On May 29, some sixty Francophone women entrepreneurs from across Ontario were welcomed to the apartments of the Lieutenant Governor, Her Honour, the Honourable Édith Dumont, for the Salon des femmes entrepreneures sociales francophones, a unique gathering dedicated to women entrepreneurship in Ontario.
Organized by Impact ON, in collaboration with the Women’s Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub (WEKH), this private event offered a space for authentic dialogue between women entrepreneurs, in a prestigious setting conducive to collective reflection.
From 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., participants shared their backgrounds, aspirations and challenges in the business world, whether in the social economy or other entrepreneurial models. The presence of Her Honour, the Honourable Édith Dumont, the first francophone to hold this role in the province, reinforced the symbolic significance of the morning.
The discussion continued with WEKH moderating several round-table discussions on key themes such as financing, mental health, business growth, and issues specific to social missions carried out by women entrepreneurs.
As WEKH pointed out at the event, entrepreneurship is driving the Canadian economy more than ever. According to WEKH’s report, State of Women’s Entrepreneurship in Canada 2025 Report (SWE 2025), in 2020, women were the majority in the ownership of 20% of businesses, generating $90.6 billion in revenues and representing 865,480 jobs.
According to Sabine Soumare, Executive Director of WEKH, “This important initiative shines a light on an often underserved group: francophone women entrepreneurs in Ontario. While all entrepreneurs need support, the nature of that support varies considerably according to stage of development, sector and group. Incorporating an intersectional perspective that includes linguistic minorities is essential to our work at WEKH.”
A networking luncheon rounded off the morning in the Ninoododadiwin Room (Room 228) at Queen’s Park, enabling participants to continue their exchanges with the members of the provincial parliament invited to join the meeting. This privileged moment of dialogue enabled the voice of women entrepreneurs to be heard by political decision-makers, and strengthened the bridges between the business community and institutions.
“This morning was a resounding success. For this first face-to-face event, there was a real sense of energy: women were able to exchange ideas, share their experiences in entrepreneurship – social or otherwise – and feel seen, heard and recognized. It’s the start of a collective effort to better document and support francophone social entrepreneurship,” notes Paula Haapanen, Senior Director, Team Engagement, Impact ON.
With this initiative, Impact ON reaffirms its commitment to promoting French-speaking female entrepreneurship, by creating spaces for connection, inspiration and co-construction.
The Salon, a long-awaited annual event, continues to generate promising ideas, celebrate singular experiences and weave collective dynamics around shared values.
About Impact ON
VISION : Impact ON values, empowers and inspires individuals, mission-driven organizations and communities to create a better world.
MISSION : Impact ON ensures the equitable, responsible and sustainable development of people, mission-driven organizations and communities. This is achieved through solutions, services and programs that emphasize the primacy of people, individual and collective responsibility, innovation and the valuing of diversity.
VALUES : Caring, cooperation, solidarity, agility, transparency.
More info: impact-on.com
About WEKH
The Women’s Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub (WEKH) is a national network and accessible digital platform for sharing research and resources, and for strategizing. With 10 regional centers and a network of over 250 organizations, the WEKH is designed to meet the needs of diverse women entrepreneurs across regions and sectors. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, WEKH adopted a catalytic role by connecting women entrepreneurs and support organizations across the country, and organizing training and networking events. Through its various initiatives, WEKH is helping to build the capacity of women entrepreneurs and the organizations that support them, by directing them to the resources and best practices available across the country.
More info: wekh.ca
