For over 15 years, the Canadian government has used agriculture policy frameworks to enhance the competitiveness of agriculture and agri-food companies. The latest active framework, Growing Forward 2 (GF2), provides cost-sharing support to businesses within the agricultural sector through several support programs. Growing Forward 2 is a five-year (2013-2018) framework that will, as of April…
Building a team of top talent is one of the greatest challenges facing business leaders. Deloitte’s 2017 Global Human Capital Trends report suggests that talent acquisition is the third most pressing challenge for companies to solve, and PLANT Magazine’s 2017 Outlook survey revealed that five of the greatest challenges businesses face all stem from recruiting…
Every year, festivals and events in Ontario attract thousands of visitors, contributing millions of dollars in tourism-related revenue to support the provincial economy. Tourism events are a great way of demonstrating Ontario’s diversity, culture, and heritage. In 2017, the Government of Ontario provided funding through the Celebrate Ontario program to support 304 events/festivals to help…
In 2017 it’s expected that approximately 98% of Canadian households will have access to basic broadband Internet services. Although this marks a vast improvement since five or ten years ago, there are still an estimated 300,000 homes that will not have any Internet connectivity. Rural and northern communities are often the most affected by poor Internet…
Every year, an average of 130,000 new Canadian small businesses are established. But despite this entrepreneurial drive, only 35% survive their first five years. While startups are critical to Canada’s innovation and overall business competitiveness, they face extreme pressure to maintain tight cash flow and survive streamlined operations. It can be tough, but entrepreneurs aren’t…
Ontario’s advanced manufacturing industry is a top driver of Canada’s economic performance. In 2015 alone, manufacturing sales in Ontario contributed nearly $290 million in GDP and sustained nearly 800,000 high-quality jobs. One of the reasons for this success is because Ontario government funding supports manufacturing investments that lead to productivity improvements, innovation, and international exports….
The Kultrun World Music Festival is a free, two-day community event held in Kitchener, Ontario. For the past three years, the festival has celebrated world music and cultural diversity by showcasing a variety of musicians and other performers. To deliver this festival for free, event organizers Neruda Arts used corporate sponsorships and Ontario government grants…
In 2017 Canada will celebrate 150 years since the country’s confederation. As one of the founding provinces of Canada, Ontario will also celebrate its 150th year in existence. This exciting milestone in the province’s history will be celebrated by many across Ontario, and the provincial government has created a new ambitious funding program that ensures…
RBC has recently announced free monthly business advice and networking sessions. Providing local business executives with the insights they need in order to become more successful, RBC has gathered speakers with a wealth of information to address your unique business concerns. Included in this series, Bernadeen McLeod of Mentor Works will be discussing government grants…
On a beautiful cloudless sunny day, we packed our gear early in the morning and eagerly awaited the transportation vehicle. Today was a special day. We were planning on diving in one of the most magnificent cave systems in the world; the Cenotes of the Riviera Maya. We were a diverse group comprised of myself,…