Educational opportunity for business owners
Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce prepares to host week of seminars and annual President's Ball
Daron Letts
Northern News Services
Published Tuesday, October 15, 2013
SOMBA K'E YELLOWKNIFE
The Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce has teamed up with the Business Development and Investment Corporation (BDIC), the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment and area businesses to reach out to entrepreneurs next week.
Kiwanuka Kayondo, regional office manager of Twilite Security, left, is presented with the 2012 safety person of the year award by Premier Bob McLeod at last year's Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce President's Ball. Tickets are now on sale for the chamber's 2013 President's Ball, awards ceremony and dance, which will be held Thursday beginning at 5 p.m. - NNSL file photo
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Small Business Week offers 10 free professional development seminars from Oct. 21 to 25, as well as networking opportunities for business owners and prospective entrepreneurs.
The week kicks off at 9:30 a.m. on Monday morning in the chamber boardroom with a seminar led by Karina Mercredi and Corinne Kraft-Bailey of the Akaitcho Business Development Corporation on how to start a business in the NWT.
At 9 a.m. on Tuesday morning, a seminar designed to help business people identify commercial fraud will be led by Cpl. Shawn King of RCMP G Division, accountant John Laratta of MacKay LLP, and Royal Bank of Canada treasury solution specialist Dianne Lazurko of Calgary. The seminar is a beefed up version of a popular talk held last year, said chamber executive director Leslie Campbell.
Other seminars cover how to motivate employees, how to navigate the Government of Canada's procurement process, and a guide to joint ventures. BDIC is holding web-based and teleconference seminars every day during the week, covering business evaluation, small business banking strategies, social media networking and the commercial benefits of customer referrals, among other subjects.
Professionals interested in starting a consulting business are invited to attend a BDIC seminar at 9 a.m. on Oct. 25.
Networking events are scheduled from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Northern Frontier Visitors Centre on Monday and from noon to 1 p.m. on Tuesday at BDIC in the seventh floor of Northwest Tower.
Small Business Week offers a glimpse at what the upcoming year has in store for members, Campbell said.
"Throughout the course of the next year we are hoping to work with some of our membership to offer regular seminars outside of Small Business Week," she said, adding the chamber hopes to learn next week what kinds of programming small business owners wish to see in coming months.
The chamber is holding its annual general meeting luncheon tomorrow, where elections will be held for 16 board positions. Tomorrow evening, the chamber's annual President's Ball will begin at 5 p.m. at The Explorer Hotel, where five business awards will be handed out.
The chamber has 300 members representing business owners and government organizations.
Small Business Week seminar participants are asked to register in advance by contacting the chamber.
