2026 Small Business Week Conference

THE BUSINESS OF BEING IN BUSINESS

Running an organization is about more than the numbers. It is about the people, decisions, challenges and opportunities that come with leading an organization.

Join us for two days of practical workshops, thought-provoking conversations and inspiring keynotes focused on the realities of running an organization in the North.

Whether you're building a business, leading an established company or running a non-profit, many of the challenges are the same. How do you build a strong team, make better decisions, use your resources wisely, navigate challenges and keep your organization moving toward what matters most?

This year’s conference brings together practical ideas and tools around leadership, workplace culture, AI and workflow automation, partnerships, business disputes, organizational priorities, employer responsibilities and more.

Whether you are just getting started, growing an established organization or leading a team, you’ll leave with new ideas, practical tools and connections you can put to work.

Two days. Real organizational challenges. Practical ideas you can take back to work.

The Human Side of Unconscious Bias

Tina's Biography
VISIT TINA'S WEBSITE: http://tworksforyou.ca

Focusing on What Matters Most: Business, Life, and What Comes Next
When you own a business, it can be difficult to separate what is important from what is simply demanding your attention. This workshop is designed to help you step back and consider what matters most to you in your personal goals, finances, family, lifestyle, and future. A guided self-assessment will help you identify weaknesses, opportunities, and where your current situation is out of step with your goals. You'll leave with a short list of priorities worth addressing and a plan for how to move forward.

This session build off the insights you gained from last year's SWOT Analysis and Goal Setting workshop presented by KWB, however attending last year's session is not a requirement to benefit from this year's workshop.

Speakers:

Darren Buma, CPA, CA - Partner, KWB

Richard Ouellette, CPA, CA - Partner, KWB
 

 

Atiba's Biography:
Atiba Lewis is the founder of ATL Workflow Automation Inc., where he helps businesses and accounting firms get their systems, workflows and technology working together. He spent nine years at Intuit Canada, where he was national lead for the Business Solutions Provider program and, most recently, Principal Industry Solutions Strategist. In that role, he built Intuit's approach for industries like construction, professional services and not-for-profit, covering job costing, project management, reporting and cash flow. Before Intuit, he spent 14 years at HP, including work with Cree communities in Northern Quebec on connectivity and technology.

Through ATL, he works as a certified QuickBooks Online Advanced ProAdvisor and automation specialist, helping growing businesses connect their accounting, operations and tools. As a K2 Enterprises certified instructor, he also teaches AI and technology courses for CPA organizations across Canada, and he is developing an AI reporting program for CPA Canada. He is fluent in both English and French and can answer questions and provide clarification in either language.

 

Get a Grip on Your Business: Six Keys to Getting What You Want from Your Entrepreneurial Company
Longer hours, people who don't follow through, profit that won't hold steady, and growth that stalls. Sound familiar? This 90-minute workshop introduces EOS, the Entrepreneurial Operating System: a complete set of simple, practical tools that does three things. Gets your leadership team on the same page about where the business is going. Makes your leaders disciplined and accountable about getting there. And builds a team that actually functions well together. You'll follow along in your own workbook with time to look hard at your own business as we go, and leave with tools you can start using the same day.

Speaker:

 

WSCC Essentials

Whether you’re operating a small, medium, or large sized business in the Northwest Territories, there are legislated requirements that you need to know. The Workers’ Safety and Compensation Commission (WSCC) will provide a panel of experts who will walk you through services that impact every business, like annual payroll reporting requirements, your safety essentials, and incident and injury reporting processes. Whether you are new to business or just looking for an update on WSCC tools and services, this panel will be full of essential information. You’ll also hear about WSCC's new Employer Support team, which is a team of local professionals dedicated to helping answer employer’s questions and providing assistance in accessing online services. The WSCC will also provide participants with free posters and resources for your workplaces!

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Before You Sue: A Business Owner's Guide to Making Better Dispute Decisions
When a business dispute arises, going to court is rarely the only option. The challenge is knowing when to litigate, negotiate, mediate or walk away.

Join Field Law for an interactive workshop designed to help business owners make informed decisions when disputes arise. Rather than a traditional presentation, participants will work through realistic Northern business scenarios in small groups, considering the risks, costs and practical factors that can shape the best path forward. Field Law will then walk through how they would assess each scenario, including the questions they would ask, the information they would want and the options they would consider before recommending next steps.

Participants will leave with a practical decision-making framework and checklist they can use to assess future business disputes.

Speakers:

  
Justine Blanchet - Partner, Field Law
 
Anthony Burden - Partner, Field Law

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SCHEDULE OF EVENTS: