Past Events Listing
Monthly Newsletter
Take a look at our newsletter for stories, tricks and tips.
FALL 2007
Small Business Seminars and Brown Bag Presentations
Click here for the schedule for Small Business Seminars and Brown Bag Presentations.
For additional information or to register, contact us.
Rural Women’s Speaker Series
The Rural Women’s Speaker Series was designed to explore a range of issues with a focus on the personal and professional development of women, their businesses and their communities.
Monday, October 29, 2007
9-3 pm
Carstairs Arena
Presented by: Women in Business
Agenda:
9:00-10:00am
Coffee and Informal Networking
10:00-11:00 am
Nancy Tolonen
Business Planning Workshop - Community Futures Centre West
Writing a business plan can be overwhelming. Don’t know where to start ? Let us show you how to
make it an enjoyable project for you and an even more worthwhile roadmap for your business.
11:00-noon
Jeannette Austin
Sparkle Your Way into the Season
Put some sparkle into your home and life this holiday season. Jeannette will share some decorating
ideas for your home while enlightening you how an attitude of gratitude can make you sparkle to
those around you!
Noon-1:30 pm
Fashion Forward Lunch
1:30-2:00 pm
Sherri Case
What's Your Exercise Attitude?
Review the healthy benefits exercise has on us, understand why diets don't work and overcome
the obstacles to exercise. Take a look at what fitness actually looks like.
2:00-3:00pm
Patricia Alderson
Importance of Networking
Patricia will inspire you to tackle the art of networking and develop contacts that will be
long-lasting and add real value to your life. You’ll see that the secret to success is in your attitude
and approach, not in the number of people you meet or the number of business cards you
hand out. In a fun interactive session, you’ll learn how to connect with people in a productive fun
way. Build good relationships, practice your skills and have lots of laughs.
Download your registration form www.town.carstairs.ab.ca
Cost: $10.00 (Includes all sessions,
lunch and snacks)
To view a pdf of this information click here.
November 20, 2007
11:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Cochrane Golf Club
If You Ain’t Selling – You Ain’t in Business
An Interactive Session about Common Sense Marketing
The old statement “If you ain’t selling – you ain’t in business”, is so very true.
This interactive and fun session will explore strategies to increase your sales, based upon relationship marketing. After all, marketing is all about building relationships with people.
How do you establish long term trusting relationships that increase sales figures? This session will allow you to learn from the facilitator, and also from the business women in attendance. None of us has all the answers, but together we have a wealth of knowledge and experience that is valuable.
You will learn what has worked and what has not worked. You will have a chance to meet other rural woman entrepreneurs and you will have fun while gaining marketing ideas that you can implement tomorrow.
Speaker: Judy McMillan-Evans
Judy has been an entrepreneur all her life, starting as a teenager growing cucumbers on the family farm. Over the past 35 years, she has owned a contract drafting firm servicing the exploration industry, an electronic manufacturing company and most recently, a coaching, training and facilitating company supporting entrepreneurs.
To register call 932-5220 by November 13, 2007
Cost: $25
Click here to print a pdf about this event.
Canmore Build a Better Business Lunch Series
Our Halloween special!
On October 30, join guest speaker Bruce Lee of Bruce Lee, of Encore Seven Inc. (www.bruceleespeaker.com) and learn "How Not to Scare Your Customers Away"
11:30 am (doors open) to 1:00 pm at Canmore Golf & Curling Club. $15 includes lunch. Call CEDA 403 678-6902 or pre-register online.
“Greening Your Business”
Speaker: Dr Melanie Watt of The Biosphere Institute of Bow Valley
November 29th 11:30 am, Canmore Golf & Curling Club
Cochrane Business Network Events
Topic: Speed Networking for Business
Come and see what all the fuss is about on October 5th at 7:30 am sharp when we introduce this concept to our Cochrane business community. Meet with fellow business owners and try your hand at a unique way of meeting everyone in the room. You’ll make some genuine contacts, solve a business dilemma or two and find out how to be remembered - for the right reasons!
Join Patricia Alderson of CFCWest as she presents networking with a twist in this highly effective and entertaining event, based on her concept as featured in the Calgary Herald, Edmonton Sun and Ottawa Citizen. We encourage you to take this opportunity to refer someone new to our monthly sessions - the more, the merrier with this event!
The Cochrane Business Network meetings are sponsored by the Cochrane & District Chamber of Commerce, Community Futures Centre West and the Town of Cochrane.
For more information or to register visit www.cochranebusiness.net and click on "Meetings"
Employee Retention Workshop
For many employers in and around Calgary, the labour shortage has led to increasing difficulty in finding
and retaining workers. In this highly competitive environment, retaining the workers you already have is a
key part of any HR strategy.
Topics include:
Key Retention Strategies
The Cost of Turnover
Understanding the Employee
These workshops are presented at no cost to local employers and are sponsored by Alberta Employment, Immigration and Industry, Calgary Regional Partnership and its member communities.
To download the information in a pdf format, click here.
Small Business Week Events - October 13 - 19, 2007
Airdrie Chamber of Commerce
SMALL BUSINESS WEEK LUNCHEON & NETWORKING LUNCHEON
11:45 am - 1 pm - Ramada Inn & Suites, 191 East Lake Crescent (beside Tim Hortons)
Guests will be treated to a delicious buffet lunch followed by a networking activity led by Natalie Gibson of InnoVisions & Associates.
You are encouraged to bring lots of business cards and one marketing item from your business for our networking table.
Reservations essential by noon Wednesday, October 12. Tickets are $12.00 members/$18.00 non-members are payable at the door. See Airdrie Chamber of Commerce for more information.
WINNING EDGE AWARDS DINNER
October 18 at 6 pm - Woodside Golf Course
Join us for Airdrie's annual gala evening to celebrate Small Business Week in Airdrie and to recognize the success and challenges of the businesses presented with the Winning Edge Award, Eco Edge Award and Family Friendly Business Award.
Tickets are $40 and available at City Hall and the Chamber office. Deadline is October 12 to purchase your tickets. See Airdrie Chamber of Commerce for more information.
Presented by the Partners of the Airdrie Business Resource Centre
Cochrane and District Chamber of Commerce
COMMUNITY AWARDS LUNCHEON
October 17, 11:30am - Cochrane RancheHouse Hall of Vision
Recognizing excellence in local business and community. Nominations at cochranechamber.ca or in person at the office #6-205 First Street East.
Tickets are $20 each - call 932-6810.
Community Futures Centre West
SMALL BUSINESS WEEK CELEBRATION
Thursday, October 18 - Program at 10:30 am
Join us in our video conference as we celebrate our small business community!
Find out about the many services available to you as you
START or GROW your business in Alberta.
Call The Business Link at 1 800 272-9675 or
your local Community Futures Office for a
CELEBRATION EVENT location near you.
Health and Wellbeing Summit in the Rockies
The Canmore Economic Development Authority is inviting the Bow Valley community of health and wellbeing practitioners, residents, business owners, developers, entrepreneurs, and government officials to join us in setting the direction for establishing the Bow Valley as a leader in health and wellbeing at Silvertip Resort on November 9, 2007.
More information at www.rockieshealth.ca
Cochrane Christmas Light Up
Saturday November 24th
5 PM to 7 PM -
1st Street Downtown
Hot Dogs & Hot Chocolate
Fire Pot Gathering
Music & Entertainment
Santa Claus—5 to 7 PM
Please bring a non-perishable food item and/or gift
to support the Cochrane Activettes “Share Your Christmas Campaign”
Come early to shop your local businesses!
Is 2008 the Year You Start Your Business in the Bow Valley?
Community Futures Centre West has an exciting line up of events this January for new and aspiring business owners in the Bow Valley. Learn about the resources available in our community and get terrific tips on how to start your own business or build your existing one:
Are You a Mompreneur? Join CFCWest and Pamela Currie, a successful Canmore Mompreneur, at Pamela’s shop – Silver Spoon Children’s Boutique, 5A, 1306 Bow Valley Trail on Wednesday evening, January 9th at 7 pm for coffee. Meet Patricia Alderson, Manager of the provincially funded Self-Employment program to find out if you qualify for free tuition in the same program that helped Pamela start her own business. Craig Elias, sales and networking expert and a successful Dadpreneur (featured in Mompreneur magazine) will share his experiences and offer you insight into the joys of combining work and your family life. Call CFCWest at 1-877-603-2329 to register for this free evening.
Show me the Money! Nancy Tolonen, Business Analyst with CFCWest, will share her years of experience when she discusses how to finance your business. Find out what financial resources are available for small business owners, the best way to approach a financial institution and where to go if the bank turns you down. This session will be held at the CEDA office located on the second floor of the Biosphere building (600-9th Street) on Thursday, January 10th from 10 am to noon. Call CFCWest at 1-877-603-2329 to register for this free seminar.
Dazed and Confused? Not sure what licenses and legislation applies when starting up your business? Do you need to register your business name? What are the pros and cons of being a sole proprietor versus incorporation? Come and have your questions answered by Brian Garnier, local management accountant who specializes in creating order from chaos, on Thursday, January 17th in the CEDA boardroom, 2nd floor of the Biosphere Building (600-9th Street) from 10 am to noon. Call CFCWest at 1-877-603-2329 to register for this free seminar.
The Business Jolt! Here’s your chance to meet with an expert and get professional input on how to give your business the jolt it needs – at no cost. This completely free opportunity will be held the 3rd Thursday of every month at Toshy’s Family Restaurant, 837 – 8th Street. This month, come and have coffee (courtesy of Alan & Liz McIntosh at Toshy’s) with Craig Elias, internationally known sales and networking guru on Thursday, January 24th. Spend half an hour and pick his brain for ideas on how you can increase your sales or deal with other business challenges. Appointments are available from 8:30 am to 11:30 am and from 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm. All registrants will be entered into a draw where in return for lunch that same day, you and Craig can spend an extra hour exploring even more ideas, specific to you and your situation. Don’t miss this one! Call CFCWest at 1-877-603-2329 to book your private appointment.
How to Outsell the Big Guys. Each month, Canmore Economic Development Authority, Bow Valley College, The Rotary Club of Canmore and Community Futures Centre West hosts the Build A Better Business lunch and learn opportunity for local businesses at the Canmore Golf and Country Club. This month we are pleased to have Craig Elias join us. Your large competitors will seem smaller after you learn the secrets of outselling and outsmarting them. Craig, winner of a $1 million prize in a global “Billion Dollar Business Idea Competition” uses trigger event strategies in his career as a top sales performer at EVERY company he has worked with and is an international professional speaker. Spaces will go quickly for this special event on January 29th so register asap at www.canmorebusiness.com
Canmore Build a Better Business Lunch Series
January 29, 2008
Speaker: Craig Elias
Topic: How to Outsell the Big Guys
March 25
Leadership: Chaos to Clarity
Mona Cooley, DTM
Nandini Venkatesan, DTM
Cochrane Business Network
March 7, 2008
Guest Speaker: Ryan Harper
Topic: Tax Tips for Sales and Business People
The Business Jolt
At Community Futures Centre West, we feel strongly that joining with local businesses to bring you quality events and information reflects our genuine interest in helping local businesses to grow. Join us and our partners to access expert business advice while enjoying one of their great coffees – on the house.
Airdrie
March 26, 2008
Craig Elias
Topic - sales and networking
Canmore
March 20, 2008
Brian Garnier
Topic - taxes
Cochrane/Canmore/Airdrie
April/May
Brenda Mahoney of Strategies for Success
Topic: Marketing
Rural Womens Speakers Series Presents the Airdrie Women in Business Day
April 21, 2008
9:00-4:00
Goldenrod Hall
$30 (includes lunch)
Join us for a day of learning, networking and fun! You could also have a chance to win an office reorganization from Pam Wenzel or a private image consultation from Janice Schmode! Here's what the day will look like:
Patricia Alderson Presents: Importance of Networking
Patricia will inspire you to tackle the art of networking and develop contacts that will be long-lasting and add real value to your life. You'll see that the secret to success is in your attitude and approach, not in the number of people you meet or the number of business cards you hand out. In a fun interactive session, you'll learn how to connect with people in a productive fun way. Build good relationships, practice your skills and have lots of laughs.
Pam Wenzel Presents: Organize Your Home Office
Pam will demonstrate how to set up a new office or re-organize one to make it more productive and functional. Her motto is de-clutter, de-stress, delight! Learn simple techniques to make your office function smoothly and give you more time to enjoy what you want to do, not what you have to.
Sandra Jiggins Presents: Life Values
Every decision you make is guided by values. Anytime you have difficulty making an important decision it may be a result of being unclear about your values. In this hands on exercise determine what your values are in order to achieve life’s goals.
Joan Bell Presents: Release Your Inner Child and Experience the Joy of Laughter
Nancy Tolonen Presents: Financing Your Business
Nancy will share her years of experience in lending when she discusses how to finance your business. Examine what financial resources are available for small business owners, the best way to approach a financial institution and where to go if the bank turns you down.
Janice Schmode Presents: Dress for Power
Explore the topic of image and how your appearance affect how we act, feel and think. Learn what to wear to be appropriate for every occasion and situation, from a job interview to “Casual Friday’s”.
Other Events
How To Outsell The Big Guys
Craig Elias
March 11, 2008 at 7 pm
Airdrie City Council Chamber
How to Outsell the Big Guys
Craig Elias
April 9, 2008
Cochrane RancheHouse Theatre