Town launches Small Business Week Celebration
The Town of Stouffville will recognize the vital role small businesses play in shaping the local economy and community while delivering a series of informative workshops during its inaugural Small Business Week Celebration.
“Small businesses are the heartbeat of Stouffville. They drive our economy, fuel innovation and create the sense of community that makes our town such a special place to live,” Mayor Iain Lovatt says of the celebration, which will run from October 20 to 24.
The 2024 York Region Employment Survey, which surveyed 893 businesses in Stouffville, found 78 per cent are considered small businesses, employing between one to 19 people.
This year’s Small Business Week is especially timely, as Stouffville’s historic downtown, also known as the Village of Stouffville, is preparing for a major revitalization next year. The Town’s Downtown Revitalization Project aims to make the historic area more dynamic, inclusive and economically resilient.
“As we prepare for the exciting revitalization of our historic downtown, there’s never been a more important time to support and celebrate our entrepreneurs,” Lovatt says. “Small Business Week is not only about recognition but also about equipping our local businesses with the tools, connections and inspiration they need to thrive today and into the future.”
The Town has teamed up with ventureLab, Central Counties Tourism and Schulich School of Business professor Kelly Parke to deliver in-person workshops that will be held at various locations across Stouffville.
Headlining the week’s programming is international award-winning social media strategist and speaker Adam Rodricks. He has transformed “word of mouth” into “world of mouth” for Fortune 500 companies and is the author of the No. 1 bestselling book, Trigger Fingers: Personal Branding through Storytelling (Iguana Books, April 22, 2022). Named Canada’s Top Social Media Strategist in 2023, he was also honoured with the University of Toronto’s inaugural Young Alumni Award for Outstanding Achievement. His TEDx Talk, How to Build Trust Online, drew more than 100,000 views in its first month and ranked among the top 10 most-viewed TEDx talks globally in August 2023.
John Kiru, executive director of the Toronto Association of Business Improvement Areas, and Maureen Sirois, chair of the Eglinton Way Business Improvement Area, will both share insights on how small businesses can prepare for and thrive during periods of urban transformation.
Registration details and a full calendar of events will be announced on townofws.ca/SBW. Businesses and residents are encouraged to follow the Town’s social media channels for updates.
Photo of Adam Rodricks courtesy of the Town of Stouffville.