women 560Hub Staff

An upcoming day for women in the county to come together, enjoy each other and get to know the women behind the businesses in the community, is set to take place April 22 as the inaugural Bruce County Women’s Show gets underway at the Bruce County Museum & Cultural Centre.

There will be musical entertainment and a cash bar. As well, traditional Syrian vegetarian cuisine, prepared by Ghaydaa Kassan Aboud, will be available. 

The event will feature two guest speakers. Jen Fowler Financial Advisor will present “Wedding Bells, Wedding Bill” about ways to talk to your life partner about family finances. Then speaker Andrea O’Really PhD, Professor at York University, will bring “Motherhood for Millennials”.

Applications for vendors with a general focus on women’s needs are still being accepted.

The inaugural event is the brain child of Luz Maria Alvarez-Wilson of Southampton, a former Diplomat for the Mexican Government and business owner. When Alvarez-Wilson lived in Ottawa she attended many events for women in business. Such events were opportunities to come together as a community, build each other up, learn from one another and help promote each other’s business through word of mouth; these events are what inspired her to create the Bruce County Women’s Show.

“I know in Bruce County there’s quite a ... number of businesses carried by women in the agricultural sector as well as the creativity area. And I wanted to showcase all the potential that there is here in the area,” said Alvarez-Wilson. “I think women have a tremendous impact on the economy and sometimes women ourselves are not aware the impact that we’re making in the society.”

Alvarez-Wilson credits the Canadian Government for its programs that support and benefit women in business to help Canada become one of the leading countries for women in business. She said she is “totally amazed at the discipline and endurance that women in the area have while carrying their own business” and that while she was researching before the event she uncovered a “movement” of wellness and holistic practice growing in Saugeen Shores, which she hopes to feature at the upcoming show.

Jen Fowler of Investors Group is the Show's main sponsor. "Financial planning is one of the most important steps in the empowerment of women," said Alvarez-Wilson.

The one-day event will be the first function for the Huron Group, Alvarez-Wilson's new local business with which she intends to create memorable community functions as well as promote workshops and events that are already a part of the community to people outside of the community, giving visitors a taste of Saugeen Shores and an opportunity “to retreat and take advantage of the services that we already have here”.

Tickets for the Bruce County Women’s Show are $25 with 10 percent going in support of the Women’s House Serving Bruce and Grey.

Tickets can be purchased at Kristin’s Pharmacy, 197 Albert Street South (Highway 21) in Southampton, at the Bruce County Museum and Cultural Centre or online at thehurongroup.org/store.

For more information about the event contact info@thehurongroup.org or bcwomenshow@gmail.com or find it on Facebook.