Canadian Women’s CED Council

The Tools for Sustainability project was designed to act as a catalyst to facilitate women’s full participation in the community by building strategic partnerships to respond to women’s specific needs and to address key barriers to social enterprise sustainability. It was expected to increase the effectiveness of women’s organizations working with women living in poverty and improve the capacity of local social enterprises to access new resources through increased effective management capacity and greater participation by members in social enterprise management.

Enterprising Women Making Art

A project of Atira Women’s Resource Society, Vancouver, BC

Atira Women’s Resource Society provides supportive housing for women and their children and education, advocacy and outreach on violence against women.  Enterprising Women Making Art (EWMA) is a harm reduction and social development social enterprise offering flexible employment options for women interested in arts and crafts production.  EWMA artisans produce candles, jewellery and other handmade products.

EthniCity Catering

A project of the Centre for Newcomers, Calgary, AB

The Centre for Newcomers works in partnership with newcomer and Calgary communities to provide opportunities for individuals to adjust, succeed and contribute as citizens in Canada.  EthniCity Catering is a catering social enterprise providing employment experience and training to immigrant women in transition.  EthniCity Catering offers a variety of food from around the world, including Mediterranean, East Asian, South Asian, Latin American and Canadian favourites.

Hands Earning Self-Respect (HERS)

A project of Every Woman’s Centre in Sydney, NS
Every Woman’s Centre offers multiple supports for women including a second-hand clothing shop, self esteem program and workshops on women’s health, self-defence and financial planning.  HERS is a social enterprise offering women with low incomes employment opportunities in sewing, knitting and making small handicrafts.  HERS operates a small shop out of Every Woman’s Centre where women can sell their products.

Imogene’s

A project of Women’s Employment Resource Centre (WERC) in Woodstock, ON

WERC (Women’s Employment Resource Centre) in Woodstock, ON provides employment assistance and workforce development support for women seeking economic independence. Imogene’s is a social enterprise that manufactures and retails plus and super size women’s clothing and other products such as tote bags, uniforms, hospital gowns and clerical vestments.

Northern Star Worker Co-op

Northern Star is an Aboriginal women’s quilting and blanket co-op based in Winnipeg and is a sister organization to Neechi Foods, also a co-op. Northern Star started out with the Northern Women’s Centre. It is a member of the Collaboration Co-operative which is taking a proactive approach to marketing its beautiful star blankets.

Taillissimo

A project of Centre d’education et d’action des femmes de Montréal (CEAF) in Montreal, QC

CEAF seeks to provide social, economic and political education for women and supports organizations engaged in women-centred CED.  Taillissimo is a boutique selling new and gently used plus-sized women’s clothing.  Taillissimo emphasizes the beauty and confidence of every woman and assists each customer to feel beautiful.