BDC Small Business Week(TM) 2015 runs October 18- 24 under the theme "Knock down barriers. Dare to grow."

MONTREAL, Aug. 19, 2015 /CNW/ - The Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) launched the 2015 BDC Small Business Week^TM  microsite in preparation for the 36^th edition of its trademark event.  Hundreds of national and local events take place during BDC Small Business Week, which runs from October 18 to 24.

Small business is big in Canada
Small and medium-sized businesses are the cornerstone of Canada's economy. They account for 99.9% of all Canadian companies and employ more than 90% of private sector workers.  As Canada's engine of job growth, they deserve to be celebrated. And that's what BDC Small Business Week is all about.

Now in its 36^th edition, BDC's Small Business Week is about daring to grow your business, which is never an easy task. Inevitably, there are barriers that need to be knocked down as entrepreneurs navigate the path to success. Confronting challenges is essential if they want to play in today's competitive global environment. It is not only about having the will, but also about having the tools and resources to do so, both financial and non-financial. 

Full suite of online editorial business resources available
The microsite hosts a national calendar of events where organizations across the country are invited to upload their specific events.  It also houses the annual BDC Small Business Week editorial resources that include a factsheet, an infographic, and a series of five articles on topics of interest to entrepreneurs. No authorization is needed to reproduce the articles in print or online.

New research findings
BDC Small Business Week  2015 activities include a series of speaking engagements by Pierre Cléroux, BDC's Chief Economist.  Mr. Cléroux will publicize the findings of a new BDC report that paints a comprehensive picture of what growth means for small and medium-sized businesses and the winning strategies industry leaders employ to take their companies to the next level.  The report will be released on October 20. The full schedule of activities is available here.  

Follow BDC Small Business Week 2015 events on Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIn.

About BDC Small Business Week
BDC Small Business Week is a Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) trademark whose origins date back to 1979 when BDC business centres in British Columbia's Lower Fraser Valley pooled their resources to organize a week of activities for entrepreneurs. This first event and the one that followed in 1980 were so successful that BDC officially launched BDC Small Business Week™ across Canada in 1981. The initiative was quickly adopted by Canada's business community. In 2014, over 300 activities across Canada attracted close to 10,000 business people to BDC Small Business Week™. This BDC flagship event celebrates entrepreneurship at the local, provincial and national levels.

About BDC
BDC is the only bank dedicated exclusively to entrepreneurs. With more than 100 business centres and over 32,000 clients across Canada, it offers loans, investments and advisory services. BDC's purpose is to support Canadian entrepreneurship with a focus on small and medium-sized businesses. To learn more, visit www.bdc.ca.

SOURCE Business Development Bank of Canada

Maria Constantinescu, Senior Advisor, Public Relations, BDC, [email protected], [phone]