Small Business Week across Canada is celebrated the third week of October and this year Quinte Business Week will run from October 19 to October 23.

Small and medium sized enterprises (SME’s) make up 99.7 per cent of the companies in Canada and employ close to 90 per cent of all private sector workers.

Every year the Business Development Bank of Canada takes a lead role in promoting this event and this year they have themed the whole week “Forging the Way Forward.”

This has been an incredibly difficult year for many businesses as they navigate through the impacts of the Covid-19 Global Pandemic. The purpose of the week is to highlight the importance of Small and Medium sized companies to the Canadian and local economies and this year it is more vital than ever.

This year in the Quinte Region the three local Chambers of Commerce from Belleville, Prince Edward County and Quinte West have joined forces to bring a weeks’ worth of events to our local businesses.

There are events going on every day starting on Monday 11 a.m. with the big Kick Off for the week. Everyone is invited to attend the kick off virtually which is sponsored by the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) and will feature messages about business week from the Bay of Quinte Chambers, MP’s, MPP’s Mayors and a presentation from BDC.

There are three days of workshops being offered to the local business community on Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday, all designed to help businesses access the information they need to maximize their efforts to grow and develop. Most of the workshops will be virtual but there is one hybrid workshop to give attendees the choice of how they would like to attend.

Check out your local chambers website for full details and registration links. There is no cost to attend these seminars. Friday is the Quinte Business Achievement Awards Gala, which will be a virtual event this year broadcast live through YouTube starting at 5:30pm.

Everyone is encouraged to register and watch as local businesses receive their well-deserved recognition. Representatives from the local Municipalities, Chambers of Commerce, BDC, Trenval, QEDC and RBC Royal Bank form the organizing committee to ensure the success of this program. This year 117 businesses throughout the region completed the nomination process.

To learn more and to register for the gala go to www.qbaa.ca or by call your local Chamber of Commerce.

All Small Business Week events need to be reserved in advance through your local Chamber of Commerce or by calling 1-800-930-3255. Many local companies and organizations have come together with the local Chambers to make Quinte Business Week a success. Special thanks to our sponsors: BDC; Centre for Workforce Development; Trenval CFDC, the Small Business Centre, Trenton & District BPW Club; W.O.R.K; Chamber of Commerce Group Insurance Plan; the Cities of Belleville and Quinte West and the County of Prince Edward.

-Staff