News Archives - 2002

November 2002

Virtual Trade Mission Will Connect Canadian and Australian Businesses
A nine-month Virtual Trade Mission (VTM) for women entrepreneurs in Canada and Australia, spearheaded by the Ontario chapter of the Organization of Women in International Trade (OWIT), is set to begin in January 2003. It will coincide with the launch of an Australian chapter of OWIT in Sydney to be mentored by its Ontario counterpart. Participants in the VTM will post their business profiles on a dedicated Web site, where instructions and tips will be provided on how to initiate contacts and create trade opportunities. Including at least two videoconferences to better acquaint mission participants, the VTM will culminate in Fall 2003 with an actual trade mission to Canada by Australian businesswomen. "The VTM is an excellent opportunity for women entrepreneurs to do business overseas without having to deal with the expense of travel," says Candice Rice, President of Women in International Trade-Ontario (OWIT-Toronto).
Cost for participating in this first-ever Virtual Trade Mission for businesswomen in Canada and Australia will be:
$50 for OWIT members ($75 for non-members).
Sponsors include: RBC Royal Bank, Industry Canada and Westpac Business Banking in Australia.
The VTM will use software developed by the Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs & International Trade.

Originating in the U.S., OWIT has affiliated chapters around the world, including Ontario, Alberta, and soon, Australia. Its members include women exporters and importers, service providers and government representatives in all facets of international trade. They join OWIT to share international trade information and establish global business contacts.
To register for the Virtual Trade Mission, contact:
(in Canada) Candice Rice at 416-973-5157 or
e-mail rice.candice@ic.gc.ca ;
(in Australia) Vanessa Strang at 02-9226-(2)-3352 or
e-mail vstrang@westpac.com.au

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October 2002

Canadian Woman Pioneer Clinches International Trade Honour
Astrid Pregel, Canada's Consul General in Atlanta, is the first Canadian to win the prestigious Woman of the Year Award from the Organization of Women in International Trade (OWIT).
This honour recognizes women who have furthered international trade through excellence and innovation and who enhance the status of women in international trade as a result. Pregel was presented with the award in Denver during OWIT's annual conference October 24-25, 2002.

Pregel has worked on behalf of women's international business development for several decades and has been recognized by both APEC and OECD. As Minister Counsellor at the Canadian Embassy in Washington prior to her current post, she spearheaded the first Canadian Businesswomen's Trade Mission to Washington in 1997 that had a ripple effect across North America.
That mission resulted in the first Canada/U.S. Businesswomen's Trade Summit in 1999, during which the U.S. Secretary of State and Canada's International Trade Minister signed a declaration committing both countries to focusing on women's businesses and their contributions to international trade and on issues that affect them. Pregel's pioneering work has opened the doors for more women to do more business across more borders.

Originating in the U.S., OWIT has affiliated chapters around the world, including Ontario. Its members include women exporters and importers, service providers and government in all facets of international trade. They join OWIT to share international trade information and establish global business contacts.
Ontario's chapter - Women in International Trade Ontario (OWIT-Toronto) - which nominated Pregel for the 2001 award - is the first Canadian chapter of this dynamic world-wide organization. "Our chapter is delighted that our nominee was selected from among a very high calibre group of international candidates," says OWIT-Toronto President Candice Rice.

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July 2002

Award-winning Women's Travel Web site Creator to Address Trade Group
Evelyn Hannon, founding Editor and Creator of the most popular online travel resource for women - www.journeywoman.com - will be the guest speaker at the 2002 Annual BBQ for Women in International Trade - Ontario (OWIT-Toronto) this August 15, 2002.
A resident of Toronto, Hannon is one of the world's leading experts in travel, a savvy entrepreneur and a mentor for millions of women travellers around the world. TIME magazine honored her as one of its 100 most innovative thinkers of the new century and she has appeared as a guest on shows like Canada AM and Good Morning America.
Her Web site has been reviewed favourably in everything from the New York Times to People magazine and has attracted over one million visitors since its launch in 1997. Evelyn will talk about her never-a-dull-moment 20-year journey that started when she divorced at 42.

Learn how women around the world joined together to help her build Journeywoman.com, how her life was affected by this wonderful networking process and, the funny and practical tips she learned about solo travel along the way. This event is the perfect opportunity to make some new contacts with women involved in trade while swapping travel tales and learning about Hannon's journey to success.
It takes place at 5.30 p.m. at the Island Yacht Club in Toronto.
Registration fee is $45 for members and $65 for non-members.
To register, call Patricia Cosgrove at (416) 212-1030 or
e-mail her at patricia.cosgrove@edt.gov.on.ca

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May 2002

Toronto to Host International Women's Trade Group
Women's growing participation in the global marketplace will be highlighted May 2-3, 2002 when Organization of Women in International Trade - Toronto Chapter (OWIT-Toronto)-a Toronto-based association - will play host to the international Board members of the Organization of Women in International Trade (OWIT), which is dedicated to advancing global trade opportunities for women. "We're delighted about coming to Toronto, home of the first Canadian chapter of our worldwide organization," says OWIT President Adrienne Braumiller of Dallas, Texas.
A special reception, open to women interested in international business, the evening of May 2nd sponsored by RBC Royal Bank and OWIT-Toronto will feature several dynamic speakers with powerful messages on opportunities for women entrepreneurs beyond Canada's borders.
They include:
• U.S. Consul General Antoinette S. Marwitz, the first woman to hold this position in Canada, as keynote speaker who will address Business Opportunities between Canada and the U.S.
• Dianne Waterhouse, President of Round Top Window Products Inc., who will give highlights about her participation at the Washington Women Entrepreneurship in the 21st Century conference that featured U.S. President George Bush as a speaker; and
• Amanda Ellis, National Manager for Women in Business with Westpac (Australia), and Betty Wood, National Manager, Women Entrepreneurs' Market, RBC Royal Bank - members of the Global Banking Alliance for Women - who will give details on Australia's National Women's Business Week conference June 11-14 and the accompanying first Canadian businesswomen's trade mission to Australia.
The latest research shows that 8.9% of Canadian women business owners export their products and/or services. "Although this figure is increasing, women still remain underrepresented in international trade, and part of our mandate is to expose them to the vast opportunities," says Donna Messer, OWIT-Toronto's VP, Public Relations. "We encourage women business owners to attend this reception, hear about these opportunities and network with our international Board members."

The reception will take place from 5.30 - 8.30 p.m. on May 2 at
RBC Royal Bank,
200 Bay St., South Tower,
40th Floor.

The fee is $15 for WITO members and $25 for non-members.
Register through Cindy Lapp at lapp.cindy@ic.gc.ca or 416-973-5190.