There are thousands of small businesses located in the greater Kawarthas region that contribute to job creation, economic development, and vibrant communities. If you look around, you’ll see no shortage of locally owned independent businesses that have been created by those with a dream, the willingness to take a chance, and a lot of hard work.
Small Business Week, an annual celebration of entrepreneurship that was launched 45 years ago by the Business Development Canada, takes place in 2024 from Sunday, October 20 to Saturday, October 26.
Below are some of the Small Business Week events happening across the region.
Monday, October 21
“Meet the Team” at Peterborough County – 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Business Information Hub (12 Queen St., Lakefield)
Business owners, entrepreneurs, and community members in the Kawarthas are invited to meet Peterborough County’s new economic development and tourism team, tour the new business information hub, and connect with representatives from Community Futures Peterborough and Business Advisory Centre and Peterborough and Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce. No registration is required for this free, drop-in style open house.
Turning Traffic into Profit: Your SMB Digital Revenue Playbook – 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.
Launch Kawartha (165 Kent St. W., Suite 302, Lindsay)
This free session led by Tyler Calder, chief marketing officer at PartnerStack, offers a practical playbook to help you turn online attention into paying customers. Learn how to optimize your digital channels for maximum effectiveness, develop strategies for leveraging data-driven marketing to understand your audience. Register at eventbrite.com/e/1035064324257.
Small Business Week Kick Off & Social – 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Dominion Hotel Pub (113 Main Street, Minden)
Join the Haliburton Highlands Chamber of Commerce and Haliburton County Development Corporation to kick off Small Business Week in Haliburton County with a celebration of the power of small business. The free networking event includes refreshments, appetizers, live music by Maggie and Craig Thompson of Adverse Conditions, and the opportunity to connect with other business owners. Register at eventbrite.ca/e/993727003217.
Supercharge Company Performance – 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Launch Kawartha (165 Kent St. W., Suite 302, Lindsay)
In this free session led by professional engineer Jason Uppal, you will discover how multi-million-dollar business improvement ideas aren’t just a stroke of luck, but the result of 90 per cent systematic exploration combined with being in the right place at the right time. Register at eventbrite.com/e/1034926241247.
Tuesday, October 22
How to Respond to Cybersecurity Incidents – 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Launch Kawartha (165 Kent St. W., Suite 302, Lindsay)
A free interactive workshop led by Graeme Barrie of TryberSecurity that will equip you with the knowledge and skills to manage cybersecurity incidents effectively. In this session, you will learn what constitutes a cybersecurity incident, how to prepare your organization, and the steps to take if your business falls victim to an attack. Register at
eventbrite.com/e/1036773004967.
Hands-ON: Pizza and Patents – 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Innovation Cluster (270 George St. N., Peterborough)
The Innovation Cluster Peterborough and the Kawarthas is hosting a free hands-on session all about the patent process and how to use it to safeguard intellectual property. Led by intellectual property expert and Prima IP founder Marcelo Sarkis, the workshop will guide participants in acquiring practical skills in searching for patents and assessing their values while offering an opportunity to network with other entrepreneurs — over pizza. Register at eventbrite.ca/e/1028464313447.
The Uncensored Truth About Success in Small Business Panel with RBC – 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Launch Kawartha (165 Kent St. W., Suite 302, Lindsay)
A free panel discussion where local small business owners will share their unfiltered experiences and lessons learned on the road to success. Hosted in collaboration with RBC, this event will delve into the real challenges and triumphs of running a small business. Panellists will cover key topics such as overcoming obstacles, managing finances, and leveraging community support. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage directly with the panel, ask questions, and gain valuable insights to navigate their own entrepreneurial journeys. Register at eventbrite.com/e/1036790015847.
Optimizing Your Website to Generate Business Leads – 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Venture13 (739 D’Arcy Street, Cobourg)
Digital marketer Erin Law will lead a free session where you’ll learn how to transform your website into a powerful tool for generating business leads. She will guide participants through essential strategies and tips for creating a website that attracts, engages, and converts visitors into sales, and open the session up for a Q&A and interactive discussion. Register at eventbrite.ca/e/1008631262257.
Wednesday, October 23
QuickBooks Tips & Tricks – 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Launch Kawartha (165 Kent St. W., Suite 302, Lindsay)
QuickBooks is an accounting software package developed and marketed by Intuit which is geared mainly toward small and medium-sized businesses. This free seminar led by CPA Laura Hargrave of Financially Organized will explore essential QuickBooks tips and updates to enhance your financial management skills. Discover how to maximize efficiency, stay current with the latest features, and optimize your bookkeeping processes for better results. Register at eventbrite.com/e/1036823796887.
The Modern Entrepreneur Experience – 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The El P (380 George St. N., Peterborough)
Community Futures Peterborough and the Business Advisory Centre is hosting a free choose-your-own-adventure workshop series designed to guide small business owners to work smarter, not harder. Register for just one session or attend the entire half-day series, with lunch included. Sessions include: “Navigating City Hall Panel” with City of Peterborough staff at 10:30 a.m. moderated by Community Futures executive director Devon Girard, Executive Director of Community Futures; Lunch, networking and the entrepreneurial ecosystem at 11:30 a.m. with the Chamber of Commerce, DBIA, and the Innovation Cluster; “Artificial Intelligence: Your Small Business Sidekick” workshop at 12:30 p.m. led by Business Advisory Centre manager Rose Terry; “Supercharge Your Business Creativity” at 1:15 p.m. led by business advisor Lindsey Irwin; and “The Art of Confidence in Business” at 2 p.m. with keynote speaker Erika Arff. Register at eventbrite.ca/e/1029165631107.
HR Strategies: Optimizing the Employee Journey – 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Launch Kawartha (165 Kent St. W., Suite 302, Lindsay)
Kimberly Callaghan, president of PPF Group, Growth & People Solutions, will lead a free workshop that will guide you through the critical stages of the employee journey, from attraction and recruitment to onboarding, development, and retention. The session will explore effective strategies tailored for small businesses to overcome these obstacles, enhancing employee satisfaction and driving organizational success. Register at eventbrite.com/e/1036836896067.
Bookkeeping 101 for Small Businesses – 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
The Link (5152 Haliburton County Road 21, Haliburton)
In this free workshop presented by the Haliburton County Development Corporation, Natasha Hinze from Dawson Grey will help you master the basics of bookkeeping for small business. From learning how to keep track of finances to organizing receipts, the session will set entrepreneurs at all stages of their business up for success. Register at eventbrite.com/e/1004680665917.
Trent Hills Chamber of Commerce Meet and Greet – 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Bennett’s Furniture and Mattresses (13 Front St. S., Campbellford)
This free event is an opportunity to connect with fellow business owners and professionals in a relaxed setting. It’s also an opportunity for potential members to learn about chamber membership and explore the furniture collection at Bennett’s, who will provide complimentary refreshments. Register at business.trenthillschamber.ca/events.
The Evolution of Work in the Kawartha Lakes – 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Launch Kawartha (165 Kent St. W., Suite 302, Lindsay)
A free session where representatives from the Workforce Development Board, VCCS Employment Services, Palette Skills, Fleming College, and Trent University discuss what is happening in the local labour market and what it means for the community. Learn about the challenges and opportunities that exist both as potential employer and employee and the resources that are available to you. Register at eventbrite.com/e/1036856243937.
Thursday, October 24
The Manufacturing Conference – 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Cobourg Community Centre (750 D’Arcy St., Cobourg)
Bringing together leaders in the manufacturing industry for a day of networking, learning, and collaboration, this year’s conference hosted by the Northumberland Manufacturers’ Association will feature international keynote speaker Jeff Butler, a workforce strategies panel discussion with two Ontario manufacturers and economic development departments from Cornwall and North Bay, four workshops led by industry experts, a dedicated swag hour for the trade show, and exclusive networking opportunities. Tickets, which cost $225 and include breakfast and lunch, are available at www.themanufacturingconference.ca.
Expert Insights: Speed Networking with Industry Experts – 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Innovation Cluster (270 George St. N., Peterborough)
This exclusive event for entrepreneurs lets them connect with top industry experts in AI, branding, marketing, sales, and more. Offering tailored advice, the experts will provide insight to help overcome obstacles, so entrepreneurs walk away with clear strategies to drive growth. Experts include Christine Crandell, Nigel Miller, Amir Pahlevanpour, Diane Richard, and Catia Skinner. Register at eventbrite.ca/e/1028626919807.
Launch Design Challenge and Pitch Competition – 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.
Launch Kawartha (165 Kent St. W., Suite 302, Lindsay)
The Launch Design Challenge is a unique weeks-long event to encourage teams of students and entrepreneurs to learn about and leverage design thinking and business model tools to come up with a business solution to a complex social challenge. In groups of four or five, participants focus in on a specific problem and then develop a business idea to help address it. They will then present their 15-minute business pitch to a panel of judges, with the winner taking home a cash prize. This year’s inaugural challenge explores the agricultural industry and the many challenges facing it, including labour and skill shortages, impacts of climate change, changing consumer preferences, and more. Register for this free event at eventbrite.com/e/1036871188637.
Friday, October 25
Insights from Business Coaching Experts – 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Trent Hills Chamber of Commerce virtual event (held on Zoom)
A free lunch-and-learn workshop featuring a panel of three experienced local business coaches (Mike Bradford, Rob Day of Business and Entrepreneurship Centre Northumberland, and Michelle Ellis, WOW’Em Co). This interactive session is designed to help entrepreneurs and business owners gain valuable strategies for growth, leadership, and operational efficiency. Each coach will share their unique expertise, followed by a Q&A session where you can ask questions and get personalized advice. Register at business.trenthillschamber.ca/events.
Intro to Design Thinking – 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.
Launch Kawartha (165 Kent St. W., Suite 302, Lindsay)
Led by business coaching expert David Cowdery, this free workshop dives into the principles of design thinking, with a special focus on the critical phase of customer discovery. Participants will learn how to effectively identify and understand their target audience using empathy and research techniques. Through interactive exercises and real-world examples, you will acquire valuable tools to uncover customer needs, validate ideas, and develop innovative solutions. Register at eventbrite.com/e/1036897657807.
Haliburton Community & Business Achievement Awards & Gala – 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Haliburton Legion (719 Mountain St., Haliburton)
Winners of the Haliburton Highlands Chamber of Commerce’s 16th Annual Community & Business Achievement Awards will be announced at this gala event celebrating excellence in the community. Tickets are $95 for Chamber members and $110 for non-members and are available at haliburtoncc.awardify.io/awards-gala.
