Women’s Entrepreneurship Day

Women’s Entrepreneurship: Roast Beef, Tomato Juice, Passion and Figuring It Out

You know what’s funny? When I was younger, I didn’t even know what an entrepreneur was. I just thought some people “had businesses” and that was that. It seemed like this mysterious thing that happened to other people - not something you actually became.

But here’s the thing: entrepreneurship isn’t some far-off dream or a magic gene only a chosen few are born with.

Turns out… it might actually be.

This past year I’ve been thinking about that a lot.

My mom, an educator with endless grit, never quit on anything  and supported the entrepreneurial spirit of all her children.

Brother Sean: ran his own consultancy. Sister Keira: owns her therapy practice. My brother Bruce carved out a consulting career in the building industry. And my Uncle Ray and Aunt Annis poured their hearts into a catering and event-venue business that became a gathering place for so many people, including family.

And my dad? He pastored in United Churches across Ontario and the US, then made a massive career leap into provincial government as Director of Citizenship for the Ministry of Culture and Recreation… reinventing himself.

And here I am, running Danna Bananas, a funny-gift shop full of socks, mugs, and oddball treasures that make people laugh… or at least politely pretend to. 😄 Coincidence?

Coincidence? Or is there something in the DNA that makes some of us think, “Yeah, I could totally do this myself”?

So yeah, maybe the apple didn’t fall far from that tree 😅 and there’s an entrepreneurship gene after all.

Which makes November 19 extra fun for me - it’s Women’s Entrepreneurship Day, a worldwide shoutout to women who turn ideas, passions, and “why not?” moments into real businesses.

Honestly, I think entrepreneurship is born out of necessity, passion, or sometimes just stubbornness. And for women in Canada? We’ve been doing it quietly for generations often without calling it what it is.

The Woman Who Ran a Barn Dance

I got to witness entrepreneurship up close watching my Uncle Ray and Aunt Annis run their venue back in the ’70s and ’80s.

The Reality Check

Women entrepreneurs in Canada have more opportunities now, but let’s not sugarcoat it... it’s still not easy. We still get asked about “work-life balance” more than men ever will. And sometimes we’re still out here working twice as hard for half the credit.

But the numbers tell a more hopeful story: women launched only 15.6% of SMEs in Canada in 2017, but that climbed to 17.8% in 2023 and nearly 19% in 2024. Even better? Businesses with majority women ownership demonstrate the highest innovation rates at 38%, significantly outperforming their counterparts. Yet we’re still fighting for our seat at the table.

So yeah, we’re climbing. Slowly. Like trying to get up the stairs after leg day, but we’re doing it.

Here in Canada, women-led businesses are the backbone of our economy, contributing billions and creating countless jobs. From tech startups in Toronto to fashion brands in Montreal, from Indigenous-owned enterprises to immigrant-led innovations... women are redefining what Canadian business looks like.

My Turn

"Truth be told, the entrepreneurial itch hit early: first a toy store (my dad used to take me to this magical shop in downtown Toronto where they'd actually demonstrate the toys), then a gym called McMuscles (if you know my last name, you get it). Now I sell cheeky mugs and socks with Bob Ross's fro on them. Evolution.

When I launched Danna Bananas in 2006, doing business was different. But from COVID on, the landscape has just drastically changed. There are so many jobs you have to do now... most you never signed up for. You're the marketer, the bookkeeper, the content creator, the product picker, etc. I know one thing: I love it all and just want more hours in the day. All of a sudden, darkness comes even earlier and the "work day" should be over... but not for an entrepreneur. The to-do list never dims.

And now? I run Danna Bananas. It wasn't the plan. But it turns out, it's the perfect fit.

This past year, I’ve had moments where I wanted to call my mom or Aunt Annis and ask them how they did it. Not just the business part, but the resilience part. Other days, I realize I’m already doing what they did: figuring it out as I go, making mistakes, celebrating tiny wins (like when someone comes in specifically for the “Goat Yoga” game), and refusing to quit even when things get tough. And this year has definitely been the hardest... think website changes, tariffs, and a postal strike, yet again.

Some days, I realize I already know the answer: you just don't. You wing it. You celebrate the tiny wins. And you keep going, fueled by a passion that doesn't clock out at 5 PM. You keep going because you built this, and it's a part of you.

What I’ve Learned So Far

Being a woman entrepreneur in Canada means:

• Trusting your gut 
• Knowing that “funny gifts” is a legitimate business category
• Joining a group at 2am because you can’t sleep and need to know if anyone else forgot to order enough inventory
• Learning alongside a community of women who are all winging it together
• Celebrating that one customer who buys the Virgin Mary Mug you secretly hoped someone would choose

And doing it all one snort-laugh-inducing product at a time.

The Point

I’m not writing this because I’ve “made it” or because I have all the answers (I definitely do not). I’m writing this because my aunt’s story mattered to me and maybe mine will matter to someone else who’s thinking about jumping in.

So if you’re reading this and have that little idea... that business, that side hustle, that passion project, or even that toilet paper with your ex’s face on it (yes, it’s a real product, and yes, it sells) - take this as your sign.

You don’t need to have everything perfect to begin.

You just need to start.

And who knows? Maybe someday your niece or nephew will write a blog post about you.

Life's weird like that.

Happy Women's Entrepreneurship Day! Let's make it a movement, not just a moment.

I would like to dedicate this blog to my Mom and my Aunt as they both passed this year.