Networking for Introverts
2026-02-24 13:00 - 14:00 (America/Toronto) | Virtual
Are you an introvert who dreads networking, feels overwhelmed in large gatherings, or struggles to make meaningful professional connections? This workshop is designed just for you! Join us for insightful strategies, practical tips, and friendly practice to leverage your introverted nature as a powerful networking tool. You’ll discover how to master the art of prepping and recovering from events, build authentic relationships, communicate effectively, and network without exhaustion—all while staying true to yourself.
Learning Outcomes:

Understanding Your Introverted Superpowers
Preparation: Your Secret Weapon
Quality Over Quantity: The Introvert’s Advantage
Navigating Networking Events with Ease
Follow-up: Where Introverts Shine

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.

Celebrate Neurodiversity!
2026-03-18 13:00 - 14:00 (America/Toronto) | Virtual
For Neurodiversity Celebration Week, Jenine Lillian, #ActuallyAutistic neurodiversity consultant and educator, is offering a FREE International Zoom event! Wednesday, March 18th 10am PT – 11am PT. Grab a bevvy and join us for a celebration of our ND strengths and talents. No registration required.
This is an IWSCC Community Event hosted by Jenine Lillian Neurodiversity Education & Consulting, an IWSCC Certified Supplier.
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 Certified Suppliers here.

IWSCC Virtual Networking: IWSCC Builds!
2026-03-18 15:00 - 16:00 (America/Toronto) | Virtual
IWSCC’s popular virtual networking format returns in 2026. Introduce your business to IWSCC Corporate Members in an easy-to-attend, low-stress virtual environment.
This event encourages Certified Suppliers and Corporate Members who work in, or want to collaborate with, sectors like:

Construction & Infrastructure
Utilities & Trades
Forestry & Mining
Health & Safety & Training
Property Management
Facilities
Security
Engineering

Agenda (ET):
3:00 – 3:15: Introductions and Housekeeping
3:15 – 4:00: Virtual Networking
Accessibility at this Event:
IWSCC Certified Suppliers who require an interpreter for networking can contact AlexD@iwscc.ca to request an interpreter or learn how to reimburse your costs.
Live Closed Captions are also available via Zoom.
Registration
This IWSCC Networking Event is invite-only for IWSCC Community Members. If you haven’t received an invitation to this event and would like to attend, please contact AlexD@iwscc.ca

Breaking Barriers: Building Belonging - BCPF Self-Advocates Conference 2026
2026-03-20 10:00 - 16:30 (America/Toronto)
*This In-Person Event is Sold Out*
Join BC People First for our learning and networking conference hosted by BC People First Society and this year featuring Self-Advocates for a Brighter Future in Esquimalt, BC.
Are you in the Victoria area and want to join us for the event?
This event is only for registered attendees. We need to know who is coming and only have so much space.
Please register by March 6th here.
If you have dietary restrictions or need any accessibility accommodations to take part – please let us know by March 6th.
We have a stronger voice when we push for changes in society together. Conferences make it easier for people to share information, ideas, and tactics. This gives self-advocates more tools for advocating for themselves and helps make policy better for everyone in our province.
Event attendees will get to connect with peers while gaining experience and knowledge in leadership development areas such as self-advocacy, human rights, presentation skills, networking, community building, government policy, and much more.
Come and support the presenters! Learn and connect with us!
This event is for:

BCPF members and other self-advocacy group members
Self-advocates or people interested in self-advocacy
People with intellectual and developmental disabilities

Doors open and networking at 10:00am. We’ll begin by 10:30am.
Presentations and activities from BCPF Members and our community partners include:

Tips for getting your voice heard and taking advocacy action
Human rights laws and using the CRPD for advocacy
Understanding and dealing with ableism
Plain language as a human right
Being brave and confident for self-advocacy success
How to speak up and be heard
Leadership looks like us!
Advocacy project overviews and successes
Mental health and disability justice
Being a self-advocate online and in the community
Brainstorming activities
Self-advocacy bingo game
Lunch and networking and door prizes!

Contact Information
This is an IWSCC Community Partner Event hosted by BC People First Society.
Visit the event’s official page and register here.
For questions about this event, including ticketing and accessibility, please contact the hosts at hello@bcpeoplefirst.com

IWSCC Webinar - Using RFPs to Build Your Brand: A Practical Approach for SMEs
2026-03-24 13:00 - 14:30 (America/Toronto) | Virtual
Rather than a broad “tips for procurement” session, the webinar will focus on a single, concrete lesson: how Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) can use the Request for Proposal (RFP) process as a strategic branding and positioning tool, regardless of outcome.
Participants will be guided through how procurement processes signal values, credibility, and capability, and how suppliers can respond to build long-term visibility and trust with buyers, even when a contract is not awarded.
Key Elements Include:

How RFPs function as brand touchpoints, not just transactional hurdles
Practical guidance on “right-sizing” responses to avoid over-investment and burnout
How to make strategic decisions about when to pursue, pause, or decline opportunities
Where SMEs can create differentiation without inflating scope or cost

Agenda (ET):

1:00 – 1:10 : Welcome, Context, and Reframing the Problem
1:10 – 1:25 : RFPs as Brand Touchpoints
1:25 – 1:45 : Right-Sizing: Protecting Capacity & Staying Visible
1:45 – 2:05 : Strategic Differentiation for SMEs
2:05 – 2:30 : Live Q&A and Applied Discussion

About EMC³ Consulting
EMC³ Consulting Corp. (Culture. Collections. Coaching. Powered by Purpose™) is an Alberta-based consulting firm that helps governments, cultural organizations, and creative entrepreneurs plan, manage, and grow with purpose.
Our mission is to make culture accessible, inclusive, and future-ready. Every project applies an equity and accessibility lens, ensuring that diverse voices and abilities are represented.
Founded and led by a neurodivergent, disabled, and 2SLGBTQ+ entrepreneur, EMC³ Consulting contributes to Canada’s creative economy by promoting inclusion, innovation, and sustainable growth in the cultural sector.
Accessibility Features at this Event:

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

Register:
This webinar is free to attend, but requires registration. Click here to access the registration page.

Beyond Awareness: Why World Autism Acceptance Day Matters
2026-04-02 13:00 - 14:00 (America/Vancouver) | Virtual
Join BC People First Society Board Member and #ActuallyAutistic neurodiversity consultant & educator, Jenine Lillian for a short presentation about persistent myths and misconceptions about autism followed by an open Q&A session. This event marks the annual World Autism Awareness Day, which many autistic individuals are renaming to World Autism Acceptance Day to encourage the shift from awareness to action.
This event is free and open to everyone.
As a neurodiversity consultant, Jenine regularly answers questions such as:

I’m not sure if I should get a formal disability assessment, what are the benefits of doing that?
I’ve recently been diagnosed as neurodivergent, what should I do next?
I feel like I’m always working, can you help me find balance?
Are there financial benefits available to Canadians with a formal diagnosis of a disability?
I’m neurodivergent and I want to start a small business, can you help?
Can I identify as disabled even without a formal diagnosis?
How do I ask for accommodations at work without risking my job?
My workplace says they’re inclusive, but I don’t feel supported. What can I do?

This is an IWSCC Community Partner Event, hosted by BC People First Society.
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 Virtual Networking: IWSCC Supports!
2026-04-23 13:00 - 14:00 (America/Toronto) | Virtual
IWSCC popular virtual networking returns in 2026. Participate in virtual roundtable networking for IWSCC Certified Suppliers and Corporate Members.
This event encourages Certified Suppliers and Corporate Members who work in, or want to collaborate with, sectors like:

Advocacy & Professional Speaking
Education & Training
Accounting & Financial Services
Auditing & Professional Services
Consulting
Human Resources
Staffing
Healthcare & Wellbeing

Agenda (ET):
1:00 – 1:15: Welcome & Housekeeping
1:15 – 2:00: Virtual Networking
Accessibility at this Event:
IWSCC Certified Suppliers who require an interpreter for networking can contact AlexD@iwscc.ca to request an interpreter or learn how to reimburse your costs.
Live Closed Captions are also available via Zoom.
Registration
This IWSCC Networking Event is invite-only for IWSCC Community Members. If you haven’t received an invitation to this event and would like to attend, please contact AlexD@iwscc.ca

Reach: The National Forum for Disabled Entrepreneurship 2026
2026-05-27 13:00 - 15:00 (America/Toronto) | Virtual
IWSCC’s celebration of Canadian Disabled-Owned businesses returns on Wednesday May 27th!
Join us for an afternoon of dialogue, resource sharing, and community awards.
Early registration is now open! For more information about the 2026 Reach Forum, please visit the official event page here.

IWSCC Virtual Networking: IWSCC Connects!
2026-06-18 14:30 - 15:30 (America/Toronto) | Virtual
IWSCC’s popular virtual networking returns in 2026. Participate in virtual roundtable networking for IWSCC Certified Suppliers and Corporate Members.
All members are welcome, but this event encourages Certified Suppliers and Corporate Members who work in, or want to collaborate with sectors like:

Marketing & Communications
Information Technology
Web Development & Design
Artificial Intelligence
Software Development
Hardware Supply & Sales
Digital Security

Agenda (ET):
2:00 – 2:15: Community Panel Discussion
2:15 – 3:00: Virtual Networking
Accessibility at this Event:
IWSCC Certified Suppliers who require an interpreter for networking can contact AlexD@iwscc.ca to request an interpreter or learn how to reimburse your costs.
Live Closed Captions are also available via Zoom.
Registration
This IWSCC Networking Event is invite-only for IWSCC Community Members. If you haven’t received an invitation to this event and would like to attend, please contact AlexD@iwscc.ca
