Small Business Enterprise Centre - SBEC

06/11/2026

Check out this great opportunity to connect with local entrepreneurs and hear from renowned Chef Mark McEwan. Expect light refreshments, networking, and a keynote presentation.

Happening in Meaford on Tuesday July 7th.

More info: meaford.ca/after5

We’re thrilled to welcome Chef Mark McEwan as our featured speaker! 👨‍🍳✨

Known as the “father of modern Canadian cuisine,” Chef McEwan has helped shape Toronto’s dining scene with iconic restaurants like ONE, North44, Bymark, Fabbrica, Diwan, and The Port Tavern Thornbury.

From becoming Canada’s youngest executive chef at the Sutton Place Hotel to cooking for Pope John Paul II, and now mentoring the next generation as head judge on Top Chef, his career is nothing short of extraordinary.

Don’t miss the chance to hear from one of Canada’s most celebrated culinary leaders. Learn more at www.meaford.ca/after5.

06/11/2026

Feeling very proud! Our very own Tim Newton, Manager of the South Georgian Bay Small Business Enterprise Centre, was awarded the Entrepreneur’s Champion Award last night at Georgian College’s 2026 Henry Bernick Awards.

This award recognizes an exceptional individual who is dedicated to empowering students, entrepreneurs, innovators, and the broader business community in Central Ontario. Tim was nominated for the amazing work he does to educate, inspire, and active the local entrepreneurial community. He’s a respected ambassador for entrepreneurship and a catalyst for innovation and success in our vibrant ecosystem.

If you know Tim, you’ll know he brings an infectious amount of energy and passion to the work he does. Our community feels his authentic care and dedication to helping visualize and conceptualize their entrepreneurial dreams. With over 20 years in the ecosystem, not a day goes by that Tim isn’t making magic happen. He’s the guy you can count on and do.

This recognition is a testament to Tim’s outstanding contributions to our community; the SBEC and Town of Collingwood are lucky to have him in our corner. Congratulations, Tim.

06/08/2026

Great products don't sell themselves but great value propositions do. Discover how to clearly communicate the problem you solve, the value you create, and why customers should choose you. Join our value proposition workshop on Thursday June 11 and start building messaging that captures attention and drives interest.

Hope to see you there!

Tickets: https://founder-workshop-june-11-value-proposition.eventbrite.ca

06/05/2026

Registration is still open for Student Summer Ventures (SSV), a beloved virtual entrepreneurship mentorship program helping youth build confidence, develop real-world skills, and turn ideas into action ✨ Running for its 5th summer, this program supports youth in:

~ building confidence and real-world skills
~ exploring their interests and ideas
~ and launching small ventures or passion projects
~ SSV kicks off June 23, 2026 ⭐️

The SBEC is among the proud community supporters of this program that empowers the next generation of young leaders and changemakers.

Learn more: https://www.theyoupowerproject.com/summer-ventures

*Eligible Simcoe County families may qualify for funding through YouthReach, which can cover the cost of the program.

06/01/2026

Join Pride Collingwood for one of their free Safe Space Training sessions with Myles Sexton. These sessions are designed to help build more inclusive, welcoming, and affirming spaces within our communities. Something our centre absolutely stands behind! ⭐️

06/01/2026

Last chance to secure your spot at one—or both—of our workshops this Thursday June 4.

In the morning, join us at Community Futures with Dr. Ainslie Harris for an engaging discussion on AI privacy, practical applications, governance, and best practices for organizations navigating the rapidly evolving AI landscape.

https://the-good-the-bad-and-the-bot-june-4.eventbrite.ca

In the afternoon, we'll be at Town of The Blue Mountains facilitating a hands-on Customer Discovery Workshop as part of our Founders Series, delivered in partnership with the Town. This session is designed to help entrepreneurs validate ideas, better understand their customers, and build stronger businesses.

https://founder-workshop-june-4-customer-discovery.eventbrite.ca

05/25/2026

Ontario is expanding support to help small businesses adopt digital and AI technologies.

Through the province’s Digital Competence Centre, Ontario is investing an additional $5M to help businesses modernize operations, boost productivity and stay competitive.

Learn more: https://news.ontario.ca/en/release/1007481/ontario-investing-5-million-to-help-small-businesses-adopt-digital-technologies

05/25/2026

AI WORKSHOP LOADING...

Curious about AI but not sure how to use it in your business? Join us on June 4 for an interactive workshop with Dr. Ainslie Harris, founder of Zivo, and learn how to use AI safely, effectively, and confidently in a business setting.

Discover practical prompting techniques to get better results from AI tools, understand what AI does well (and where to be cautious), and explore key topics like privacy, bias, risk management, and AI governance through Zivo’s SAFE framework.

Grab your ticket: https://the-good-the-bad-and-the-bot-june-4.eventbrite.ca

05/20/2026

We’re excited to launch our new 5-Part Founders Workshop Series in collaboration with The Town of The Blue Mountains and with support from our incredible community partners.

This practical workshop series is designed to help founders build stronger, more sustainable businesses with actionable tools and hands-on learning.

The series begins with three workshops this June covering Customer Discovery, Value Proposition, and the Business Model Canvas, followed by two additional sessions this October focused on Business Planning and Financial Fundamentals.

Grab all the details here: https://www.eventbrite.ca/o/small-business-enterprise-centre-7865094954

05/19/2026

Check out speaker line-up for the 2026 Tourism Mini Conference. All this happening next Wednesday May 27. Hope to see you!

TICKETS: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/2026-tourism-mini-conference-tickets-1987611871613?aff=oddtdtcreator