Women Entrepreneurship Strategy Announcement

Aug. 22, 2019

Good afternoon and welcome to everyone who has taken the time to be here with us today.

Thank you especially to Minister Chagger who has come to Laurier to make this announcement in support of women entrepreneurs.

At Laurier, supporting women’s entrepreneurial ambitions and breaking down gender barriers is a priority for our university.

Our Laurier Strategy fosters our inclusive community and emphasizes experiential learning opportunities as a route to preparing future-ready graduates.

This unique environment at our university has been created over many years and yielded some remarkable success stories from students and alumnae.

These successes emphasize why Laurier is an ideal environment for fostering entrepreneurship. Here are just two examples of this in action:

Carinne Chambers-Saini, a BBA graduate from 2001. She is the CEO and co-founder of Diva Cup International, a global company that is providing eco-friendly solutions for feminine hygiene products. Just this past spring, I had the pleasure of hosting Carinne as she returned to Laurier for a panel talk as part of the Greater Kitchener Waterloo Chamber of Commerce Women’s Luncheon.

Marissa Vettoretti, who is entering her fourth year in the business program. She is the founder behind Earth Suds, single use soap and shampoo tablets that she hopes will eliminate the need for the small plastic bottles used in hotel rooms around the world. Just this spring Vettoretti and her team won national recognition with a podium finish at the Enactus Canada National Exposition – a competition that celebrates students’ entrepreneurial ventures that are both viable and help create a more sustainable world.

This new funding from the Government of Canada that we are here to celebrate today will help Laurier provide more resources and mentorship so more women like Carinne and Marissa will have the support they need to launch their own businesses and pursue their dreams.

I am so excited to see the next generation of women -- including Indigenous women -- entrepreneurs and how they will innovate, problem solve and drive our economy.

Thank you, Minister Chagger, for the Government of Canada’s support in this area.

By providing more opportunities for women to start and grow their businesses, we will not only advance gender equality, but also provide economic opportunity for so many people in our region.

I would now like to welcome Minister Chagger to the podium to make the announcement.