Bring Your Creations to Life: Learn why intellectual property matters
2025-10-22 10:00 - 11:00 (America/Toronto) | Virtual
Are you ready to grow your business, launch your product, or bring your brand to market?
If so, then you need to know about intellectual property (IP). This presentation will introduce you to trademarks, patents, trade secrets, industrial designs and copyright, and explain how protecting your creations through IP rights can give you an advantage over your competition. We will also be covering an example of an IP strategy.
A special note: if you attend this presentation and wish to discuss particulars of an invention or other IP related creation you are working on, do NOT disclose any specifics during the open session. You have the option of booking a one-on-one free consultation with the speaker after the session. For those in person, you will get to meet with the speaker after the session, for those online, we will provide a link to book.
This is an IWSCC Community Partner Event, hosted by Boundless Accelerator.
To learn more about this event, including registration, accessibility, and contact information, please visit the host’s official page with the link below.
Learn more about the event and register here.
Learn more about IWSCC Community Partners here.

BGIS Supplier Diversity Engagement Event
2025-10-22 13:00 - 14:00
With the goal of increasing Indigenous and diverse supplier engagement, BGIS is hosting a “Doing Business with BGIS” event and invite you to attend and learn about our company.
BGIS is a global leader in integrated facility management services including Facility Management, Project Delivery Services, Critical Environments, Energy and Sustainability, Strategic Asset Management, Technical and Real Estate Services, Workplace Solutions and Sustainable Cleaning Solutions.
Indigenous Engagement and Supplier Diversity & Inclusion are important BGIS strategic initiatives that ensure we are inclusive in our strategic procurement practices. We recognize and value the innovations and importance that a diverse supplier group contributes to our business and are committed to providing opportunities to historically underutilized groups.
We will hear from some of our BGIS Procurement Professionals from the Government Sector as Project Delivery Services.
We will focus on the following topics:

BGIS company information and brief background
BGIS procurement processes and what type of opportunities we have
Where to find opportunities and how to register to become a BGIS supplier

This is an IWSCC Corporate Member Event, hosted by BGIS.
To learn more about this event, including registration, accessibility, and contact information, please visit the host’s official page with the link below.
Learn more about the event and register here.
Learn more about IWSCC Corporate Members here.

Thriving as a Disabled Entrepreneur: Zoom Workshop
2025-12-03 13:00 - 14:00
Are you a disabled entrepreneur or have you been dreaming of starting your own business?
Offered for the first time on the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, this workshop celebrates the strengths and insights you bring to the table. Join Community Futures BC on Zoom for an empowering session on building a business that works with—not against—your body, brain, and life. We’ll explore why self-employment can offer unique access and agency, how to harness your lived experience as a professional asset, and practical ways to design for sustainability and prevent burnout. You’ll leave with real-life examples, actionable tools, and the encouragement to define success on your own terms.
Cost to Attend
This event is free to attend for BC residents. For attendees outside of BC there is a $30 ticket fee. For more information, or for questions about ticketing please visit the official page.
This is an IWSCC Community Partner Event, hosted by Community Futures BC.
To learn more about this event, including registration, accessibility, and contact information, please visit the host’s official page with the link below.
Learn more about the event and register here.
Learn more about IWSCC Community Partners here.

IWSCC Holiday Social
2025-12-10 13:00 - 14:00
IWSCC Community Members are invited to join us this holiday for our annual Holiday Social! This light-hearted meeting is a time to celebrate our accomplishments, share details for next year, and connect with each other before retiring to ring in the new year.
Put on your ugly sweaters, warm up your beverages, and bring your holiday spirit along for informal networking with the IWSCC Community!
Accessibility at this Event:
This event will feature American Sign Language (ASL) Interpretation for Spoken English provided by Maple Communications Canada and sponsored by RBC. Live Closed Captions are also available via Zoom.
Registration
This IWSCC Networking Event is invite-only for IWSCC Community Members. Invitations to this event will be sent out closer to the event date. For questions about this event, or if you haven’t received an invitation, please contact Alex Duerksen at AlexD@iwscc.ca

Affordable Group Zoom Session: Support to Apply for the Disability Tax Credit (DTC)
2025-12-29 17:00 - 18:00
What is the Disability Tax Credit (DTC)? The DTC is a non-refundable tax credit which helps reduce the income tax that people with physical or mental impairments, or their supporting family members, may have to pay. It aims to offset some of the costs related to the impairment. The great thing about the DTC is that once you are approved, it will automatically be applied to future tax years! Follow up support provided. Resource packet included in workshop offerings.
Requirements to Attend / Participate:
Participants must have or be getting a formal diagnosis of a disability, whether visible or invisible. For the second phase of the application, participants will need a registered, qualified clinician to complete the verification process for the DTC.
This is an IWSCC Certified Supplier Event, hosted by Jenine Lillian Neurodiversity Consulting & Education.
To learn more about the host or to contact them about this event please see this digital flyer or visit www.jeninelillian.com
Cost to Attend:
The cost to attend this event is $30 for general tickets; $25 for students or unemployed persons.
Accessibility Features at this Event:
Transcript and closed captioning available, as well as OtterAI notetaker. If participants have a caretaker who will assist them in applying for the DTC, that person need not pay to attend.
Register:
This session requires registration to attend. Click here to access the registration form.

Marketing for Mere Mortals: Authentic Connection & Growth
2026-01-20 13:00 - 14:00
Feel like marketing is a soulless grind? This workshop is for small business owners who want to skip the social media noise and connect authentically with real people. Learn why person-to-person marketing outshines digital hype for small businesses in BC, how to craft a genuine story, and practical ways to spread the word without feeling salesy. From effective business cards to networking that feels natural, you’ll gain tools to build meaningful business relationships that work for you.
Learning Outcomes:

Why Person-to-Person Marketing Works Better
Finding Your Marketing Style
The Foundations: Who & Why Before How
Practical, Sustainable Marketing Strategies
Measuring What Matters
Building Your Minimum Viable Marketing Plan

Cost to Attend
This event is free to attend for BC residents. For attendees outside of BC there is a $30 ticket fee.
IWSCC Certified Suppliers outside of BC can contact us at info@iwscc.ca to reimburse their ticket cost for this event. For more information, or for questions about ticketing please visit the official page.
This is an IWSCC Community Partner Event, hosted by Community Futures BC.
To learn more about this event, including registration, accessibility, and contact information, please visit the host’s official page with the link below.
Learn more about the event and register here.
Learn more about IWSCC Community Partners here.

How do the changes to the SR&ED program affect you?
2026-01-28 12:00 - 13:00
Join us for an insightful webinar exploring the recent proposed changes to the Scientific Research & Experimental Development (SR&ED) program. Our experts will break down what these updates mean for your organization, highlight key opportunities and challenges, and provide practical guidance on navigating the evolving landscape. Whether you’re new to SR&ED or a seasoned participant, this session will equip you with the knowledge you need to maximize your innovation incentives. Don’t miss out—register today!
This is an IWSCC Community Partner Event, hosted by Boundless Accelerator.
To learn more about this event, including registration, accessibility, and contact information, please visit the host’s official page with the link below.
Learn more about the event and register here.
Learn more about IWSCC Community Partners here.

Stress Management for Entrepreneurs - Thriving Beyond Survival Mode
2026-01-28 13:00 - 14:00
Starting and running a business while managing disability, neurodivergence, and/or veteran-related challenges creates unique stressors that standard entrepreneurial advice rarely addresses. Many face a triple burden: business demands, the realities of disability or neurodivergence, and systemic barriers.
This interactive webinar offers an evidence-based, accessibility-focused, and lived-experience-driven approach to stress management. Instead of pushing harder, participants will learn to honor their energy patterns, integrate sustainable self-care, and build supportive systems that align with their authentic way of working. The goal is to move from survival mode into sustainable success.
Learning Outcomes
Participants will be able to:

Recognize stress patterns unique to disabled and Veteran entrepreneurs
Develop self-care practices that affirm your needs
Build energy-aware time management systems
Apply delegation strategies to reduce overwhelm
Establish boundaries that protect both well-being and propel business growth

Who is Jenine Lillian?
Jenine Lillian is a disabled Canadian entrepreneur and educator who knows first-hand what it’s like to struggle with meeting social expectations in traditional work environments and how open office plans are detrimental to our health. After a very late-in-life diagnosis of Autism and Dyslexia, Jenine started their own 100% remote business to offer consulting, education and advocacy for neurodivergent adults. Their lived experience, humour, and unique approach shows how we can do business differently and actually bring our whole selves to work which benefits everyone. You can learn more about Jenine and their work at www.jeninelillian.com
Accessibility Features at this Event:

Closed Captions (auto-generated)
American Sign Language (ASL) Interpretation for Spoken English

Register:
This webinar requires registration to attend. Click here to access the registration page.

AI Tools That Will Be Your Employee of the Month
2026-02-27 13:00 - 14:00
Feeling overwhelmed by all the AI hype but curious about what it could actually do for your business? This practical, jargon-free workshop is your friendly introduction to AI tools that can genuinely lighten your load. We’ll explore real-world applications for tasks you’re probably doing manually right now—from drafting emails and creating content to managing data and generating ideas. No technical background needed! You’ll see live demonstrations, learn which tools are worth your time (and which are just noise), and discover how to ethically integrate AI into your workflow without losing your authentic voice. Leave with a starter toolkit and the confidence to experiment.
Learning Outcomes:

Why AI Matters for Small Business Now
Categories of Useful AI Tools
The Tools Worth Knowing
Using AI Ethically & Authentically
Getting Started: Your AI Integration Plan

Cost to Attend
This event is free to attend for BC residents. For attendees outside of BC there is a $30 ticket fee.
IWSCC Certified Suppliers outside of BC can contact us at info@iwscc.ca to reimburse their ticket cost for this event. For more information, or for questions about ticketing please visit the official page.
This is an IWSCC Community Partner Event, hosted by Community Futures BC.
To learn more about this event, including registration, accessibility, and contact information, please visit the host’s official page with the link below.
Learn more about the event and register here.
Learn more about IWSCC Community Partners here.
