WESK Celebrates 30 years with a renewed vision for women entrepreneurs

Women Entrepreneurs of Saskatchewan (WESK) marked a significant milestone today, celebrating 30 years of empowering women in business with a bold transformation aimed at closing the gender entrepreneurship gap and strengthening the province’s economy.

At the heart of WESK’s anniversary celebration is a refreshed brand and membership structure designed to better support Saskatchewan women at every stage of their entrepreneurial journey.

“Our bold new look and enhanced membership options reflect our 30-year evolution from a grassroots organization to a leading force supporting women entrepreneurs in Saskatchewan,” said Miriam Johnson, WESK CEO. “Since 1995, WESK has made significant progress in closing the gender entrepreneurship gap, but there’s more work to be done. Today, we reaffirm our commitment to women entrepreneurs as we grow forward to build an even stronger, more innovative, and inclusive business community.”

A Fresh Look for the Future

WESK’s updated branding incorporates a meaningful color palette representing growth, diversity, and resilience.

• Green signifies prosperity and renewal, reflecting WESK’s mission to empower women to drive economic growth.

• Orange pays tribute to Treaty lands and Indigenous women entrepreneurs who contribute to Saskatchewan’s business landscape.

• Navy embodies trust and professionalism within the WESK network.

• Lilac symbolizes support and nurturing energy for women entrepreneurs to achieve their goals.

A key visual element in WESK’s refreshed logo is the letter “E”, shaped like Saskatchewan and angled toward the “S” to highlight WESK’s foundation of support for women entrepreneurs over the past three decades.

New Membership Structure to Empower Entrepreneurs

Responding to feedback from its members and industry best practices, WESK has introduced a redesigned membership model with two tiers:

• Momentum Membership: For women looking to build and accelerate their businesses.

• Elevate Membership: For experienced entrepreneurs ready to mentor, lead, and inspire.

This structure aims to enhance mentorship opportunities and provide tailored support to members at various stages of their entrepreneurial journey.

Long-time WESK member and accomplished entrepreneur Mary Weimer emphasized the significance of mentorship in her success. “The support I’ve received and the connections I’ve made through WESK have been a game-changer. With this new membership structure, I see even greater opportunities for women to learn from each other and thrive.”

Addressing the Gender Entrepreneurship Gap

Despite progress, women continue to face barriers in entrepreneurship. In 2023, over 80% of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Canada were owned by men, and women entrepreneurs still earn significantly less than their male counterparts. Without targeted interventions, full gender parity could take up to 180 years to achieve.

“The persistent gender entrepreneurship gap hinders many women from reaching their full potential,” Johnson said. “Enabling women to fully participate in the economy represents a $150 billion opportunity for Canada. WESK is committed to ensuring women entrepreneurs in Saskatchewan have the resources they need to succeed.”

A New Digital Experience

Alongside its brand refresh and new membership model, WESK launched an upgraded website (www.wesk.ca) designed to improve access to resources, networking opportunities, and business development tools.

For more information, contact: Michael Betteridge

Brand Manager, WESK

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 1-844-900-9375 or 1-306-477-6286