(Including First Nations, Metis, Acadian, Immigrant)
10 women 4 Rural (Woodstock, Plaster Rock, Tobique First Nation, Deer Island)
CERTIFICATIONS
Sectors represented include:
Advertising, Agriculture, Art, Automotive, Communications, Education, Environmental Sustainability, Event Planner, Food and Beverage, Grant writing, Health, Manufacturing, Marine, Marketing, Professional Services: (Facilitation, Training, Coaching, Social Media, Branding, Executive Leadership, Human Resources, Project Management, Cyber Security Assessments), Research, Restaurant/ Hospitality, Textile/Apparel, Translation, Wellness.
1 women Newfoundland 1 Urban (St. John’s)
5 women Prince Edward Island 5 Urban (Charlottetown and area)
(Including one newcomer/immigrant)
Nova Scotia 15 Urban (HRM & area)
24 women 9 Rural (Yarmouth, Blockhouse, Lunenburg, Debert, Sydney, Rines Creek, Greenhill, Sherbrooke, New Glasgow)
(INCLUDING East Indian, Black, Veteran, persons with disabilities, 2 Rainbow Registered with CGLCC, 1 cross-certified with WeConnect International)
18 events promoted awareness
20 corporate leaders attended the
100 contracts signed or deals made Over
5
4 capability statements developed 45 participants doubled their revenue
250 attendees Supplier Diversity Days
Testimonials
Through CWB Supplier Diversity program B’Spoke Apparel and ACE Upholstery, won the first Canadian Federal Government contract to supply blinds for National Defense and the contract to supply convocation robes to 19 Colleges and Universities through Atlantic Canada.
– Taura Lee, President & CEO, NS
During my time learning about Supplier Diversity with CWB, I was able to further expand my access to corporate contacts which has allowed my company to work on shortening wait times in healthcare through provincial and potentially national pilots. We have expanded our service o erings to Prince Edward Island and are looking at a roll out plan for the other Atlantic Canadian provinces. We have experienced an increase of 8 full time positions of women in STEM based in Nova Scotia.
– Stephanie Hovey, President Allied Therapy, NS
At MediaBonnet, we are new to supplier diversity, but we have already made significant progress. The CWB/WBE mentorship program has been instrumental in helping us better position our company competitively on a national scale. We’ve secured contracts with other WBEs in our cohort, received valuable referrals from mentors, signed additional contracts with corporate clients, and have new national corporations in our sales pipeline.
– Tinu Bruchanova, President, NS
Since beginning our supplier diversity journey, Denny Dealer Services has added new employees, significantly increased revenue, added our own line of products and now doing business in the United States.
– Denise Garagan, President, NS
Through Beezy Eco’s participation in the supplier diversity mentorship program, we are supplying NS Power’s kitchens, working as a Tier 2 supplier with other WBE’s, developed compostable packaging, corporates across Canada are purchasing our eco-friendly products for conferences and following up with connections from Supplier Diversity conferences.
– Sandra MacDonald, President, NS
O Strategies has leveraged our CWB supplier diversity journey by certifying with both WBE Canada and CGLCC, providing corporate connections. During the time of the program we attended Atlanta Trade Mission, restructured for growth, provided Francophone community engagement, developed Newcomer and Immigrant strategies, and are adding sta .
– Myriane Ouellette, President, NB
Since our participation in the supplier diversity mentorship program, our work in the Canadian marine industry has expanded and we have launched our ergo workstation for both marine and landbased kitchens.
– Monica Jansen, President Smart Galley Designs, NB
Ray Agency has leveraged its participation in CWB/WBE Canada supplier diversity mentorship program by working with other WBEs across Canada, working with Atlantic Cohort participants, including launching an award-winning national ad campaign with another cohort participant company. The WBE certification is also a point of di erentiation: Ray is the only WBE-certified, full-service ad agency in Atlantic Canada. When only 3%, globally, of creative directors are women, Ray is changing the landscape by curating a company of 80% women, including two female creative directors on sta . Simply put, we believe that diversity drives innovation.
Since beginning the Supplier Diversity Mentorship program, resolveHR has added new employees, new streams of services and new collaborations across Atlantic Canada
– Wendy MacIntyre, President, PEI
Through Supplier Diversity contacts Voda Retreats supplied Telus with products and was selected as one of 4 businesses highlighted on their website for International Women’s Day, resulting in repeat business opportunities!
– Rebekah Streeter, President, NS
Word-craft made a key contact through supplier diversity certification to win contacts supplying services to Canada and the US and since expanded to UK and Asia - all from Yarmouth!
– Ingrid Deon, President, NS
As a result of the CWB supplier diversity program, we have expanded into other areas of the country to support more families. We have diversified services, providing upgrading to skilled trades and even launched our first national learning series on Learning Disabilities in the workplace.
– Michelle Aucoin, President Learnability Educational Solutions, Cape Breton
Since our participation in the supplier diversity mentorship program, our microgreen kits are now in Sobeys, launched on national online store, sold for school fundraising and we are talking to more corporate partners.
– Cathy Munro, Bramble Hill Farms, NS
Supplier Diversity
Impact of Growth
- PARTICIPANT SUCCESS HIGHLIGHTS
• Two cohort businesses cross-certified with IWSCC, two cohort businesses cross-certified with CAMSC
• Cohort business won Canada’s first Federal Government contract for Diverse Supplier
• Two cohort businesses purchased/started other complimentary businesses
• Three cohort businesses signed contracts in U.S.
• One cohort business reported an increase in client enrollment by 30-40% since the beginning of this program
• Two cohort businesses purchased other businesses to diversify products
• SEO of three cohort businesses grew over 100%
• 17 cohort businesses restructured for growth
• One cohort business experienced a 300% increase of new client intake in one summer
• Another cohort business invoiced 30% more in January 2024 than all of July-Dec. 2023
• Another cohort business tripled new client intake in January 2024 - equal to 6 months in 2023
• Two cohort businesses have hired sales leads due to increase in volume
• One cohort business experienced 115% growth rate in revenue over 5 months
• Five cohort businesses spoke/presented at WBE Canada Conferences – 6 have had tradeshow booths
• One cohort business showcased at the Pre-Golden Globes Luxury Lounge in January 2024 Supplier Diversity
• One cohort business showcased at VIP Lounge for Halifax Michelle Obama Event
• One cohort business owner appointed Director to Board of Family Business Atlantic
• One cohort business selected by Telus as one of 4 businesses to highlight on their website for International Women’s Day – gifted professional headshot and more
• RBC featuring a few of CWB cohort participants in their national supplier newsletter
• Two cohort participants featured in Sobeys IWD flyer
• Two cohort business owners won Top 25 Powerful Women in Atlantic Canada
• One cohort business received patent for new product
• One cohort business won 2024 Award of Excellence with Family Business Association
• 2024 EY Entrepreneur of the Year awards –participants from SD Cohort #1 and #3 are finalists and participant from Cohort #4 is a judge
• Cohort business owner appointed the first woman Chairperson for The Canadian Advertising Network
The Supplier Diversity program is brought to you by:
