Events

Virtual

Part of our Starter Company Plus Spring 2026 workshop series.

This session will teach you how to create realistic financial projections for your business. You’ll learn to build income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements to assess your business’s financial health and make informed decisions.

Hosted by Andrew Seguin.

Register via Zoom here.

Virtual

Without a clear marketing and sales strategy, your business risks wasting time, money—and missing out on customers. In BACD’s Marketing & Sales Session, you’ll learn how to attract the right audience, build your brand, and convert leads into loyal clients.

Here’s what will be covered:

• Branding and your value proposition
• Online and offline marketing tactics
• Lead generation and client acquisition
• Sales strategy and follow-up process
• Digital tools and web elements that support growth

Hosted by: Business Advisory Centre Durham

To learn more and register now click here.

Virtual

AI is everywhere—and for small business owners, it can feel overwhelming fast. Everyone is talking about tools like ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Copilot, and Perplexity. But which one actually makes sense for your business?

This workshop cuts through the AI hype with a practical, side‑by‑side comparison of the five most talked‑about AI tools—so you can make smart, confident decisions without wasting time or money.

You’ll learn:

• What each tool is actually good at
• Where each tool falls short
• Which tools are best for marketing, content, research, admin, and planning
• Key differences around accuracy, privacy, ease of use, and cost
• Common mistakes small business owners make when choosing AI tools
• How to match the right AI tool to your business needs, comfort level, and concerns

Hosted by: Business Advisory Centre Durham

To learn more and register now click here.

Virtual

Part of our Starter Company Plus Spring 2026 workshop series.

Financial Q&A with Andrew is your chance to get expert advice on the financial challenges facing new businesses. Ask your burning questions about budgeting, cash flow, financing, and more.

Hosted by Andrew Seguin.

Register via Zoom here.

South Stormont Community Hall, Long Sault

Local tourism businesses, community organizations, and event planners are invited to the 2026 Cornwall & SDG Counties Tourism Summit. Building on the success of the inaugural summit held last year, this year’s event will take place on April 22, 2026, at South Stormont Community Hall from 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

The day begins with a networking continental breakfast followed by a regional tourism update highlighting current initiatives and collaborative priorities across Cornwall and SDG Counties. Featured sessions include:

• Leadership Development | Sheli Warren: Practical tools to strengthen leadership capacity within tourism organizations. This session is supported by Cornwall SDG Business Enterprise Centre.
• Tourism Development Fund Update: Insights into funding opportunities and regional investment priorities.
• “Just Be Yourself!” | Dug Stevenson & Trevor Norris: Experts from the Bay of Quinte Regional Marketing Board discuss building an accessible and sustainable destination by embracing authentic identity.
• AI Affecting Web Traffic | Cathy Kirkpatrick: Exploring how artificial intelligence is reshaping online visibility and visitor engagement.

Registration & Ticket Information

Tickets for the 2026 Tourism Summit are available for purchase now. The cost of attendance is $25.00 per person, which includes the continental breakfast, networking lunch, and access to all sessions and interactive activities.

Key Details:

• Date: April 22, 2026
• Time: (Networking 8:30 a.m.) 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
• Location: South Stormont Community Hall, Long Sault
• Tickets: $25, includes, breakfast and lunch
• Register Here: 2026 Cornwall SDG Tourism Summit

Virtual

This session will inform Canadian entrepreneurs on how to find the right government resources and supports for their business.

In this free session, you will:

• See how to get a tailored list of supports, personalized to meet your business’ needs, including funding, loans, wage subsidies, tax credits and more, with the Business Benefits Finder
• Learn to navigate the regulatory environment of permits and licenses using BizPaL
• Hear from an expert advisor about how they can help incorporated businesses grow

The session will also include a Q&A Session with the expert panelists.

Hosted by Innovation Canada

To learn more and to register now click here.

Virtual

Setting up your books is one of the most common—and costly—struggles for new and growing business owners. If bookkeeping feels overwhelming, confusing, or easy to put off, this session is designed for you.

What You’ll Learn – In this 60-minute session, we’ll cover:

• Why good bookkeeping matters for cash flow, pricing decisions, taxes, and long-term growth
• How to choose the right bookkeeping system—software vs. spreadsheets
• How to set up a simple and effective chart of accounts
• How to categorize and record expenses correctly
• CRA requirements for receipts and financial documentation
• HST basics: when and how to register, what to collect, and what to remit
• How to pay yourself correctly as a new business owner
• Monthly routines and financial habits that keep your books clean, current, and stress-free

Who Should Attend

• New entrepreneurs and startups
• Small business owners who are DIY-ing their bookkeeping
• Business owners who want to understand their numbers better before hiring help
• Anyone feeling behind, unsure, or frustrated with their financial records

Event hosted by Business Advisory Centre Durham

To learn more and register click here.

Virtual

Part of our Starter Company Plus Spring 2026 workshop series.

Learn how to effectively define your target market (Product), communicate your unique value proposition (Promotion), choose the right channels to reach your audience (Place), determine the optimal pricing for your offerings (Price), and build a strong brand identity (Branding).

Hosted by Adam Gibeau.

Register via Zoom here.

Virtual

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

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.

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

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!

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

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!