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Welcome to the Innisfil Economic Development newsletter!  

This month, we're excited to share the latest updates on economic growth and upcoming events in our community. From innovative startups to thriving local businesses, there’s always something to celebrate in Innisfil. The Town of Innisfil’s Economic Development team is here to support you—reach out anytime at business@innisfil.ca for general inquiries or business assistance.  

Mastering Cross Cultural Communication Workshop 

 Mastering Cross Cultural Communication Workshop will be held virtually on January 28, 2025 from 12:30 to 1:30pm

The Town of Innisfil and the City of Orillia are teaming up to support newcomers integrating into the local workforce. Two workshops will take place on January 28, 2025 to help employers overcome cultural barriers in the workplace and to help newcomers achieve career success. 

Mastering Cross-Cultural Communication is designed for local employers and will cover:

  • Strategies for effective communication across cultural boundaries
  • Overcoming language and cultural barriers in the workplace
  • Building cultural intelligence for global collaboration. 

Our expert facilitator, Smart Goose Academy, will guide you through real-world scenarios and proven techniques that will help you connect with colleagues, clients, and teams from diverse backgrounds. Whether you're looking to improve your employee’s experience, managing a multi-national team or working with partners across borders, this workshop is a must-attend!  

Registration for this workshop opens on Thursday, January 9, 2025. Tickets are free and open to all residents of Simcoe County, Barrie and Orillia. 

This project is funded in part by the Ontario Government through the Rural Economic Development Program. 

Set a Reminder to Register for Mastering Cross Cultural Communication

Building a Personal Brand as a Newcomer for Career Success Workshop 

Building a Personal Brand as a Newcomer for Career Success Workshop happening virtually on January 28, 2025 from 5-6:30pm.

The Town of Innisfil and the City of Orillia are teaming up to support newcomers integrating into the local workforce. Within this online workshop you'll learn how to build a personal brand that will set you up for career success! Whether you’re just starting out or looking to advance in your career, this event will help you master the art of personal branding.  

Building a Personal Brand for Career Success is designed for local newcomers and will cover:

  • Understanding the fundamentals of personal branding
  • Leveraging storytelling to own your narrative
  • Creating a strong LinkedIn profile and online presence

Our expert facilitator, Smart Goose Academy, will guide you through real-world scenarios and proven techniques that will help you create a brand that resonates with your professional goals, learn how to craft and share your personal story, and transform your LinkedIn profile for career growth.  

Registration for this workshop opens on Thursday, January 9, 2025. Tickets are free and open to all residents of Simcoe County, Barrie and Orillia. 

This project is funded in part by the Ontario Government through the Rural Economic Development Program. 

Set a Reminder to Register for Building a Personal Brand as a Newcomer for Career Success

DMZ Women’s Innovation Summit 

On March 6, gear up for the Women Innovation Summit 2025 at DMZ HQ in Toronto with a bold lineup of events made to elevate women innovators, changemakers and their allies. This year’s Summit will be packed with high-stakes pitches, milestone moments and unfiltered conversations led by trailblazing founders and industry leaders. 

Event registration opens early 2025. Until then, check out how you can get involved in the Summit: 

  • Nominations open: Women of the Year Award
    • DMZ’s highly anticipated award, celebrated by the Canadian tech community, is back. Nominate an extraordinary women making an impact in tech today.
    • Make a nomination by January 19, 2025.
  • Apply to pitch: 100K in cash investment prizes
    • Are you a women founder disrupting the Canadian tech space? Apply to pitch your business to angel investors from The Firehood.
    • Apply to pitch by January 19, 2025.

Learn more about DMZ Women's Innovation Summit

Small Business Centre Learning Lab: Empowering Entrepreneurs Through Content Marketing 

In today’s fast-paced digital landscape, creating content that resonates with your audience is more critical than ever. Through this workshop offered by the Small Business Centre of Barrie, Simcoe County, and Orillia, you’ll learn how to: 

  1. Identify your target audience
  2. Align content with business goals
  3. Create a roadmap for consistent and meaningful engagement

This workshop is designed to help entrepreneurs think strategically about their content and plan effectively to amplify their brand’s voice. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to refine your approach, this session will equip you with actionable insights to maximize the impact of your content marketing efforts. 

Learn more about this Workshop

Skills Development Fund: Capital Stream 

The Skills Development Fund (SDF) Capital Stream Round 2 SEED and GROW application intake opened on November 29, 2024. The SDF Capital Stream provides funding support to eligible organizations to build new training centres, upgrade existing training centres, and convert an existing building into a training centre. There are two funding pathways under the SDF Capital Stream: SEED Pathway and GROW Pathway. 

For a detailed overview or more information on eligibility criteria and project requirements, please visit the Ontario Government's website. 

OVIN Learn 

The Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network (OVIN) has introduced an exciting new platform: OVIN Learn!   

Supported through the Ontario Government, OVIN Learn is a free, Ontario-made learning hub developed to support talent in the automotive and mobility sector. OVIN Learn offers industry-recognized micro-credentials and resources designed to equip workers with the skills needed to transition into new roles, as well as supports Ontario’s economic recovery by fostering a future-ready workforce.   

In an industry that's rapidly evolving, equipping yourself with the right skills is crucial. The OVIN Learn platform offers tailored content to prepare individuals and teams, no matter where you are in your career journey, for emerging roles and technologies in the sector.    

Sign up today and see how OVIN Learn can support you and your teams, and drive the future of Ontario’s automotive and mobility industry.