DIVERSEcity Entrepreneur & Small Business Fair
Plan, launch & grow your business at our annual fair
Held annually in Surrey, BC, during Small Business Month, the 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.
This year, on October 19, 2022, the fair was back in person at Surrey City Hall with:
- A tradeshow with information and resources about starting a business and settling in Canada
- Immigrant business marketplace
- Sponsor presentations, including from presenting sponsor CWB
- Our new DIVERSEcity Business Pitch Competition for immigrant and BIPOC entrepreneurs — Dragons’ Den style with prizes of up to $2,000.
- Presentation of the CWB Women Makers and Creators Award 2022 (prize of $1,000)
- Keynote Speaker: Avi Arya, founder, Internet Moguls on “How to be a Fearless Entrepreneur”
- Emcee: Paola Murillo, Founder, Latincouver
Read out story about about the 2022 event and the Business Pitch Competition winners here.
Planning is now underway for the 2023 DIVERSEcity Entrepreneur & Small Business Fair. To learn more or to get involved as a sponsor, speaker or exhibitor, contact selfemployment@dcrs.ca.
2022
PRESENTING SPONSOR
2022 FEATURED EXHIBITORS
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2022 BUSINESS PITCH COMPETITION SPONSOR
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2022 EXHIBITORS & SUPPORTERS
Be a sponsor or exhibitor
Newcomers face countless barriers to employment, and the pandemic hasn’t helped. 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 to plan, launch and grow their business. The DIVERSEcity Entrepreneur & Small Business Fair is a great starting point for newcomers and other diverse community members.
Want to connect with these immigrant entrepreneurs? Join the DIVERSEcity Entrepreneur and Small Business Fair as a Business Pitch Competition Sponsor, Featured Exhibitor, Exhibitor or Door Prize Sponsor.
Download our Sponsorship Package 2022
Contact us to learn more! Email selfemployment@dcrs.ca.
Past Events
Our 2021 hybrid event was a great success with 150+ attendees, a dozen exhibitors, two inspirational speakers including celebrity chef Vikram Vij and Freshworks CEO Samarth Mod, and the presentation of our Immigrant Entrepreneur Grants. Watch our video below!