Small and medium-sized businesses are the cornerstone of the Canadian economy. They account for 99.9 per cent of all Canadian companies and employ close to 90 per cent of private sector workers.
For 36 years, the Business Development Bank of Canada has organized BDC Small Business Week in recognition of the contributions and achievements of Canada's entrepreneurs. Events held during the week bring entrepreneurs together at conferences, luncheons and trade fairs across the country where they have the opportunity to learn, network and enjoy themselves in the company of their peers.
BDC Small Business Week activities provide an opportunity to celebrate, develop new skills, make new contacts and plan for new opportunities.
BDC Small Business Week 2015 takes place Oct. 18 to 24 under the theme KNOCK DOWN BARRIERS. DARE TO GROW.
Daring to grow is never an easy task. Inevitably, there are barriers that need to be knocked down as entrepreneurs navigate the path to success. Confronting challenges is essential if they want to play in today's competitive global environment.
It is not only about having the will, but also about having the tools and resources to do so, both financial and non-financial. BDC Small Business Week 2015 is a time to acknowledge the important impact of Canada's business community and to encourage entrepreneurs to knock down barriers and dare to grow. BDC Small Business Week is a Business Development Bank of Canada trademark whose origins date back to 1979 when BDC business centres in B.C.'s lower Fraser Valley pooled their resources to organize a week of activities for entrepreneurs.
This first event and the one that followed in 1980 were so successful that BDC officially launched BDC Small Business Week across Canada in 1981. The initiative was quickly adopted by Canada's business community. In 2014, over 300 activities across Canada attracted close to 10,000 business people to BDC Small Business Week. This BDC flagship event celebrates entrepreneurship at the local, provincial and national levels.
