Small Business Week is the perfect occasion to honour the females who are among Ontario’s best employers, managers and workers.

Each year, I commemorate Small Business Week by celebrating the successful, hard-working and decent women in business who live, work and play in Nepean–Carleton. Over 100 women participate in the semi-annual Women in Business Breakfast, which I host, but is actually organized by women for women. They are contributing to Nepean–Carleton through their small, medium and home-based businesses. These women are the economic engine of Ottawa’s southwest. Let me tell you, the old saying, “I am woman, hear me roar” is the best way to describe this economic engine.

The women who organize this event are web developers like Avril Tsang, realtors like Betty Hillier, grocers like Kelly Ross, engineers like Nancy Davis, and chiropractors like Salima Ismail and Vicky Clark, executive directors like Andrea Steenbakkers or media executives like Diane Banks. I’ve also been grateful for the work of my staff, Wendy Noble, Helen Byers and Beth Graham.

On Friday, October 24, once again Women in Business in Nepean–Carleton are going to celebrate their collective contributions to small business in our community over breakfast with 100 of their colleagues, customers and friends. During Small Business Week  I encourage all members of this Ontario Legislature to thank a business owner and, as importantly, thank a businesswoman.