Numerous organizations continue to host webinars and virtual events to provide learning and networking opportunities and facilitate discussions on a variety of topics. Here are some of the upcoming events you can attend.


BDC Small Business Week

BDC Small Business Week, taking place from October 17 to 23 celebrates entrepreneurship and small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across Canada. This year's theme is "Seizing the opportunity to build the way forward," looking at the opportunities for Canadian entrepreneurs and SMEs that lie ahead as we moved towards a post-COVID life. For more information and for a list of events, visit the BDC website. 


Valley Wide 2021 Small Business Week

Community Futures is inviting business owners in the Okanagan and Shuswap "to participate in three days of development workshops and connect with peers from across the valley" through their virtual Small Business Week events. Taking place from October 19 to 21, sessions are centred around three main topics: 

  • Doing Business in Uncertain Times
  • Recruitment & Retention
  • Entrepreneurship & Innovation

Visit the Community Futures North Okanagan website to learn more and to register for the free sessions.


Small Business BC Live Education

During Small Business Week, all Small Business BC (SBBC) live webinars will be free to attend. Some of the upcoming sessions include: 

Click the links above or visit the SBBC website to register and to view additional upcoming webinars.

For information on how to access future education webinars and additional SBBC resources free of charge, visit Destination BC’s website.


Rendez Vous: Women x Nonbinary Digital Connect

Pride at Work Canada is hosting its next virtual networking program for women and nonbinary people on Tuesday, October 19, from 9 to 10:30 a.m. PDT. The theme for the session is community-based entrepreneurship, with guest speaker, Arti Mehta, creator of Femmeboyant Designs. Learn more about this free session and register on Pride at Work Canada's website. 


Expand Your Talent Pool

The Interior & Northern Work Integrated Learning (INWIL) Initiative, which is a partnership between the University of British Columbia Okanagan, Thompson Rivers University, and the University of Northern BC, is hosting an online session on Tuesday, October 19, from 5-6 p.m. PDT to provide information on the initiative and the resources it provides for small- and medium-sized businesses and organizations. Learn more and register online. Another session will be held on October 28, for those who can't make this session. 


The Art of Communicating in Challenging Times

On Wednesday, October 20, from 9-10 a.m. PDT, join the BC Tourism Resiliency Network and Okanagan College Expert Business Mentor, John Singleton, to learn more about communication, including how to develop your skills and how to use them effectively during challenging times. Registration for the virtual session can be completed online. 


Enabling Tourism Innovation

As part of the Tourism Industry Association of BC's (TIABC) Wednesday Webinar Series, guest speakers from the Tourism Innovation Lab will discuss tourism innovation, including industry partnerships and programs that can facilitate innovation. The session will take place virtually on Wednesday, October 20, at 11 a.m. PDT. Advanced registration is required. 
 

Supporting Employee Mental Health During Difficult Times

Learn more about how to support employees with their mental health in this free online session hosted by the BC Tourism Resiliency Network, go2HR, and the Canadian Mental Health Association. Advanced registration for the event, which takes place on Thursday, October 21, from 1:30-2:30 p.m. PDT, can be completed online. 


Elements of Truth: Before Reconciliation

The third session in kinSHIFT and Purppl's four-part Elements of Truth series, Fire: Awareness of Power and Privilege, takes place on Friday, October 22.  Each workshop in the series is 2.5 hours long, taking place every Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. PDT. The final workshop, Water: Shared Responsibilities, takes place October 29. Visit the kinSHIFT website for more information and to view future dates/times.


Unicorns.LIVE

Unicorns.LIVE has a couple of live-streamed programs taking place this week:

  • On October 19, tune in at 6:30 p.m. PDT for Two-Spirit Tea with Ella and Simma, where the conversation will centre on the origins of Halloween.
  • The Black Phone podcast sees three Kelowna locals come together to "challenge controversial topics with the goal of progress." The next edition, Are You Woke?, will air on Monday, October 25 at 6:30 p.m. PDT. 

To see more of the upcoming virtual events, visit the Unicorns.LIVE website.


Have an upcoming event or webinar that would be of interest to those in the tourism industry? Email us so we can include the information in our next roundup.