Join Canada’s 2SLGBTQI+ Chamber of Commerce at the Sheraton Wall Centre North Tower for a day dedicated to celebrating and supporting the vibrant 2SLGBTQI+ entrepreneurial community.

Delve into insightful panel discussions, engage in interactive breakout sessions, and network with fellow professionals and ecosystem organizations. From exploring the intersectionality of business to mastering how to differentiate your business, 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! 

Thank you so much for your interest in the CGLCC’s first-ever 2SLGBTQI+Business Symposium in Vancouver. Due to overwhelming interest, the event is at capacity, but sometimes life happens and people who previously registered cannot attend. If some spots open up, interested wait listers will be contacted in the order that their forms are received: https://forms.office.com/r/FtFw0H8uD5

Date: September 11th, 2024
Time: 8:30am-5pm
Location: Sheraton Wall Centre North Tower, 1000 Burrard St, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2R9

AGENDA

8:30am – 10:00am: Registration, Breakfast and Ecosystem Showcase

Enjoy breakfast while connecting with our CGLCC Certified Suppliers and Ecosystem Organization Partners at their booths. Find about more about their services and how you can collaborate and work together.  

10:00am – 10:15am: Opening remarks

10:15am – 11:20am: Supplier Diversity Panel

11:30am – 12:30pm:  Morning Breakout Sessions
– Access to Funding for Small Businesses
– Differentiating Your Business in a Sea of Sameness

12:30pm – 1:30pm:  Lunch 

1:30pm – 2:30pm:  Afternoon Breakout Sessions
– Going Global
– Ethical Marketing & Sales: A Radical Approach to Business Based on Consent 

2:30pm – 2:45pm: Coffee Break

2:45pm – 4:00pm:  Keynote
Shine Bright

4:00pm – 5:00pm: Mingling and Ecosystem Showcase

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 again from 4:00pm-5:00pm. Each booth is 6ft x 30 inches, has two chairs, and linen, and can be shared with another business. Please send an email to chris.mariano@cglcc.ca to register immediately for a booth – space is limited!

YOUR SPEAKERS

Event Host

Opening Remarks

Our Team

Darrell Schuurman (he/him/il/lui) Co-Founder and CEO, CGLCC

Darrell Schuurman (he/him/il/lui) Co-Founder and CEO, CGLCC

Darrell Schuurman is an advocate of effecting social change through the economic empowerment of 2SLGBTQI+ entrepreneurs. He is the co-founder and CEO of the CGLCC, Canada’s 2SLGBTQI+ Chamber of Commerce, a national not-for-profit organization with a mission to expand the opportunities and advancement of the 2SLGBTQI+ business community in Canada. He has been committed to CGLCC’s mission since 2003. He is a Former Managing Partner at DNA Marketing Group and the Co-Founder of Travel Gay Canada.

Supplier Diversity Panel

Supplier Diversity provides diverse-owned businesses with greater access to corporate and public procurement opportunities. 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

Ashleigh Brown (she/her) Moderator Director, Business Development, CGLCC

Aaron Cruikshank (he/him) Panelist Founder & President, CTRS

Kailey Gilchrist (she/her) Panelist Business Development Manager, Corporate, CGLCC

David Kim (he/him) Panelist Regional Manager, Inclusive Entrepreneurship for B.C. & North Region, BDC

Sarah Anne Hrycenko (she/her) Panelist Procurement Assistance Canada

Morning Breakout Sessions

Access to funding for small businesses

Whether you’re starting a business or you’re looking to put your existing business on the path to success, ensure you’re equipped with a portfolio of resources to boost your business acumen and access to capital.

Expect to learn about:

• Dedicated financial supports, educational opportunities available through Small Business BC;
• Why a business plan provides the blueprint you’ll need to achieve your financial goals. 

Our Team

Tom Conway (he/they) Session Leader Chief Executive Officer, SBBC

John Baxter  (he/him) Session Leader Regional Business Advisor for Vancouver Island

Differentiating Your Business in a Sea of Sameness

In today’s highly competitive market, standing out from the crowd is essential for business success. This workshop, led by Karley Cunningham, Creative Strategist & Business Growth Accelerator, will guide business owners through the process of differentiating their businesses by leveraging their unique values, beliefs, and strengths. Participants will gain insights into developing a compelling, Unique Value Proposition (UVP) and integrating authentic differentiation into all aspects of their business. Through interactive activities and real-world examples, attendees will be equipped with actionable steps to boost their bottom line, better attract and retain top talent, and appeal to their ideal customers by differentiating their business.

Workshop Objectives – Participants will:

• Gain an Understanding of the Importance of Business Differentiation;
• Explore the Core Elements of Differentiation;
• Learn How to Develop a Compelling Unique Value Proposition (UVP)

Our Team

Karley Cunningham (she/they) Session Leader Creative Strategist & Business Growth Accelerator, Big Bold Brand Inc.

Afternoon Breakout Sessions

Going Global

Learn about the CGLCC’s Global Trade Missions and how we can support you in taking your business global. Hear directly from CGLCC certified suppliers about their experiences on these missions.

Our Team

Cass Elliott (he/him) Session Leader Global Manager, CGLCC

Cass Elliott (he/him) Session Leader Global Manager, CGLCC

Jesse Ringer (he/him) Panelist CEO, Method and Metric

Jesse Ringer (he/him) Panelist CEO, Method and Metric

Jesse is the founder and CEO of Method and Metric, which he launched in 2017. For over 10 years, Jesse has helped business owners, entrepreneurs, and marketing teams build winning SEO strategies for their organizations. 

Jesse’s passion for progression, creativity backed by data, and the democratization of tech have led him to build an agency focused on connecting data and people in an ethical and forward-thinking way. He’s a creative problem solver, marketer, and entrepreneur, known for building high-performing teams and delivering results.  

Michela Toscano (she/her) Panelist Principal Site Reliability Engineer, IONICA

Michela Toscano (she/her) Panelist Principal Site Reliability Engineer, IONICA

Michela is an entrepreneur and technologist based in Vancouver, BC., where she is principal of IONICA, a cloud computing and cyber security firm with clients across Canada and around the world.

In addition to IONICA’s commitment to their clients and cutting-edge technology, the firm is dedicated to fostering positive social impact. They work to make the world more just, equitable, and sustainable. As part of this mission, the firm donates a significant portion of company profits to charity each year. To date, IONICA’s cumulative donations exceed $200,000.

Michela holds a master’s degree in business administration with specialisations in technology and marketing from the University of British Columbia, and a bachelor’s degree in sociology and psychology from University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

Outside of work, Michela enjoys running, cycling, music, spending time with her dog and her partner, art, learning the French language, programming, and political and social activism.

Stanley Wu Panelist Co-Founder, Canvasea Interiors Inc.

Stanley Wu Panelist Co-Founder, Canvasea Interiors Inc.

Stanley is the Co-Founder of Canvasea Interiors Inc. Canvasea was established in 2015 and has been providing marine fabrication services in Vancouver, BC. We have transformed our marine fabrication process with industry-leading Computer-Aided Design (CAD) combined with high quality craftsmanship to provide clients with the world-class marine canvas work. Stanley has developed marine canvas course for Quadrant Marine Institute and been teaching the course with his Production Manager since 2021. In 2022, Stanley had the opportunity to attend CGLCC’s trade mission to Las Vegas. During the mission, he learned to think globally not just locally.

Canvasea is a Certified LGBT- Owned Business Enterprise by Canada’s LGBT+ Chamber of Commerce (CGLCC). We are also a proud member of Boating BC Association, Advanced Textiles Association (ATA), Marine Fabricators Association.

Ethical Marketing & Sales: A Radical Approach to Business Based on Consent 

Is it possible to grow a profitable, scalable business by centring our customer’s needs, not our sales goals? With ethical marketing and sales, it sure is! Join this lively workshop with Lindsay Johnson, aka The Radical Connector, and discover how to ditch old-school, sell-at-any-cost tactics that leave you and your customers feeling gross. You’ll discover how to get your business in front of the people who are already looking for you, with money in hand, and make it clear and easy to buy from you. Walk away with a new perspective on marketing & sales that feels aligned with your values and attracts all the right customers.

Our Team

Lindsay Johnson (they/them) Session Leader Marketing & Sales Coach, The Radical Connector

Our Team

Jarren MacDougall (he/him) & Parker McLean (he/they) Co-Director & Creative Director, Harc Creative