You can now celebrate diverse cultures and support entrepreneurs looking to launch their business right here in Ottawa. The ByWard Market’s Vendor Village is hosting Immigrant Canada’s Retail Incubator Program, where 23 entrepreneurs will have a chance to test their products directly with the public through week-long pop-up shops. The entrepreneurs are from all around the world, including Angola, Benin, Cameroon, China, Colombia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Haiti, India, Iran, Kenya, Lebanon, Morocco, Nigeria, Peru, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Saint Lucia, and Ukraine. “We take immigrant entrepreneurs at an early stage or idea stage, and we provide them two months of education. Then, after their two months of education on business foundations, mentorship, each one actually has the opportunity to have a residency for a week in our pop-up shop here at the ByWard Market to test their products, sell to real people, and really launch their business,” says Karla Briones, founder and executive director of Immigrant Entrepreneur Canada. The pop-up shop is located within the Vendor Village on George Street, in front of the old Hudson’s Bay building. There are multiple shipping containers, one of which is dedicated to this program. “It’s such a great opportunity to actually have this space where we are just immigrants, and then we get to share our challenges and all the excitement and our culture as well,” said entrepreneur Dawn Dshituka of Chez Kwetu, which sells home décor and other items. “I’m looking to meet people, just to chat with people, for them to try my cookie and enjoy it,” says Omar Gaber of Chewy Puff Cookies. The third year of the program is launching alongside the reimagined Vendor Village, which aims to be a hub for local entrepreneurs. “Come see all of the beautiful vendors that are here,” said Victoria Williston, executive director of the ByWard Market District Authority.
