CBDC Yarmouth

08/26/2026

Starting this Monday! 🤖

Introducing the Yarmouth AI Business Lab

AI is changing how businesses work, but figuring out how to actually use it in your business can be another story.

That’s why the Yarmouth & Area Chamber of Commerce and CBDC Yarmouth are launching the Yarmouth AI Business Lab, led by instructor Georges Hanna.

One hour. One business problem. One AI-powered asset every month.

Beginning August 31, we’re launching 12 practical monthly workshops designed to help business owners, managers and teams put AI to work on real challenges — not just talk about it.

Over the series, we’ll tackle:

⚡ Saving time with AI
📱 Creating better marketing and content
👥 Hiring and onboarding
💬 Customer service
📈 Sales follow-up
🏨 Tourism and hospitality
🔧 Trades and service businesses
⚙️ SOPs and operations
💰 Business planning and funding
⭐ Reviews and referrals
🔒 AI policies and responsible use

And you’ll build something useful during every session to take back to your business.

🎓 Each completed workshop includes a digital certificate.

Choose how you participate:
$20 — Single Workshop
$60 — AI Accelerator Bundle: Choose Any 4
$150 — AI Mastery Pass: All 12 Workshops

Registration is now open 👉🏻 https://yarmouthchamberofcommerce.com/home/ai-business-lab/?fbclid=IwcGRvZgRleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAwyNTYyODEwNDA1NTgAAR5tIYeR9FC38ieJn87zbMYssvSQAojXMLDO_4iM3BA5xE317i9IPX24qh6_4g_aem_Ie7VzD7JoJKsDTHcQ7S_jQ

Whether you're completely new to AI or already experimenting with it, the goal is simple: leave every session better equipped than when you walked in.

08/26/2026

Ready to start selling your products online? 🤔

Join us for Start Selling Online, a FREE 10-week e-commerce workshop designed for business owners who want to add online shopping to their existing website.

Led by Rick McMullen, this hands-on workshop will walk you through the basics of building an e-commerce storefront, adding and managing products, setting up the essentials for online sales, and developing the skills to keep building on your own.

📅 Tuesdays, September 15 – November 24
⏰ 1:00 – 5:00 PM
💻 Virtual
💲 FREE to participate

Ready to take your business online? Register today ⬇️
https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/FG5nu8zUpA

08/26/2026

What do you do when your lobster boat sits idle for half the year?

For Matthew Melanson, the answer became Adventure Bay Whale Watch Company. What started as a simple idea has grown into an unforgettable Bay of Fundy experience, where visitors from around the world come face-to-face with humpback whales and leave with memories they'll never forget.

Read how Matt teamed up with CBDC Digby-Clare to bring this business to life.

https://cbdc.ca/stories/adventure-bay-whale-watching-company/

Que faire lorsqu’un bateau de pêche au homard reste inutilisé pendant la moitié de l’année ?

Pour Matthew Melanson, la réponse a été de créer Adventure Bay Whale Watch Company. Ce qui n’était au départ qu’une simple idée est devenu une expérience inoubliable dans la baie de Fundy, où des visiteurs du monde entier viennent observer les baleines à bosse de près et repartent avec des souvenirs qu’ils n’oublieront jamais.

Découvrez comment Matthew s’est associé à la CBDC Digby-Clare pour donner vie à son projet d’entreprise.

https://cbdc.ca/fr-ca/stories/adventure-bay-whale-watching-company/

08/21/2026

☕❤️ From managing Starbucks locations overseas to building a café of her own in downtown Yarmouth, Jasmin Endaya has spent her life turning her passion for coffee into meaningful connections. What began as a dream is now Third Cup Café, a welcoming gathering place where locals catch up, ferry travellers grab a bite, and everyone is treated like family.

With support from CBDC Yarmouth, Jasmin navigated the challenges of starting a business, finding the right location, and bringing her vision to life. Today, Third Cup Café is not only a local favourite but also a warm welcome for visitors exploring southwestern Nova Scotia, helping strengthen the region’s tourism experience one cup at a time.
Read Jasmin’s inspiring entrepreneurial journey: https://cbdc.ca/stories/third-cup-cafe/


Third Cup Café
☕❤️ Qu’il s’agisse de gérer des succursales Starbucks à l’étranger ou d’ouvrir son propre café au centre-ville de Yarmouth, Jasmin Endaya a consacré sa vie à transformer sa passion pour le café en liens enrichissants. Ce qui n’était qu’un rêve est aujourd’hui devenu le Third Cup Café, un lieu de rencontre accueillant où les gens du coin se retrouvent, où les voyageurs du traversier viennent manger un morceau et où chacun est traité comme un membre de la famille.

Grâce au soutien de la CBDC Yarmouth, Jasmin a pu surmonter les défis liés au démarrage d’une entreprise, à la recherche de l’emplacement idéal et à la concrétisation de sa vision. Aujourd’hui, le Third Cup Café n’est pas seulement un incontournable des gens du coin, mais aussi un lieu d’accueil chaleureux pour les visiteurs qui explorent le sud-ouest de la Nouvelle-Écosse, contribuant ainsi à enrichir l’expérience touristique de la région, une tasse à la fois.
Découvrez le parcours entrepreneurial inspirant de Jasmin : https://cbdc.ca/stories/third-cup-cafe/

08/21/2026

Our favourite event of the year is fast approaching!

Make sure to nominate your favourite businesses. ⭐️

WHO DESERVES TO BE RECOGNIZED?

Nominations are officially OPEN for the 2026 Yarmouth Business Awards!

Every year, this event shines a spotlight on the businesses, entrepreneurs and leaders who are building, growing, innovating and making an impact across Yarmouth & Area.

Now we need your help finding them.

Think about the businesses and people you’ve encountered over the past year.

Who impressed you?
Who went above and beyond?
Who took a risk and built something great?
Who is growing, innovating or creating opportunities?
Who is making our region a better place to do business?

Nominate them.

You don’t need to write the perfect submission. Tell us who deserves recognition and why.

🏆 2026 Yarmouth Business Awards
📅 Thursday, October 22
📍 Mariners Centre

Nominations are open now. Let’s recognize the people moving our region forward.

Presented by RBC and Doane Grant Thornton.

Nominate Here: www.yarmouthchamberofcommerce.com/2026-yarmouth-business-awards

08/19/2026

🍂 Grow Your Business With Our Free Fall 2026 Virtual Workshops! 🍂

Our Fall 2026 workshop lineup is here! From budgeting and bookkeeping to AI, websites, Instagram, customer experience and more, we have a great selection of practical workshops designed to help small business owners build their skills, explore new ideas, and strengthen their businesses.

📅 SEPTEMBER WORKSHOPS
▪️ Booking Integrations for Service-Based Businesses – Sept 9 @ 12 PM
▪️ Market Research Using AI – Sept 23 @ 10 AM

📅 OCTOBER WORKSHOPS
▪️ Business Budgeting Basics – Oct 7 @ 1 PM
▪️ Start-up: Cutting Through the Red Tape – Oct 14 @ 1 PM
▪️ Bookkeeping Tips and Considerations – Oct 21 @ 1 PM

📅 NOVEMBER WORKSHOPS
▪️ 90-Minute Website Check-up – Nov 4 @ 10 AM
▪️ Instagram for Business – Nov 18 @ 10 AM

📅 DECEMBER WORKSHOP
▪️ Mapping Your Customer's Journey – Dec 2 @ 10 AM

💡 All workshops are FREE, virtual, and designed with small business owners in mind.

Whether there’s one topic that catches your eye or you want to join us throughout the fall, these sessions are a great opportunity to gain practical knowledge you can put to work in your business.

👉 Secure your spot today: https://setraining.ca/

08/12/2026

Introducing the Yarmouth AI Business Lab

AI is changing how businesses work, but figuring out how to actually use it in your business can be another story.

That’s why the Yarmouth & Area Chamber of Commerce and CBDC Yarmouth are launching the Yarmouth AI Business Lab, led by instructor Georges Hanna.

One hour. One business problem. One AI-powered asset every month.

Beginning August 31, we’re launching 12 practical monthly workshops designed to help business owners, managers and teams put AI to work on real challenges — not just talk about it.

Over the series, we’ll tackle:

⚡ Saving time with AI
📱 Creating better marketing and content
👥 Hiring and onboarding
💬 Customer service
📈 Sales follow-up
🏨 Tourism and hospitality
🔧 Trades and service businesses
⚙️ SOPs and operations
💰 Business planning and funding
⭐ Reviews and referrals
🔒 AI policies and responsible use

And you’ll build something useful during every session to take back to your business.

🎓 Each completed workshop includes a digital certificate.

Choose how you participate:
$20 — Single Workshop
$60 — AI Accelerator Bundle: Choose Any 4
$150 — AI Mastery Pass: All 12 Workshops

Registration is now open 👉🏻 https://yarmouthchamberofcommerce.com/home/ai-business-lab/?fbclid=IwcGRvZgRleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAwyNTYyODEwNDA1NTgAAR5tIYeR9FC38ieJn87zbMYssvSQAojXMLDO_4iM3BA5xE317i9IPX24qh6_4g_aem_Ie7VzD7JoJKsDTHcQ7S_jQ

Whether you're completely new to AI or already experimenting with it, the goal is simple: leave every session better equipped than when you walked in.

08/10/2026

Back by popular demand! ✨

Join us for Post to Profit: A Social Media & Marketing Workshop with Georges Hanna!

This FREE 8-week online training will teach you how to:
✅ Create content that stands out to your audience
✅ Turn engagement into more sales and loyal customers
✅ Build brand awareness
✅ Use AI to save time and expand creativity
✅ Repurpose content across multiple platforms

Starting September 16th
Wednesdays, 9:00 AM - 12:30 PM
💻 Online via ZOOM

🔗 Register Now: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/4NaWUf78A9

07/31/2026

🪧 Please note that the CBDC Yarmouth office will be closed on Monday, August 3, in celebration of Natal Day.

We will return on Tuesday, August 4, with regular business hours.

As you enjoy the long weekend, we encourage you to shop local, visit local attractions, and support the entrepreneurs and small businesses that help our community, province, and nation thrive. 💙
___________________________

🪧 Veuillez noter que le bureau de la CBDC à Yarmouth sera fermé le lundi 3 août, pour célébrer le jour de la foundation.

Nous reviendrons le mardi 4 août, avec des heures d’ouverture régulières.

Alors que vous profitez du long week-end, nous vous encourageons à faire du shopping local, à visiter les attractions locales et à soutenir les entrepreneurs et les petites entreprises qui aident notre communauté, notre province et notre nation à prospérer. 💙

07/27/2026

Hiring in the skilled trades? This session is worth adding to your calendar. 🔨

CBDC Yarmouth is pleased to share this upcoming Trades Employer Information Session hosted by Western REN in partnership with the Yarmouth and Area Chamber of Commerce and the Barrington and Area Chamber of Commerce.

If you're currently hiring, or planning to hire in carpentry, welding, automotive service, construction electrical, or plumbing, this is a great opportunity to connect with experts and learn about apprenticeship programs, grants, incentives, and employer supports available to your business.

📅 Thursday, July 30, 2026
🕙 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
📍 Rodd Grand Yarmouth – Clare/Argyle Room

Representatives from the Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency (NSAA), WUSC, LSI, and Western REN will be on hand to answer your questions.

☕ Refreshments provided | Free to attend

No registration is required. If you can't make it yourself, consider sending a team member or HR representative.

We encourage local employers to take advantage of this informative session!