TIES Entrepreneurs Winter Popup Market: Celebrating the Courage, Creativity, and Resilience of Newcomers

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Christmas came early for more than 20 female business owners at TIES (The Immigrant Education Society) Entrepreneurs Winter Popup Market.

About 150 people checked out the event on Dec. 11^th; celebrating what that these inspiring immigrant entrepreneurs have worked so hard to build.

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“We created the Entrepreneurs Winter Popup Market to celebrate the courage, creativity, and resilience of newcomer women who are starting over in a new country,” TIES Manager of Entrepreneurship Programs Nash Chaparro said.

“This market is more than a pop-up — it’s a bridge. It connects talented newcomer entrepreneurs with customers, partners, and a community that wants them to succeed.”

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Putting Their Best Foot Forward

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The popup featured vendors from across Calgary and even Edmonton.

Not only did they showcase their products and services, but some also took part in a Pitch Competition — allowing them to put their best foot forward for a chance to win a prize!

Business sectors included fashion and jewellery designers, food and beverage companies, interior decorators, skincare and beauty products, crafts and much more.

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Natchaya (Maymae) Yodpan was on hand with her bakery and café business 9 Mar Studio.

The 27-year-old from Thailand has many business ideas, including setting up a 24/7 café for shift workers and students.

“When I came here to Canada to study, many places closed really early. In Thailand, all the food you need — we have 24-hours,” Yodpan pointed out.

Yodpan also came in third in the Pitch Competition with her concept for specialized care for the elderly.

Golden Days would offer meaningful activities, social connection and a warm welcoming space for them to gather either in their own home or in a care setting.

Yodpan told the crowd that the idea came from her own grandmother’s passing.

“While I was chasing success — she passed away,” she told the judges.

“Every senior will not spend their final years alone. Every year — is a golden year.”

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The other winners in the pitch competition were:

First Place: The Whispering Witch

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Second Place: Laviart Interiors

Beating the Odds

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The night also featured inspirational stories from entrepreneurs who have beat the odds.

Marcela Ezeta delivered an emotional and powerful story about her journey to Canada and the staggering struggles along the way, including her son’s battle with leukaemia and her husband’s subsequent death.

Desperate to honour them both, Ezeta founded an authentic Mexican restaurant Tu Taco de la Calle, located in the heart of Kensington in Calgary.

“I needed to prove to myself that was still alive,” she told the crowd.

Tu Taco was launched during COVID and has not only survived but thrived. As has she — despite her doubters.

“I lost half of my family. What else can I lose?” Ezeta said she told herself as she persevered.

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Newcomers’ Barriers to Business

Doubters are not unusual when a newcomer starts their entrepreneurship journey, Nash Chaparro pointed out.

She added newcomers often face barriers like language limitations, unfamiliar business regulations, lack of credit history, limited networks, and difficulty accessing funding.

Something Canadian entrepreneurs often don’t experience.

“Newcomer entrepreneurs carry double the load: the ambition to build something meaningful and the pressure to adapt to a new culture, new rules, and new expectations.”

“Newcomers don’t just create businesses - they rebuild their lives from scratch.”

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Chaparro added without local connections, mentorship, or financial history, many newcomers struggle to be taken seriously in the business ecosystem.

“That’s exactly why programs like ours exist: to give them the tools and visibility they need. Their success is a testament to their determination.”

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Thank You!!

Chaparro added that an event like this one, could not be carried out without the support of many people and businesses.

A big thank you to ENMAX for being the event’s corporate sponsor, Nardi Accounting Services for stepping up to be the community sponsor, as well as Platform Calgary for being an award sponsor.

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TIES would also like to thank the participating vendors:

• Sofia Pedlar – Nu Studio

• Bernadette Sibuc - JbcreativesYYC

• Kael Soriano – Make Good Craft Co.

• Judit Polanco – Decurio Craft

• Iris Abraham - Lorizs

• Jennifer Abeu-Saleh – Abeu-Saleh Events Catering

• Jatin Singla - Insurafina

• Natchaya Yodpan – 9 Mar Sweet Lab

• Deborah Odeniyi – Mure & Co

• Shamail Zarei – TrueCare Detailing

• Fiyinfoluwa Olusanya

• Lavinia Bindiu – Laviart Interiors

• Liz

• Khrystyna Eruotor

• Wei Li

• Blanche Lacmago – B’glow & gather events

• Homa Yavari- Modular Organizer

• May Elmougy – DermaMedique Skin Therapy & Laser Clinic

• Celestine – Celo Mode Couture

• Maryam Ghobadi Dana – Bio-Monitoring

• Two Cheers Mocktail Bar

• Thais Nardi - Nardi Accounting

• Enmax

• DJ Morinee

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And a big thank you to CTV Calgary for covering this event-

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dJIZNIeo096djcaAfd-zqZo1kiE1RVLh/view?usp=drivesdk

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You can read more about the participants at the TIES Newsroom as well.

TIES Entrepreneur Spotlight: Iranian Immigrant Brings Science-Driven Nutrition to Canada

TIES Entrepreneur Spotlight: Mexican Immigrant Prescribes Solutions for Newcomer Health Professionals

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Additional Information:

TIES Entrepreneurship Program currently supports 40 active clients.

They represent more than 6 business sectors, including food, beauty, wellness, retail, professional services, handmade products, and digital businesses.

See program details here-

https://www.immigrant-education.ca/build-work-skills/integrated-womens-entrepreneurship-project-iwep#googtrans(en|en)

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Media RSVP, Interviews & Inquiries:

Tomasia DaSilva

Media and Relationship Strategist

Email: tomasiadasilva@immigrant-education.ca

Phone: 403-291-0002