It is February!
We have more workshops and resources for you this month!
But first…a few things we want you to know!
Celebrate Small Businesses in BC – The Small Business BC Awards are British Columbia’s largest small business awards – get involved by nominating your business, or nominating a small business you love today. Vote or Nominate for your favorite small business! There have been a few fellow Tsuts’weye businesses that have been nominated and if you have another local business to nominate please do it now!
Support your local businesses! Valentines Day is coming up and remember to support all of our local businesses – especially our restaurants!
The CMHA Hudson Thrift Shoppe is desperately low on clothing, housewares, and small appliance donations. The store not only helps to fund the programs they run, but also they act as a reintroduction to employment for persons working to re-enter the work force after mental wellness breaks. CMHA is a “friend and supporter of the Tsuts’weye program”. They support vulnerable women in our communities, and we encourage you to support them at this time of need. More information hereon where and how to drop off items.
NEW NETWORKING OPPORTUNITY!
Tuesday, February 9 – 12 Noon – 1 PM
The new Tsuts’weye Lunchtime Connections is an opportunity to regularly meet with other Tsuts’weye Network members to learn and share in an informal online environment. There will be a guest speaker each session and they will present on the current topic. Lunchtime Connections will focus on a different business-related topic every three months. The topic that we will be discussing for February, March, and April is “The value of Diversity and Inclusion in our community and in our businesses”.
When is it?
- Every second and fourth Tuesday of the month, (beginning February 9) at 12:00-1:00 pm
- Feel free to bring your lunch or grab a cup of coffee to enjoy while you connect with other Tsuts’weye women.
- The zoom link will be open at 11:30 am for people to drop in and socialize.
Registration
You register to attend each week. Send a message to [email protected] to secure one of the 12 seats available. You will be sent a unique zoom link to join the session by Tuesday morning.
Brandi Butts, the owner of Granting Wishes, and Carmen Massey, Tsuts’weye Project Manager, will co-facilitate the Tsuts’weye Lunchtime Connections series.
If I have an idea for a speaker or a topic:
Contact Carmen Massey at [email protected] to share your suggestions.
For more information on this program visit Tsuts’weye Connections on the Tsuts’weye website.
We have new workshops and connections that we hope that you will attend and share. A few of the highlights are:
- Claiming your Creativity – Wellness for Women in Heart-Centered Businesses – Thursday, February 11, 18, 25 – 10:00 -11:30 AM – This workshop is full but we are creating a wait list so please register.
- Securing Your Digital Self – Friday, February 19, 26, March 5, 12 – 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM – Imagine your digital self is a house – you want to protect what’s inside. These workshops will go over techniques to help you protect your house from malice and accidents.
- The Dark Art of Pricing – Thursday, March 4 – 1:00 – 4:00 PM – This workshop will give you a process to make a better guess about your pricing.
- Lead Yourself And Others – Thursday, March 11 – 10:00 – 11:00 AM – In this session, attendees will hone their leader mindset by leveraging the three Cs of confident leadership: clarity, conviction, and courage.
These are just a few of the workshops being delivered through the Tsuts’weye program!
Small and Medium Sized Business Recovery Grant
How the program works : Grants of $10,000 to $30,000 are available to small and medium sized B.C. businesses impacted by COVID-19. An additional $5,000 to $15,000 grant is available to eligible tourism-related businesses.
The program runs until March 31, 2021 or until the funds are fully allocated, whichever comes first. MORE INFO HERE.
Introduction to Indigenous Tourism Workshop
March 2nd – 5th, Quaaout Lodge
This workshop will provide an insight into the Indigenous Tourism industry and the business opportunities that are available. Indigenous entrepreneurs who have considered exploring a business opportunity in Indigenous Tourism can obtain more information about starting a business in this workshop.
Eligibility to attend this workshop: Women and men from the Indigenous communities of Adams Lake, Little Shuswap Lake, Neskonlith, and Splatsin.
INDIGENOUS TOURISM BC TO DISTRIBUTE $5 MILLION BC INDIGENOUS TOURISM RECOVERY FUND
Indigenous Tourism BC (ITBC), in partnership with the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport, is distributing $5 million to local Indigenous tourism businesses through the BC Indigenous Tourism Recovery Fund. The fund offers grants of up to $45,000 to support businesses navigate the ongoing economic impacts of COVID-19.
Businesses that apply for the BC Indigenous Tourism Recovery Fund financing will need to meet various eligibility requirements, including revenue loss of least 50% in 2020 and a strong recovery plan. Due to high volume, approved grant amounts will be limited to the need for funding demonstrated by each business.
UPCOMING WEBINARS
Vancouver Board of Trade
Honouring Black History Month: Solidarity through action
Tuesday, February 23, 2021 | 12:00 – 1:30 PM
Integrated e-Commerce Essentials
Tuesday, March 9 and 10, 2021 – 9:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Celebrating International Women’s Day: Choose to Challenge
Monday, March 8, 2021 – 12:00 – 1:00 PM
Foundations in Diversity and Inclusion Certificate
May 4, 5, and 6, 2021 – 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
More information and more events here.
SMALL BUSINESS BC
Here are just a few Webinars for you to access in February:
Creating Engaging Video Content Using Your Phone
Tuesday, February 9, 2021 – 9 – 11 am
How to Launch Your Product in Today’s World – Changing Retail Landscapes and Opportunities
Tuesday, February 9, 2021 – 1 – 4 PM
How Much Is Your Business Worth? How to Value a Business
Wednesday, February 10, 2021 – 10:30 AM – 12 PM
Social Media For Small Business – Using Social Media for Success
Wednesday, February 10, 2021 – 1:00 – 4:30 PM
For more information on February workshops and registration go here!
Find out other things that are happening at Small Business BC in February!
WOMENS ENTERPRISE CENTRE
NEW! Launch Your Dream: A Series for Immigrant Women – starting Feb. 16
WEC has created a new Launch Your Dream webinar series for Immigrant women, to explore entrepreneurship together and help you match your strengths and experience with a strong business that can succeed in BC! Starts Feb. 16. Register here.
The Women’s Enterprise Centre provides resources and support for women entrepreneurs. They have a long list of webinars that they provide but they also have other resources available, as well. For more information go to their website.
Find more information on their webinars and to register here.
TOTA – BC TOURISM RESILIENCY PROGRAM
The Tourism Resiliency Program (TRP), launched in 2020, continues into 2021
and if you have been part of the program we hope that you will continue to watch for new webinars, take advantage of the training opportunities, and the one-on-one meetings with TOTA’s advisors. If you have not worked with our TRP advisors in the past year and feel you could benefit from speaking with one of them please connect with us by emailing [email protected].
WE ARE TRYING SOMETHING NEW!
You can access all of the business resources currently available by visiting our Business Resource page.
We have changed the way our resources are displayed in this newsletter. The list was long and only people who read the newsletter had access to these resources. We have now put all of these resources, which includes resources specifically for Indigenous women, on the website. The link is call Business Resources and is located the top right hand corner of the Tsuts’weye website.
Let us know if these resources are helpful and if there is anything else that you would like to see listed in this resource list. Email us with comments to [email protected].
The Entrepreneur In Residence program is still in full operation. To access these services please complete the Client Intake Form on the website. All meetings will be held virtually through Zoom. If you have any questions about this program, please contact us [email protected].
Three Ways to 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!
Attend a workshop, course, or the new Lunchtime Connections sessions. More information on the Tsuts’weye event calendar.
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.
We embrace an inclusive community of female entrepreneurs who recognize we are all enriched by our diversity. We are committed to fostering an environment that advocates for respect, acceptance of others, and inclusion. All women are welcome here.
MEET OUR TEAM:
- Carmen Massey – Project Manager
- Caroline Grover – Entrepreneur in Residence
- Kari Wilkinson – Toliver Design – Website and Marketing
- Jenna Robins – Trilogy Solutions – Digital Marketing and Analytics
- 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.
For future contributions to this newsletter or for more information on the Tsuts’weye project, contact us at [email protected].