Small Business Week

What is Small Business Week?

Small Business Week is an annual celebration of entrepreneurship that the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) has organized for over 40 years. Every year close to 10,000 Canadian entrepreneurs gather to learn, network and celebrate small business accomplishments.

But as we know, this year looks a little different. The coronavirus pandemic has caused one of the biggest economic crises in history. Over the last seven months, Canadian entrepreneurs have shown their courage and ability to adapt. This year we are taking the time to recognize business owner resilience and trying to understand how we can help to build for the future in these uncertain times. The only difference? We’re forging the way forward virtually.

The Business Resource Centre is proud to present a series of webinars and virtual keynote presentations in partnership with Haldimand County, RBC, Fed Dev Ontario, Enterprise Brant, Paris & District Chamber of Commerce, Chamber of Commerce Brantord-Brant, the County of Brant and the City of Brantford.

Our 2020 Small Business Week Lineup of Webinars and Virtual Keynote Presentations Includes:

Monday, October 19, 2020:

Managing Stress During Stressful Times: A Guided Meditation lead by Markus Schneider of Modo Yoga (10:00 - 10:30am)

Markus Schneider is a yoga instructor and mindfulness practitioner with a passion for empowering his students with tools designed to reduce mental and physical suffering. As part of this work and to amplify the well-being of his students, Markus opened Modo Yoga Brantford in 2015 where he leads regular yoga and meditation classes. As the owner of Modo Yoga in Brantford, his contribution in mindfulness studies expanded to developing an evidence-based mindfulness approach that is designed to make meditation accessible and relevant in today’s culture. 

Join Markus for this online meditation session that will consist of 15-20 minutes of guided explanation and finish with a guided practice. You can expect to walk away feeling more aware of how to manage your stress in light of challenging circumstances.

Registration link 
Pivoting Your Passion into Profit with Sharla Brown & Jacquie Somerville (1:00 – 3:00pm)

Learn how to create income, inspiration and impact online while doing what you love!
Has your business been impacted by COVID-19? For most of us, the way we do business in the world changed within days, and sometimes within hours. Some panicked, while others pivoted.
Join powerful female entrepreneurs Jacquie Somerville and Sharla Brown and learn how they made the shifts necessary to not only survive during these crazy times, but to thrive by taking their enterprises to a whole new level online. 

Join Us for:

  • 90 minutes of expert advice to excel your business online
  • Strategies to turn your financial struggles to prosperity quickly
  • Resources and proven marketing methods that you can apply to your business
  • Technology tricks and tips to build an online audience
  • Mistakes entrepreneurs make when building their online business
  • Jacquie and Sharla’s shared secrets to their online success

Registration link

Tuesday, October 20, 2020:

Market Research Webinar with the BRC’s Melanie Mears (1:00 – 2:00pm)

With so much information available, from multiple sources, business owners need to access key resources that impact their business. Learn how to tap into already existing data and sources to help you analyze your industry, competitors, financing opportunities and current and potential customers. Discover how this knowledge can inform your key business decisions, by learning how to ask the right questions, collect key data and interpret that information.

Registration link

Wednesday, October 21, 2020:

Founders John and Mark X. Cronin of John’s Crazy Socks (10:00 – 11:00am) 

John and Mark X. Cronin are the father-son team that founded John’s Crazy Socks. John is an entrepreneur who just happens to have Down syndrome. You may know them for being named EY Entrepreneurs of the Year or testifying before the American Congress, or speaking at the UN. You may know them because John became “Sock Buddies” with President George H.W. Bush. Or you may know them for having grown a bootstrapped start up to a $5 million dollar business in less than three years.

John’s Crazy Socks is an internationally recognized social enterprise with a mission to spread happiness and show what people with differing abilities can do.

Their mission infuses all aspects of their business. More than half their employees have a differing ability. Their Giving Back Program starts with a 5 percent pledge of profits to the Special Olympics and has raised over $375,000 for their charity partners. They have attracted over 27,000 online five start reviews. John’s Crazy Socks has over 230,000 Facebook followers and 50,000 Instagram followers.

Registration link
Remote Selling: The New Normal with Heidi Pfleger (1:00 – 2:00pm) 

Selling online has become the new normal. Learn how to make the most of remote selling with our expert's advice.
The growing trend of Remote Selling has expanded exponentially with the presence of Covid-19 and the reality is that it's here to stay. As a result, business owners need to learn a new way to approach how they sell and manage sales teams working remotely in order to remain competitive and profitable.

This session will help prepare you and your team for virtual business growth as Heidi shares a selling process that controls the outcome and properly qualifies prospects (instead of having them disqualify you!)

Registration Link

Thursday, October 22, 2020:

Tax Seminar with the Canada Revenue Agency (1:00 – 3:00pm)
Business taxes and record-keeping can be daunting when first starting out. Learn the ins and outs of proper book-keeping and taxation. 

Join Steve Robinson from the Canada Revenue Agency as he reviews the following topics for small business owners:
  • Explaining common tax errors, what causes them and how to avoid them
  • Explanation of financial benchmarks for relevant industries
  • Information on the CRA’s services
  • An explanation of general bookkeeping concepts and best practices

Registration link

Friday, October 23, 2020:

Managing Social Media Like a Pro with Beverley Theresa (11:00am – 12:00pm)

Learn how to manage and streamline your social media marketing like a professional! In this session, Beverley will show you the tricks and the tools needed so you'll spend LESS time on your social media and have more time to tackle other tasks in your business. Work like a pro, keep your social media consistent, fresh and bring in new leads and customers without adding more time and stress!

Registration link 
Understanding Stress Long Term: A Guided Meditation lead by Markus Schneider of Modo Yoga (2:00 - 2:30pm)

Markus Schneider is a yoga instructor and mindfulness practitioner with a passion for empowering his students with tools designed to reduce mental and physical suffering. As part of this work and to amplify the well-being of his students, Markus opened Modo Yoga Brantford in 2015 where he leads regular yoga and meditation classes. As the owner of Modo Yoga in Brantford, his contribution in mindfulness studies expanded to developing an evidence-based mindfulness approach that is designed to make meditation accessible and relevant in today’s culture. 
Join Markus for this online meditation session that will consist of 15-20 minutes of guided explanation and finish with a guided practice. You can expect to walk away feeling more aware of how to manage your stress in light of challenging circumstances.

Registration link