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Entrepreneurship in Québec has seen a real boom in the last decade. A number of studies on the topic, such as the Indice entrepreneurial québécois (Québec entrepreneurial index), attest to the strong entrepreneurial spirit of Quebecers and its ever-growing entrepreneurial culture.
Furthermore, the rate of women who intend to start a business has tripled since 2009, and women are now proportionally more likely than men to take the plunge.
However, women-owned businesses are still largely in the minority among Québec SMEs, particularly in sectors of the economy such as manufacturing and technology, and all the sectors that depend on them.
As is the case with women, diversity in entrepreneurship is also a key part of Québec’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. In 2019, more than one in three recent immigrants intended to start a business, and nearly one in five people from diverse backgrounds had taken steps to do so.
However, the pandemic has hit women- and minority-owned businesses hard, reminding us how fragile our gains are in terms of parity and inclusion.
As long as this disparity exists, Québec will deprive itself of immense wealth and significant economic, social and environmental benefits. Moreover, several studies show that the presence of women entrepreneurs and entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds is a guarantee of excellence and financial performance.
In order to drive this momentum, the Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal is proud to partner with Femmessor to launch its first initiative on inclusive entrepreneurship. The aim is to mobilize the ecosystem in favour of a strong and diversified economy.
Please join us for this virtual forum.
The program will be posted as details become available.