Small Business Week runs from October 16th to 22nd and there are a number of events happening this week in Peterborough, Lindsay, Bobcaygeon, and Fenelon Falls.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau issued a statement on October 16th in support of Small Business Week:
“Small business owners work incredibly hard to provide Canadians with quality goods and services while also creating job opportunities that strengthen communities across the country and grow the middle class. In Canada there are over 1.16 million small and medium sized businesses. These businesses account for 99 per cent of all firms, and employ over 90 per cent of the labour force in the private sector. They are anything but ‘small’ in terms of their contribution to Canada’s economic growth, job creation, and innovation.”
“Small Business Week is important for many reasons. It allows Canadians to thank small business owners and entrepreneurs for their enormous contributions to our country’s prosperity. It is also a chance for current and future small business owners to participate in events across the country to learn, network, and share ideas about making their businesses as innovative, export-ready, and successful as possible.”
Here are local business events happening during Small Business Week:
Monday, October 17
The Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area, StartUp Peterborough, Peterborough Economic Development and Community Futures Peterborough are announcing a new entrepreneurial initiative at 10 a.m. at 261 George Street North in Peterborough. kawarthaNOW.com will be providing details of the announcement on Monday.
Kawartha Family Business Group presents Turning Conflict Into Profit with Michael Walker beginning at 4:30 p.m. at Best Western Otonabee Inn (84 Lansdowne St. E., Peterborough, K9J 6Z3). Learn from Michael Walker of Legendary Coaching how to turn conflict into profit with a set of tools to assess, design, implement and monitor your own conflict management system. It’s free for KFBG members, and $75 for non-members. Visit www.kfbg.ca for details.
Kawartha Lakes Small Business & Entrepreneurship Centre presents a free Branding and Digital Marketing discussion from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at Boiling Over’s Coffee Vault (148 Kent Street West, Lindsay, K9V 2Y4). Conversation and Q&A about business branding, marketing strategies, and digital media.
Tuesday, October 18
Peterborough Economic Development and the Greater Peterborough Innovation Cluster present Spotlight on Small Business at 10 a.m. at Peterborough Golf & Country Club (1030 Armour Road, Peterborough, K9H 7H4). A funding forum takes place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., where you can find out about the funding you need to start or grow your business. This will also include a funding panel discussion from 12 to 12:45 p.m. where attendees can learn from a panel of experts about funding opportunities and the pros and cons associated with each. The keynote speaker is Brock Dickinson with the talk “The Evolution of Economic Development” from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. The “Redefining Success Showcase and Cocktail Hour” will be 4:30 to 6 p.m. where you can get inspired by stories from local entrepreneurs. The entire event is free. For more information and to register, visit www.eventbrite.ca/e/spotlight-on-small-business-tickets-27132472957.
VCCS Career Services presents an Employment Law Seminar from 4:30 to 7 p.m. at VCCS Employment Services (370 Kent St. W., Lindsay, K9V 6G8). Subjects to be covered by Mark Mason of the law firm Hicks Morley include a legislative review, updates on human rights, constructive dismissal, alcohol and substance abuse in the workplace, and more. Networking and refreshments at 4:30 p.m., with a presentation and question and answer session from 5 to 7 p.m. For more information about this free event, visit www.careerservices.org.
Wednesday, October 19
Lindsay & District Chamber of Commerce and Scotiabank present Small Business Week Breakfast from 7 to 8 a.m. at Lindsay Golf & Country Club (282 Lindsay St. S., Lindsay, K9V 4R5). Mike Perry, Executive Director of the City of Kawartha Lakes Family Health Team, will deliver the keynote address: “The Economics of Diversity: Understanding the Impact of Diversity”. Cost is $25+HST for members and $35+HST for non-members. For more information and to register, visit www.lindsaychamber.com.
The Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA) presents Breakfast Network at 7:30 a.m. at Empress Gardens (131 Charlotte St., Peterborough, K9J 2T6). The Breakfast Network meets monthly with a buffet breakfast starting at 7:30 a.m. and the guest speaker at 8 a.m. At this session, the DBIA will be providing details about the new entrepreneurial initiative launched on Monday. The event is open to everyone and costs $5 at the door.
The Fenelon Falls Chamber of Commerce presents Put Your Business on the Map from 2 to 4:30 p.m. at Fenelon Falls Library (19 Market St., Fenelon Falls, K0M 1N0). An free informal presentation to assist local small businesses working to grow their business by gaining opportunities on-line. Drop in for 10 minutes and learn how to take control of your Google business profile and create your Google business account. For more information please call 705-324-9411 ext 1291.
The Greater Peterborough Chamber of Commerce presents the annual Business Excellence Awards from 5:30 to 10 p.m. at Trentwinds International Centre (264 Lansdowne St. E., Peterborough, K9J 6Y5). At Peterborough’s business social event of the year, awards will be handed out in 18 categories, plus the 4-Under-40 Profiles, Student Business Leadership Bursaries, and the prestigious Business Citizen of the Year Award. For more information, visit www.excellencepeterborough.ca. The event is sold out, but there will be a supplement announcing the winners in Thursday’s issue of The Peterborough Examiner.
Thursday, October 20
Bobcaygeon Chamber of Commerce presents Breakfast in Bobcaygeon from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. at Embers Grill House (38 Bolton St., Bobcaygeon, K0M 1A0). This event features a great breakfast and two informative presentations: “What the Government of Canada is doing for Small Business in the Kawartha Lakes Area” from Dylan Robichaud, executive assistant to MP Jamie Schmale; and “Giving Back to Your Community”, with Aaron Shaw of Crazy Monkey Tree Services. Cost is $25 per person. For more information visit www.bobcaygeon.org and reserve your spot by calling 705-738-2202.
Kawartha Lakes Small Business Enterprise Centre and The Lindsay Chamber of Commerce present Put Your Business on the Map from 2 to 4:30 p.m. at Lindsay Library (190 Kent St. W., Lindsay, K9V 2Y6). Learn how to take control of your Google business profile and create your Google business account. All you need is your laptop to access the library wi-fi. Call Andrea Koteles at 705-324-9411 ext 1291 for an appointment or drop-in to the Lower Level Meeting Room. This is a free event.
Saturday, October 22
Women Excelling in Business presents Step It Up Women’s Business Conference from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Peterborough Lions Community Centre (347 Burnham St., Peterborough, K9J 1T5). You will benefit from two plenary sessions on Communicating with Confidence, and Dressing for Success, while parallel sessions will include topics such as Follow-up and Customer Service, Facebook vs. Home Parties, Small Business Taxes, Facebook Advertising, and Hostess Coaching. Your ticket includes lunch and beverages. Tickets are $59+HST for non-members and $49+HST members. For more information and tickets, visit www.womenexcellinginbusiness.ca/step-it-up-conference/.
