Thunder Bay

This Thunder Bay-based organization is getting funding to help more women become entrepreneurs

A program that aims to support low-income women in starting and growing their own businesses is receiving a funding boost from the Ontario government. The money was announced on Monday in Thunder Bay by the province's associate minister of women's social and economic opportunity. Here's how the PAROBiz program aims to create more entrepreneurial opportunities for women.

Funding going to PAROBiz program over next 3 years

A person wearing a blazer stands in a room, smiling.
Rosalind Lockyer is the CEO of the PARO Centre for Women’s Enterprise, based in Thunder Bay, Ont. (Marc Doucette/CBC)

Denise Atkinson says she's always had an entrepreneurial spirit, ever since she was a kid cashing in pop bottles for candy.

A few years ago, the member of Red Rock Indian Band decided to transform an important part of her life and culture — tea — into a business.

The support she received from the PARO Centre for Women's Enterprise has been essential on her journey, said Atkinson, the founder and CEO of Tea Horse and Tipi Horse Connects.

"As women, we do so many things. We wear so many hats and multitask, and a lot of the things that we do, we don't realize that that can be a business," Atkinson said.

"Having PARO to have business counsellors talk to you about the skills that you already have and skills that you may need to focus on, it really helps women to be empowered to start their own businesses."

A person is seen pouring tea from a kettle into a red tea pot.
Denise Atkinson is the founder and CEO of Tea Horse and Tipi Horse Connects, and a member of Red Rock Indian Band. She says the PARO Centre provided her essential support in getting her tea business off the ground. (Chondon Photography)

On Monday, the provincial government announced $1.24 million over three years for the PAROBiz program, which aims to support low-income women in starting and growing their own businesses.

The program, which has been running for about four years, is delivered in Thunder Bay as well as communities across northern, eastern and central Ontario, and the Greater Toronto Area.

"If women have a space, a place in their communities to be heard and valued and have the social connections and the economic finances that they need to thrive, the community thrives. The economy thrives," said Rosalind Lockyer, CEO of the PARO Centre for Women's Enterprise. "A lot of people don't realize that — and that has to be a priority."

The not-for-profit organization is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, having been founded in Thunder Bay in 1995. It supports women across the province in achieving their entrepreneurial goals at all stages.

The funding boost for the PAROBiz program was announced in Thunder Bay by Charmaine Williams, Ontario's associate minister of women's social and economic opportunity.

WATCH | Province spends $1.2 million on training program for women entrepreneurs 

Province spends $1.2 million on training program for women entrepreneurs

2 days ago
Duration 1:13
The Ontario government is spending more than $1.2 million dollars over three years on the PAROBiz program, which aims to help low-income women start and grow their own businesses. The program is run by the PARO Centre for Women’s Enterprise, a not-for-profit organization founded in Thunder Bay.

"Sometimes starting a business is the way you become financially independent. Sometimes having something in your home because of kids, it makes it much more effective for you to be able to have that financial stability when you have a business from home," Williams said during her remarks. 

"I know that PAROBiz is part of our cross-government approach to increasing economic opportunities for women."

'Women have to be prioritized'

Atkinson said she received a micro loan from the PARO Centre for her tea business, which helped her purchase inventory, launch a website, and market her product in the United States.

Her blends are made with wild rice, one of North America's only Indigenous grains. She has also partnered with David's Tea, the largest Canadian-based specialty tea boutique in the country.

"It's just been amazing," Atkinson said.

Starting a business from scratch can be isolating, said Lockyer, which is why it's important for women to have access to a support network to help build relationships in the community.

"We call it developing your social networks and also developing your economic tools to move forward," Lockyer said. 

"Research shows that if you're going to have a thriving economy, women have to be prioritized, they have to be valued and they have to be a part of the decision-making fabric of the community … so that's what this program is all about."

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sarah Law

Reporter

Sarah Law is a CBC News reporter based in Thunder Bay, Ont., and has also worked for newspapers and online publications elsewhere in the province. Have a story tip? You can reach her at sarah.law@cbc.ca