Launched with Pride: A Q&A with 2SLGBTQIA+ Futurpreneurs Jackie Toner and Christina Owczarek 

Pride Season is a time to uplift and celebrate the voices, identities and contributions of 2SLGBTQIA+ communities — including the bold and brilliant entrepreneurs breaking barriers and building businesses on their own terms. 

In Canada, 2SLGBTQIA+-owned businesses contribute an estimated $22 billion to the economy and employ more than 435,000 people. According to the Canadian Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, there are over 100,000 such businesses across the country. Yet despite their significant impact, these entrepreneurs continue to face barriers: less than 1% of venture capital funding goes to 2SLGBTQIA+ founders, and nearly half say they’ve felt the need to hide their identity in business settings. 

At Futurpreneur, we proudly support diverse founders every day of the year. This Pride Season, we’re spotlighting two inspiring 2SLGBTQIA+ entrepreneurs who are building more inclusive spaces through passion and purpose: 

Jackie Toner, Founder of The Woods(wo)man, is carving out space — literally and figuratively — for creativity, representation and inclusion in the traditionally male-dominated world of woodworking. 

Christina Owczarek, founder of XhAle Brewery, believes in “making the world a better place one pint at a time.” Through her craft beer business, she’s brewing more than just world-class ales — she’s cultivating connection, community and celebration in every sense. 

Read on as Jackie and Christina share their journeys as 2SLGBTQIA+ entrepreneurs, the inspiration behind their businesses and what Pride means to them. 

What does Pride Season mean to you personally and professionally as an entrepreneur? 

Jackie: Pride Season is a fine line. On one hand, it’s powerful to be seen and celebrated — but on the other, 2SLGBTQIA+ folks don’t stop existing the other eleven months of the year. Meaningful support means also showing up when it’s quiet. That said, I really listened to my community and realized I was missing something in my own offerings — representation. So, I launched a Pride Collection that reflects 2SLGBTQIA+ identities not just as a moment, but as something folks can carry with them year-round. 

Christina: It’s Pride all year for us. It is a special month, but we do the work all year round. We are social ventures, loud advocates and intentionally take up space 12 months a year. We participate, support and work with other 2SLGBTQIA+ organizations, non-profits and businesses ongoing as part of our core values and community strengthening efforts. Unfortunately, we have also been pushed out of spaces during Pride because we can’t supply monetary transactions or support like other craft breweries who aren’t minority representation owned and run. 

What have been some of the unique challenges or breakthroughs you’ve encountered as a 2SLGBTQIA+ entrepreneur? 

Jackie: Running Woods(wo)man Woodworking as a 2SLGBTQIA+ entrepreneur has been both challenging and deeply affirming. In a male-dominated craft and rural setting, I’ve often felt like I was forging a path without a map. Visibility remains a barrier — especially for rural 2SLGBTQIA+ entrepreneurs, who are often excluded from urban-centred funding and community spaces. Still, building a business on my own terms has allowed me to create something different: a space where 2SLGBTQIA+ folks, women and marginalized makers aren’t just included — they’re centred. One of the most powerful moments is when someone walks into my booth and says, “I’ve never seen myself in this space before — until now.” 

Christina: Being in Alberta comes with its own challenges — especially in today’s political climate, where progressive policies and openness to difference are being rolled back. Our company has been doxed online for being vocal advocates in our community. We’ve lost accounts, revenue and event partnerships for speaking out on harmful gender policies that directly affect us and our community. As 2SLGBTQIA+ entrepreneurs in STEM and craft brewing, we’re often doubted and have to work twice as hard to earn respect and recognition. And yet, we’ve built a loyal following of people who share our values. 

What’s one moment of Pride (pun intended!) in your entrepreneurial journey that you’d love to share with us? 

Jackie: One moment that continues to stick with me is the first time I ran my bowl-turning course specifically for women and gender-diverse individuals. The course was designed to be a welcoming, inclusive space — a direct response to the many folks who told me they had previously felt unwelcome, unsafe or out of place in traditional woodworking environments. One student said, “This is the first time I’ve felt like I belong in a shop space.” That moment reminded me exactly why I do this: not just to teach skills, but to help carve out spaces where people can show up fully as themselves and feel powerful doing it. 

Christina: Probably when we collected our first Canadian Brewing Award in Vancouver. A longtime industry peer quietly acknowledged that not only was this a big a deal to get an award, but the fact that we’ve done it when the world constantly pushes back on you being who we are what we do is even bigger. He saw me, and us in that moment with absolute vulnerability that it brought me to tears. 

How has Futurpreneur supported you on your entrepreneurial journey? 

Jackie: Futurpreneur gave me the tools to turn my vision into something tangible. With the financial support they provided, I was able to scale my business to a point where I could hire and collaborate with other women and 2SLGBTQIA+ folks. That was a pivotal shift — not just building something for myself, but creating opportunities for others in my community. In a market that often feels divided or exclusionary, it meant everything to be able to grow a business that could hold space for shared values, inclusivity and dignity. 

Christina: Honestly, when I received my Futurpreneur loan, there was no diversity programming in place. As a new Canadian, single, 2SLGBTQIA+ woman who lost her job due to COVID, I qualified for the bare minimum — lacking collateral, credit history or a guarantor, despite having over a decade of experience. It’s been encouraging to see Futurpreneur open the annual accelerator to more than just top performers — recognizing that access to capital and lived experience matter. 

Ready to launch or grow your business? Futurpreneur supports young entrepreneurs from many diverse communities across Canada. Learn more about Futurpreneur’s flexible, equity-free loan with mentorship and resources here.