Over the last several decades, the Pembina Valley has flourished into a diverse community. For this reason, it’s fitting that Morden has been chosen as the site of the inaugural Immigrant Business Expo — an event that is a first for Manitoba altogether.
“Of course, the City of Morden is an interesting and supportive place for immigrants and newcomers,” says Bisi Adebayo, the Manitoba Immigrant Employment Council (MBIEC) Outreach & Partnerships Manager. “The Access Event Centre [is] a great spot for us.”
Adebayo says that one-day event will provide immigrants in Manitoba with the building blocks they need to open businesses in the region.
“[We want] to support immigrant business owners [and] help them grow their business, and [we want to support] those looking to start up a business [with] start up ideas and resources,” she says.
The Expo is a collaboration between New Horizons Media, the MBIEC, and Regional Connections Inc. Adebayo says that the MBIEC, a new non-profit initiative funded by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and a member of the Immigrant Employee Councils of Canada, strives to equip Manitoban employers with the tools, solutions, and resources needed to hire and retain newcomer talents that benefit Manitoba.
Adebayo, who arrived in Canada two years ago, is passionate about working with the MBIEC.
“I got a couple of jobs before I finally got my dream job,” she says. “It's been very interesting since I arrived in Canada — getting used to the weather and the workplace culture.”
The Immigrant Business Expo will include workshops, panel discussions, and a marketplace and small business clinic to assist new immigrants and refugees.
“I'm looking forward to seeing newcomers . . . get support in areas of taxes and accounting, how to write a business plan, market research, strategy development, financial support and all of that,” says Adebayo. “It will be interesting to see [immigrants] come learn one or two things about how to start a business . . . . I want us to also see newcomers as job creators . . . starting up their own businesses, not just coming in looking for jobs. Of course, they can come to look for jobs to start up initially, but creating jobs as well will be a great thing for us in the province.”
The Immigrant Business Expo strives to address some of the barriers that immigrants and refugees encounter as they consider new ventures.
“They are new in the province. They don't know their way around. A lot of them feel that just getting a job is the means of livelihood or the way they can be here in the province,” says Adebayo. “It would be great for them to get that business know-how and most times, the barrier, I feel, is not knowing who and where to start from, and so there will be business leaders that are going to support them at this event.”
Among the list of special guests is Manitoba’s Minister of Economic Development, Investment, and Trade Jamie Moses. The Keynote speaker will be business owner Zahid Zehri. The MLAs and mayors of the region will also attend.
Adebayo says that the line-up is full of experienced business owners with plenty of knowledge to impart. She says that the Expo will also have information on government-funded resources for attendees to learn about.
“All of that will ease the barriers [that immigrants] face in starting businesses,” she says.
Everyone — from those who own a business to those who think they might be interested in starting one — is invited to the Immigrant Business Expo.
“You never can tell what you’ll learn. Even if you have a job, you never can tell,” says Adebayo. “There might be something that you catch at the event [that makes you] decide to start a business.”
For Adebayo, empowering new people to establish businesses in the Pembina Valley and Manitoba overall benefits everyone.
“I think this is a great opportunity for us to attract immigrants and newcomers to the province . . . to grow business [and] grow the economy, . . . [and to encourage] more people to stay in the province and not move out because they feel they are not getting jobs,” she says. “We feel it's a great idea for [immigrants] to attend the event . . . and then decide to stay in the province. It would help the community [to] have businesses spring up.”
The Immigrant Business Expo is a free event that takes place on September 20th at the Access Event Centre in Morden. It runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Registration and event information can be found here. Adebayo says that there is also a number on the event page, which anyone can call to get more information or ask questions about the Expo. Inquires may also be emailed to info@manitobaic.ca.
~With files from Connie Bailey~