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Calgary 2SLGBTQI+ Business Symposium

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Calgary 2SLGBTQI+ Business Symposium

March 10 @ 8:30 am 5:00 pm

Join Canada’s 2SLGBTQI+ Chamber of Commerce at the Residence Inn by Marriott Calgary Downtown/Beltline District for a day dedicated to celebrating and supporting the vibrant 2SLGBTQI+ entrepreneurial community in Calgary!

Delve into insightful panel discussions, engage in interactive breakout sessions, and network with fellow professionals and ecosystem organizations. This symposium offers a unique opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive. Reserve your spot today and be part of a dynamic community driving positive change and inclusion in business. 

Join us for an in-person experience that’s absolutely  FREE! 

Date: March 10th, 2025
Time: 8:30am-5pm (MT)
Location: Residence Inn by Marriott Calgary Downtown/Beltline District, 610 10 Avenue SW., Calgary, Alberta

8:30am – 10am: Ecosystem Showcase & Breakfast 
Enjoy breakfast while connecting with our CGLCC Certified Suppliers and Ecosystem Organization Partners at their booths. Find out more about their services and how you can collaborate!

10am – 10:10am: Event Opening 

10:10am – 10:20am: Get to Know CGLCC: Who Are We?

10:20am – 11:10am: Supplier Diversity Panel   

11:20am – 12:10pm: Morning Breakout Sessions 
– Own Your Story: Building Resilience in Divisive Times
– Potential and Parallels: Insight from Queer Voices in the Tech Industry in Alberta

12:10pm – 1:10pm: Lunch & Ecosystem Showcase 

1:10pm – 2pm: Afternoon Breakout Sessions 
– Networking and Mentorship with Purpose: Building Authentic Connections 
– Harnessing the Power of Partnerships for 2SLGBTQI+ Entrepreneurs

2pm – 2:20pm: Coffee Break 

2:20pm 2:30pm: Film Screening
In collaboration with Spindle Films Foundation

2:30pm 3:30pm: Keynote  
Seeing the Whole Person: The Future of Inclusive Businesses 

3:30pm: Closing Remarks  

3:30pm – 5pm: Scotiabank Mixer & Ecosystem Showcase  

Are you a CGLCC-certified supplier or ecosystem organization partner? Would you like a booth during our ecosystem showcase to promote and share your business or organization? The showcase will take place from 8:30am-10:00am, and optionally over lunch and from 4:00pm-5:00pm. Each table is 6ft x 30 inches, has two chairs and can be shared with another business or organization. 

Please fill out this form ASAP to secure your booth spot as space is limited! Have more questions about the Ecosystem showcase? Email cassandra.john@consultant.cglcc.ca and chris.mariano@cglcc.ca to learn more.

Event Host

Our Team

Photo of Chris Mariano (he/him, il/lui)
Chris Mariano (he/him, il/lui) CGLCC Business Development Manager, West and North

SPEAKERS & PANELISTS

Opening Remarks

Our Team

Photo of Darrell Schuurman (he/him)
Darrell Schuurman (he/him) CGLCC CEO & Co-Founder

Get to Know CGLCC: Who Are We?

Our Team

Photo of Vanessa Ntinu (she/her, elle)
Vanessa Ntinu (she/her, elle) CGLCC Membership Services Coordinator, Supplier Diversity

Supplier Diversity Panel

More details

Supplier Diversity provides certified diverse-owned businesses with greater access to business and procurement opportunities in the public, non-profit, and corporate sectors. By connecting diverse suppliers with organizations that are actively looking to diversify their supply chain, supplier diversity is supporting the growth of those businesses. Hear from CGLCC certified suppliers and corporate partners about the impacts and benefits of supplier diversity and gain insights into the benefits and advantages of certification.    

Our Team

Photo of Kailey Gilchrist (she/her)
Kailey Gilchrist (she/her) Moderator CGLCC Business Development Manager, National
Photo of Connie Stacey (she/her)
Connie Stacey (she/her) Panelist CEO & Founder, Grengine Inc. (CGLCC Certified Supplier)
Photo of Nancy Shadlock (she/her)
Nancy Shadlock (she/her) Panelist Founder, Centered Consulting & Coaching (CGLCC Certified Supplier)
Photo of Alex Gysen (he/they)
Alex Gysen (he/they) Panelist Regional Manager, 2SLGBTQ+ Business Development (Prairies), TD Bank

MORNING BREAKOUT SESSIONS

Session Own Your Story: Building Resilience in Divisive Times 

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We live in a world of division and polarization, where being an entrepreneur is already a tough climb—let alone as a 2SLGBTQA+ entrepreneur striving to carve out space in competitive markets. In these challenging times, the power of storytelling has never been more vital. Stories ground us, remind us of our resilience, and reignite our sense of purpose when we’re drained and defeated. That spark—your vision—can be the neon sign that pulls you through the toughest times. But here’s the catch: most people don’t realize the incredible value of their own story. They rarely stop to reflect on it. That’s where we come in. Join the Precipice team for an inspiring session to begin to share your story and tap into your purpose. And here’s the best part: sharing your story doesn’t just help you—it creates meaningful connections with others, building resilience for everyone involved. Let’s turn your story into your superpower.  

Our Team

Photo of Kerri Robinson, MBA, ACC (she/her)
Kerri Robinson, MBA, ACC (she/her) Facilitator Co-Founder & Strategic Lead, Precipice Development
Photo of Jess Robinson Lychak, BFA, CPCC, MA, PCC (she/her)
Jess Robinson Lychak, BFA, CPCC, MA, PCC (she/her) Facilitator Co-Founder & Creative Experience Designer, Precipice Development

Panel Potential and Parallels: Insight from Queer Voices in the Tech Industry in Alberta

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Join this exciting panel of experts from the tech industry in Alberta as they reflect on the intersections of being Queer, Albertan, and working in tech, the complementary nature of queerness and queer innovation in tech, and resilience and the power of community in the face of the tremendous challenges of today’s socioeconomic climate. 

Our Team

Photo of Ameera Ladak (they/them)
Ameera Ladak (they/them) Moderator Vice-Chair, Alberta 2SLGBTQI+ Chamber of Commerce
Photo of Matt Hayles (he/him)
Matt Hayles (he/him) Panelist Vice President of Revenue, urllo
Photo of Christa J. Hill (she/her)
Christa J. Hill (she/her) Panelist CEO & Co-Founder, Tacit Edge Product Leadership

AFTERNOON BREAKOUT SESSIONS

Panel Networking and Mentorship with Purpose: Building Authentic Connections

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In this session, you’ll hear directly from 2SLGBTQI+ entrepreneurs and professionals in the business community as they discuss how they run their businesses, the services they offer, and the strategies they’ve used to navigate entrepreneurial challenges. Panelists will share their experiences in building authentic brands, adapting to ever-changing consumer needs and interests, and forming valuable partnerships. The session will also provide insight into the importance of mentorship, community-building, and staying true to core values while scaling a business.

Our Team

Photo of Idara Effiom (she/her, elle)
Idara Effiom (she/her, elle) Moderator CGLCC Manager, Membership Programs
Photo of Dr. Chúk Odenigbo, PhD (il/lui, he/him)
Dr. Chúk Odenigbo, PhD (il/lui, he/him) Panelist Comité FrancoQueer de l'Ouest
Photo of Dorienne Proulx (she/they)
Dorienne Proulx (she/they) Panelist Little Star Artistry
Photo of Philip Lowrie, P.Eng, MBA (he/him)
Philip Lowrie, P.Eng, MBA (he/him) Panelist Accenture
Photo of J Stevens (they/them)
J Stevens (they/them) Panelist Spindle Films Foundation

Session Harnessing the Power of Partnerships for 2SLGBTQI+ Entrepreneurs

More details

The session will begin with an opening discussion on the transformative potential of partnerships to foster resilience, growth, and community within the queer business ecosystem. Following this, participants will delve into four scenarios where partnerships are contextualized as practical solutions to entrepreneurial challenges.

Our Team

Photo of Nicholas Rheubottom (he/him)
Nicholas Rheubottom (he/him) Facillitator Executive Director, Alberta 2SLGBTQI+ Chamber of Commerce
Photo of Jarom Moriyama-Bondar, BA, GBA (he/him)
Jarom Moriyama-Bondar, BA, GBA (he/him) Facillitator Area Vice President – Group Benefits / Retirement, Gallagher | Co-Founder & Director of Business Development, Pride In Business

KEYNOTE

Seeing the Whole Person: The Future of Inclusive Businesses

Through their story of recovering from trauma, coming out as queer & non-binary and founding Frankie D’s Donuts, Mak reveals how creativity and innovation extend beyond business, shaping our identities, lives, and sense of purpose. During this keynote, Makaylah will also invite participants to reimagine what true inclusivity and connection look like in action. We will explore barriers that keep our work fragmented, even within marginalized spaces. Participants will explore the nuances of intersectionality, privilege within marginalization, and the gaps in inclusivity that often go unnoticed. Together, we’ll ask tough but necessary questions: “Where are we excelling in fostering inclusion, and where are we falling short?” and “How can empathy-based leadership transform our actions and bridge divides?”

Our Team

Photo of Mak Rogers (they/them)
Mak Rogers (they/them) Co-Founder, Co-Owner Franki D’s Donuts (CGLCC Certified Supplier), Scale Naturally

Register here!

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