Our team at Business Link has been keeping very busy this summer. We have fully embraced festival season in Alberta by attending, hosting, and partnering on as many events as we can.
All of our team members are dedicated to visiting and serving as many cities, towns, and communities as possible to help clients start and grow businesses. They are often travelling around the province to ensure everyone has access to our services. Let’s take a peek at what they’ve been up to so far this summer.
Creating Amazing Partnered Events
Our team members have a large number of recurring events that they dedicate their time to on a regular basis, including:
- Presenting on market research at the AWE Roadmap for Success workshops in both Edmonton and Calgary
- Providing on-site advisory services at the ATB Knowledge Exchange events in Edmonton and at the new NABI Commons in St. Albert
- Hosting information sessions on how to start a business at AMA locations across Alberta
- Presenting on the Business Model Canvas tool, market research, exploring entrepreneurship, and independent contracting at the ATB Entrepreneur Centres
- Participating in the Ready to Launch: Women in Business events in partnership with the Alberta Chambers of Commerce and other small business support organizations
In May, we participated in over 15 events and presentations across the province. These events and workshops included a wide range of topics in a number of different locations, including Business Model Canvas/business plan training in Camrose and Fort McMurray, business startup information for new immigrants in Edmonton, and market research guidance in Medicine Hat, Lethbridge, and Edmonton. In addition, our team also participated in a handful of exciting small business events, including:
- Chinook Entrepreneur Challenge in Lethbridge
- Fundica Roadshow in Calgary
- North Edmonton Town Hall for Cultural Businesses and Entrepreneurs hosted by Hon. Deron Bilous
- Rural Women in Business Conference hosted by the Crossfield Chamber of Commerce
Can you believe that our team accomplished all of that in ONE month?! They really are small business superheroes. The activities continued into June and July as our team delivered presentations with partner organizations across Alberta. We also participated in valuable events like Calgary Economic Development’s Startup Saturday, NIDOA Calgary’s Business Workshop, and the incredible Innovation Rodeo in Calgary.
Supporting Indigenous Businesses
In May, our Indigenous Services team delivered 7 presentations and attended 20 outreach and networking events from meetings and career fairs to award and trade shows. These included everything from independent contractor presentations in Blood Tribe, Lethbridge, Slave Lake & Driftpile First Nation, and Tsuu T’ina Nation to Igniting your startup with Business Link presentations held at Enoch Cree Nation and Lac La Biche.
June was an even busier month for our Indigenous Services team as they delivered 18 presentations and workshops and participated in 26 events across the province, including:
- Exploring entrepreneurship presentations in Calgary, Tsuu T’ina Nation, Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation, Ermineskin Cree Nation, and Rocky Mountain House
- Independent contractor presentations in Edmonton and Tsuu T’ina Nation
- Market research presentations in CFT7 (Calgary), Tsuu T’ina Nation, and Red Deer
- Introduction to business regulations and business idea development in Tsuu T’ina Nation
- Indigenous Productivity to Procurement partnered event by the Government of Alberta in Cold Lake
- Rock my Business Plan held in conjunction with Futurpreneur and Creative financing solutions for your business presentation in Fort McMurray
- Business Builder Series at CFT7 in Calgary
July is also off to a strong start as our Indigenous Services Business Facilitators meet with clients from across the province and build relationships with potential partners. They also had the opportunity to deliver a market research presentation to the Alberta Indian Investment Corporation (AIIC) Youth Camp participants.
Hosting Small Business Workshops and Events
In addition to partnering with a number of wonderful small business organizations across Alberta, our team also hosts its own events, webinars, workshops, Ask an Expert sessions, and more! Since May, Business Link has hosted 11 webinars, 6 in-person workshops, and 12 Ask an Expert sessions.
In May we hosted two Marketing SOS BizConnection speed mentoring events in Edmonton and Calgary. June saw two different panel discussion BizConnection events in the province with a food industry focus in Edmonton (YUM!) and a Maker theme in Calgary, both of which had amazing turnouts. Don’t miss this month’s event: a Breakfast & Business pancake breakfast on July 21 in Edmonton.
So how does our team do it? Our Business Advisors and Facilitators are passionate about small business in Alberta and are dedicated to serving entrepreneurs across the province. That kind of commitment comes through in their willingness to take the extra time to host and attend events to enhance small business support in our province.