Small Business Centre

CEBA’s last stand: What happens after the application deadline?

The final application deadline for the Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) program has passed. Lasting nearly 15 months, prime minister Trudeau’s relief program provided interest-free loans of up to $60,000…

Small Business Centre

Strong foundational roots: family business advice from mother-daughter duo

Umeeda Switlo, marine biologist and co-owner of Naledo was in Belize working when she stumbled upon a diasporic community that migrated from India. This community had been growing turmeric since…

Small Business Centre

Giving up control to accept success: advice from Cold Comfort Ice Cream

As their tagline promises, Cold Comfort Ice Cream has been “Doing whatever the hell we feel like since 2010”. Sticking to her outside-the-carton thinking has served Owner and Founder Autumn…

Small Business Centre

A small and steady start ends in bigger gains: advice from Iron Alley Gym

Becoming a successful business owner doesn’t happen overnight. Especially in a venture completely outside your element. Sharon Prokophuk, co-owner of Iron Alley Gym learned that pretty quickly. In 2018 she…

Small Business Centre

It’s not business, it’s family: advice from Pajo’s Fish & Chips

The brainchild of Patricia (Pat) Branch, Pajo’s Fish & Chips first set sail in 1985 and has been owned and operated by her family since. But the definition of family-owned…

The Art of the Side Hustle

From hobby, to side hustle, to success: advice from Luna Collective

Eryn Beattie, the owner of Luna Collective, is a licensed nurse by trade—but you might not guess that walking into her small, brick vintage and handmade goods shop located in…

Small Business Centre

Partnership and perseverance: advice from Studiothink

“We don’t do mediocre.” said Creative Director and Founder of Studiothink Sherry Jacobi, “And not just in work. It goes beyond that.” Headquartered in Cloverdale, Jacobi and her business partner…

Small Business Centre

Retaining employees and keeping them happy during trying times—a pandemic plan

Curbside sales, ecommerce strategies, staff layoffs—it’s been a rollercoaster year for many Canadian small business owners. Events like a global pandemic can take their toll on an enterprise, from both…

Small Business Centre

A guide to cybercrime prevention for small business

Protecting your business from fraud is always a priority, but now is an especially important time to revisit your cybersecurity precautions. For many small businesses, online activity is up due…

Read more about these topics