Join us every Thursday at 6:30pm, starting October 17th, for six weeks of transformative webinars designed to boost your small business.
This interactive webinar series, brought to you by the Town of Smithers and Community Futures of Nadina, is your opportunity to business growth and community connection.
Who should attend: Entrepreneurs, small business owners, and community leaders looking to enhance their business strategies, improve customer experiences, and foster community collaboration.
Attend in person at the Town of Smithers Council Chambers or virtually from the comfort of your office or your home. Attendees can choose to attend one session or all of them!
To attend, please register in advance by emailing ecdev@smithers.ca
Don't miss this out on this opportunity to elevate your enterprise, gain insights from industry experts and connect with fellow business owners in your community.
All sessions are free to attend.
October 17: Designing, Delivering and Sustaining Exceptional Customer Experiences
Are you ready to transform your business with consistent, memorable, exceptional customer experiences that are impactful and meaningful? In today's competitive market, delivering a seamless and memorable experience is essential for driving customer loyalty, reducing churn, and fostering long-term success.
This interactive session, led by James Grieve, a Certified Customer Experience Professional (CCXP) and Principal Consultant at Catalyst Strategies Consulting, will guide you through practical strategies for designing, delivering, and sustaining enhanced customer experiences.
Drawing on over 25 years of experience across industries such as tourism, hospitality, professional services, retail, manufacturing, and Indigenous and regional economic development, James will share insights on how to create a compelling value proposition, leverage customer feedback, and integrate technology to exceed customer expectations.
You’ll learn many actionable tools and strategies, including:
• The 10 Drivers of Customer Growth – Practical insights to fuel your business.
• How to Create a Customer Experience Strategy – Design experiences that increase customer loyalty and retention.
• Understanding Your Unique Selling Proposition (USP) – Learn how to differentiate your brand and enhance your customer relationships.
• Real-World Examples – Case studies from businesses that have successfully implemented customer-first strategies to mitigate risks and gain a competitive advantage.
Bonus for All Registrants: As a special bonus, all registrants will receive a complimentary Customer Experience Diagnostic, uniquely tailored to their business. This diagnostic will provide an in-depth assessment of your current customer experience strategy and offer recommendations on how to improve and elevate your customer interactions.
To register email: ecdev@smithers.ca
James Grieve, MBA, CMC, CEPA is a Certified Customer Experience Professional (CCXP), a trusted business advisor with certifications in management consulting, and a wealth of experience in business strategy. His boutique firm, Catalyst Strategies Consulting, specializes in helping organizations design customer-centric strategies that drive performance and profitability. He has worked extensively with businesses of all sizes, offering a unique blend of strategic insight, customer empathy, and practical tools to transform the way organizations connect with their customer.
October 24: Hire Smart, Retain Strong: Attracting Top Talent
Join us for an eye-opening webinar that will revolutionize your approach to hiring and retaining top talent! Trevor Bruintjes, a seasoned expert in workforce optimization, will guide you through the intricate landscape of modern recruitment and employee retention.
This interactive session will unveil effective strategies for attracting and retaining talent in today’s competitive job market. Trevor will guide you through the intricate landscape of modern recruitment and employee retention.
What You'll Discover:
• The True Cost of Hiring: Uncover the hidden expenses and learn how to make every hire count.
• Beyond the Résumé: Craft job ads that attract the right candidates and showcase your company culture.
• The Power of Purpose: Learn how to align your mission, vision, and values to create an irresistible workplace.
• Innovative Incentives: Explore creative perks that go beyond the paycheck and keep your team engaged.
• The Four Phases of New Hires: Navigate the crucial first year of employment to ensure long-term success.
• Onboarding Excellence: Design a seamless integration process that sets your new hires up for success.
Don't miss this opportunity to transform your hiring practices and build a dream team that drives your business forward.
Register now and take the first step towards becoming an employer of choice in your industry!
To register email ecdev@smithers.ca
Trevor Bruintjes, a seasoned HR expert, business coach and leadership development specialist with over three decades of experience in the field. As the founder of Peaks and Valleys Strategic Business Development, Trevor is dedicated to helping Business Owners, CEOs, COOs and other decision makers elevate their business metrics both personally and professionally. He believes that thriving businesses can significantly enhance their communities. His innovative approaches have helped numerous organizations streamline their hiring processes and foster a thriving workplace culture.
November 7: Simple Yet Impactful Digital Marketing Tips for Your Local Small Business
This session led by Holly Keech founder of Busy Boss, is designed specifically for small business owners looking to enhance their online presence and improve their digital marketing strategies. Attendees can expect to discover a wealth of practical insights that are easy to implement and tailored for local businesses.
During the webinar, participants will learn about:
• Effective Social Media Strategies: Identify which platforms are best suited for local businesses and how to create engaging content that resonates with your target audience.
• Maximizing Email Marketing ROI: Understand key tactics to enhance email campaigns and learn how to measure success through relevant metrics.
• Improving Local SEO: Discover how to optimize your Google Business Profile and implement local SEO best practices to increase visibility and attract more customers.
• Managing Online Reviews: Gain insights on how to handle negative reviews professionally and encourage positive feedback from satisfied customers.
• Valuable Marketing Resources: Access tools and resources that can streamline your marketing efforts and provide ongoing support.
This interactive session promises to equip attendees with actionable strategies that can lead to immediate improvements in their marketing efforts. Whether you're just starting out or looking to refine your existing approach, Holly's expertise will provide valuable guidance tailored to the unique challenges faced by local businesses. Don't miss this opportunity to elevate your digital marketing game!
To register email ecdev@smithers.ca
In 2020, Holly founded Busy Boss Communications, providing fractional outsourced social media and digital marketing services for local businesses, as a flexible alternative to traditional hired staff, freelancers, or large agencies. Since then, Holly has helped shape the online brands of some incredible businesses across the province, while partnering with other innovative agencies, contractors, and consultancies along the way.
Leveraging her diverse 20+ year career experience, Holly brings a unique ability to understand her client’s businesses in just about any industry, while providing fast, insightful, and effective marketing & communications support.
Holly has worked with clients from a wide range of sectors, such as: automotive, construction, oil & gas, real estate, professional services, health & beauty, retail & ecommerce, event planning, not-for-profits, community organizations, regulatory agencies, First Nations, and government organizations (all levels).
Based out of Prince George, British Columbia, Holly also serves on the board of directors of the local Kiwanis Chapter, spends time volunteering in the community, and is the proud mother of an equally creative and ambitious 6 year old girl.
November 14: Succession Ready
Being prepared for the succession of your business, whatever that looks like, is an important consideration for all businesses. Whether you are preparing to sell your business or pass it along to a family member or key employees, being SuccessionReady is key. Come learn all about succession planning with professionals and experts in their field. James Grieve and Ashka Wirk of SuccessionReady - including an overview of the SuccessionReady approach, engaging with and learning from your peers on this topic, and applying the SuccessionReady approach to your business reality.
SuccessionReady is simple, effective, and real-world approach to creating a tailored Succession Plan for family businesses - working in partnership with the owners, their family members, employees, and professional services providers. Co-created and delivered by seasoned management consultants, SuccessionReady guides businesses through the process of creating a Success Plan that aligns with their values, achieves their goals, and ensures that the owners, their family, and their team are prepared for the next steps.
To register email ecdev@smithers.ca
Ashka Wirk, BSc, MBA, CMC, ACC is the Co-creator of SuccessionReady and is Principal of Wirk Consulting. Ashka is a certified management consultant (CMC Canada), experienced facilitator, and certified executive coach (International Coach Federation). She has a BSc in biology from UBC and an MBA from the Schulich School of Business at York University.
Ashka grew up working in her family's business in the Okanagan, is a seasoned private sector CEO, and for nearly 20 years has helped leaders, teams, and organizations of all types across BC, set their North Star, engage their key stakeholders, and map a clear path forward.
James Grieve, MBA, CMC, CEPA is the Co-creator of SuccesionReady and is the Principal of Catalyst Strategies Consulting. James is a certified management consultant (CMC Canada), experienced facilitator, and certified exit planning advisor (Exit Planning Institute) and has an MBA from Royal Roads University.
He has a passion for helping founder-lead and emerging businesses build, thrive, and grow. For over 20 years, he has worked closely with business owners to design and develop strategies and systems that create value and make a positive and sustainable difference in the lives of business owners, their employees, and their customers.
November 21: The Power of Collaboration
Join us for an inspiring webinar led by Christina Birch, a renowned rural community development expert and award-winning innovator. In this engaging session, Christina will unveil strategies that can transform your business and community relationships.
Discover how to forge effective partnerships between businesses and municipalities, creating a synergy that benefits all. Christina will guide you through the process of identifying and assessing valuable partnership opportunities, teaching you how to recognize potential collaborations that might otherwise go unnoticed.
You'll learn the art of fostering mutually beneficial relationships, a skill that's crucial in today's interconnected business landscape.
Most importantly, Christina will share her insights on how these collaborative efforts can lead to stronger, more resilient communities.
This webinar is perfect for business owners, community leaders, and anyone interested in driving positive change in their local area. You'll walk away with practical tools and innovative ideas to enhance your collaborative efforts and contribute to the growth of your community.
Don't miss this opportunity to learn from one of the best in the field and take your collaborative skills to the next level.
To secure your spot, email ecdev@smithers.ca.
Christina Birch, founder of The Community Cafe, provides vital support to regions, communities and entrepreneurs by crafting innovative solutions to address the unique challenges they face. A rural enthusiast and community builder at heart, her passion for supporting rural communities has been evident throughout her many years of experience in community and economic development. Christina’s solution-based approach has positive impacts that resonate far and wide. Her innovative approaches and unwavering dedication have earned her well-deserved recognition and awards, a testament to her ability to turn ideas into reality. Christina holds a Masters degree with additional certifications in Business Retention & Expansion, Strategic Doing, and Destination Creation. Her diverse knowledge and charismatic personality allow her to inspire communities and drive meaningful change, impacting rural economies throughout the prairies.
November 28: Strategic Action Planning - Turning Business Goals into Actionable Steps
Get ready to transform your business vision into reality with Christina Birch's dynamic webinar. This interactive session is designed to equip small business owners, with tools and strategies to create an outcome based strategic action plan. Christina, a renowned rural community development expert and award-winning innovator, will guide you through a step-by-step process to elevate your business strategy and drive tangible results.
Attendees can expect to learn:
• How to Identify and prioritize your most impactful business goals.
• Methods for assessing your current business capacity and available resources with precision.
• Techniques for developing a strategic roadmap that aligns with your vision and leads to success.
• Practical approaches to transform abstract goals into concrete, actionable steps.
In this engaging 1 ½ hour session, is designed to help participants develop a customized, outcome-based action plan for their businesses. The webinar is particularly valuable for entrepreneurs, small business owners, and community leaders who are looking to enhance their business strategies and turn their vision into reality.
Don't miss this chance to revolutionize your approach to business planning!
Register now and take the first step towards turning your business goals into remarkable achievements!
To register email ecdev@smithers.ca
Christina Birch, founder of The Community Cafe, provides vital support to regions, communities and entrepreneurs by crafting innovative solutions to address the unique challenges they face. A rural enthusiast and community builder at heart, her passion for supporting rural communities has been evident throughout her many years of experience in community and economic development. Christina’s solution-based approach has positive impacts that resonate far and wide. Her innovative approaches and unwavering dedication have earned her well-deserved recognition and awards, a testament to her ability to turn ideas into reality. Christina holds a Masters degree with additional certifications in Business Retention & Expansion, Strategic Doing, and Destination Creation. Her diverse knowledge and charismatic personality allow her to inspire communities and drive meaningful change, impacting rural economies throughout the prairies.
Unlock Your Business Potential!
Join us for the Small Business Success Series and gain invaluable insights from industry experts, connect with fellow entrepreneurs, and elevate your enterprise to new heights!
Don't miss out - register today and take the first step toward your business transformation!
To register email ecdev@smithers.ca
This interactive series is brought to you by:
April 29, 2024 - Invested in BC’s North press release – for immediate release
Nine Community Futures offices in northern BC are co-launching a new campaign that highlights the challenges and beauty of small business entrepreneurship in the northern reaches of the province.
Invested in BC’s North celebrates the positive impact that Community Futures has on local entrepreneurs and communities as far north as the Yukon border, all the way to South Cariboo. The campaign is running until December 2024 and demonstrates the resilience and creativity of northern business owners in adapting to new economic, environmental, and social challenges in the places they call home.
Rural entrepreneurs generally have a harder time accessing finance, business services and basic infrastructure, making it more challenging to operate and sustain successful businesses. In addition, they are more vulnerable to regional economic, environmental, and social challenges, such as mill closures and devastating wildfires and floods.
“Community Futures has decades of experience in supporting entrepreneurs from their business startup to succession planning. We’re small, agile, and local. Our team knows what it’s like to live and do business in the north. We give people the tools, resources, mentorship, and financial support that are right for their business’ unique situation and needs”. – Ais Sheridan, Community Futures, Nadina
Businesses that have received support from a Community Futures office, have a proven head start in achieving higher business longevity, sales and employment rates than businesses who were not assisted by Community Futures. And in turn, those businesses pave the way for regional growth, diversified economies and job creation.
In 2022-2023 alone, the nine Community Futures offices in northern BC loaned $7.4 million, provided close to 4,500 business advisory services and supported more than 120 community projects in their respective regions.
For more information about the Invested in BC’s North campaign and the stories of northern BC entrepreneurs, please visit: www.InvestedInBCsNorth.ca
About Community Futures
Community Futures is the only organization throughout rural BC with a mandate for small business and community economic development. Their experts offer local assistance with business planning, loans, business support services and self-employment, from 34 offices in rural BC.
The Community Futures offices in northern BC serve the following regions:
Haida Gwaii (Daajing Gids & Masset), Peace Liard (Dawson Creek), Nadina (Houston), Fraser Fort George (Prince George), Pacific Northwest (Prince Rupert), North Cariboo (Quesnel), 16/37 (Terrace), Stuart Nechako (Vanderhoof) and Cariboo-Chilcotin (Williams Lake).
News Release
Victoria
Monday, November 14, 2022 12:15 PM
Local governments, First Nations and other organizations looking to strengthen their communities can apply for new funding to build capacity and diversify rural and remote economies in B.C.
The Government of B.C. is investing as much as $33 million in 2022-23 to create the Rural Economic Diversification and Infrastructure Program (REDIP), which will support projects that promote economic diversification, resilience, clean-growth opportunities and infrastructure development.
“People across rural B.C. are passionate about their communities and are incredibly resilient in the face of challenges,” said Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Jobs, Economic Recovery and Innovation. “As part of our StrongerBC Economic Plan, we’re working shoulder to shoulder with local governments and First Nations to help diversify local economies to support good, stable jobs for people for years to come.”
Communities can receive funding through three streams:
Economic diversification – Projects that plan or implement programs, services and infrastructure to support economic development and diversification in communities with populations of 25,000 or less (maximum funding: $1 million).
Economic capacity – Projects that build local capacity and improve ability to support economic development and diversification in communities with populations of 2,500 or less (maximum funding: $100,000).
Forest impact transition – Projects that support economic recovery and diversification in affected forest-dependent communities (maximum funding: $500,000).
“Leaders in rural and Indigenous communities across B.C. work tirelessly to build economies that provide steady employment, stable services and exciting economic opportunities for their residents,” said Roly Russell, Parliamentary Secretary for Rural and Regional Development. “Our government is helping to build on this resilience through a suite of initiatives, and I’m excited to add REDIP to that list. From capacity-building to internet connectivity to enhanced and new infrastructure, we’re working with communities in every corner of the province so that people can thrive wherever they live.”
The REDIP is funded in part by $185 million over three years from Budget 2022 to provide co-ordinated and comprehensive supports for forestry workers, industry, communities and First Nations that may be affected by restrictions on old-growth logging.
Local governments, Indigenous communities and organizations, Indigenous development corporations and not-for-profit organizations can apply for funding starting Nov. 15, 2022. A second intake will be open next year, with more information available in spring 2023.
Building resilient communities is a key action of the StrongerBC Economic Plan, helping move British Columbia forward by tackling the challenges of today while growing the economy.