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Two local businesses recipients of the Canada’s Women Entrepreneurship Fund

PHOTO. Supplied. The Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of Small Business and Export Promotion, joined the Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Natural Resources and Member of Parliament for Edmonton Mill Woods, Randy Boissonnault, Member of Parliament for Edmonton Centre, and several local women entrepreneurs to celebrate women’s entrepreneurship in Canada.

Two local female led businesses, Hines Health Services and A.P.E. Maintenance are successful applicants of the Government of Canada’s Women Entrepreneurship Fund.

It is all part of the Government of Canada advancing women’s economic empowerment with the first-ever Women Entrepreneurship Strategy, a $2-billion investment aiming to double the number of women-owned businesses by 2025.

As part of the strategy, the Honourable Mary Ng, Canada’s Minister of Small Business and Expert Promotion announced a $1.2-million investment in 13 women-led companies in the Edmonton area through the Women Entrepreneurship Fund.

“Our government believes that women’s economic empowerment is not just the right thing to do; it’s good for the bottom line,” said the Minister Ng.

Kristi Hines, founder and director of Hines Health Services will receive $100,000 in funding to create a workplace impairment assessment tool.

“It’s a great honour to be selected and to be included in a group of such accomplished female business leaders,” said Hines. “This investment from the Government of Canada is going to help Hines Health Services diversify into the technology sector and grow. 

With her background in occupational health and safety and doing drug and alcohol testing for the last 15 years she came up with the idea to create a tool or app, after cannabis became legalized. 

The app will use psychophysical and clinical indications to see if a person is fit for work or has performance deficits.

Melanie Antoine, C.E.O. of A.P.E. Maintenance will receive funds to aid in a barge addition that will enable her business, to haul additional freight to Fort Chipewyan.

“I am extremely grateful for this opportunity. I am a proud member of the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation, and currently live in Fort McMurray where I run A.P.E. Maintenance with my husband, Lloyd,” said Antoine. “This grant will enable our business to expand our reach within our region, especially to the more remote areas.”

Antoine said the funding will also increased opportunities for the residents and businesses of our region.