We Thrive BC is the program designed to support women entrepreneurs across British Columbia—especially newcomers, racialized women, and equity-deserving groups—by providing gender-informed, culturally inclusive business training and peer support. We provide free workshops and personalized one-on-one consultations to support you in starting or thriving in your business. This program is funded by the Government of Canada’s Women Entrepreneurship Strategy, in partnership with WeBC.
Join us and build a successful business together. Click to join us.
Workshop Topics include:
• Access to Capital & Financing Readiness + Starting a Business
• Business plan writing
• Cash flow management
• Marketing and communications
• Customer service & sales skills in a Canadian context
• Building partnerships and connecting with local communities
• Starting a business in BC
• Digitalization, technology & AI tools
Who should attend:
Women or individuals who self-identify as women and are currently starting or running a business, particularly those located in the Okanagan region and other communities outside Metro Vancouver and Victoria.
Important Note:
Registered women entrepreneurs will receive exclusive online classroom access details for each session two weeks, one week, and three days in advance via email.
We Thrive BC Free Workshops
📌 Session 8 AI TOOLS FOR ENTERPRENEURS PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS FOR YOUR BUSINESS
📅 March 31, 2026
🕕 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
💻 Online via Zoom
🎟️ Free registration required
👩🏫 Facilitator: A K M Amanat Ullah
Key Content:
-Managing social media.Use AI to write post captions and suggest hashtags
-Email. Draft professional emails faster for replies, follow-ups, or initial reach out.
-To-do lists and productivity. Hand AI a messy list of everything on your plate and get back an organized plan sorted by urgency.
-Managing your calendar. Set reminders for deadlines so nothing slips through.
-Marketing. Write product descriptions and ad copy without staring at a blank page.
-Translating content to English. Translate business materials (menus, flyers, product labels) into clear English
-Collecting news, ideas, and opportunities. Get AI to pull together summaries of industry trends.
-Analyzing information and planning. Summarize customer feedback or survey responses to spot patterns.
Registration is required to attend.
Program Sponsor:
Previous Workshops:
OCCA, in collaboration with WEBC (Women’s Enterprise Centre of BC) and BDC (Canada’s official government financial agency for entrepreneurs), is conducting an initiative to better understand and help the needs of small and medium-sized business owners, as well as individuals planning to start a business across British Columbia.
This session will provide practical guidance and expanded 1-on-1 support for women entrepreneurs and racialized minority founders.
Date and Time: December 3rd, 2025 | ⏰ 10:00 am - 11:30 am
Venue: BDC Boardroom, Kelowna Innovation Centre
We Thrive BC is a three-month program designed to support women entrepreneurs across British Columbia—especially newcomers, racialized women, and equity-deserving groups—by providing gender-informed, culturally inclusive business training and peer support.
📌 First Session | Live Online Workshop
Finance for Women Entrepreneurs: Access to Capital & Financing Readiness + Starting a Business
Speaker: Archana Samtani Singhania, WeBC
Date and Time: Thursday, January 15 | ⏰ 6:00–8:00 pm
In a time of economic uncertainty and shifting market conditions, entrepreneurs need practical strategies, local insight, and the confidence to turn challenges into momentum. This interactive workshop is designed to help aspiring and existing business owners in BC understand their options, identify opportunities, and take informed next steps in 2026.
📌 Second Session | Live Online Workshop
Turning Headwinds into Opportunity: How to Start, Buy, and Grow a Business in BC (2026)
📅 Date: Friday, January 30, 2026
⏰ Time: 10:00–11:30 am (Pacific Time | Kelowna)
💻 Format: Online (Zoom)
👩🏫 Facilitator: Siobhan McManus
Starting a business in a new country can feel overwhelming—especially when you’re faced with unfamiliar rules, paperwork, and legal requirements. Many women entrepreneurs have great ideas and strong motivation, but get stuck or delayed simply because the registration and licensing process in BC isn’t clear. This session is designed to remove that uncertainty.
📌 Third Session | Live Online Workshop
📅 Date: Thursday, February 12, 2026
⏰ Time: 6:00–8:00 pm (Pacific Time | Kelowna)
💻 Format: Online (Zoom)
📌 Workshop Topic:
Starting a Business in BC: Registration, Licensing & Legal Essentials
👩🏫 Facilitator: Tracy Gray
Are you ready to grow your business with confidence and clarity? Join We Thrive BC, a supportive and empowering webinar designed for self-identifying women who are starting or already running a business in BC. In this dynamic 2-hour session, you’ll gain practical tools and strategies to strengthen your brand, expand your online presence, and build a loyal community around your business.
📌 Fourth Session | Live Online Workshop
📅 February 18, 2026 | 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM (Zoom)
📩 Registration required – link will be sent by email
📌 Workshop Topic: Marketing & Social Media Essentials for Women Entrepreneurs
👩🏫 Facilitator: Clara Val & Kathy Crocker
Are you ready to strengthen your customer service and turn great service into real sales?Join us for “Customer Service & Sales Skills in a Canadian Context” — a practical and empowering session designed for women entrepreneurs who want to build trust, confidence, and loyal customers in Canada.
📅 Feb 25, 2026 (Wed) | 6:00–8:00 PM | Zoom
✨ In this session, you will learn:
• How to communicate professionally and confidently
• Canadian customer service etiquette and expectations
• How to build strong customer relationships
• How excellent service naturally leads to successful sales
👩🏫 Facilitator: Clara Val & Kathy Crocker
Ready to grow your business through real community connections? Join We Thrive BC – Women’s Entrepreneurship Program | Session 6 and discover how strong local partnerships can directly fuel your sales, visibility, and long-term growth.
Strong community ties and smart partnerships don’t just feel good — they drive revenue and sustainable growth. Your next customer may already be in your network.
📅 March 5, 2026 | 6:00–8:00 PM
💻 Online via Zoom | FREE
👩🏫 Facilitator: Samantha Wedlund
This workshop is designed especially for minority and equity-deserving entrepreneurs, including newcomers and racialized small business owners, and no technical background is required.
Through clear explanations and live demonstrations, you will learn:
• What AI can (and cannot) do for your business
• How to write effective prompts using a simple framework
• Practical AI tools for marketing, research, customer replies, and daily tasks
• Real business use cases you can apply right away
📅 Date: Tuesday, March 11, 2026
⏰ Time: 6:00 – 8:00 PM (Pacific Time | Kelowna)
💻 Format: Online via Zoom
👩🏫 Facilitator: Dan (Danny) Fan
Our We Thrive BC women entrepreneur support program will be concluding with its final sessions over the next couple of weeks, and our community greatly appreciates the valuable support provided by WeBC. An in-person gathering in Vernon is scheduled for March 21, and I wonder if any member of your team would be interested in attending. There will be 24 participants, and a free lunch will be provided.
Women Entrepreneurs Gathering in Vernon
Date: Saturday, March 21, 2026
Time: 10:30 AM – 2:30 PM
Location: Kawakubo Japanese Restaurant
3315 30th Ave, Vernon, BC
