IWD expo in LaSalle highlights women-led businesses in Windsor-Essex

The Windsor-Essex IWD Expo took place over the weekend to spotlight women entrepreneurs in the Windsor area.

An expo celebrating women entrepreneurs and community connection is underway in Windsor as part of International Women’s Day (IWD) events in the region.

The Windsor-Essex IWD Expo launched Saturday and continues Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. inside the LaSalle Event Centre, bringing together more than 100 vendors and businesses led by women from across the region.

Event coordinator Mili Jovanovic says the goal is to spotlight the strong network of women entrepreneurs in Windsor.

“We wanted to bring them together, so they have the opportunity to bring their businesses to life, meet new clients and celebrate International Women’s Day,” said Jovanovic.

The event features vendors offering products and services ranging from health and beauty to fashion, art, and wellness, as well creative and wellness activities including guided meditation, bracelet-making, and floral bouquet bars.

The expo also features live “lightning talks” and storytelling sessions where women share personal experiences about entrepreneurship, leadership and resilience.

A live “Pitch Like a Queen” contest gives entrepreneurs the chance to present their ideas to an audience, while attendees can also nominate someone for the “Women Who Inspire Me” recognition.

Organizers are also collecting feminine hygiene products and other essentials for donation to local women’s shelters.

This weekend marks the 2nd annual IWD expo — an expansion of last year’s inaugural event which lasted just one day.