March 8th, International Women's Day, is a great time to reflect on women in business.
Here in Canada, more women are joining the ranks of the self-employed all the time.
- In 2007, women made up 35 per cent of all self-employed individuals.
- There are more than 821,000 women entrepreneurs in Canada who annually contribute in excess of $18 billion to the economy.
- 4 out of 5 businesses are started by women (Quick Facts, Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada).
About Canadian Women in Business on This Website
- Women in Business a Growing Wave presents the statistics of the astonishing growth in women-owned businesses in this country.
- For more on what the "typical" Canadian woman in business is like, see The Face of Canadian Business Women.
- And if you are a Canadian woman starting or running a small business who is looking for funding, check out Small Business Loans for Women in Canada: For Women Only.
International Women's Day is also a great day to celebrate the triumphs and accomplishments of women everywhere, to reflect on what improvements to women's lives are yet to be achieved, and to do our own part to "ensure that the future for girls is bright, equal, safe and rewarding". Canada's theme for this year's International Women's Day is Working Together: Engaging Men to End Violence against Women.
As we all know, violence against women is not just a women's issue. As we reflect on the impacts of violence against women on this Women's Day, it would be a great thing if each of us also committed to doing one thing to help end it.
To find International Women's Day events near you, visit this page of the International Women's Day website.
More on International Women's Day:
- International Women's Day in Canada
- International Women's Day 2013
- A History of International Women's Day
Logo (c) International Women's Day