Edge Business Expo coming to Ritchot

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This article was published 06/02/2024 (842 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The RM of Ritchot and the community development corporation of Ritchot will host a business expo Feb. 21 to 22.

“I think it’s an opportunity for us to support small businesses and medium size business within the RM to give them the opportunity to have some training, gain some knowledge locally to help them,” said Ryan Faucher, economic development officer for the RM of Ritchot.

There will be a free mixer on Feb. 21 where business owners can mingle and share expertise. The following day, there will be workshops covering such topics as cyber security, advertising on social media, vertical networking, and the CRA will be there to answer tax questions.

This is the first time the RM and the CDC are hosting a business expo and Faucher said it’s a way to build a business community where owners can share experiences and advice and build relationships with one another.

“Right now within Ritchot, I think if you look at it we have about 375 businesses that are registered with us as part of our business directory, but we know there are more out there who have your side hustles that have your part-time businesses. It’s really a culture of entrepreneurship and we’re hoping to draw some of those out to get experience and knowledge that they might not have.”

Expo coordinator John Falk estimates there will be between 100 to 125 businesses that will register for the event at the TC Energy Centre in Ile des Chenes.

“On Thursday Feb. 22, people that will be attending will have a choice of eight workshops but they can only go to four. There’s two per time slot. Two time slots in the morning, two in the afternoon. Everybody has an option as to what they would be interested in as far as learning more. At lunchtime we’ll have our keynote speaker, and we’ll have a business panel, and a hot lunch,” said Falk.

The lunch keynote speaker will be Wade Miller, president and CEO of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

Falk said the event is not a way for the RM to make money, rather it’s a way to help small to medium sized businesses grow.

“A lot of the big corporations have their own training departments and branding departments whereas a lot of small to medium sized businesses don’t have that. So, to provide information for them that could be beneficial in running their business that’s what we’re hoping to gain from (the expo).”

To register for the expo visit edgebusinessexpo.com/edge-expo-ritchot-24/.