There are a number of events throughout the year that support local business owners. These events are great opportunities to meet other business leaders and learn best practices. Be sure to also check out our News page.

DATE TIME PLACE EVENT INFORMATION

Virtual. Click here to register.

Costing & Pricing to Make Profits (Foodpreneur)

This session is for you if you want to know how to price your food or beverage product appropriately.

In this free 60-minute online seminar learn about:

  • Understanding your COGS
  • Cash Flow Management
  • Planning for Profits

If you want to run a successful business it’s important for you to know the ‘numbers’. Learn how to cost and price your products and services for profitability and how the decisions you make about your operations and production processes affect your bottom line. Understand how to budget and spend money so you can pay all your bills and still have money left in your pocket at the end of the year.

Each participant will receive an Excel Financial Forecasting spreadsheet (blank) and completed examples for both a product and service business to assist you through the process. Use the spreadsheet to develop your individual timeline, operating and capital costs, and pricing calculator to create a cashflow projection and income statement for your business.

You will leave with a better understanding of how to properly cost and price your product to make a profit in the food and beverage industry!

Lancaster Legion, 119 Military Rd. N., Lancaster, ON K0C 1N0

Accessing Funding & Navigating Uncertainty

Interactive Roundtable Business Breakfast: Accessing Funding & Navigating Uncertainty

Meet the experts for this interactive roundtable discussion:

  • BDC
  • Cornwall SDG Business Enterprise Centre
  • ACC Futures
  • GIAG

Register here.

Virtual. Register here.

Building Smart: Legal lessons for your startup
Starting a business? The legal side matters more than you think. Most founders don’t think about legal until something goes wrong. This fireside chat is your chance to get ahead of that.

Join us during Vancouver Startup Week for an honest, practical conversation on the most common legal mistakes startups make (and how to avoid them), from incorporation to contracts, partnerships, and beyond.

We’re joined by Atoussa Mahmoudpour, Founder & Principal of AMR Law: Canada’s first woman-led business law firm focused exclusively on life sciences, technology, and AI. Atoussa brings deep experience advising growth-stage and public companies across global markets, and is known for translating complex legal concepts into clear, strategic decisions founders can actually use.

In this session, we’ll cover:

  • The most common legal mistakes early-stage founders make
  • How to properly structure your business from day one
  • Contracts, partnerships, and protecting yourself (and your idea)
  • What to think about as you grow: funding, scaling, and risk
  • Real-world examples from companies she’s advised

You’ll also have the opportunity to ask questions directly – so come prepared with them.

This event is for you if:

  • You’re starting a business (or thinking about it)
  • You’ve launched but aren’t confident in your legal setup
  • You want to avoid costly mistakes down the road
  • You’re building in tech, life sciences, or innovation-driven industries

Virtual

Social Media for Small Business (AI Tools)

Part of our Starter Company Plus Spring 2026 workshop series.

This session will teach you how to leverage social platforms to reach and engage your target audience.

Hosted by Adam Gibeau.

Register via Zoom here.

Virtual. Register here.

Passing the Torch: A Pivotal Step in your Entrepreneurial Journey

When and how do you start the transition without compromising what you’ve built?

Transferring your business isn’t the last step: It’s a major strategic decision that warrants thought, vision and preparation. Too often postponed, this crucial stage in your entrepreneurial journey is far more effective when planned early.

With our speakers, you’ll learn how to:

➡ Plan for your company’s future with clarity and confidence
➡ Align human, strategic, tax and legal considerations
➡ Create a solid, sustainable plan
➡ Contribute to your company’s long-term success and fulfill your ambitions

Virtual. Register here.

Understanding Financial Statements for Small Business Owners
CPA Canada will cover the basics around the terms and concepts of financial statements.

This financial literacy webinar will help to review and understand financial statements for small businesses. You will also be able to ask informed questions of financial professionals following this presentation.

What you will learn:

  • How’s my business doing?
  • Did we make money this year?
  • What does my P&L tell me?
  • Why do I need a balance sheet?
  • Where is my cash coming from?
  • Where is my cash going to?
  • Why isn’t my cash equal to my profit?

Join us to learn how to understand financial statements for small business.

Virtual. Register here.

Business Basics
Launch into success by learning how to register your business, make a business plan and more!

Business Basics with Rob Tamblyn

Join Rob Tamblyn, Business Development Manager for Small & Medium Enterprises, for an engaging session designed to help you confidently launch your business. This workshop provides essential knowledge and practical tools to kickstart your entrepreneurial journey.

Topics include:

  • Business Structures: Understand the implications of different structures and whether incorporating is right for you.
  • Insurance Essentials: Identify your needs and navigate the complexities of securing the right coverage.
  • Crafting Your Business Plan: Develop a clear, actionable plan outlining your vision, goals, and strategies.
  • Funding Opportunities: Learn about available supports, subsidies, and grants to fund and grow your business.
  • Interactive Q&A: Ask Rob and connect with fellow entrepreneurs.

Don’t miss this chance to build a strong foundation for your business. Register now and take the first step toward bringing your vision to life!

Virtual. Register here.

T1 General Small Business Tax Literacy Seminar
This seminar is offered to owners of small businesses and self-employed individuals who need help in understanding their tax obligations.

Presented by the Canada Revenue Agency’s Liaison Officer Service Program

This seminar is offered to owners of small businesses and self-employed individuals who need help in understanding their tax obligations. The presentation is geared towards unincorporated businesses and will provide participants with the basic principles and resources needed to navigate the tax system.

During the seminar, the Liaison Officers will:

  • Explain common tax errors
  • Demonstrate how to use financial benchmarks for relevant industries
  • Provide information on various tools and services offered by the CRA
  • Explain general bookkeeping concepts and best practices

Virtual

SCP Business Plan: Pitch to Investors

Part of our Starter Company Plus Spring 2026 workshop series.

This session will equip you with the skills to create a compelling pitch deck. Learn how to craft a persuasive story, deliver impactful presentations, and confidently answer investor questions.

Hosted by Shannon Ferguson.

Register via Zoom here.

Virtual. Register here.

Digital Marketing Essentials

Learn how to reach the right audience, create content that works, and make smarter decisions with your marketing data. Whether you’re just getting started or looking to refine your approach, this session will give you fresh insights and easy next steps.

Topics include:

· Understanding the Digital Landscape: Explore the latest marketing platforms to benefit your business.

· Understanding a Digital Roadmap: Determine a tailored digital strategy aligned with your goals.

· Strengthening Your Online Presence: Get advice on developing a functional website, email marketing, and social media.

· Interactive Q&A: Connect with peers and get your questions answered.

Don’t miss this opportunity to unlock your business’s digital potential. Register now and take the next step in your digital journey!

Virtual. Click here to register.

Marketing & Branding your Food Product (Foodpreneur)

This session is for you if you have a food or beverage product that needs the perfect brand to suit the right market.

In this free 60-minute online seminar learn about:

  • Why YOU are your brand as a new food or beverage business
  • What to consider when creating a visual identity for your company
  • What does marketing in 2026 look like?

Amanda DeVries of Eye Candy Design specializes in branding food and beverage companies. In this webinar, Amanda will share her expert insight, from how to create your brand, how to retain and grow your brand to what sort of colours and typography styles are right for your product. You will learn the difference between designing for store shelves vs. food markets vs. digital spaces. She will also cover tips for working with a graphic designer and determining exactly who your product is for. As Amanda advises, “if your product is for everyone, then you are selling to no one”. Know your target market.

You will leave with a better understanding of how to brand and market your product in the food and beverage industry!

Virtual. Register here.

Insurance for Small Business
Learn about insurance and how to ensure you have the right coverage for your small business needs. This informative webinar will provide you with working knowledge of small business insurance, demystifying all the jargon. It will also enable you to ask the right kinds of questions from insurance professionals.

What you will learn:

• Why do I need business insurance?

• What types of business insurance exist?

• What are the right ones for my small business?

• What questions should I ask insurance professionals to make sure my needs are met?

• What other resources should I consider to ensure I get the right insurance policy?

Join us to learn all about insurance for your small business.

Virtual. Register here.

How to Write a Business Plan Workshop

During this webinar, entrepreneurs will learn the roadmap to developing a strong business plan and what one needs to do to craft their own. Focusing on the Business Model Canvas, you will learn how to think about your own small business from this lens and how to put those aspects into a plan you can share with potential partners, investors, lenders, clients, and more.

What you will learn :

  • What is a Business Model Canvas? Why should I have one?
  • What is my value proposition? What makes it unique?
  • What are key activities my small business must perform to deliver on my value proposition? What are key resources to do so?
  • Do I have key relationships that are important to the success of my small business? Who should I consider when building this network of partners?
  • Who is the customer my small business aims to serve? What should I know about them?
  • What kind of relationship am I trying to build with my customers for my business to succeed? How do I do that?
  • What kind of relationship am I trying to build with my customers for my business to succeed? How do I do that?
  • What are the financial implications of my business that I should consider (costs, revenues, etc.)?

Virtual. Click here to register.

Food Safety Fundamentals for Startups (Foodpreneur)

This session is for you if you are starting a food business and want to make sure you are producing safe products right from the start.

In this free 60-minute online seminar learn about:

  • Basic Food Safety Principles Every Business Must Know
  • Practical Food Safety Practices for Production
  • Common mistakes to avoid when starting your food business

When you’re launching a food product, understanding food safety is essential not only for protecting your customers, but also for meeting regulatory expectations and building retailer trust. In this session, Lisa Cove, Food Safety Consultant and Founder of Shelf Ready Inc., will walk you through simple, actionable steps you can take to build food safety into your business from the very beginning—without getting overwhelmed by regulations. 

You’ll leave with a clear understanding of basic food safety expectations, practical steps you can implement immediately, and the confidence to move your food business forward safely!

Virtual. Register here.

Getting Money: What Lenders and Investors Want

This financial literacy webinar will help you to understand how a bank or investor will evaluate your small business. By the end of the presentation, you’ll have learned the steps necessary to get financial statements and business plans in order for presentation to lenders and investors.

What you will learn:

• Why will I need additional financing and capital?

• What are the typical sources for financing? What are the advantages and disadvantages of them?

• How are lenders and investors different?

• Why do I need a business plan and how do I create one?

• What are leverage ratios and how should I use them?

• How do leverage ratios vary between business types?

• How do lenders look at my business?

Join us to learn what lenders and investors want and how to get money for your small business.

Virtual. Register here.

Email Marketing for Small Businesses

In the busy space of the digital world, connecting with your business through the noise is significant to having online success. Despite being around for so many years, email marketing is still a powerful tool to engage with your audience.

In this webinar, the Toronto Digital Service Squad will teach you the basics of email marketing, how you can use AI to help with your email campaigns, and help you create high quality and targeted emails to send to your subscribers. You’ll finish this session feeling confident in your email marketing strategy in the digital world.

What you will learn:

  • Utilizing AI for your email marketing
  • How to create segmented audiences
  • How to write compelling subject lines
  • How to create a strong email body
  • Various platforms that can assist in email marketing
  • And more!

Join us to learn how to develop a successful email marketing strategy!

Lost Villages Brewery: 16133 ON-36, Long Sault ON K0C 1P0

The United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry are hosting EDCO’s Eastern Regional Professional Development Event on May 27 -28, 2026!

Day 1: May 27, 2026

Start your conference experience with an afternoon exploring the cultural and historical landscape of Eastern Ontario. This guided tour departs from Lost Villages Brewery at 1:00 PM and offers a meaningful introduction to the region before the conference officially begins.

During this experience, you will:

  • Visit the Native North American Travelling College (NNATC) to learn about Kanienkehaka (Mohawk) culture, language, and lived experience on the Mohawk Territory of Akwesasne.
  • Explore the Saunders Hydro Dam Visitor Centre, where the St. Lawrence Seaway and Power Project is presented through engineering, community, and environmental perspectives.
  • Tour the Lost Villages Museum, which preserves the stories of the ten communities displaced and submerged during the project.

Networking Event: 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM

Return to Lost Villages Brewery for a relaxed networking session featuring a curated beer flight and appetizers. Connect with fellow attendees, reflect on the day’s insights, and enjoy locally crafted flavours inspired by the region’s history.

Click here for more information and to register now!

Virtual. Register here.

Service Canada: Government Benefits for Self-Employed and Individuals
Learn how to access Service Canada programs and services as an employer or a business. Service Canada provides employers with a single point of access to services and benefits.

This session will include:

  • Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP)
  • Canada Disability Benefit (CDB)
  • Different types of Employment Insurance (EI) Benefits
  • Benefits Finder

Learning Outcome:

  • Overview of various types of government benefits and leaves available for individuals at different life stages or events.

South Stormont Community Hall: 2 Mille Roches Road, Long Sault ON K0C 1P0

The United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry are hosting EDCO’s Eastern Regional Professional Development Event on May 27 -28, 2026!

Day 2: May 28, 2026

Morning Sessions 

  • Opening Remarks – 9:00 AM Land Acknowledgement and welcome from regional leaders.
  • Keynote: Global Affairs Canada – 9:30–10:00 AM Insights on how national and international policy shifts affect local businesses and economic development officers, with a focus on navigating recent legislative changes.
  • Panel: Cross‑Border Partnerships & Joint Ventures – 10:00–11:00 AM Explore strategies, opportunities, and lessons learned in cross‑border collaboration, including perspectives from Indigenous entrepreneurship and community‑driven partnerships.
  • Coffee & Networking Break – 11:00–11:15 AM
  • Community Improvement Programs / Regional Incentives – 11:15 AM–12:15 PM A practical look at how municipalities and government partners implement programs that support growth, featuring examples from smaller communities and evolving CIP models.

Afternoon Sessions

  • Lunch Break – 12:15–1:15 PM
  • Panel: Cross‑Business Promotion – 1:15–2:15 PM Learn how local businesses—including Lost Villages Brewery, Cardinal Meats, and the Lost Villages Museum—collaborate to preserve regional heritage, attract tourism, and strengthen the local economy.
  • Coffee & Networking Break – 2:15–2:30 PM
  • Speaker Spotlight: Ross Video – 2:30–3:30 PM A deep dive into growth strategies, municipal collaboration, workforce investment, and the impact of tariffs on operations.
  • Closing Remarks – 3:30–3:45 PM

Click here for more information and to register now!

Virtual. Click here to register.

Labelling & Packaging your Food Product (Foodpreneur)

This session is for you if you have a food or beverage product that needs an accurate and compliant label.

In this free 60-minute online seminar learn about:

  • Packaging Considerations
  • Labelling Requirements
  • Mistakes to Avoid

Packaging and labelling your food product is where marketing meets regulatory compliance and food safety. You know you want your product to look great on a store shelf, but what are you required to put on the label? How do you choose the right package for your product? For this session, we will be joined by Nicole Haney, former Founder & CEO of Boho Bars. Nicole will guide us through what to consider when choosing a package for your food product, what to include on your label, and what mistakes to avoid when packaging your food product.

You will leave with a better understanding of labelling & packaging in the food and beverage industry!

Virtual. Register here.

T2 – Corporation Tax Literacy Seminar
This seminar is offered to owners of small corporations who need help in understanding their tax obligations.

Presented by the Canada Revenue Agency’s Liaison Officer Service Program

The presentation is geared towards small incorporated businesses and will provide participants with the basic principles and resources needed to navigate the tax system.

During the seminar, the Liaison Officers will:

  • Explain common tax errors
  • Demonstrate how to use financial benchmarks for relevant industries
  • Provide information on various tools and services offered by the CRA
  • Explain general bookkeeping concepts and best practices