WOMEN ENTREPRENEURSHIP KNOWLEDGE HUB -
ALBERTA HUB
A one-stop source of knowledge, data and best practices for
women entrepreneurs and the ecosystem that supports them
Advancing gender equality and women's participation in the economy, Canada could add up to $150 billion in GDP.
About Canada’s Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub
The full and equal participation of women in the economy is not just the right thing to do; it's the smart thing to do. Studies show that by advancing gender equality and women's participation in the economy, Canada could add up to $150 billion in GDP. Only 18% of Canadian small and medium-sized businesses are owned by women, and the Government of Canada is working to change that.
In 2018, the Government of Canada launched the first ever Women Entrepreneurship Strategy (WES), representing nearly $7 billion in investments and commitments. The WES aims to increase women-owned businesses' access to the financing, networks and expertise they need to start up, scale up and access new markets.
As part of the WES, The Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub (WEKH) was created. The Hub is a one-stop source of knowledge, data and best practices for women entrepreneurs. The national hub, led by The Diversity Institute in the Ted Rogers School of Business at Toronto Metropolitan University, has brought together 10 regional hubs, over 300 organizations and thousands of women entrepreneurs to create a more inclusive and supportive environment to grow women’s entrepreneurship in Canada.
The Hub's activities include:
collecting, analyzing and disseminating information, and/or advancing research on women's entrepreneurship;
supporting and sharing best practices and knowledge among women business support organizations;
reporting on the progress of women entrepreneurs in Canada, including a review of the Canadian entrepreneurship ecosystem's supports for women.
Learn about Canada’s Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub here
THE WEKH AB HUB
REGIONAL EXPERTISE TO
MEET REGIONAL NEEDS
The Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub spreads its expertise from coast to coast, enabling service providers, academics, government and industry to enhance their support for women entrepreneurs. The Alberta Hub works alongside 10 regional hubs to coordinate activities in different regions and bring our unique area of expertise and specialization to WEKH.
The Alberta Hub's activities include:
showcasing Alberta’s ecosystem at a national level;
supporting national HUB mandate and goals;
collecting, analyzing and disseminating information, and/or advancing research on women's entrepreneurship in Alberta;
supporting and sharing best practices and knowledge among women business support organizations in Alberta;
reporting on the progress of women entrepreneurs in Alberta, including a review of the Canadian entrepreneurship ecosystem's supports for women.
OUR RESEARCH
The Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub is a one-stop source of knowledge, data and best practices for women entrepreneurs. Whether you’re in government, industry or working to advance women’s entrepreneurship in other ways, WEKH provides insight to help you accelerate your efforts.
Of all businesses that are started today are started by women
Of all businesses are majority owned by women in Canada - with more than 99% of these small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs)
Women in Canada who were self-employed in 2022
Businesses in Canada that are owned by people who identify as 2SLGBTQ+ contributing more than $22 billion in economic activity
State of Women’s Entrepreneurship
in Canada 2024
The State of Women’s Entrepreneurship (SOWE) annual report is a go-to resource for the most complete picture of research on women’s entrepreneurship in Canada. The report provides valuable insights and recommendations for policymakers, business leaders and other stakeholders on how to support women entrepreneurs. Explore the most recent findings to gain a deeper understanding of the progress, barriers and enablers in women’s entrepreneurship in Canada in SOWE2024.
Financing Women Entrepreneurs
in Canada
Women entrepreneurs face numerous barriers to success across their entrepreneurial journeys. Research has found that, on average, women launch businesses with 53% less capital than men. This report provides a comprehensive description of the current state of women’s access to financing in the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Canada; it also explains the barriers facing women and details emerging solutions, such as small business financing and financial programs designed for women entrepreneurs.
See the full report here
Women Entrepreneurs Beyond
the Stereotypes
View the Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub’s new research, See It. Be It. Women Entrepreneurs Beyond the Stereotypes, for more on how gendered and culturally specific assumptions about entrepreneurship present barriers to women.
See the full report here
View other research shaping women’s
entrepreneurship in Canada
Alberta Ecosystem
WEKH works collaboratively with our ecosystem to create relationships within the entrepreneurship ecosystem that support women in Alberta. As Canada’s only nationally recognized women entrepreneurship hub, WEKH’s convening power stretches across Canada, across diverse groups, and across an ecosystem of partners. Key stakeholders include: government, policy makers, academics, industry, women’s business support organizations and women entrepreneurs
Through our mandate, we’re advancing women’s entrepreneurship in Alberta and across the country by identifying gaps and opportunities and making practical evidence-based recommendations that impact women’s access to the financing, talent, networks and expertise they need to start up, scale up and access new markets.
LEVERAGE OUR EXPERTISE
RESEARCH
Do you have specific research you want WEKH AB to conduct on behalf of your organization? Our research initiatives bring you new insights to your efforts.
WE AMPLIFY YOUR WORK
Do you have a message that you'd like to get to Canada's Women Entrepreneurship ecosystem or even your own team? We can help you host webinars, events and more.
SPEAKING
Invite WEKH to speak at your next event and share information on women’s entrepreneurship
EVENTS DIRECTORY
ALBERTA EVENTS CALENDAR
FEATURED UPCOMING
AWARDS & RECOGNITION
Women entrepreneurs across Alberta are changing the entrepreneurial landscape in many ways and we’re happy to celebrate and showcase their outstanding business achievements and meaningful contributions to the Alberta economy. From WEKH’s national See it Be it databse to local, regional and national awards there’s many ways we can celebrate and amplify women-owned businesses and the women who brought them to life.
WEKH: SEE IT BE IT
WEKH is proud to present the See it. Be it. Database. A resource featuring 1000+ profiles of successful women entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds, sectors, experiences and regions across Canada.
Do you know an award-winning, successful woman entrepreneur who should be included in our database?
Please submit them for consideration. Nominate an entrepreneur
Meet the Alberta women entrepreneurs in the See it Be it program.
ALBERTA AWARDS PROGRAMS
NATIONAL AWARDS PROGRAMS
Nominate a woman entrepreneur and put her in the national spotlight!
Do you have awards program you want us to highlight?
NEWS & STORIES
STAY IN TOUCH
Sign up to be part of our ecosystem and get the latest news on events and issues impacting women entrepreneurs in Alberta. The WEKH Alberta newsletter is an excellent way to stay on top of current research and keep up with the latest news and events shaping women’s entrepreneurship in Alberta.
Want to share information so we can help amplify your message?
Send us an email
Contact Us
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Kara Thorvaldson (She/Her/Hers)
Co-lead, Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub
Kara Thorvaldson (she/her) represents the Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub as a Program Manager, co-leading WEKH’s strategy in the Alberta region. She is an Indigenous woman from Treaty 1 territory (MB), with family roots within Sagkeeng First Nation and the Red River Métis. Kara graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce (Honors) from the I.H. Asper School of Business at the University of Manitoba, where she pursued a double major in Marketing and International Business, and was fortunate to spend a year of her degree studying at the Hogeschool van Amsterdam in the Netherlands.
Since then, Kara has worked on various projects at the Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub, including the Indigenous program, Mikwam Makwa Ikwe. She has also worked to support organizations such as the National Aboriginal Trust Officers Association (NATOA) and The Fireweed Fellowship in various capacities. Kara relocated in 2021, and acknowledges she is a guest on the traditional lands of the people of Treaty 7 (AB). In her current role Kara collaborates and partners with ecosystem organizations at the meso and macro levels to create a more inclusive Innovation and Entrepreneurial Ecosystem for women and gender-diverse entrepreneurs to thrive here in Alberta. Outside of her work, Kara is a daughter, sister, friend, partner, and a provider for her rescue pup, Smokie.
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Shannon Pestun
Co-lead, Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub
Shannon is a courageous leader known for breaking barriers to advance an inclusive and sustainable economy. For the past decade, she has worked to accelerate women’s entrepreneurship. She was one of the first leaders in the country to lead a women’s banking strategy and was appointed to serve on Canada’s women entrepreneurship strategy expert panel.
Since 2020, Shannon has served as the Senior Advisor to The Diversity Institute supporting the Women’s Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub, The 50-30 challenge and other initiatives through the development and research that advance gender equality and diversity in leadership and helping organizations accelerate diversity strategies already underway.
Through an Indigenous worldview, Shannon brings a refreshing and transformational approach to her work. Her commitment and leadership inclusive entrepreneurship have made her one of the country’s most sought-after advisors and trusted voices on issues facing women’s entrepreneurship and the importance of building an inclusive entrepreneurial innovation ecosystem among educators, government, industry and media.
Originating from the Métis homeland and Treaty 1 territory, Shannon resides in the Treaty 7 territory and is a proud member of the Métis Nation of Alberta.