Joins WEOC in advancing women entrepreneurs as partners in Canada’s renewal
THUNDER BAY, ON – November 4, 2025 — PARO welcomes the 2025 Federal Budget as a plan focused on fiscal stability, competitiveness, and generational prosperity. The organization joins the Women’s Enterprise Organizations of Canada (WEOC) in affirming the importance of responsible stewardship and investment in women-led businesses as a cornerstone of Canada’s economic renewal and long-term strength.
“This budget reinforces what we know to be true — when women entrepreneurs have equitable access to financing and support, they don’t just build strong businesses, they help build stronger, more resilient communities across Canada.”
“At PARO, we see firsthand how investing in women’s entrepreneurship fuels innovation, inclusion, and long-term prosperity for everyone.”
— Rosalind Lockyer, Founder and CEO, PARO Centre for Women’s Enterprise-Canada
Through WEOC’s national loan fund and the network of women’s enterprise centres and organizations, including PARO, more than $25 million in loans have supported over 560 women-owned businesses over the past three years. In Ontario, 303 women-owned businesses have been aided by the WEOC National Loans Fund, providing 143 Business Expansions and 160 Start-Ups with $12,862,855.00 in funding to date. This illustrates how targeted financing and wraparound support help women start, grow, and scale businesses that anchor communities.
“This budget reflects responsible stewardship and strategic investment in Canada’s future,” said Victoria Lennox, MSM, Chief Executive Officer of the Women’s Enterprise Organizations of Canada (WEOC). “The strength of women’s entrepreneurship lies in our collaboration. Together with partners across the country, we are advancing a unified vision of long-term stability, competitiveness, and generational prosperity.”
PARO welcomes measures that support innovation, small-business productivity, and trade diversification, and encourages attention to equitable access for rural, Indigenous, newcomer, and under-represented women.
Next Step:
PARO will participate in WEOC’s National Post-Budget Dialogue: Women Powering Canada’s Prosperity on November 19, 2025. Partners, policymakers, and entrepreneurs can register at weoc.ca/budget2025 or contact info@weoc.ca.
About ORGANIZATION
PARO Centre for Women’s Enterprise is one of Canada’s leading organizations supporting women entrepreneurs, providing business advising, training, and peer lending programs to help women start, grow, and scale their enterprises across Ontario. As the Ontario representative within the Women’s Enterprise Organizations of Canada (WEOC) network, PARO collaborates nationally to advance equitable access to financing and opportunities for women-led businesses.
Media contact
Kylee Monteith | Communications and New Media Officer
PARO Centre for Women’s Enterprise-Canada
communications@paro.ca | 807-625-0328 or 1-800-584-0252 | www.paro.ca
About the Women’s Enterprise Organizations of Canada (WEOC)
WEOC is the national voice advancing women’s entrepreneurship and economic leadership. Working through a network of women’s enterprise centres and organizations, WEOC delivers programs, capital, and capacity to help women start, grow, and scale their businesses. Through its national loan fund and partnerships with government and industry, WEOC strengthens Canada’s women’s entrepreneurship ecosystem and drives inclusive prosperity across the country.
Media Contact
Lindsay Stewart Glor | Communications Manager
Women’s Enterprise Organizations of Canada (WEOC)
lstewartglor@weoc.ca | 204-296-0544 | www.weoc.ca
Women’s Equality Day – August 2025 – English – French
Canada has ever more women entrepreneurs. Why are they still struggling? – March 2024
PARO explores Mental Health issues for women entrepreneurs – January 2024
Les défis des entrepreneuses présentée par le centre Paro au CSEPR – Le août 2023
Les entrepreneures ontariennes ont besoin d’aide – Le août 2023
PARO celebrates 25 years of helping women in business – October 2019
Women entrepreneurs recognized in northwestern Ontario – November 2018
Founder of Thunder Bay’s PARO Centre recognized as International Woman of the Decade – April 2018
PARO Centre receives $350,000 to help support women in politics – September 2017
In 2023, PARO Centre for Women’s Enterprise (PARO) received funding through the Government of Canada, Women and Gender Equality Canada (WAGE) program, which works to advance equality with respect to sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity or expression through the inclusion of people of all genders, including women, in Canada’s economic, social, and political life.
PARO was approved to use the funding to research the impacts of mental health and wellness gaps and challenges faced by women entrepreneurs. Addressing mental health concerns among female entrepreneurs is essential for Ontario’s economic prosperity. Resources like mental health support, access to peer networks and business mentorship, stress management techniques…
Research has found that a limited number of interventions exist globally to support women’s enterprise growth. Furthermore, few interventions have been designed and implemented to address the broader structural, institutional and attitudinal impediments within the system that hinder the advancement of both women entrepreneurs, and toward a more equitable economic system….
Since the onset of the COVID-19 Global Pandemic in 2020, PARO Centre for Women’s Enterprise (PARO) has closely monitored the challenges and triumphs of women in business across Ontario. During the worst phase of the pandemic, when the world shut down, PARO was able to give out over $500,0001 in the form of nonrepayable growth contributions helping 86 women entrepreneurs across Ontario.
Women’s Enterprise Organizations of Canada is proud to deliver the WEOC National Loan Program, which will support women and non-binary entrepreneurs as they start, scale, grow and maintain their businesses.
It takes a different approach to setting you up for continued growth and success by providing robust wrap-around services to guide you through the process.
WEOC’s Loan Fund Partners are skilled professionals who work with diverse women entrepreneurs. They are able to provide a variety of resources, including seminars, webinars, mentorship programs, networking opportunities, one-on-one advising, and loan aftercare. Their goal is to answer your questions, provide you with relevant resources, and guide you in the development of a business plan that documents the feasibility and viability of your business idea. They have your best interest in mind so will often ask the tough questions to make sure that you are considering both opportunities and challenges that could affect the success of your business.
2022: International Peace Awards – Women Empowerment
A not-for-profit social enterprise, we collaborate to empower women, strengthen small business, and promote community economic development across Ontario.
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