Community Futures Wood Buffalo

10/09/2026

Have you been thinking about adding e-commerce to your business or exploring new ways to sell products online?

Join Community Futures Wood Buffalo for our upcoming Drop Shipping Integration for Small Business workshop!

This session will introduce entrepreneurs to the dropshipping business model and explore how it can be incorporated into a small business. Participants will learn about product selection, suppliers, order fulfilment, pricing, marketing, and other important considerations when building an online business.

Whether you’re new to e-commerce or looking for ways to expand your existing business, this workshop will provide practical information to help you determine whether dropshipping could be a good fit for your business.

👉 Register for the Drop Shipping Integration for Small Business Workshop
https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/drop-shipping-integration-for-small-business-tickets-2002955116672?aff=oddtdtcreator

📱 Interested in attending the workshop and getting a personal one-on-one session regarding social media? Shoot us an email at [email protected].

10/08/2026

Whether you’re starting a business, growing an existing operation, or planning your next chapter, Community Futures Wood Buffalo is here to help.

Our experienced local Business Advisors provide one-on-one consulting to help entrepreneurs across Wood Buffalo navigate the decisions that matter most.

Starting a business?
Get support with business plans, feasibility studies, financing options, marketing strategies, hiring, and more.

Ready to grow?
Explore expansion strategies, new business opportunities, financing, exporting, marketing, and more.

Thinking about the future?
We can help with exit strategies, preparing your business for sale, and succession planning.

For 40 years, Community Futures Wood Buffalo has supported local entrepreneurs and small businesses. We’re business owners too, so we understand what it takes to build a business in our region.

📩 Connect with our team today to learn more about our business consulting services.

https://woodbuffalo.albertacf.com/contact-us

10/07/2026

Wednesday Wisdom 💡

“Get closer than ever to your customers. So close that you tell them what they need well before they realize it themselves.”

Steve Jobs, Co-founder of Apple

10/06/2026

Only 3 spots remain for our upcoming YouTube for Business: Building Brand Authority Through Video Content workshop!

Want to use YouTube to build your brand, showcase your expertise, and reach more customers? This workshop will help entrepreneurs and small businesses learn how to use video strategically to build credibility, increase visibility, and connect with the right audience.

Participants will learn how to plan video content, choose topics that support business goals, improve discoverability, and create content that continues working for their business long after it is published.

👉 Register for YouTube for Business
https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/youtube-for-business-building-brand-authority-through-video-content-tickets-2001892541481?aff=oddtdtcreator&keep_tld=true

📱 Interested in attending the workshop and getting a personal one-on-one session regarding social media? Shoot us an email at [email protected].

YouTube is one of the most powerful platforms for long-term visibility, credibility, and audience growth.

10/02/2026

Did you know?

Small businesses play a significant role in rural and small-town economies across Canada. As of June 2026, 98.6% of businesses with employees in rural and small-town Canada had fewer than 100 employees.

Here in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo, local business owners contribute to the strength and diversity of our community every day—from entrepreneurs launching new ventures to established businesses creating jobs, providing services, and supporting the local economy.

At Community Futures Wood Buffalo, we’re proud to support local entrepreneurs and small business owners through training, business development, coaching, advisory services, and other resources.

This Friday, we’re celebrating the entrepreneurs who help make our region a great place to live, work, and do business.

10/01/2026

Stay connected with what’s happening at Community Futures Wood Buffalo and across our local business community.

Our Latest News section features updates on the work we’re doing to support entrepreneurs, local businesses, and economic development throughout the Wood Buffalo region.

From recognizing local businesses and entrepreneurs, to sharing community events, partnerships, programs, and opportunities, there’s always something happening at CFWB.

Recent highlights include:
🏆 Our 2026 Outstanding Economic Development Award
🤝 Our participation in the Welcoming Week Newcomer Resource Fair
☕ Our Business of the Month feature recognizing local businesses

Visit our website to explore the latest news and see what’s happening in our community.

👉 Read the Latest News: https://woodbuffalo.albertacf.com/news/

09/30/2026

Wednesday Wisdom 💡

“Don’t be intimidated by what you don’t know. That can be your greatest strength and ensure that you do things differently from everyone else.”
— Sara Blakely, Founder of Spanx

Entrepreneurship often means navigating unfamiliar territory. What you don’t know can be an opportunity to learn, ask questions, explore new approaches, and identify solutions that set your business apart.

Embrace the learning process, stay curious, and don’t be afraid to do things differently.

09/30/2026

September 30 marks the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, a day to honour the children who never returned home from residential schools, Survivors, their families, and Indigenous communities across Canada.

At Community Futures Wood Buffalo, we recognize the importance of listening, learning, and continuing the work of reconciliation.

Today, we encourage our community to take time to learn about the history and ongoing impacts of residential schools, listen to Indigenous voices and perspectives, and reflect on how we can contribute to meaningful reconciliation in our communities.

We remember. We listen. We learn. We move forward together. 🧡

09/29/2026

Want to use TikTok to grow your business but aren’t sure where to start?

Join Community Futures Wood Buffalo for a practical workshop designed to help entrepreneurs, creators, and service-based businesses develop a strategic short-form video presence on TikTok.

Participants will learn how to:

• Create engaging short-form videos that capture attention
• Plan content that supports business goals
• Understand what makes content more likely to gain traction
• Use trends, sounds, and captions strategically
• Understand the fundamentals of TikTok’s algorithm
• Increase reach and attract new customers and opportunities
• Build confidence creating TikTok content for their business

Whether you’re new to TikTok or looking to strengthen your existing video strategy, this session will provide practical tools and guidance you can apply immediately.

🗓️ Date: September 30, 2026
🕙 Time: 10:00–11:30 a.m.
💻 Online Workshop

Registration is required. Your meeting link will be emailed to you after registration.

👉 Register here: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/tiktok-for-business-master-short-form-video-go-viral-drive-real-results-tickets-2001892323830?aff=oddtdtcreator&keep_tld=true

For more information, contact Community Futures Wood Buffalo at 780-791-0330 ext. 0 or [email protected].

Learn how to create short-form videos that capture attention, grow your audience, and drive real results for your business.

09/28/2026

Small Business Week takes place October 19–25, 2026, and entrepreneurs are invited to participate in two free events hosted by Innovation Canada, the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC), and the Trade Commissioner Service.

These events provide an opportunity to learn about government programs and resources available to help Canadian businesses start, grow, innovate, and access new markets.

Business Support Expo | October 20, 2026
📍 Invest Ottawa, 7 Bayview Station Road, Ottawa
💻 Hybrid event
🕑 2:00–6:30 p.m. ET

The Business Support Expo will feature expert panel discussions and an Innovation Fair where entrepreneurs can connect with representatives from federal programs and services.

Panel 1 | 3:00–4:00 p.m. ET
Building a Resilient Business in a Changing Economy

Panel 2 | 4:15–5:15 p.m. ET
Driving Growth Through Innovation, Technology, and New Markets

This free virtual session will provide practical information on strengthening business operations, identifying growth opportunities, and exploring new markets.

Register for the Business Support Expo:
https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/hybride-business-support-expo-lexpo-sur-le-soutien-aux-entreprises-tickets-1994817963227?aff=BSEci

Participants will also be introduced to the Business Benefits Finder, a tool that provides a tailored list of government programs and services for Canadian businesses.

🇫🇷 French session: 11:00 a.m. ET
https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/stimuler-la-croissance-des-entreprises-par-linnovation-tickets-1994843977035?aff=sbwci

🇬🇧 English session: 1:30 p.m. ET
https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/driving-business-growth-through-innovation-and-opportunity-tickets-1994815812795?aff=sbwci

Take advantage of these opportunities to connect with experts, discover available resources, and learn about programs that can support your business.