SE Special events

On October 23, 2025, to celebrate the success of our island participants, the Self-Employment Program hosted a Small Business Showcase at the Baumann Centre in Victoria, inviting entrepreneurs, local Chambers and Boards of Trade, financial industry experts, and representatives from the Ministry of Employment, Business and Economic Development. Each participating business had the opportunity to present its products and services, connect with peers, and network with the broader business community. The event was well-attended, and business owners reported feeling a boost in confidence after being so warmly received by the community in which they operate.

Our esteemed guest speakers, Nicola Dunn & Omid Esmaeili from Scotia Bank and Ghazaleh Nekui from World Trade Centre Vancouver, shared invaluable insights and resources that motivated and empowered our aspiring entrepreneurs.

Accomplished business owners Adina Diaconu (WestPro Physio) and Sarah Campbell (Studio3) offered inspiring and honest accounts of their entrepreneurial journeys. Their candid discussions about successes and challenges provided a wealth of real-world experience.

We greatly appreciate all the guest speakers who contributed to this successful event and our dedicated team members, John Harrison and Diana de Jurei, for their invaluable behind-the-scenes support.

We also want to acknowledge the Indigenous Gathering Place (South Building, 4th floor) at Douglas College- New Westminster Campus for sharing their space to host our event.

If you want to start your own business, the Self-Employment Program at Douglas College-Training Group, partnered with WorkBC, can be a great place to start!

The BIPT Conference for Pathways to Employment and Self-Employment showcased a captivating panel discussion guided by SEP Business Advisor Paula Felix alongside four entrepreneurs at different stages of their journeys.

The panel explored essential topics, including accessing resources for launching a business, navigating challenges in the first year of entrepreneurship, avoiding common pitfalls, and managing the fear of failure. It was an enriching discussion where these accomplished entrepreneurs generously conveyed insights and advice to inspire and guide aspiring business owners in the audience, fueling their entrepreneurial journeys with wisdom and motivation.

PANELISTS:
* Oscar Deutzman and Laura Davila ~ Cacao Mexican Chocolate House Co. (https://www.cacaomx.ca)
* Mayumi Bae ~ The Plant Based Workshop (https://plantbasedworkshop.com)
* Riadh Slimane ~ Kondar Global Solutions (https://kondarsoft.com/en)

The second online seminar out of the Self Employment Webinar series will focus on the importance and best practices of networking and the benefits of building a business community as a new entrepreneur.

Guest speakers:
Cheryl Bishop, Founder of Resilient Women in Business (https://resilientwomeninbusiness.com) and
Deborah Raymond, Assistant Coordinator at Tri-cities Valley Women’s Association & Division Leader at Primerica Financial Services (https://vwatricities.com)

The Self Employment Program (SEP) launched its first webinar in March 2023, featuring two successful business owners, Kim Van and Manmeet (Nina) Kaur, who shared their inspiring stories of overcoming fear and self-doubt to start and grow their businesses. They offered practical advice, such as utilizing social circles for promotion, managing time effectively, and beginning with one product or service at a time to build a brand and clientele. The webinar provided valuable insights for aspiring entrepreneurs, and future webinars will feature more successful entrepreneurs sharing their experiences and best practices to help SEP participants thrive.

Kim Van, Owner of Lash-by-Lash Services & Realtor at Century 21 (https://kim-van.c21.ca)
Manmeet (Nina) Kaur, Owner & Financial Advisor at Ethical Financial Corporation (http://ethicalfinancial.ca)

We're excited to share with you the success of our recent "Introduce My Business Trade Show!" This event was held on March 23rd at the Coquitlam Douglas College Campus, and it was the first Self Employment Trade Show to introduce newly launched businesses through our Self Employment Program.

During the event, entrepreneurs in the Business Launch phase had a booth set up to showcase their products and services, and practice client needs assessment conversations while promoting their businesses in a trade show format. It was a fantastic opportunity for these entrepreneurs to gain exposure, build connections, and receive valuable feedback on their businesses.

We're proud of all the hard work and dedication that our program participants put into making this event a success. And we're excited to continue supporting them as they grow and thrive in their self-employment journeys. Thank you to everyone who attended and helped make this event a memorable one!

Sheena Bhatia, Owner of RISE UP WITH ENGLISH

Sheena Bhatia, owner and instructor at Rise Up with English has a Master’s degree in TESOL and over 30 years’ experience working internationally. She is passionate about making English accessible to all in a friendly and inclusive setting and helping students to learn and expand their knowledge and skills and live up to their fullest potential. Rise Up with English provides specialized online adult English classes (small group or 1-1 private lessons at a time) to international and immigrant communities empowering them to confidently pursue their most desired professional, educational and personal goals and aims to enrich their quality of life.

Email: riseupwithenglish@gmail.com

On October 23, 2025, to celebrate the success of our island participants, the Self-Employment Program hosted a Small Business Showcase at the Baumann Centre in Victoria, inviting entrepreneurs, local Chambers and Boards of Trade, financial industry experts, and representatives from the Ministry of Employment, Business and Economic Development. Each participating business had the opportunity to present its products and services, connect with peers, and network with the broader business community. The event was well-attended, and business owners reported feeling a boost in confidence after being so warmly received by the community in which they operate.

Our esteemed guest speakers, Nicola Dunn & Omid Esmaeili from Scotia Bank and Ghazaleh Nekui from World Trade Centre Vancouver, shared invaluable insights and resources that motivated and empowered our aspiring entrepreneurs.

Accomplished business owners Adina Diaconu (WestPro Physio) and Sarah Campbell (Studio3) offered inspiring and honest accounts of their entrepreneurial journeys. Their candid discussions about successes and challenges provided a wealth of real-world experience.

We greatly appreciate all the guest speakers who contributed to this successful event and our dedicated team members, John Harrison and Diana de Jurei, for their invaluable behind-the-scenes support.

We also want to acknowledge the Indigenous Gathering Place (South Building, 4th floor) at Douglas College- New Westminster Campus for sharing their space to host our event.

If you want to start your own business, the Self-Employment Program at Douglas College-Training Group, partnered with WorkBC, can be a great place to start!

The BIPT Conference for Pathways to Employment and Self-Employment showcased a captivating panel discussion guided by SEP Business Advisor Paula Felix alongside four entrepreneurs at different stages of their journeys.

The panel explored essential topics, including accessing resources for launching a business, navigating challenges in the first year of entrepreneurship, avoiding common pitfalls, and managing the fear of failure. It was an enriching discussion where these accomplished entrepreneurs generously conveyed insights and advice to inspire and guide aspiring business owners in the audience, fueling their entrepreneurial journeys with wisdom and motivation.

PANELISTS:
* Oscar Deutzman and Laura Davila ~ Cacao Mexican Chocolate House Co. (https://www.cacaomx.ca)
* Mayumi Bae ~ The Plant Based Workshop (https://plantbasedworkshop.com)
* Riadh Slimane ~ Kondar Global Solutions (https://kondarsoft.com/en)

The second online seminar out of the Self Employment Webinar series will focus on the importance and best practices of networking and the benefits of building a business community as a new entrepreneur.

Guest speakers:
Cheryl Bishop, Founder of Resilient Women in Business (https://resilientwomeninbusiness.com) and
Deborah Raymond, Assistant Coordinator at Tri-cities Valley Women’s Association & Division Leader at Primerica Financial Services (https://vwatricities.com)

The Self Employment Program (SEP) launched its first webinar in March 2023, featuring two successful business owners, Kim Van and Manmeet (Nina) Kaur, who shared their inspiring stories of overcoming fear and self-doubt to start and grow their businesses. They offered practical advice, such as utilizing social circles for promotion, managing time effectively, and beginning with one product or service at a time to build a brand and clientele. The webinar provided valuable insights for aspiring entrepreneurs, and future webinars will feature more successful entrepreneurs sharing their experiences and best practices to help SEP participants thrive.

Kim Van, Owner of Lash-by-Lash Services & Realtor at Century 21 (https://kim-van.c21.ca)
Manmeet (Nina) Kaur, Owner & Financial Advisor at Ethical Financial Corporation (http://ethicalfinancial.ca)

We're excited to share with you the success of our recent "Introduce My Business Trade Show!" This event was held on March 23rd at the Coquitlam Douglas College Campus, and it was the first Self Employment Trade Show to introduce newly launched businesses through our Self Employment Program.

During the event, entrepreneurs in the Business Launch phase had a booth set up to showcase their products and services, and practice client needs assessment conversations while promoting their businesses in a trade show format. It was a fantastic opportunity for these entrepreneurs to gain exposure, build connections, and receive valuable feedback on their businesses.

We're proud of all the hard work and dedication that our program participants put into making this event a success. And we're excited to continue supporting them as they grow and thrive in their self-employment journeys. Thank you to everyone who attended and helped make this event a memorable one!

Sheena Bhatia, Owner of RISE UP WITH ENGLISH

Sheena Bhatia, owner and instructor at Rise Up with English has a Master’s degree in TESOL and over 30 years’ experience working internationally. She is passionate about making English accessible to all in a friendly and inclusive setting and helping students to learn and expand their knowledge and skills and live up to their fullest potential. Rise Up with English provides specialized online adult English classes (small group or 1-1 private lessons at a time) to international and immigrant communities empowering them to confidently pursue their most desired professional, educational and personal goals and aims to enrich their quality of life.

Email: riseupwithenglish@gmail.com