Building relationships with Vaughan businesses

The City of Vaughan is continuously working to support businesses and entrepreneurs throughout 2021 with resources and virtual networking opportunities, including the 19th annual Vaughan Business Expo presented by Allstate Canada. 

On Tuesday, Feb. 23, business professionals and entrepreneurs are invited to attend the Expo online in partnership with FedDev Ontario Small Business Services. It will be a full day of workshops and panels with leading business experts to provide entrepreneurs with information and inspiration to help their companies grow. Register online now at vaughanbusiness.ca/expo to attend and explore upcoming opportunities, network with the local business community and create meaningful connections. 

Those attending virtually will experience focused programming and panel discussions on relevant topics, such as how to do business with government, the future of fulfilment, and trends and opportunities in technology that are shaping smart cities. 

The Expo will be an opportunity to speak with local industry leaders, build relationships and discuss new and bold ideas to grow businesses today and plan for the future to ensure success tomorrow. In addition to the exhibition, attendees will hear from Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua and a keynote address, the Importance of Going Global: Tapping into International Markets in the Growing Digital Economy, presented by Paul Gaspar, Director of Small Business with UPS Canada. 

Additional highlights include:

• An information session highlighting how to become a vendor and do business with different levels of government during Your business grows here: How to do business with the government.
• Featuring representatives from the City of Vaughan and the Office of Small and Medium Enterprises – Ontario Region, part of Public Services and Procurement Canada.

• Insight from industry leaders UPS Canada, Sobeys and VersaCold LogisticsServices on the future of fulfillment, including how they’ve adapted and what businesses can do to prepare themselves for supply chains of the future during Your business tomorrow: The future of fulfilment.
• The supply chains of the future have arrived; consumers are growing to expect same-day deliveries or pickups at the click of their fingers. We live in an increasingly online world, driven, in part, by the changes created from COVID-19 and the need for modernized processes and cutting-edge technology for businesses to remain competitive.
• Moderated by CBRE – Toronto vice-president Spencer Musset

• What the current opportunities, trends and challenges in the smart city market, and connections to what this may mean for your business from experts at WSP Canada, Ontario Centre of Innovation, and Mackenzie Health Institute during Transformative technology: Trends and opportunities shaping our smart cities.
• By 2025, the global smart city market is expected to grow to over $800 billion US. The demand for smart city solutions continues to grow, as both cities and businesses need to better manage scarce resources, increase efficiencies and elevate the quality of life for residents. Plus, get access to support networks and learn from other innovators in the networking period to follow.
• Moderated by Kitty Yung, Project Manager, Smart City Business Program at City of Vaughan

Those interested in attending the 2021 Vaughan Business Expo can register online or learn more at vaughanbusiness.ca/expo. 

To receive the City’s latest COVID-19 updates as they happen, sign up for the City Update eNewsletter at vaughan.ca/CityUpdate and follow the City’s Twitter, Facebook and Instagram channels. 

Those who feel unwell, and believe they have symptoms related to COVID-19, should contact York Region Public Health at 1-800-361-5653 or Telehealth Ontario at 1-866-797-0000. 

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