OTTAWA, CANADA – February 15, 2023 – Today, Startup Canada has announed the locations and dates for Startup Canada Tour, a five stop national in-person event series connecting early stage entrepreneurs with local support organizations and industry experts to drive their businesses forward. 

Kicking off in Whitehorse on April 25, Startup Canada Tour will make additional stops in Halifax, Vancouver and Calgary, with a soon-to-be-announced final hybrid stop in Ontario. Each Tour stop welcomes local entrepreneurs, support organizations, investors, and community leaders to come together, grow their networks, learn from industry experts, and gain tools and insights to build their businesses!

“The last few years have been challenging for Canadian entrepreneurs,” says Kayla Isabelle, CEO of Startup Canada. “Startup Canada Tour is a great opportunity for early stage entrepreneurs and people interested in starting a business to come together and learn about the unique supports available to them both regionally and across Canada. We want to make Canada the best place to start a business, no matter your location or level of experience.”

Throughout the day, attendees of Startup Canada Tour will have access to a series of keynotes, panels, and practical workshops featuring fellow entrepreneurs, private and public sector support organizations, and key industry leaders. Attendees will also have the opportunity to connect 1:1 with mentors, support organizations, and fellow entrepreneurs in Ask the Expert Lounges.

“We’re so happy to be back in person for the Startup Canada Tour to meet and help our great Canadian entrepreneurs!” States Paul Gaspar, Small Business Director for UPS. “We want to be your trusted advisor to help your business adapt, and are committed to solving your unique business challenges at home and around the globe.”

Startup Canada Tour is presented in partnership with UPS, with national support from Canada’s LGBT+ Chamber of Commerce (CGLCC) and regional support from Moneris, Ownr, and the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency (CanNor). Additional partners and speakers for each Tour stop will be announced in the coming weeks.

“CGLCC is a long standing partner of Startup Canada. As Canada’s only national advocate for over 100,000 2SLGBTQI+ owned and operated businesses in Canada, generating 22 billion dollars in gross corporate revenue,” says A.J. Stewart, Manager of Business Development at CGLCC. “We are excited to continue to expand our reach and make new connections with 2SLGBTQI+ and allied businesses, from coast to coast to coast.” 

“As Canada’s leading provider of unified commerce solutions, Moneris has been supporting Canadian businesses for over 20 years, and we are a proud partner of Startup Canada as they work tirelessly to connect Canada’s entrepreneurs with the tools and resources they need to succeed, states Ivana Spasovska, Government Relations Specialist at Moneris. “We are confident that this year’s Startup Canada Tour will be a huge success, bringing together entrepreneurs, key government officials, and industry leaders to explore ways of supporting Canada’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.”

Early bird passes for Startup Canada Tour – Whitehorse, Halifax, and Vancouver are available now until March 24. Calgary Early Bird passes are available until July 18, and Ontario passes will be announced in early Spring 2023. Visit startupcanadatour.ca to learn more about Startup Canada Tour and purchase a pass for a stop near you!

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Media Contact

Jocelyn Courneya, Startup Canada 

jocelyn.courneya@startupcan.ca

Startup Canada is Canada’s entrepreneurship organization. Startup Canada promotes and supports the success and growth of Canada’s 2.3 million entrepreneurs, with a mandate to foster economic growth, competitiveness, and prosperity through entrepreneurship. Since launching, Startup Canada’s programming has directly supported more than 300,000 entrepreneurs and 50 grassroots Startup Community organizations. Working with over 750 ecosystem partners, including accelerators, incubators, research parks, educational institutions, economic development agencies, associations, and government programs, Startup Canada serves entrepreneurs from all backgrounds, industries, and stages of development, with a network reflective of Canada’s diverse population. Learn more at startupcan.ca.