In 2002, the Honorable Jean Chrétien, then-Prime Minister of Canada, set up a national task force to consult with women entrepreneurs in order to identify the specific difficulties they face and to develop solutions that recognize the value of their significant contribution to the Canadian economy.

On the heels of the task force, Ms. Nicole Beaudoin, CEO of the Quebec Business Women’s Network Inc. (QBWN) and Ms. Louise St-Cyr, Chair of SMB Development and Succession at HEC Montréal, jointly wrote and submitted a brief.

In light of the task force recommendations, Ms. Beaudoin, drawing on her considerable experience of the unique challenges facing women entrepreneurs, developed and presented an innovative solution to Canada Economic Development (CED) in November 2003: an infrastructure project for long-term bilingual services.

The project sparked great interest and was accepted at the end of 2004. Thanks to a non-refundable contribution of $1.8 million over three years from Canada Economic Development, the Women Entrepreneurial Center of Québec was born.

The Women Entrepreneurial Center of Québec (WECQ), founded in 2005, is a bilingual, non-profit organization based in Montreal.

It is headed by its promoter, Ms. Nicole Beaudoin, CEO of the Quebec Business Women’s Network (QBWN) and founder of the Institut de formation pour les gens d’affaires (IFGA). The IFGA had been offering programs since 1998, including training in starting and managing businesses, and became the WECQ in early 2005.

The WECQ offers French- and English-speaking women entrepreneurs in Quebec a one-stop center for activities and support services for starting or developing their businesses.

In order to achieve its goal of a one-stop service center as soon as possible, the WECQ is working closely with public- and private-sector information and service suppliers specializing in management and entrepreneurship.

Studies show that women entrepreneurs have different needs than men entrepreneurs. They also face conditions that discourage them from going into business or that inhibit the growth of their existing businesses.

The following five explicit reasons demonstrate the real need for a women’s entrepreneurial center in Quebec:

1. Specific demand
   Businesswomen are aware that their situation and entrepreneurial development differ from those of businessmen, and as a consequence, they have particular needs. To rectify the situation and find positive solutions, they have, for many years, been searching for the support of qualified personnel in organizations dedicated specifically to their needs.



2. Skills
   Since managing a business is still a non-traditional career for women, it is important to help them acquire the skills and knowledge that they lack or have not had access to in the past.



3. Support
   Year after year, established Canadian and American centers for women entrepreneurs indicate that such specially adapted and supportive organizations clearly stimulate business and job creation, and contribute to higher business survival rates.



4. Business and mutual assistance network
   Whether for reasons of education or to balance work and family, businesswomen tend to isolate themselves and to rely on their own resources in difficult situations. They also tend to avoid building on their accomplishments. Targeted networking and mutual assistance activities throughout Quebec will enable women entrepreneurs to break out of their isolation, exchange information and create a network of invaluable contacts.



5. The experience of women entrepreneurs
   It has been proven that the inclination to start a business is greater among women who know other women entrepreneurs.

The WECQ’s objectives are to promote the start-up and development of businesses run by women, and to improve the survival and success rates of new or existing businesses.

Three types of bilingual services enable women entrepreneurs to take up the challenges of starting a new business or developing an existing business into one that is financially sound and has strong potential.

1. Access to up-to-date and targeted information
   Organizations offering guidance in the field of entrepreneurship abound, relevant documentation for entrepreneurs is varying and scattered, and client needs are diverse. The WECQ offers both an on-site documentation center and a regularly updated Web portal containing resources and services for entrepreneurs, and information on service providers.



2. Skills upgrading
   It is essential to have access to research in business administration that is specific to entrepreneurship, such as negotiating financial deals and marketing, in order to make it easier to set up a business and to ensure its success. The WECQ—or other specialized public or private institutions—offers training programs, seminars and workshops on various business management topics.



3. Networking activities
   Networking activities, available in regional areas as well as in major centers, are invaluable tools for breaking the isolation of women entrepreneurs and promoting bonds within their communities and with other businesswomen. Some of the benefits include access to a structured network where there are opportunities for sharing information, discussing successes and set-backs, and creating invaluable contacts in an atmosphere of solidarity and mutual assistance. The possibility of benefiting from significant economic incentives often makes all the difference in the survival and success of small businesses.

Costs vary according to the type of service requested. The WECQ ensures that costs will be as reasonable as possible. For more information, please contact the WECQ.

Women planning on starting a business or already in the start-up phase or women entrepreneurs whose existing business has reached the development or diversification stage—including export plans—are eligible to benefit from our services.

Women may contact the WECQ by any of the following methods:

Telephone: 514 521-5733 or toll-free: 1 866 521-5733
Fax: 514 521-0410
Email: info@cefq.ca

Mail:
Women Entrepreneurial Center of Québec
10794, Lajeunesse Street, suite 100
Montréal (Québec)  H3L 2E8