DIVERSEcity Entrepreneur & Small Business Fair

Plan, launch & grow your business at our annual fair

Held annually in Surrey, BC, during Small Business Month, the free DIVERSEcity Entrepreneur & Small Business Fair supports diverse entrepreneurs to get the knowledge and tools they need to plan, launch and grow their own business in Canada. Launched in 2016 by DIVERSEcity’s self-employment programs, the fair has helped hundreds of diverse entrepreneurs and small business owners.

Join us for the FREE 2024 DIVERSEcity Entrepreneur & Small Business Fair!

Date: October 17, 2024
Time: 3–7 pm
Location: Surrey City Hall
13450 104 Avenue, Surrey, BC (Steps from Surrey Central SkyTrain Station)
Everyone welcome!

Event highlights:

3–5 pm:

Small business tradeshow and marketplace, networking and refreshments

5–6 pm:

DIVERSEtalks panel discussion, “Turn your ideas into entrepreneurial income”

6–7 pm:

DIVERSEcity Business Pitch Competition, onstage, Dragons’ Den style

Register to attend the free event via Eventbrite here

Want to exhibit your business at the fair? Please fill out the following form.

2024
Sponsors

Supported by:	Awards Sponsor:	Marketing Sponsor:

Be a sponsor or exhibitor!

Want to be a sponsor, exhibitor or partner? Download our sponsorship package here.

Newcomers face countless barriers to employment, so it’s no surprise then that many newcomers turn to self-employment and entrepreneurship after arrival, with higher rates than Canadian-born people. Statistics show that 10.8 per cent of self-employment Canadians are immigrants, versus 7.5 per cent who are born in Canada.

It’s, in fact, a global trend. A study by Global Entrepreneurship Monitor found that immigrants were more likely to start businesses than native-born populations in most of the 69 countries surveyed. Why is this the case? Immigrants have the education, skills and risk tolerance to succeed as entrepreneurs. However, they lack information on the local context of doing business. That’s why new immigrant entrepreneurs need additional support.

BIPOC and women entrepreneurs also face added barriers in starting their own businesses, including access to funding. Yet they are both growing demographics in self-employment. The DIVERSEcity Entrepreneur & Small Business Fair is a great starting point for newcomers, BIPOC, women and other diverse community members.

Want to connect with these growing demographics of entrepreneurs? Join the DIVERSEcity Entrepreneur and Small Business Fair as a sponsor.

Download our Sponsorship Package 2024