Key Takeaways
- Rachel Koop from Botanical PaperWorks receives the first Women’s Empowerment Event Emerging Women Leaders Bursary sponsored by Redwood Classics Apparel.
- Redwood Classics further supports women’s initiatives with a grant to Canada’s Women Empowerment Awards, recognizing activist Kehkashan Basu with the 2026 Global Impact Award.
Redwood Classics Apparel (asi/81627) has made a significant impact in supporting emerging female leaders by sponsoring the inaugural Emerging Women Leaders Bursary at the Women’s Empowerment Event (WEE). This bursary was awarded to Rachel Koop, who serves as an outside sales representative at Winnipeg-based Botanical PaperWorks (asi/41273).
The bursaries, which were also available through Merch Canada | Promo Canada, aim to assist women aged 35 and under who are either business owners or employed by member companies. This initiative provides much-needed financial support for their attendance at WEE, set to take place on October 26 and 27 at The Pearle Hotel & Spa in Burlington, Ontario. Lila Galipeau, strategic partnerships manager at Big Tree Promotions, was awarded a secondary bursary for the event.
Jennifer Tarnopolski, chair of Merch Canada | Promo Canada and a member of the WEE committee, elaborated on the importance of this initiative by stating, “WEE has always been about creating meaningful connections between women at every stage of their careers. The Emerging Women Leaders Bursary helps ensure that promising young professionals have access to the conversations, relationships, and experiences that can help shape what comes next.”
Additionally, ASI stands as a gold sponsor of the Women’s Empowerment Event, with Hannah Rosenberger, ASI’s data analytics editor, slated to deliver a keynote address.
In another commitment to women’s empowerment, Redwood Classics also sponsored the Global Impact Award, presented by Canada’s Women Empowerment Awards. This year, the award was bestowed upon Kehkashan Basu, a noted environmental and human rights activist, during a ceremony held in Toronto.
Kathy Cheng, president of Redwood Classics and a previous Counselor Supplier Woman of Distinction, remarked, “None of us builds a career, a company, or a community entirely on our own. Somewhere along the way, someone opened a door, made an introduction, shared their experience or simply believed in us. As leaders and organizations, I believe one of the most meaningful things we can do is share the opportunities, access, and encouragement that others have generously shared with us. This year’s recipients remind us what becomes possible when women are given access, encouragement, and room to grow.”