  ✅ Women are gaining ground in manufacturing, construction and agriculture.  ✅ Indigenous and Black women entrepreneurs are leading in business ownership rates. As Dr. Wendy Cukier (our founder and academic director) shared, “Women entrepreneurs are essential to Canada’s economic resilience in the face of global uncertainty. Supporting them is not just about equity— it’s a smart economic strategy.” This month we were thrilled to be joined by incredible speakers and changemakers including The Honourable Rechie Valdez (Chief Government Whip and former Minister for Small Business), the Honourable Élisabeth Brière (Minister of Veterans Affairs and Minister responsible for the Canada Revenue Agency), Ruth Vachon, Tania Saba, Shannon Pestun, Vicki Saunders (She/Her), Alison Kirkland, Magnolia Perron, Cassandra Dorrington and more. A big thank you to our partners and all who joined us for the launch events in English and French across the country! 💡 This research reinforces what we already know: investing in women-led businesses strengthens Canada’s economy, builds inclusive growth and ensures we’re prepared for the future. 📘 Read more from the news release https://bit.ly/4bKHvcp #WomenEntrepreneurs #SOWE2025 #ELEF2025 #SupportWomenOwned #SMEs #IWD2025 Sabine Soumare Peggy Harvey

Now more than ever is a time to come together. ❤️ Join our team! Be part of the impact that's happening in Ottawa, in Canada, and across the globe! Lean In Lean In Canada Lean In Ottawa

🎉 Earlier this month we celebrated #InternationalWomensDay in Toronto alongside the Diversity Institute! The event featured an inspiring keynote address from The Honourable Rechie Valdez, Chief Government Whip and former Minister of Small Business, who shared how the Government of Canada is working to support women-led businesses and create a more inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem. Attendees also got an exclusive first look at the 2025 State of Women’s Entrepreneurship in Canada (SOWE) report, revealing new data on the economic contributions of women entrepreneurs and the systemic barriers they continue to face. 🎥 Missed the event? Watch the replay on YouTube here: https://lnkd.in/gnDwbTFY #WomenEntrepreneurs #IWD2025 #IWD #SOWE2025 SSHRC-CRSH Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada

🩺 L'IA au service de la santé des femmes : Regards croisés entre la France et le Canada Nous sommes ravis de vous inviter à un événement inspirant explorant comment l'intelligence artificielle façonne l'avenir de la santé des femmes. Organisé par La French Tech Toronto au MaRS Discovery District, cet événement unique réunira des leaders du Canada et de la France partageant leurs perspectives sur l'intégration de l'IA dans les soins de santé pour mieux soutenir le bien-être des femmes. 🌟 Pourquoi participer ? - Découvrez les enseignements clés du AI Action Summit - Assistez à une table ronde d’experts sur l'IA dans la santé des femmes — opportunités & défis - Échangez avec des innovateurs, chercheurs et décideurs engagés dans la transformation du secteur de la santé Que vous soyez passionné par la technologie, les soins de santé ou l'innovation, cet événement est une excellente opportunité pour enrichir vos connaissances et développer votre réseau ! 📅 Date : 26 mars 2025 | 14h - 17h 📍 Lieu : MaRS Discovery District - 101 College Street, Toronto, ON M5G 0A3 🔗 Inscrivez-vous dès maintenant : https://lnkd.in/gVC5KeEb Explorons ensemble comment l'IA peut contribuer à un avenir plus sain pour tous ! // 🩺 Empowering Women’s Health with AI: Voices from France and Canada We're excited to invite you to an inspiring event exploring how artificial intelligence is shaping the future of women’s health. Hosted at the MaRS Discovery District, this unique gathering will feature leaders from Canada and France sharing insights on integrating AI into healthcare to better support women’s well-being. 🌟 Why Attend? - Gain key insights from the AI Action Summit - Learn from an expert panel on AI in Women’s Health - Connect with innovators, researchers and policymakers driving healthcare transformation Whether you're passionate about tech, healthcare or innovation, this event is a fantastic opportunity to expand your knowledge and network! 📅 Date: March 26, 2025 | 2 p.m. - 5 p.m. ET 📍 Location: MaRS Discovery District - 101 College Street, Toronto, ON M5G 0A3 🔗 Register now: https://lnkd.in/gVC5KeEb Let’s explore how AI can create a healthier future for everyone! #WomenInTech #HealthcareInnovation #FemmesDansLaTech #FrenchTechToronto SSHRC-CRSH

🌟 Nous sommes ravis d'accueillir les invités à notre événement (anticipé !) de la Journée internationale des femmes à Toronto, organisé en collaboration avec Diversity Institute. Dans la matinée, nous nous rassemblerons pour célébrer les réalisations exceptionnelles des femmes entrepreneures à travers le Canada et écouter l’allocution de l’honorable Rechie Valdez, ministre de la Petite Entreprise, nous expliquer comment le Government of Canada soutient les entreprises dirigées par des femmes. De plus, les participants auront l'exclusivité d' entendre les premières conclusions préliminaires de notre prochain rapport 2025 sur l'état de l'entrepreneuriat féminin au Canada (ELEF), qui met en lumière les avancées récentes ainsi que les défis persistants auxquels font face les femmes entrepreneures aujourd’hui. Restez à l'écoute pour les moments importants de cette matinée inspirante ! Si vous êtes parmi nous, nous aimerions connaître vos impressions - laissez-les dans les commentaires ! 💬✨ Et si vous pouvez nous rejoindre virtuellement à 11h30 aujourd'hui, cliquez ici : https://lnkd.in/g-sgKvmy #ELEF2025 SSHRC-CRSH Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada Wendy Cukier Shannon Pestun Sabine Soumare

💜 Yesterday, we gathered in Toronto for an unforgettable International Women’s Day celebration, hosted alongside the Diversity Institute! The event highlighted the remarkable achievements of #WomenEntrepreneurs across Canada and reinforced the importance of driving meaningful change for the future. The Honourable Rechie Valdez, Minister of Small Business, shared valuable insights on how the Government of Canada is supporting women-led businesses. The conversation continued with an insightful panel on Canada’s women entrepreneurship ecosystem, moderated by our founder, Dr. Wendy Cukier. Panellists included: - Shannon Pestun, senior advisor, WEKH - Vicki Saunders (She/Her), founding activator, Coralus  - Ruth Vachon, president and general director, Réseau des Femmes d'affaires du Québec  - Alison Kirkland, CEO, Women's Enterprise Organizations of Canada - Magnolia Perron, manager, Indigenous Women’s Entrepreneurship, NACCA - Cassandra Dorrington, president, CAMSC Attendees also got an exclusive first look at the 2025 State of Women’s Entrepreneurship in Canada (#SOWE2025) report, revealing key insights on the economic impact of women-led businesses and the challenges they continue to face. 📖 Missed the event? You can dive into the #SOWE2025 Executive Summary here: https://bit.ly/sowe2025es 📸 Eric Forget Photography #IWD #IWD2025 SSHRC-CRSH Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada

📣 Big news for women founders in Canada: The Canada51 Hub has officially launched! We're proud to have collaborated with the Canada51 Committee to bring the new Canada51 Hub to life. The platform features a growing list of funds committed to fostering innovation, breaking barriers and levelling the playing field in #VentureCapital. The Canada51 Hub goes beyond being just a resource, it's a powerful connection to investors committed to supporting women and under-represented #entrepreneurs. Explore curated profiles of funds and angel groups that deploy capital and are dedicated to diversity and inclusion: 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gX8ySuP2 // 📣 Grandes nouvelles pour les fondatrices au Canada : le Hub Canada51 est officiellement lancé ! Nous sommes fiers d’avoir collaboré avec le Comité Canada51 pour donner vie au nouveau Hub Canada51. Cette plateforme propose une liste croissante de fonds engagés à favoriser l’innovation, à briser les barrières et à niveler le terrain de jeu dans le domaine du #CapitalDeRisque. Le Hub Canada51 est bien plus qu’une simple ressource : c’est une connexion avec des investisseurs déterminés à soutenir les femmes et les #entrepreneurs sous-représentés. Découvrez des profils soigneusement sélectionnés de fonds et de groupes d’investisseurs providentiels qui déploient du capital et prônent la diversité et l’inclusion : 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gX8ySuP2 SSHRC-CRSH

Our friends at Horizon Ottawa are hiring for a part-time Communications and Media Coordinator! Interested in applying? Check out the application process below!

RECRUITMENT IS NOW OPEN! ...for the Municipal Climate Internship which places young environmental leaders with municipalities in Southeastern Ontario for a 6-month internship (United Counties of Leeds and Grenville, Kawartha Lakes, The Corporation of the County of Prince Edward). Interns are provided a unique opportunity to get a day-to-day understanding of how municipalities operate, while working to tackle local climate change issues. They become well-versed in municipal government and politics through research, communications, mentorship and project work. Outside of placement work, interns have the chance to develop their leadership and professional skills, meet municipal climate experts, attend networking opportunities and share their experience with others. This is a full-time, 6-month program beginning with orientation in January 2025 and ending in July 2025. Interns receive a monthly stipend for the duration of the internship and allowances for travel and professional development. Application Deadline: October 31st, 2024 Learn more and apply at https://lnkd.in/eBJtWT3S Please share with those that may be interested in applying. #Environment #Youth #YouthLeadership #CdnPoli #ClimateAction #EnvironmentalAction #YouthEmpowerment #Ontario #ClimateLeaders #Internship #Career #Sustainability #GreenJobs #Jobs #YouthOpportunities #YouthPrograms #GreenCareers

Thank you to everyone who joined us at the speed mentoring event on Monday! We were thrilled to begin with an insightful keynote from Fayza Abdallaoui, founder of Next Level Impact Consulting, who set the tone perfectly with these three guiding words: "Transformative, collective and inclusive." Throughout the event, over 20 experienced mentors shared practical and actionable advice on everything from strategic planning and marketing to startup innovation and grant writing. Thank you to each and every one of you; you all made such an impact! Special thanks to our partners, the City of Toronto, Diversity Institute and Future Skills Centre - Centre des Compétences futures for helping make the event a success! To stay connected on upcoming events, sign up for our monthly newsletter: https://lnkd.in/gry9V9NF ✨