It this age of big box stores and high profile corporate brands, it is easy to get the impression that these giants account for a lot more employment than they do.
In fact, according to Industry Canada statistics for 2012, 69.7 per cent of employees in the private sector work for small businesses (one to 99 employees). Although the City of Yorkton does not have stats for the city, small businesses in Saskatchewan account for 76.6 per cent of private employment. Juanita Polegi, executive director of the Yorkton Chamber of Commerce, said she suspects the numbers for Yorkton would be at least on par with those for the province.
In other words, small business is a big deal.
In 1979, a group of Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) business centres in B.C. organized a week of activities to help entrepreneurs. Based on the success of that event and one the following year, BDC decided to launch Small Business Week nationally to celebrate the contribution small and medium businesses make to economy and provide resources to help small businesses succeed.
This year the Yorkton Chamber will celebrate small business week with its monthly luncheon featuring Twila Reddekopp, publisher and editor of Saskatchewan Business Magazine, which professes its mission is "to encourage and promote successful business in the province."
The lunch is scheduled for 12 p.m. tomorrow at the Royal Canadian Legion. Cost is $20.
