another,” says Margaret Magner, executive director of PEIBWA. “That’s why we’re working so hard to represent women at every stage of their careers and businesses, from students and young entrepreneurs just launching their businesses to seasoned professionals.” “It’s ambitious, but we want to be as inclusive as possible, and recognize the diversity of needs that women have across the province,” says Magner. That’s one of the reasons PEIBWA is often out on the road, offering training and networking opportunities to women in both urban and rural areas across the province. PEIBWA’s Rural Women’s Business Centre is a crucial piece of this puzzle, located in Central Bedeque, and serving women predominantly in the central Queens to West Prince regions. PEIBWA is now sharing some $2 million in Women Entrepreneurship Strategy funding with Nova Scotia’s Centre for Women in Business; the Newfoundland and Labrador Organization of Women Entrepreneurs; and the New Brunswick Association of CBDCs Women in Business Initiative. Through this Atlantic Canadian Women in Business Growth Partnership, PEIBWA will expand
▲ Shelley Jessop, Manager of PEIBWA’s Rural Women’s Business Centre, and Margaret Magner ◄ (Facing page) Top: PEIBWA Executive Director, Margaret Magner Bottom: PEIBWA’s Rural Women’s Business Centre
its offerings to Island women with programs designed to help women- owned businesses in years one to five scale up and consider exporting. It will also ensure women in the trades, technology, and STEM fields—as well as Indigenous women, newcomers, women with disabilities, and women in rural areas—have the support, training, and mentorship they need to succeed. “Not only will this broaden PEIBWA’s capacity, but it will also give us a big boost and a national presence, and enhance our offerings to women on PEI, particularly when it comes to mentorship,” says Magner.
“Because we have such a strong, supportive community, I think more women are feeling it’s a great place to own a business; there’s a lot of potential. If PEIBWA didn’t exist, and I was hoping to become a woman in business, I don’t know if I would be as brave to do so.”
PEI Business Women’s Association 25 Queen Street, Suite 25
Charlottetown 902.892.6040
PEIBWA’s Rural Women’s Business Centre
Wm Callbeck Centre 106 Linkletter Avenue Central Bedeque 902.887.3171
“PEI is such a great place for women in business,” O’Hanley adds.
www.peibwa.org
SPRING 2020 www.pei-living.ca
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