NOTE: The province of B.C. has once again declared a week in February as Chamber of Commerce Week. This year, it runs Feb. 12 to 16, and the 91原创 Advance Times worked with the Greater 91原创 Chamber of Commerce to put together a series of stories to inform people in 91原创 about the local business organization and what it does to bolster and advocate for companies in this community.
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Yes, the steering committee and members of the 91原创 Women鈥檚 Business Network get the irony of their mandate acronym 鈥揗EN. The women鈥檚 group mandate is three-fold 鈥� mentoring, education, and networking.
鈥淲e landed on an acronym which we kind of find funny,鈥� said Laurie Shopland, who chairs the women鈥檚 network steering committee. 鈥淪o it鈥檚 always through the focus of anything that we do we always want to come out鈥� doing one of those three things.鈥�
Through the chamber and now through the women鈥檚 group, members can access not only help related to business matters, but the network aims to also offer programs and events that help with other facets of life.
鈥淲e鈥檙e women in the community, business leaders in a community that want to support our community, and then we also want to model to the community,鈥� she said.
Shopland noted that it鈥檚 not hard to find business information in this day and age, but the women鈥檚 group wanted to focus on more than just the bottom line.
鈥淢aybe this is personally like my personal lens is that after COVID of actually being isolated for two and a half years, seeing firsthand how businesses struggled not only with the economic challenges but really with their support network being removed鈥�,鈥� she said. 鈥淸What is important is] to be able to go and build connection, to build that support network, and knowing that I鈥檓 not on my own doing this and [knowing] the like-mindedness of the women around the table. We鈥檙e all passionate about what we do.鈥�
Shopland credits the vision of the chamber which heard from members about the need for a more focus on women in business.
The group was created in 2023.
鈥淭his was something that they didn鈥檛 know if it would work or not work,鈥� she said.鈥� So that was where we put together our steering committee. And then from there we really came together to decide what was our vision, mission, and values to be able to actually do this.鈥�
The first gathering was a networking event last autumn. As with any new initiative, success is never certain.
鈥淚t was really exhilarating that it sold out within just really days of us advertising it,鈥� Shopland noted.
The networking event was a success and so the steering committee started planning more events, based on the three pillars of the group. Next up was education.
Shopland said the group hosted an emotional wellness event and dinner in October. There was some fun networking during the holidays and in late January.
She said about half the attendees at each successive event has been new faces, and the events sell out soon after they are announced 鈥� signs to her that the group is both wanted and needed.
The steering committee launched into 2024 with more plans.
For International Women鈥檚 Day, the network and the chamber are hosting the Women鈥檚 Leadership Luncheon a few days prior to International Women鈥檚 Day. The event will feature topics such as the current reality professional women face, gaps to achievement and behaviours that can close those gaps, opportunities to add value, influence and impact, and more.
The event is from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesday, March 5, at the Coast Hotel and Convention Centre. The cost is $55 for members. Non-members can obtain a guest ticket to attend. For information, go to langleychamber.com or call 604-371-3770.
The women鈥檚 group is about more than helping business people be more successful in business. Shopland noted that the group discussions also include what it means to be part of the community.
So the group is heading out into the cold.
鈥淲e鈥檝e got a team in for the Coldest Night of the Year, and are inviting anybody and everyone to come join us to walk in support of the Salvation Army,鈥� she said.
Coldest Night of the Year is a fundraiser that also intended to help people better understand the lives of unhoused members of the community. This year it takes place Saturday, Feb. 24, and the local event benefits the Salvation Army Gateway of Hope.
鈥淭his is we want to we want to be 鈥� grassroots and supporting the people in our community. So that鈥檚 like it was unanimous around the table of like, what would that look like and we landed on that,鈥� she said.
So expect the women鈥檚 group to not only have more business-related gatherings and programming but also to be involved in community initiatives and events.
Behind the 91原创 Women鈥檚 Business Network this is a steering committee of diverse members.
鈥淲e have all ages. We have all sectors鈥�,鈥� she said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 a high level of respect for everyone on there. Everyone brings such value and ideas.鈥�
The group has caught the attention of others outside the community.
鈥淲hat鈥檚 exciting about this is that we have been contacted by other chambers, asking 鈥楾ell us what you鈥檙e doing. What鈥檚 working?鈥� And I think we鈥檙e really starting to see the momentum build,鈥� Shopland added.
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鈥� READ MORE: Meet the team at the Greater 91原创 Chamber of Commerce
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