New Program for Immigrant Entrepreneurs Seeks Alberta Mentors and Mentees

The Business Link and its program supporters, Alberta Employment
and Immigration and the Canadian Youth Business Foundation are pleased to announce an Alberta-wide initiative to promote immigrant entrepreneurship in Edmonton, Calgary, Grande Prairie and rural areas.

Starting a small business has its challenges in any environment,” says Cathy Goulet,
Executive Director of The Business Link. “For new Canadians, learning about business protocols and the marketplace in their new country adds yet another level of complexity.

That’s where The Business Link and its Immigrant Entrepreneur Mentorship Program
(IEMP) can help.

The IEMP initiative works to increase Alberta competitiveness through support to immigrant
entrepreneurs already in business, looking to enhance their business skills and improve
their operations. Program components are mentoring, networking, business education and
promotion through social media. Rural participants outside Edmonton, Calgary or Grande
Prairie can participate in the program through virtual/phone mentoring and video
conferencing.

The Program will connect mentees with mentors through one-on-one meetings and
networking events. Program mentees will learn about marketing in a western culture and
doing business successfully in Canada. Mentors will share their knowledge, experience and
expertise to help immigrant entrepreneurs meet their business goals.

Program coordinators will provide continuous support, ongoing promotion of program
participants’ businesses and a comprehensive social media campaign for an entire year.
This profile will help bring more customers and increase business activity for both mentors
and mentees.

Specialized resources for immigrant entrepreneurs have been developed by The Business
Link, the Canada Business service centre for Alberta, to assist newcomers as they start and
grow their business in the province.

IEMP Coordinators are actively looking for mentors and mentees for the program.
Applications are being accepted until September 15, 2011.

Full program information and application forms are on the program website at www.iemp.ca.

For more information about The Business Link’s Immigrant Entrepreneur Mentorship Program, please contact:

(IEMP for Edmonton, Grande Prairie and rural areas)
Marie Gervais
Program Coordinator
Immigrant Entrepreneur Mentorship Program
Marie.Gervais@canadabusiness.ab.ca
Cell 780 993-1062

(IEMP for Calgary)
Farah Mocquais
Calgary Program Specialist
Immigrant Entrepreneur Mentorship Program
Farah.Mocquais@canadabusiness.ab.ca
Cell: 403 390-8273