Ottawa’s Carleton University has announced its partnership in the new Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub (WEKH) consortium.
Carleton is one of eight regional hubs, including VentureLabs, Mount Royal University, the University of Manitoba, the PARO Centre for Women’s Enterprise, Université de Montréal, OCAD University and Dalhousie University. Led by Ryerson University’s Diversity Institute, WEKH’s mandate is to provide a “one-stop source of knowledge, data and best practices for women entrepreneurs.”
Part of the government’s broader Women Entrepreneurship Strategy, WEKH will advance research, gather important data and share knowledge, data and best practices related to the advancement of women’s entrepreneurship in Canada. The WEKH will also deliver a report on the progress of women entrepreneurs in Canada.
The federal government had earmarked $9.5 million for the project, which was expanded by then-Small Business Minister Bardish Chagger at Startupfest in July to include an RFP for organizations to lead a knowledge hub.
“Carleton is a natural choice for a regional hub on women’s entrepreneurship because we have a long history of research and education on women and work, as well as award-winning programs in entrepreneurship,” said Lorraine Dyke, vice-provost and associate vice-president (Academic).
Carleton’s Centre for Research and Education on Women and Work (CREWW) will help develop ecosystem education/training resources and facilitate collaborations between ecosystem partners. The CREWW director will also be part of the WEKH advisory board and other working committees.
“We are pleased to be working with Ryerson University, the lead institution, on the WEKH,” said Luciara Nardon, director of CREWW. “As a consortium partner and regional hub, we believe that Carleton has considerable assets to bring to this partnership and is well positioned to help shape public policy and practice.”