In the pages of Wednesday's Gazette and online at , youB次元官网网址檒l find a very special publication. Women of the Westshore features a number of very strong women in unique roles within their respective industries.

While we donB次元官网网址檛 want to downplay the important role men also play in the workforce, we chose to highlight women because they face a number of unique challenges in building and sustaining a career. While society has made great strides in recognizing some of those challenges, providing flexible maternity leave, greater pay equity and more accommodation of work schedules, women in the workforce still often struggle to find a balance between home life and work.

We address some of these issues and hear how powerful women are dealing with them, but we also focus on the changing role of the business community on the West Shore.

This year we have also chosen to do something a little different: instead of just highlighting and profiling a number of women, we also focused on some prominent trends in business and business-related industries.

As WestShore Chamber of Commerce executive director Julie Lawlor said, B次元官网网址渨hen the business community does well, everyone does well.B次元官网网址� ItB次元官网网址檚 a sentiment thatB次元官网网址檚 hard to argue with, especially here on the West Shore.

Our business community includes everything from the arts to small business to large corporations, all of which have found a home here. The businesses we feature in Women of the Westshore also focus on supporting other local businesses through different partnerships and programs, with the end goal of benefiting local residents.

With programs ranging from an in-house food donation program at Cold Star Solutions Ltd. and expanding community programming at the Greater Victoria Public Library, to a push from local councils to achieve more walkability in communities, we see a lot of positive passion projects transforming the West Shore.

We hope this special publication will help you learn more about local business while inspiring you to network within the community.