Community Futures Shuswap

10/12/2026

Self-employed and living with a disability? Learn how the Disability Tax Credit connects to your business, your benefits and an RDSP.

📅 Friday, October 16 · 10 am Pacific · Zoom (captioned, cameras optional)

To register, email [email protected] and ask for Workshop 1, or both. Seats are limited.

Offered by Community Futures BC's Accessible Entrepreneurship Services.

10/10/2026

Happy Thanksgiving, Shuswap. 🍂

This weekend we're grateful for the small businesses that keep our communities going, and for everyone who supports them.

From Salmon Arm to Sicamous, Malakwa to Falkland, Scotch Creek to Sorrento and every community in between, local businesses provide the services we count on, create jobs for our neighbours, and give our towns their character. When they do well, the whole region does well.

None of it happens without people: the owners who take the leap, and the staff who show up every day, including the ones working this long weekend.

And just as much, the people who support them: the customers who keep choosing local, the neighbours who spread the word, and the families, friends and community groups who cheer them on. Thank you.

Wishing you a warm and happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Community Futures Shuswap. Our office is closed Monday, October 12, and reopens Tuesday.

Is there a Shuswap business you're thankful for this year? Give them a shout-out in the comments.

10/10/2026

Want to hire a student but worried about the cost of someone without experience? This program can pay you back up to half their wages, to a maximum of $5,000 per student.

The Student Work Placement Program is for post-secondary students hired between September 1 and December 31, 2026. The job can keep going past December, but only wages for work in the approved funding term count.

It isn't automatic. You have to apply, and the employer applies, not the student. You can start before you've picked a student, and if you've already hired one since September 1, you can still apply. Funding is limited and first come, first served, so don't wait.

IS IT FOR YOU?
✔ You're a private business or not-for-profit in Canada
✔ The student is a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or person with refugee protection
✔ They're currently enrolled at a Canadian university, college, polytechnic or institute, full- or part-time
✔ Their school recognizes the job as part of their program, such as a co-op, internship, field placement or work experience
✔ They're a new employee on your payroll: not a contractor, owner, current employee or immediate family

NOT ELIGIBLE: international students; recent grads; trades, apprenticeship, clinical or articling hours; government or post-secondary employers; faith-based organizations (unless the role itself is secular); financial institutions with 500 or more employees. It can't be combined with Canada Summer Jobs or other federal wage funding.

YOUR NEXT STEPS
1️⃣ Check you qualify at swpprogram.ca
2️⃣ Create a free employer account and apply at swpp.poweredbymagnet.ca. No student picked yet? Apply anyway, with the role in mind. Magnet usually replies within two weeks.
3️⃣ Once you have a student, ask their school (the co-op or placement office) to confirm the job counts toward their program, then add the student to your application. Without the school's recognition, it doesn't qualify.
4️⃣ Pay the student as normal. After the placement ends and your paperwork is approved, you're paid back.

Students: looking for experience? Check with your co-op or placement office first, then share this with employers you'd like to work for. It makes you easier to say yes to.

Questions about the program: [email protected]
Funded by the Government of Canada. Delivered by Magnet at Toronto Metropolitan University.

10/09/2026

Building a business? Plan for life beyond it too. Learn how to save when your income changes, pay yourself, and where the RDSP fits.

📅 Friday, October 23 · 10 am Pacific · Zoom (captioned, cameras optional)

To register, email [email protected] and ask for Workshop 2, or both. Seats are limited.

Offered by Community Futures BC's Accessible Entrepreneurship Services.

10/08/2026

Data breaches are a real risk for small businesses. Get some foundational information about how to assess your risk and what to do if your business gets hacked!

The registration fee will be waived if you are in the Shuswap region - we have already made the investment for you!

Registration is super easy.
See you there!

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1FTM3jTKUG/?mibextid=wwXIfr

North & South Shuswap Community Resources-NSSCRSalmon Arm Chamber of CommerceNorth Shuswap Chamber of CommerceFriday.amColumbia Shuswap Regional DistrictShuswap Economic Development SocietySalmon Arm Economic Development SocietySicamous & District Chamber of CommerceThe South Shuswap ScoopNorth Shuswap Kicker SCIP Shuswap Construction Industry ProfessionalsSouth Shuswap Chamber of Commerce

Is your business prepared for cyberattacks? Learn how to reduce cybersecurity risks and respond effectively to data breach!

Register today: https://mycommunityfuturesbc.ca/webinars/1234/data_breaches_and_incident_response_a_legal_perspective/

📌 Participation in this session is free within select CF-service regions.

10/08/2026

Registrations super easy and because you live and/or work in the Shuswap, you can access everything My Community Futures offers … we’ve already made the investment for you! Check out all the great information and sessions being offered!

Here’s what’s coming up next week at myCommunityFutures!

Explore upcoming learning opportunities to support your business or organization:

🔹 Oct 13: SEO & Website Analytics for Small Business Owners
🔹 Oct 14: Data Breaches and Incident Response – A Legal Perspective
🔹 Oct 15: How to Run a Successful Sales Call

📌 Business training from Community Futures is free of charge within select CF-service regions.

10/07/2026

💡 Do you know how the Disability Tax Credit can connect to your business, benefits and long-term financial planning?

📅 Friday, October 16 | 10:00 am PT
An Introduction to Inclusive Financing: How Does the DTC Relate to Entrepreneurship?

In this plain-language session, we’ll unpack the Disability Tax Credit (DTC) and why it can be an important starting point for other financial tools and supports.

We’ll talk about DTC eligibility and Form T2201, retroactive claims, RDSP eligibility and federal grants and bonds, and how self-employment can interact with PWD assistance, earnings exemptions, SEP and CPP Disability. We’ll also cover some simple record-keeping habits that can help protect both your taxes and benefits.

🌱 You’re building a business — but are you also planning for life beyond the business?

📅 Friday, October 23 | 10:00 am PT
Beyond the Business: Retirement & Financial Planning for Entrepreneurs with Disabilities

Self-employment can mean variable income, no employer pension and plenty of decisions about whether money should go back into the business or toward your own future.

This plain-language workshop looks at the long game. We’ll talk about separating business and personal money, saving when your income changes month to month, paying yourself, and balancing business reinvestment with personal financial security.

We’ll also look at where the Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP) fits, including the connection to the DTC, federal grants and bonds, catch-up entitlements and the 10-year holding rule — explained in plain language.

You’ll leave with practical habits, a Beyond-the-Business roadmap, useful links and resources to help you keep planning.

📧 To register, email [email protected] and let us know if you’re interested in Workshop 1, Workshop 2, or both.

♿ Accessible format: Live on Zoom, captioned and camera-optional. Participants will also receive the handout and slide deck.

10/06/2026

Take a look at the line up for the next couple of weeks! There are some excellent topics and speakers.

10/03/2026

Small Business Week is October 18–24!

The Shuswap is home to 1,569 small businesses with employees—representing 96% of local employers. Small businesses aren’t a niche; they’re the economy.

What Shuswap business have you been meaning to try? Tag them below and show them some local love!

09/29/2026

September 30 marks the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. A time to pause, reflect, and honour the survivors of residential schools, the children who never returned home, their families, and their communities.

It’s an opportunity for all of us to come together, learn and connect more deeply with Indigenous culture in meaningful ways.
September 30 is about remembering, learning, and building stronger connections. Let’s honour the past while working together for a brighter future rooted in understanding and respect.

Community Futures Shuswap will be closed Wednesday, Sept 30 to honour the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.