October 17, 2008
Swan Salutes Small Business in Manitoba
Competitiveness, Training and Trade Minister Andrew Swan saluted the contribution of small business to the nation’s economy as he launched a week of celebrations and activities honouring small business today.
Swan signed a proclamation designating Oct. 20 to 24 Small Business Week in honour of the achievements of small- and medium-sized businesses.
“I would like to take this opportunity to show appreciation to all the small- and medium-business owners operating throughout our province,” said Swan. “It is their vision and entrepreneurial spirit that make them invaluable to Manitoba’s economy.”
Small-business owners in Manitoba create approximately one-third of all new jobs in the province and that number is expected to grow. A recent Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce study projects that by 2010, one in five Canadians will be self-employed. As it stands today, approximately 88,000 Manitobans are self-employed,
Small Business Week was launched from 135 Innovation Drive, home to Smartpark’s incubator program, the eureka project. Opened in 2006, the eureka project is currently home to 10 high-tech companies involved in research and development of organic foods, airship research, interactive learning resources, civionics, circuit board design and software development. On hand for the launch were several entrepreneurs from the eureka project showcasing their latest innovative technologies.
A World Without Boundaries, Open to New Markets is the theme of this year’s event. Small businesses are being encouraged to learn how to tap into the world’s developing economies and emerging middle-class markets.
“Small business has had a strong year in Manitoba,” said Shannon Coughlin, general manager of the Canada/Manitoba Business Service Centre. “To support entrepreneurs and small business, we offer a variety of information and learning opportunities as well as an outstanding business resource library that is now on line. Clients can virtually find resources on business planning, exporting, financial management, business start-up, e-business and intellectual properties that can help them start or grow their business. Our newest service channel, the videoconference network, allows us to extend these services and information throughout Manitoba.”
Small Business Week is a national initiative led by the Business Development Bank of Canada in co‑operation with the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, with the support of national and local sponsors, and pays tribute to the accomplishments of the owners and managers of small- and medium-sized enterprises.
More information on Small Business Week activities in Manitoba is available at www.bdc.ca or www.cbsc.org/manitoba.
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