We are sure that everyone was excited and anxious to see the kids attending their first days of school in the past week. Lots of uncertainty about how the new learning environment would affect them and then came the added stress about the air quality impact of the wildfire smoke. Sometimes it all just feels a little crazy and out of control!
The team at Tsuts’weye wants to thank all of the people that have been working so hard to get our children learning again, whether it is in the classroom or at home. We simply commend everyone for moving forward and finding a way to keep our children engaged and excited about the new school year.
We are also moving forward with keeping our businesses learning, whether it is adapting to the new normal, shifting your business online, dealing with keeping yourself and your staff safe, and many other things that are new to your business. We hope that you engage in the many learning opportunities that the Tsuts’weye network will provide to you in the coming months.
Please everyone stay safe and healthy, support our families as their children return to school or learn at home, follow the COVID protocols always, and most of all be kind and patient with each other. And again – our residents and businesses will benefit by everyone remembering that we can make it through this – but only by working together.

Do you love coffee with a conscience? Look no further than Frog Friendly Coffee, a local Shuswap-based, female-owned and operated roastery delivering rich, delicious and sustainable coffee one cup at a time. When Karla Ferster initially co-created Frog Friendly Coffee, her ethically sourced and tasty coffee roasting company, she had one goal in mind: create the perfect cup of steaming hot coffee while maintaining respect for the environment, the people and the process at every step of the way.
Karla started Frog Friendly Coffee with her business partner, Pedro, 16 years ago when she discovered her passion for sharing a sustainable cup of coffee with every Canadian home. ​Raised in Mexico, ​Karla has spent her life feeling incredibly connected to Mexico, where she always feels at home, inspired and clear of purpose, and wanted to bring a piece of its rich culture back to share with her Canadian community. What started as a huge dream, a deep connection to the land, and a lot of passion so many years ago, Frog Friendly Coffee has grown into a thriving business situated on the shores of Shuswap Lake in Canoe, BC.
Learn more about Frog Friendly Coffee and their mission to support communities in Canada and the Oaxaca Occidental region of Mexico here.

Congratulations to Jenna Robins from Trilogy Solutions for this recognition!!
We have the pleasure of working with Jenna as part of the Tsuts’weye team
and we appreciate her professionalism and support for everything we do!

We have our first Creative Skills workshop, “Caffeinated Content Creation – Working with Words” – presented by Ashley Doan, which has been so popular we are delivering it for two days now – Sunday, September 27 and Monday, September 28. If you are interested please email [email protected] as soon as possible! We only have one spot left for each workshop! Registration will close on Friday, September 18. Thank you to Jenna Robins – Trilogy Solutions – for sponsoring lunch and to Ashley Doan for supplying coffee and snacks for these workshops!

Join us for three small group networking sessions!
Enderby – Monday, September 21 – 4 – 7 pm – Belvedere Park
To register please email Clyde at [email protected].
Hosted by the Enderby Chamber of Commerce in partnership with the Tsuts’weye Women’s Entrepreneur and Innovation Network.
More information on this even here.
South Shuswap – Thursday, September 24 – 6-8 pm – Rustic Wedding
To register please email Robyn Cyr at [email protected].
Hosted by Rustic Wedding, Brabyn Business Solutions, and the South Shuswap Chamber in partnership with the Tsuts’weye Women’s Entrepreneur and Innovation Network. More information on this event here.
Salmon Arm – Tuesday, October 6 – 6-8 pm – Tanto Latte
To register please email Kari Wilkinson at [email protected]
Hosted by Toliver Advertising & Design and Tanto Latte in partnership with the
Tsuts’weye Women’s Entrepreneur and Innovation Network
More information on this event here.
Purpose of the Get Together: Providing space for women entrepreneurs to gather in a small group to share the impact of COVID-19 on their businesses. This will be a positive and supportive gathering of women entrepreneurs.
  • Due to COVID-19 regulations we will ensure that we have enough space to physically distance appropriately. If events are full with a waiting list we will look to plan another event to accommodate everyone.
  • Women must pre-register to attend – information is provided above for each event.
  • No Cost. Free event!
  • We will sit inside in Salmon Arm, outside in Enderby and the South Shuswap, in a circle, appropriately distanced from one another. A washroom is located at all sites, for your use.
  • Masks will be required inside in Salmon Arm, and optional outside in Enderby and the South Shuswap.
  • Each attendee must review and sign the Tsuts’weye COVID-19 protocol. This document will be included in a separate registration confirmation email and available on site.
  • Individually packaged refreshments will be provided for each attendee.
  • This will be a seated event, the entire time, but the small group size will create ample space for meaningful networking and sharing.

We will be presenting our Tsuts’weye Virtual Peer Mentoring sessions with Kathleen Seeley and Laura Cooke on Monday October 5th.  Please email [email protected] if you are interesting in participating in this program. There will be more information presented to registrants closer to the start date of this program.

September 29th – October 1st
The virtual LEAP Conference for Women in Business will be a cutting-edge experience that mirrors a face to face event, accessing the most current and advanced technology to engage attendees.
Participants, both women and men who foster the development of women, will be able to access presentations, connect with keynote speakers, exhibitors, and other participants all on their PC or mobile device.
Conference Registration and Information

Monday, September 14th was the official launch of the Tsuts’weye Business Recovery, Expansion and Training Program. The best part for our participants, is that the cost of this amazing program is covered entirely by the Tsuts’weye Women’s Entrepreneur and Innovation Network.
• 11 Shuswap Businesswomen have committed to participating in this robust 6 month program
• Facilitated by James Grieve, a senior business advisor from Value Driver Consulting
• A team of 4 business professionals will assist with area specific topics including:
Caroline Grove – Entrepreneur In Residence
Chelsea Kraft – Certified Professional Accountant
Dustin Serviss – Certified Financial Planner
Robyn Jespersen – HR Consultant
A second intake of 10 women is scheduled to begin for the same program in November. There are a few spaces still available – so if you are interested in participating in this amazing business opportunity to add value to; and make your business better, get in touch with us today!
More information here on this program and how to register!

Two ways that you can connect through Tsuts’weye!!

Join the Tsuts’weye Network Business Directory and share your business. To get your business profile on this page, simply fill out our Business Profile Form and email it to us! Check out the current listings on the Tsuts’weye website.
Join the Tsuts’weye Network Facebook Group. Keep up to date on workshops, podcasts, events, resources, and much more!

Okanagan College knows the pandemic has impacted career and business opportunities in many ways, and with that in mind, they are here to help. Continuing Studies will be offering most of its certificate programs, corporate training services and general interest courses online and via distance education this fall. Explore upcoming online offerings courses here and also go to their continuing studies website for more information.

INTERESTING READ – THE SHE-COVERY REPORT

Confronting the Gendered Economic Impacts of COVID-19 in Ontario
The COVID-19 crisis is having a disproportionate economic impact on women. There are several reasons for this. First, temporary business shutdowns and layoffs during the state of emergency most severely affected occupations and sectors that predominantly employ women. Second, these sectors are those in which women entrepreneurs are more likely to operate, and their businesses tend to be newer, smaller, and less well-financed than those owned by men. Third, restrictions on schools and paid child care facilities have shifted additional hours of unpaid family care onto parents, and this work has largely been taken up by mothers. Fourth, while women are dominating the frontline responses to the COVID pandemic, they have not been included in the planning for recovery. The pandemic has also exacerbated existing inequality and has been especially challenging for certain groups of women, including racialized women, Indigenous women, single mothers, low-income women, immigrant women, women with disabilities, and those living in rural areas.
Read the full report here

UPCOMING WEBINARS

SMALL BUSINESS BC
BUILD. GROW.THRIVE. – You are invited to join Small Business BC remotely on Wednesday, September 23rd for a day of education that connects entrepreneurs with the province’s leading tools and resources. each session on the day will deliver practical advice tailored toward navigating our “new normal.” – register here.
FUNDING AND RESOURCES FOR INCLUSIVE EMPLOYERS – Access Funding and Supports to Become an Inclusive Employer – Friday, September 25, 2020
9:00am to 10:30am – register
GET STARTED WITH EMAIL MARKETING – Launching an Effective Email Strategy – Tuesday, September 29, 2020 – 1:00pm to 4:00pm – register
CYBERTHREATS: HOW TO PROTECT YOUR SMALL BUSINESS – Cybersecurity in the Age of COVID-19 – Wednesday, September 30, 2020
10:00am to 11:30am – register
PRIVACY LAW: NAVIGATING REGULATIONS AND AVOIDING BREACHES
How to Protect Your Business and Comply with Privacy Regulations – Wednesday, September 30, 2020 – 1:00pm to 2:30pm – register
BACK TO BUSINESS GOAL SETTING WORKSHOP – Succeeding in the New Normal for Business – Sep 24, Oct 1, Oct 8, and Oct 15, 2020 (attendees must be available for all 4 dates) – 10:00 am – 12:00 pm – register
FINDING AND BIDDING ON OPPORTUNITIES with the Government of Canada -Thursday, November 12, 2020 – register
WOMENS ENTERPRISE CENTRE
The Women’s Enterprise Centre provides resources and support for women entrepreneurs. Listed below is their webinars that they provide but they also have lots of other resources available. For more information go to their website.
More Webinars!
There are more webinars from the Women’s Enterprise Centre! Make sure that you check them out!

Only a few more weeks to attend this market!!
Community Futures Development Corporation of Central Interior First Nations will be hosting the Kweseltken Farmer’s and Artisan Market from August 2 to September 27 at the Kamloopa Powwow Arbour in Kamloops, BC.
Visit the market and purchase Indigenous grown, raised, and crafted goods.

Tsuts’weye Entrepreneur In Residence Services

To assist you with the reopening and recovery of your business in the Shuswap region.
Tsuts’weye Women’s Entrepreneur & Innovation Network can provide services to your business, whether you are a new business, or have been in business many years. These services are provided free of charge, thanks to the financial support of Community Futures Shuswap and Western Economic Diversification.
To access these services please complete the Client Intake Form and then send to Caroline Grover, our Entrepreneur in Residence by email or call her directly at 250-300-4757.
For more information about this program go to the Tsuts’weye website.

COVID-19 Supports and resources for Entrepreneurs

Government Resources for Individuals and Businesses –
GOVERNMENT OF CANADA updates:
The Government of Canada provides regular updates on their programs to assist individuals and businesses that have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. For up to date information on these programs go to Canada’s COVID-19 Economic Response Plan and resource information.
PROVINCE OF BC updates:
COVID-19 resources for BC Businesses and individuals – updates as of September 14, 2020.
Other Resources:
WorkSafe BC –  COVID-19 information and resources updated for safe operations for Phase 3.
GO2HR – Restarting business operations after COVID-19 industry sector best practices guides here.
BC Economic Development Association – COVID19 Resources for BC Businesses.
BDC – COVID-19 – Resources and support for BC businesses. Webinars for businesses resources recovery.
Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) -Shuswap-Revelstoke – for resources to assist you please click here
Community Futures Shuswap – COVID-19 Business Resources for businesses in the Shuswap region.
Destination BC – Learning Centre – Free Resources/Webinars for your business – COVID-19 Resources for the Tourism Industry – updated September 14, 2020.
Farm Credit Canada – COVID-19 Resources for the agriculture industry.
Greater Vancouver Board of Trade – COVID19 resources and Business Reinvention Series Webinars – more information here.
Salmon Arm Economic Development Society – Business Restart Toolkit – Resources for businesses to reopen and more.
Small Business BC – Back to Business Resources from Small Business BC.
Shuswap Economic Recovery – Providing resources and support for all Shuswap businesses. Learn more.
Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association – Tourism Resiliency Program – Resources for Tourism businesses in the Thompson Okanagan Tourism region.
Tourism Industry Association of BC – C-19 Bulletin – September 14, 2020
Women’s Enterprise Centre – Assisting women entrepreneurs through recovery – Resources and Support..

For future contributions to this newsletter or for more information, contact Robyn Cyr, Communications for the Tsuts’weye project at [email protected].

Welcome to Tsuts’weye!

(Pronounced “Soots-way-e”, means butterfly, in Secwepemc)
Tsuts’weye is a federally-funded project through Western Economic Development Canada, to support women entrepreneurs in the Shuswap through building skills, knowledge and networks.
MEET OUR TEAM:
Carmen Massey – Project Manager
Caroline Grover – Entrepreneur in Residence
Kari Wilkinson – Toliver Design – Website and Marketing
Jenna Robins – Trilogy Solutions – Social Media and Technical Support
Robyn Cyr – Brabyn Business Solutions – Communications
Please visit Tsutsweye.ca to learn more about the project and the team.
CONTACT US:
Online at  Tsutsweye.ca 
Please call ahead to make an appointment.