Entrepreneurs with Disabilities Program

Saskatoon and Regina (Saskatchewan)

Western Economic Diversification Canada's (WD) Entrepreneurs with Disabilities Program (EDP)  assists people living in the Saskatoon and Regina area who have a disability and are interested in pursuing self-employment goals. The EDP supports the federal government's ongoing commitment to help reduce barriers and increase self-employment opportunities for Canadians with disabilities.

Who is eligible?

The Saskatoon and Regina components of WD's EDP are specifically designed to benefit individuals living in Saskatoon or Regina who have a disability and want to open their own business or need support for an existing one.

Description

In Saskatchewan, the North Saskatchewan Independent Living Centre in Saskatoon and the South Saskatchewan Independent Living Centre in Regina manage the EDP on behalf of WD. The centres take a lead role in providing mentoring and counselling services, support in business development stages, as well as providing business loans to people with disabilities who wish to start or expand their business.

Through the EDP, the Independent Living Centres:

• promote entrepreneurship and self-employment as an option for people with disabilities exploring employment options;
• provide mentorship and peer support;
• provide access to information resources and community services;
• provide access to support in the development stages of business in areas such as: developing a business plan, financial forecasts and researching capital options;
• provide a mechanism for follow-up and aftercare; and
• provide an option for capital (and the possibility of leveraging additional money) through an investment fund .

Loans are available to:

• start or expand a business;
• purchase and apply new technology;
• upgrade facilities and equipment;
• develop marketing and promotional activities; and
• establish working capital.

How can I apply?

For more information on the Saskatoon and Regina Entrepreneurs with Disabilities Program contact :

Don Terry
South Saskatchewan Independent Living Centre
2220 Albert Street
Regina, Saskatchewan
S4P 2V2

Telephone: (306) 757-7452
Fax: (306) 757-5892
TTY : (306) 757-7452
E-mail: info@ssilc.ca
Website : http://www.ssilc.ca/ 

Mr. Lynn Freistadt
North Saskatchewan Independent Living Centre
237 - 5th Avenue North
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
S7K 2P2

Telephone: (306) 665-5508
Fax: (306) 244-2453
E-mail: uedp@nsilc.com
Web site: http://www.nsilc.com/ 

Dale Nave
Western Economic Diversification Canada
P.O. Box 2025
Suite 601, S.J. Cohen Building
119 - 4th Avenue South
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
S7K 3S7

Toll-free: 1-888-338-9378
Telephone: (306) 975-4373
Fax: (306) 975-5484

 

What other services may I be eligible for through Western Economic Diversification Canada?

With over 100 points of service in urban and rural communities across the West, the Business Service Network is made up of several integrated organizations that provide entrepreneurs with what they need to establish a business or make it grow.

Network partners work at the local level to ensure western Canadians have direct access to information on a wide range of financing alternatives, which will help determine your eligibility for services that best suit your needs. They offer various services from marketing and funding options to counselling and support.  For more information on the services our network provides and the network member nearest you, please visit WD’s Business Service Network.