[PENTICTON], BC—Small business owners from across the Okanagan-Shuswap region have the chance to participate in three days of development workshops and connect with peers from across the valley as Community Futures hosts a virtual version of Small Business Week events.

“This is an important business development opportunity that our community looks forward to every year, so we are fortunate we are able to host it virtually,” says Nicole Clark, Training Manager, Community Futures Okanagan Similkameen (CFOS)]. “We’re excited to be bringing together some presenters and attendees who might not otherwise have the chance to network and discuss opportunities.”

“Many of this year’s sessions will focus on topics that are timely as businesses navigate operations during COVID-19, and we also have a nice balance of topics that are important building blocks and best practices in general,” says Clark, who has been working with her Community Futures peers from Salmon Arm to Penticton to organize the event.

 The virtual valley-wide Community Futures Small Business Week events run Oct. 20-22 with seminars in the morning, interactive breakout groups in the afternoon, and networking opportunities throughout the day.

Community Futures Valley-wide Virtual Small Business Week

Tuesday, Oct. 20

Sponsored by BDO

Preparing for tax season

  • Entrepreneur’s Exit: Steps to your Sale
  • Strategy for Small Businesses
  • Entrepreneur’s Financial Literacy: How to Tackle and Take Control of Your Debt
  • An Entrepreneur’s Financial Check-Up

Wednesday, Oct. 21

Sponsored by Vantage Credit Union

  • Digital marketing: The big picture
  • Crisis Communication
  • Marketing Planning
  • Digital Tools
  • Cyber-Security for Small Business

Thursday, Oct. 22

  • Supporting your team during a pandemic
  • Creating a workplace that people want to work in
  • Managing Bullying/Harassment complaints and mental injury claims
  • Managing a Remote Workforce
  • Stress Management

Small Business Week participants will register for one or all three days and will be able to attend all events on that day. Registration is free. To learn more, register, and access the links for each day’s events, visit https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/small-business-week-tickets-124192889275.

The 2020 Small Business Week events are sponsored by VantageOne Credit Union and BDO, along with community partners the Penticton and Wine Country, Summerland, and South Okanagan Chambers of Commerce and Accelerate Okanagan.