We are pleased to once again have BMO as our Presenting Sponsor. Serving customers for 200 years and counting, BMO is a highly diversified financial services provider – the 8th largest bank, by assets, in North America. With total assets of $974 billion as of July 31, 2020, and a team of diverse and highly engaged employees, BMO provides a broad range of personal and commercial banking, wealth management and investment banking products and services to more than 12 million customers and conducts business through three operating groups: Personal and Commercial Banking, BMO Wealth Management and BMO Capital Markets.

Export Development Canada (EDC) is a financial Crown corporation dedicated to helping Canadian companies of all sizes succeed on the world stage. As international risk experts, EDC equips Canadian companies with the tools they need—the trade knowledge, financing solutions, equity, insurance, and connections—to grow their business with confidence. From the onset of the current economic crisis, EDC has been working alongside federal partners and Canadian financial institutions to provide the financial relief and services that Canadian businesses need to weather the pandemic, here and abroad. Underlying it all is EDC’s commitment to sustainable and responsible business.

With a strategy to support women-owned and -led businesses at every stage of their export journey, EDC aims to empower women entrepreneurs to go, grow and succeed beyond borders.  Our commitment includes a $100 million fund to provide equity growth capital directly to women-owned and -led companies that are scaling up, or to venture capital funds showing a commitment to promoting gender equity in both their portfolios and their investment decision-making teams.

For more information and to learn how we can help your company, call us at 1-800-229-0575 or visit edc.ca/women-in-trade

Public Services and Procurement Canada is the department of the Government of Canada with responsibility for the government’s internal servicing and administration. The department is responsible for the procurement for other government departments and serves as the central purchasing agent, real property manager, treasurer, accountant, pay and pension administrator, integrity adviser and linguistic authority; it was recognized in 2018 as one of Canada’s Best Diversity Employers. It is also the custodian of a large real estate portfolio and as well infrastructure such as bridges, dams and highways. https://www.tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca/comm/index-eng.html  

TELUS – (TSX: T, NYSE: TU) is a dynamic, world-leading communications technology company with $16 billion in annual revenue and 16 million customer connections spanning wireless, data, IP, voice, television, entertainment, video, and security. We leverage our global-leading technology and compassion to enable remarkable human outcomes. Our longstanding commitment to putting our customers first fuels every aspect of our business, making us a distinct leader in customer service excellence and loyalty. In 2020, TELUS was recognized as having the fastest wireless network in the world, reinforcing our commitment to provide Canadians with access to superior technology that connects us to the people, resources and information that make our lives better. TELUS Health is Canada’s leader in digital health technology, improving access to health and wellness services and revolutionizing the flow of health information across the continuum of care. TELUS Agriculture provides innovative digital solutions throughout the agriculture value chain, supporting better food outcomes from improved agri-business data insights and processes. TELUS International (TSX and NYSE: TIXT) is a leading digital customer experience innovator that delivers next-generation AI and content management solutions for global brands across the technology and games, ecommerce and FinTech, communications and media, healthcare, travel and hospitality sectors. TELUS and TELUS International operate in 25+ countries around the world. Together, let’s make the future friendly. Driven by our passionate social purpose to connect all citizens for good, our deeply meaningful and enduring philosophy to give where we live has inspired TELUS, our team members and retirees to contribute more than $820 million and 1.6 million days of service since 2000. This unprecedented generosity and unparalleled volunteerism have made TELUS the most giving company in the world. For more information about TELUS, please visit telus.com, follow us @TELUSNews on Twitter and @Darren_Entwistle on Instagram.

National Brokers Insurance Services, Inc. provides property and casualty insurance products and services. The Company offers commercial, personal, group home and auto, special insurance programs and offers custom-tailored solutions. National Brokers Insurance Services serves and markets insurance programs to organizations and individuals. https://nationalbrokers.com/ 

National Brokers Insurance also offers a specialized insurance program built by women for women entrepreneurs and executives!  This program is simply called Bloom because the female owners of National Brokers Insurance want to help with future planning, enhanced coverage and exclusive discounts on your home, auto and business insurance – essentially, they want to see all women flourish and bloom in business. https://insurancebybloom.ca

For decades the textile industry has been a major source of pollution. After years of research, Vision Textiles now has the technology to make substantial improvements. We recycle 100% post-consumer plastic bottles into eco-friendly fabrics. This unique process involves turning environmentally damaging waste into useable, sustainable yarns. The recycled yarns are then combined with natural fibers to be woven or knitted into eco-friendly fabrics, suitable for garments, home textiles and accessories.

Mastercard is a global technology company in the payments industry. Our mission is to connect and power an inclusive, digital economy that benefits everyone, everywhere by making transactions safe, simple, smart and accessible. Using secure data and networks, partnerships and passion, our innovations and solutions help individuals, financial institutions, governments and businesses realize their greatest potential. Our decency quotient, or DQ, drives our culture and everything we do inside and outside of our company. With connections across more than 210 countries and territories, we are building a sustainable world that unlocks priceless possibilities for all.

Hakemi & Ridgedale LLP is a Vancouver-based litigation boutique and its reputation in dispute resolution stems from its lawyers’ capabilities in complex corporate and commercial litigation. The firm has notable experience in corporate and commercial disputes, securities litigation, defamation law, and family law involving individuals with high net worth and complex asset structures. Headed by co-founders and partners Tom Hakemi and Lisa Ridgedale, the firm’s lawyers have experience advising clients in complex business disputes across several industry sectors including private equity and investments, financial services and banking, mining, resources, energy and infrastructure, construction, real estate, and retail and consumer markets. The firm’s lawyers resolve matters in all levels of court, and in front of regulatory bodies, tribunals, and arbitrators and mediators.

Over the past year, the firm has received several prestigious awards and rankings. Hakemi & Ridgedale was ranked by The Legal 500 as a 2021 Leading Firm in Dispute Resolution in British Columbia. HRLLP has been ranked by Benchmark Litigation 2021 as a recommended firm in British Columbia for litigation and dispute resolution. Tom Hakemi and Lisa Ridgedale have also been personally recognized as Litigation Stars in the Benchmark Litigation 2021 guide. Lisa was recently selected as a finalist for the Female Trailblazer Excellence Award by the Canadian Law Awards. The firm was previously announced as an Excellence Award recipient for Western Canada Law Firm of the Year 2020, presented by Lexpert’s 2020 Canadian Law Awards and supported by Canadian Lawyer and InHouse magazines. In September 2020, associate Nerissa Yan was announced by Canadian Lawyer as a Top 25 Most Influential Lawyer in Canada 2020, in the Young Influencer category. In April 2021, associate Nathan Muirhead was named a Lexpert Lawyer to Watch and achieved this status by virtue of being a finalist in the 2020 Lexpert Rising Stars: Leading Lawyers Under 40.

Concept strongly believes in customer service and is proud of their hard working and knowledgeable staff. We focus on the details that make the difference between an ordinary and extraordinary project experience. In fact, we are known in the building industry for fine workmanship, fair pricing and great customer service. We fulfill timeline requirements, in order to keep the project’s efficiency and budgets on track. We feel that every project is an opportunity to open doors and build long term relationships.

Women’s Enterprise Centre is a non-profit organization devoted to helping BC women start, lead and grow their own business. We provide business loans up to $150K, business skills training, personalized business advice, mentoring, practical business resources and a supportive community to help women business owners gain the skills, mindset, financing and networks they need to realize their business potential. Our team understands and relates to the unique circumstances of women business owners. Our experienced business advisors, mentors, trainers and facilitators provide our clients with tools and confidence through a supportive, individual and practical approach. https://www.womensenterprise.ca/

Committed to the growth of women’s entrepreneurship, the Women’s Enterprise Organizations of Canada (WEOC) works with women’s enterprise support organizations to champion innovation, broaden expertise, and enhance collaboration. https://weoc.ca/

GroYourBiz Ltd., headquartered in (Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada), is an initiative known as MyBusinessMyBoard™ brings a tactical and proven approach to meeting the needs of women business owners, who want to take their business to the next level. GroYourBiz provides monthly peer business “Advisory Board” meetings to women, engaging top experts, business analysts, and presenters and a ‘practical approach’ training guide. GroYourBiz was developed for women entrepreneurs that want to take their business to the next level. Each month entrepreneurs will draw upon the skills, expertise, inspiration and energy of like-minded entrepreneurs offering practical solutions to attracting tomorrow’s customers and expansion needs. https://groyourbiz.com/