Workshops and Seminars
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July 21, 2025
Level up your social media game without spending hours designing. This webinar will show you how to use Canva’s powerful AI features to quickly create professional, eye-catching graphics that grab attention and drive engagement. Whether you’re promoting a product, building your brand, or running a campaign, Canva’s latest AI tools—like Magic Design, Magic Edit, and Magic Write—make it easier than ever to turn ideas into polished posts in minutes. Speaker Jennifer Baker, JBC Consulting Hosted by: Small Business Advisory Centre 9:30 am - 10:30 am |
July 29, 2025
Learn key insights into Google Ads, Facebook Ads, and Instagram Ads. You will learn about: Google Ads Facebook ads Facebook pixel Instagram ads Targeting audiences Which ads to run for your business Key terminology in ad platforms. Hosted by Digital Main Street. 10:00 - 11:30 am |
Aug. 12, 2025RTO 9 Partnership Fund Information SessionJoin Meg from RTO 9 as she goes through the 2025/2026 Partnership Fund application, guidelines and eligibility requirements for the Partnership Fund Program, and get familiar with the program before applying! This information session will go through the application process and help you determine whether your project/business is eligible to apply, how the program works, and what expenses can be incurred under the project. There will also be time at the end of the presentation to ask questions about the program. Speaker: Meg Dabros Hosted by RTO 9 |
Aug. 13, 2025
Demystify barcodes by learning why unique product identification is key when selling your product on a website, through a retailer or an online marketplace. Having an authentic, licensed barcode, coupled with proper support systems, will help you navigate regulatory and trading requirements while ensuring you are in conformity with your trading partners. This session is part of the Foodpreneur Advantage Series:
Speaker: GS1 Canada Hosted by: Small Business Advisory Centre 10:00 am - 11:00 am webinar Cost: free |
Aug. 21, 2025
If you are in the early stages of development and are looking to gain knowledge in the food and beverage industry, this session will assist you in navigating the permits and legislation requirements and leave you with a better understanding of how to navigate the regulatory compliance. Gain invaluable insights that will help you avoid costly mistakes. This session is part of the Foodpreneur Advantage Series:
Hosted by: Small Business Advisory Centre 10:00 am - 11:00 am webinar Cost: free |
Aug. 26, 2025RTO 9 Partnership Fund Information SessionJoin Meg from RTO 9 as she goes through the 2025/2026 Partnership Fund application, guidelines and eligibility requirements for the Partnership Fund Program, and get familiar with the program before applying! This information session will go through the application process and help you determine whether your project/business is eligible to apply, how the program works, and what expenses can be incurred under the project. There will also be time at the end of the presentation to ask questions about the program. Speaker: Meg Dabros Hosted by RTO 9 10:00 am - 11:00 am online webinar |
Aug. 28, 2025
Successfully selling your product involves more than just having great tasting food. Pricing, marketing, and how you position your product all play a key role in ensuring that people will buy it. Nicole Haney, former Founder & CEO of Boho Bars, a national energy bar company, will guide you through the key factors to consider in successfully selling your product, whether you’re selling at markets, online, or to retailers. This session is part of the Foodpreneur Advantage Series:
Speaker: Nicole Haney Hosted by: Small Business Advisory Centre 10:00 am - 11:00 am webinar Cost: free |
Aug. 28, 2025
Sales are strong, but where’s the cash? Managing cash flow is crucial for every business. This session covers:
Learn the cash flow secrets successful businesses use to thrive! Speaker: Gisella Theodore, CPA Hosted by: Valley Heartland CFDC & CPA Canada 3:00 pm webinar |
Sept. 4, 2025
If you want to run a successful business it’s important for you to know the ‘numbers’. Learn how to cost and price your products and services for profitability and how the decisions you make about your operations and production processes affect your bottom line. Understand how to budget and spend money so you can pay all your bills and still have money left in your pocket at the end of the year. This session is part of the Foodpreneur Advantage Series:
Hosted by: Small Business Advisory Centre 10:00 am - 11:00 am webinar Cost: free |
Sept. 9, 2025
Learn key insights into Google Ads, Facebook Ads, and Instagram Ads. You will learn about: Google Ads Facebook ads Facebook pixel Instagram ads Targeting audiences Which ads to run for your business Key terminology in ad platforms. Hosted by Digital Main Street. 10:00 - 11:30 am |
Sept. 11, 2025
This session is for you if you have a food or beverage product that needs the perfect brand to suit the right market. In this webinar, Amanda will share her expert insight, from how to create your brand, how to retain and grow your brand to what sort of colours and typography styles are right for your product. You will learn the difference between designing for store shelves vs. food markets vs. digital spaces. She will also cover tips for working with a graphic designer and determining exactly who your product is for. As Amanda advises, “if your product is for everyone, then you are selling to no one”. Know your target market. This session is part of the Foodpreneur Advantage Series:
Speaker: Amanda DeVries, Eye Candy Design Hosted by: Small Business Advisory Centre 10:00 am - 11:00 am webinar Cost: free |
Sept. 11, 2025RTO 9 Partnership Fund Information SessionJoin Meg from RTO 9 as she goes through the 2025/2026 Partnership Fund application, guidelines and eligibility requirements for the Partnership Fund Program, and get familiar with the program before applying! This information session will go through the application process and help you determine whether your project/business is eligible to apply, how the program works, and what expenses can be incurred under the project. There will also be time at the end of the presentation to ask questions about the program. Speaker: Meg Dabros Hosted by RTO 9 10:00 am - 11:00 am online webinar |
Sept. 16, 2025
Get started on creating professional and easy-to-create visual content to help you elevate your design game without feeling overwhelmed. Whether you're creating content for social media or marketing materials, this session will show you how to make the most of Canva’s powerful features and tools. By the end of the webinar participants will:
Speaker: Jennifer Baker, JBC Hosted by RTO9 10:00 am - 11:00 Online Webinar |
Sept. 18, 2025
When you’re launching a food product, understanding food safety is essential not only for protecting your customers, but also for meeting regulatory expectations and building retailer trust. This session will walk you through simple, actionable steps you can take to build food safety into your business from the very beginning—without getting overwhelmed by regulations. Leave with a clear understanding of basic food safety expectations, practical steps you can implement immediately, and the confidence to move your food business forward safely. This session is part of the Foodpreneur Advantage Series:
Speaker: Lisa Cove, Food Safety Consultant and Founder of Shelf Ready Inc. Hosted by: Small Business Advisory Centre 10:00 am - 11:00 am webinar Cost: free |
Sept. 23, 2025
Short-form video is one of the most powerful tools in digital marketing today. It’s changing how audiences discover, engage with, and trust brands. In this insightful webinar, you’ll learn why platforms like Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube Shorts, and even Pinterest are dominating attention spans and how to use them effectively to boost your visibility and connect with your audience. This session will give you the strategies and inspiration to start creating compelling short videos that actually work. Speaker: Jennifer Baker, JBC Consulting Hosted by: Small Business Advisory Centre 9:30 am - 10:30 am webinar Cost: free |
Sept. 23, 2025What Even is ChatGPT?You've heard the buzz. Maybe even typed in a prompt or two. But let’s be real—if you're still wondering what ChatGPT actually is (and whether it can do more than spit out robotic replies), you're in the right place. We’ll walk through what ChatGPT is, how it works, and why it might just be the surprisingly helpful assistant your tourism business didn’t know it needed. Upcoming Seminars in this series:
Speaker: Karine Parthenais, Mellow Brew Marketing Hosted by RTO9 10:00 am - 11:00 Online Webinar |
Sept. 25, 2025
This session is for you if you have a food or beverage product that needs an accurate and compliant label. In this session, Nicole Haney, former Founder & CEO of Boho Bars will guide you through what to consider when choosing a package for your food product, what to include on your label, and what mistakes to avoid when packaging your food product. This session is part of the Foodpreneur Advantage Series. Speaker: Nicole Haney Hosted by: Small Business Advisory Centre 10:00 am - 11:00 am webinar Cost: free |
Oct. 7, 2025
Tourism operators—this one’s for you! Curious about who’s working behind the scenes to boost tourism in your region? Want to know who to call for support, collaboration, or funding opportunities? Join the Destination Discovery Series and get connected with the people and programs that are here to help your tourism business grow. This informative webinar series is designed to introduce tourism operators to the key players in your destination. This session will highlight
Hosted by RTO 9 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm Cost: Free |
Oct. 21, 2025
Now that you’ve dipped your toe in, it’s time to learn the #1 skill that will change how ChatGPT works for you: prompting. This session breaks down the basics of crafting good prompts—because the output is only as good as what you ask. We’ll explore how to get more tailored, thoughtful, and relevant answers that sound like you and work for your business. Upcoming Seminars in this series:
Speaker: Karine Parthenais, Mellow Brew Marketing Hosted by RTO9 10:00 am - 11:00 Online Webinar |
Oct. 21, 2025The Importance of Paid Advertising in a Digital SpaceLearn key insights into Google Ads, Facebook Ads, and Instagram Ads. You will learn about: Google Ads Facebook ads Facebook pixel Instagram ads Targeting audiences Which ads to run for your business Key terminology in ad platforms. Hosted by Digital Main Street. 10:00 - 11:30 am |
Oct. 23, 2025
Unlock the secrets to refining your target audience and maximizing the effectiveness of your Meta ads. Learning Objectives:
Understanding Meta Ads, Part 2 - Oct. 30, 2025 Speaker: Jennfier Baker, JBC Hosted by: RTO9 10:00 am - 11:00 am online webinar |
Oct. 30, 2025
For the second installment in the Meta Ads series, get ready to learn the basics of running effective ads on Meta! This session will cover essential topics to help you create successful ad campaigns. Learning Objectives:
Speaker: Jennifer Baker, JBC Hosted by RTO9 10:00 am - 11:00 online webinar |
Nov. 4-5, 2025
Both days will be packed with incredible speakers, forward thinking ideas and inspiration to spark creativity and help Envision Tourism Growth in South Eastern Ontario. Hosted by RTO9 2-day event, Kingston |
Nov. 27, 2025
Marketing is a full-time job. In this session, we’ll show you how ChatGPT can become your brainstorming buddy, content planner, and even your rough draft machine. From social media to email newsletters to blog ideas, you’ll learn how to create content that sounds like you—just faster and easier. Upcoming Seminars in this series:
Speaker: Karine Parthenais, Mellow Brew Marketing Hosted by RTO9 10:00 am - 11:00 Online Webinar |
Dec. 9, 2025The Importance of Paid Advertising in a Digital SpaceLearn key insights into Google Ads, Facebook Ads, and Instagram Ads. You will learn about: Google Ads Facebook ads Facebook pixel Instagram ads Targeting audiences Which ads to run for your business Key terminology in ad platforms. Hosted by Digital Main Street. 10:00 - 11:30 am |
Dec. 16, 2025
Strategy doesn’t have to live in your head or on that sticky note you lost two weeks ago. In this session, we’ll look at how ChatGPT can help you think through your next campaign, clarify your customer journey, and document business ideas before they disappear into the void. It’s not just about marketing—it’s about smarter thinking and easier decision-maki Upcoming Seminars in this series:
Speaker: Karine Parthenais, Mellow Brew Marketing Hosted by RTO9 10:00 am - 11:00 Online Webinar |
Jan. 13, 2026
Learn to effectively set up, manage, and optimize your Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business) to boost local visibility and attract more customers. Learning Objectives:
Speaker: Jennifer Baker, JBC Hosted by: RTO9 10:00 am - 11:00 am online webinar |
Jan. 27, 2026
What if ChatGPT could help with the behind-the-scenes chaos, too? In this session, we’ll explore how AI can support internal systems, communication, and delegation—from writing onboarding docs to creating checklists your team actually uses. Whether you're solo now or leading a small crew, this is about building sustainable tools that help your business scale, simplify, and stay sane. Final Seminar in this series:
Speaker: Karine Parthenais, Mellow Brew Marketing Hosted by RTO9 10:00 am - 11:00 Online Webinar |
Feb. 17, 2026
You’ve explored the possibilities—now it’s time to make it practical. In this final session, we’ll wrap the series by helping you build real-life ChatGPT habits that stick. You’ll create your own AI workflow, organize your favorite prompts, and learn how to keep showing up as a human leader who uses AI with confidence (not chaos). This isn’t about doing more—it’s about working smarter with the right support. Speaker: Karine Parthenais, Mellow Brew Marketing Hosted by RTO9 10:00 am - 11:00 Online Webinar |
Feb. 26, 2026
Tourism operators—this one’s for you! Curious about who’s working behind the scenes to boost tourism in your region? Want to know who to call for support, collaboration, or funding opportunities? Join the Destination Discovery Series and get connected with the people and programs that are here to help your tourism business grow. This informative webinar series is designed to introduce tourism operators to the key players in your destination. This session will highlight
Hosted by RTO 9 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm Cost: Free |
Mar. 10, 2026Destination Discovery: 1000 Islands and Rideau Canal WaterwaysTourism operators—this one’s for you! Curious about who’s working behind the scenes to boost tourism in your region? Want to know who to call for support, collaboration, or funding opportunities? Join the Destination Discovery Series and get connected with the people and programs that are here to help your tourism business grow. This informative webinar series is designed to introduce tourism operators to the key players in your destination. This session will highlight
Hosted by RTO 9 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm Cost: Free |
Workshop & Seminar Event Calendars
For topics on finding employment, job skills and training, or personal development, visit the following websites: |
Submit your upcoming workshop or seminar via email to econdev@uclg.on.ca
Ongoing Learning Opportunities
- RTO9
- Small Business Centres Ontario
Find webinars and events pertaining to Business Basics, and Growing your Business.
- Valley Heartland CFDC - On-demand webinars
Micromodules focus on the fundamentals of starting a business including Start-up 101, Business Plan 101 and Cash Flow 101
Brockville Women in Business (BWB)
The meetings provide an opportunity for women to meet other business women, and to share expertise, experiences and successes in a supportive, business-oriented atmosphere. View BWB website.
Webinar Library
- Social Media 101
- Free Online Small Business Courses for Ontario Entrepreneurs
- Leeds Grenville DSS Webinar: Share More - Save Time - Grow Sales.
Video. PowerPoint Slides. - Leeds Grenville Q&A with Local Business: Adapting & Pivoting from a Local Retailers Perspective
- Key to Running a Business in Uncertain Times
- BDC Webinar Library
- RTO 9 Webinar Library
- Teeny Tiny Summits
- Destination Ontario Marketing Tips & Tricks
* While every effort has been made to ensure the information on this page is correct at time of publication, please be sure to visit official event websites to confirm dates and times.