3 minute read
Red Bicycle steers towards award
Red Bicycle Communications almost blew a tire over the excitement of being selected as a finalist for a top business award from the Alberta Chambers of Commerce.
The Lloydminster marketing firm was thrilled to learn it is in contention with two other firms for the 2024 Alberta Business Awards of Distinction in the Mentorship Award of Distinction category on Friday.
“This recognition by the Alberta Chambers of Commerce is a great honour for our organization,” said Red Bicycle owner and brand strategist, Jill Kelly in a statement.
As a finalist for the Mentorship Award of Distinction category, Red Bicycle is also eligible for the prestigious Alberta Best of Business Award of Distinction.
The award winners will be announced on June 20 at the Edmonton International Airport, but win or not, Kelly is grateful for the recognition.
Red Bicycle is the only Lloydminster business to be selected as a finalist.
“This acknowledgement underscores the significance of our commitment to mentorship, particularly in supporting women in busi - ness,” said Kelly.
“As a woman-owned and operated business ourselves, we understand the pivotal role that mentorship plays in breaking down barriers and fostering an inclusive entrepreneurial landscape.”
Red Bicycle earned the Small Business of the Year award from the Lloydminster Chamber of Commerce’s Business Excellence Awards in 2022.
Kelly’s company also sponsors the Business Woman of the Year award in keeping with its goal to empower women entrepreneurs.
“By providing mentorship opportunities and resources tailored to the unique challenges women face in the business world, we not only empower individual entrepreneurs but also fuel economic growth on a larger scale,” explained Kelly.
“When women succeed in business, they reinvest in their communities, create jobs, and drive innovation, ultimately benefiting society as a whole.”
In Canada, 98 per cent of all businesses are small businesses but only 17.7 per cent of those are womenowned in 2024, up from 16 per cent in 2021.
“Empowering women to become entrepreneurs not only helps women rise, but it helps our local, provincial and national economy as well,” said Kelly.
“Red Bicycle is proud to be part of this journey, and we remain committed to championing women’s entrepreneurship and mentorship to build a stronger, more vibrant economy for all.”
Red Bicycle is launching an inaugural Women in Business event on June 4 at the Centennial Civic Centre highlighting existing women-owned businesses with networking opportunities.”
The event will run from 8:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. with tickets for just $57.31 per person or $292.14 for a corporate table of six, including taxes and fees.
There will also be a panel of former finalists and recipients of the Business Woman of the Year and three minipresentations with a keynote talk by Mindy Hawthorne from Brixton Shoes.
The event comes on the heels of Red Bicycle providing free marketing consultation services to any entrepreneurial-minded woman during International Women’s Day celebrations in March.
