Business Training & Programs In The Crowsnest Pass Region

Nicholas L. M. Allen  Oct 25, 2023  - ©2023 by Crowsnest Pass Herald

This event is open to all women, and women who have never attended an event with a guest speaker are encouraged to visit.

The Crowsnest Pass will be home to a workshop for women in business on November 2 at 6 p.m. There will be a guest speaker talking about ‘The ways guilt and shame can limit a women’s potential in business, relationships, leadership and life’ during the event at the MDM Community Centre.

Brandy Fehr, the community economic development and marketing coordinator for Community Futures, said they were inspired to hold a women-specific evening for women in business after realizing that many businesses and organizations are women owned or led throughout the community.

“Although there are more women entrepreneurs in certain sectors, there are women who are over-coming stereotypes in traditionally men-dominated industries such as science and technology, construction, transportation, large scale manufacturing and the primary sector,” explained Fehr.

However, according to Fehr, women face significant challenges. These can include a lack of access to funding, pressure to outperform, highly competitive environments, biases and stereotypes, feeling they have to prove their credibility and fewer role models, mentors and networks.

“Other communities have been hosting these events for some time now, so we are excited to kick off the first of hopefully many of these types of events here in Crowsnest Pass,” said Fehr.

She believes women in business are important because of the large barriers they face and need to break down when it comes to balancing kids, families and their professional lives. 

“Studies show that women entrepreneurs approach risk taking a lot differently than the traditional profit and rapid growth way, they approach risk taking with a more holistic long term business approach compared to men,” said Fehr.

Although financial success is important to them, she said women also measure success in terms of forging and maintaining successful and sustainable client relationships, achieving a better work/life balance and promoting local communities.

The guest speaker, award-winning coach and writer Sarah Lajeunesse, will be talking about how guilt and shame play a key role in perfectionism, people pleasing, inaction and a woman’s need for acceptance and approval. The purpose of the event is to show how this can limit one’s ability to model self-esteem and leadership on clients, customers and patients.

Fehr said women who attend will learn how to release the inaccurate perceptions women have developed about themselves over time, along with the “life-altering realization that there exists a different, more empowered state of being than what many of us thought was possible or were taught to believe.”

One of the challenges women face are fewer role models, mentors and networks. 

“We are hoping [that] hosting events like this will help to bridge those connections. This will just be a fun evening where women can get together, enjoy some refreshments, appetizers, share lots of laughs and create relations with other women throughout the region,” said Fehr.  

This event is open to all women and Fehr encourages attendance for anyone who has never attended an event with a guest speaker.

“I always come home from events like this with at least one good take away, which makes it worth every penny. Our guest speaker will cover topics that we can all relate to through life. Some may look at the title of the event and be scared off easily by the words shame or guilt but in reality, there are times in life when we all face these challenges,” said Fehr.

Fehr explained she is looking forward to the guest speaker, as she is busy travelling internationally and was able to fit the event in. 

She said it’s quite expensive to put the event on with costs including the guest speaker, venue rental, insurance and more. 

“It is a small price to pay if we are able to have a great attendance and have women leave with a sense of empowerment, boosted self-esteem, connection to their peers throughout the community and hopefully a clearer path on how to prioritize their health and wellbeing,” said Fehr. 

They hope there is enough interest to continue hosting these events a few times a year in the future. Tickets are available until noon on November 1 for $20 which includes an evening’s worth of entertainments. Visit crowsnest.albertacf.com to learn more about Community Futures and the work they do in the community.

Want to expand your skill set? We offer a wide range of business training programs and upskilling opportunities, from health and safety training to quick-start business intensives.

Learn how to market your business, understand basic accounting, and explore how to attract and retain talent as a rural business.

Our small business programs provide training and support for rural businesses across Crowsnest Pass. Our goal is to help your company thrive by offering you access to specialized services like accounting workshops, marketing seminars, and so much more. We're here for entrepreneurs just like you - take advantage of our programs today and learn the skills you need to succeed.

Community Futures Crowsnest Pass is pleased to offer Canada's leading online education program for entrepreneurs in partnership with GoForth Institute.

If you're looking to bolster your understanding of how to start, run or grow a successful and profitable business, learn GoForth Institute's 100 Essential Small Business Skills™ in only 10 hours conveniently delivered to your computer through streaming video and an optional 400+ page resource curriculum book.

Each of the thirty 20 minute video lessons is delivered by an expert in their field of business - marketing, law, accounting, finance, human resources, strategy, marketing research, operations and government compliance.

Learn vital skills such as:

• How to find new markets and more customers
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• Plus 96 more skills

GoForth Institute's 10 hours of online small business training costs just $295 + taxes. When you register through Community Futures Crowsnest Pass, you’ll receive our $25 partner discount.

The Entrepreneurs with Disabilities program (EDP) was created to provide enhanced small business development support to people with disabilities in rural Alberta. Self-employment can be a great way for persons with a disability or an ongoing medical condition to get back into the workforce.

This specialized program includes:

• Business training
• Assistance with drawing up a business plan
• Mentoring
• Affordable, flexible business loans to establish a new business, purchase an existing business, or expand or upgrade an existing business

To be eligible for the Entrepreneurs with Disabilities Program, you must:

• Have a self-declared disability or ongoing medical condition
• Live in rural Alberta
• Have a viable business idea
• Be able to contribute in some way to your business

To learn more about this program, please contact us.

Open to young people aged 13-15, the youth entrepreneurship camp empowers the next generation of business owners to learn everything from how to brainstorm a business idea to launching their business in a fun team setting.

For more information about the Rotary Alberta Youth Entrepreneurship Camp please visit: https://www.rotaryayec.ca/

In partnership with Community Futures Alberta Centre West, Community Futures Alberta Southwest, Community Futures Central Alberta, Community Futures East Parkland, Community Futures Highwood, Community Futures Lethbridge, and Community Futures Wild Rose, we bring you the Southern Alberta Business Succession Project.

Through this training, business owners, including farm owners located in these Community Futures Regions will have free access to a series of workshops and webinar series to help them prepare for the day they transition their business.

This program includes:

• Communication and Conflict Management
• Exit Planning Masterclass
• Establishing a Family Council and Family Constitution
• Establishing an Advisory Board
• Nonprofit Succession Planning
• Selling Your Business Masterclass
• Establishing an Ownership Council and Policies
• Business Transition and Success

Businesses listed for sale or ready for sale can receive a coupon to list their business with Succession Matching. The coupon is only $25 (value $2000) due to the funding received for this project. Contact us and we'll get you started!