Press Release: Call for CWEA Nominations

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

In Celebration of International Women’s Day, Women of Influence Launches the Call for Nominations for the 25th Annual RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Awards

TORONTO – MARCH 8TH – In celebration of International Women’s Day, RBC and Women of Influence are announcing the call for nominations for the 2017 RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Awards (CWEA). Now celebrating its 25th year, these awards provide national recognition to Canada’s most accomplished and impactful women entrepreneurs, whose successful businesses and influence contribute so much to the local, national and global economy.

“RBC remains dedicated to helping create opportunities for women entrepreneurs start and grow their businesses, which is why we’re proud to work with Women of Influence again to launch this year’s RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Awards,” said Neil McLaughlin, executive vice-president, Business Financial Services, RBC. “We believe that achieving gender equity is both the smart thing and the right thing to do and key to Canada’s future economic development and prosperity. We’re committed to ensuring that women have the resources they need to play an active role in that future.”

To date, over 25,000 women from their early twenties to their mid-eighties, from every sector of the economy, have been nominated for these awards. Over 126 Awards have been presented for outstanding entrepreneurial achievement. The following awards are presented: Micro-Business Award, Staples Start-Up Award, RBC Momentum Award, Social Change Award, TELUS Trailblazer Award, and the TEC Canada Award for Excellence in Entrepreneurship.

The potential boost to economic activity by tapping into the entrepreneurial spirit of women is significant and could sustain women as a source of economic growth in Canada for decades to come.

“The innovation, passion and determination of women entrepreneurs both deserves and needs to be recognized and celebrated,” said Alicia Skalin, Co-CEO, Head of Events and Programming, Women of Influence, “Not only are they contributing greatly to the economy and impacting their communities, they also serve as role models to other aspiring female business owners. They are proof that dreams are achievable.”

To nominate, please go to http://www.womenofinfluence.ca/rbc-cwea.

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For interview requests or further information please contact:

Aylanah Whitten

416-629-9144 | aw******@wo**************.ca

Rob Merk

416-955-6665| ro******@rb*.com

ABOUT THE RBC CANADIAN WOMEN ENTREPRENEUR AWARDS

The RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Awards are the pre-eminent national business awards recognizing the country’s leading female entrepreneurs. The awards are an initiative of Women of Influence, an award-winning organization dedicated to the professional advancement of Canadian women.

ABOUT WOMEN OF INFLUENCE

Women of Influence, now in its 24th year, is North America’s leading organization of its kind. Offering solutions to further women’s advancement, including courses in executive leadership, global events, and print and digital content, Women of Influence annually reaches over 200,000 professional women and men across North America and internationally. Signature events include the RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Awards and the Women of Influence Luncheon Series. For more information, please visit www.womenofinfluence.com.

ABOUT RBC

Royal Bank of Canada is Canada’s largest bank, and one of the largest banks in the world, based on market capitalization. We are one of North America’s leading diversified financial services companies, and provide personal and commercial banking, wealth management, insurance, investor services and capital markets products and services on a global basis. We have over 80,000 full- and part-time employees who serve more than 16 million personal, business, public sector and institutional clients through offices in Canada, the U.S. and 35 other countries. For more information, please visit http://www.rbc.com/.‎

RBC helps communities prosper, supporting a broad range of community initiatives through donations, community investments and employee volunteer activities. For more information please see: http://www.rbc.com/community-sustainability/.