Cobourg, ON (March 13, 2025) – The Town of Cobourg Economic Development department and Venture13 Innovation and Entrepreneurship Centre are pleased to announce the upcoming spring and summer programs, seminars and workshops.

Aspiring entrepreneurs, seasoned business professionals, and anyone seeking to elevate their business will benefit from the following series, curated to equip participants with the tools they need to succeed in today's rapidly evolving business landscape.

Economic Update, Trade Development and Risk Mitigation
Date: Monday, April 7, 2025 | Time: 8:15 – 10:30 a.m. | Venue: Venture13’s Lecture Hall – 739 D’Arcy Street
Presenters: Rachel Battaglia, Economist at RBC Financial Group; Nina Garcia, Relationship Manager, Export Development Bank of Canada; Kaz Nesbitt, Partner, Doane Grant Thornton LLP

Rachel Battaglia, Economist, of RBC is a member of the macroeconomic analysis group and is responsible for monitoring key indicators including consumer spending, labour markets, GDP, and inflation. Rachel will deliver her economic insights for the Cobourg business community. In addition, this session will explore supply chain, trade development and business risk mitigation measures.

Protect Yourself Series: Conflict and Harassment Solutions
Date: Thursday, April 10, 2025 | Time: 12 – 1:30 p.m.  | Venue: Venture13’s Lecture Hall – 739 D’Arcy Street
Presenter: Ken McCarthy, President of Integrity by McCarthy Inc.

This session will cover the key concepts of conflict resolution and harassment prevention, offering practical tools and techniques to effectively address these challenges in the workplace. Attendees will learn about the impact of unresolved conflicts and harassment on business performance and bottom line, discover actionable steps for addressing small issues before they become major problems, and gain insights into risk management considerations.

By prioritizing these solutions, businesses can position themselves as employers of choice, while also protecting their reputations and that of the business owners. Each participant will receive valuable takeaway resources to implement in their own businesses.

Pathways to Careers: Exploring Skilled Trades
Date: Wednesday, April 23, 2025 | Time: 6 – 8 p.m. | Venue: Venture13’s Lecture Hall – 739 D’Arcy Street

This session will explore the pathways to landing careers in the skilled trades professions. The session is intended for youth and the young population as they consider these pathways to employment. 

Workforce Development Symposium
Date: Wednesday, May 28, 2025 | Time: 8:30 – 11 a.m. | Venue: Venture13 – 739 D’Arcy Street

Cobourg’s annual Workforce Development Symposium returns in 2025. This year’s symposium explores labour force succession planning, recognizing credentials and responding and managing change. This symposium will prove to be a resourceful experience to build employer resilience and recruit and retain talent.

Protect Yourself Series: Business Contracts and Shareholder Agreements
Date: Wednesday, June 4, 2025  |  Time: 12 – 1:30 p.m. | Venue: Venture13’s Lecture Hall – 739 D’Arcy Street

This session will feature a presentation from Victor Miranda, Integritas Business Law Professional Corporation who will provide valuable insights into the intricacies of drafting and managing these critical documents. Whether you’re a business owner, entrepreneur, or stakeholder, this session will equip you with the knowledge to navigate legal complexities and protect your business interests.

Funding Forum
Date: Wednesday, June 18, 2025 | Time: 9 – 10:30 a.m. | Venue: Venture13’s Lecture Hall – 739 D’Arcy Street

In collaboration with the Northumberland Manufacturers Association, the economic development team has brought together a group of organizations including Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade, and Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario) to discuss getting your business funded. The forum will explore key elements of strong funding submission requests to help inform you when pursuing your next funding application.

Youth and Young Adults Summer Employment Celebration
Date: Tuesday, August 19, 2025 | Time: 12 – 1:30 p.m. | Venue: Lecture Hall, Venture13 – 739 D’Arcy Street

Join youth, young adults and their employers as Cobourg’s Economic Development team celebrates and showcases some of their employment experiences and opportunities. This celebration will include a panel discussion among Cobourg’s youth who were employed locally.

The following small business, innovation, and entrepreneurial programs will be hosted at the Venture13 Innovation and Entrepreneurship Centre:

V13 Policetech Accelerator Pitch to the Chief: Business
Date: April 28, 2025 | Time: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. | Venue: Venture13’s Lecture Hall – 739 D’Arcy Street

Watch innovative early-stage companies pitch their solutions to a panel of Ontario police chiefs, focused on enhancing and streamlining policing strategies. This unique program is funded in part by the Ontario government through the Rural Economic Development (RED) program.

V13 Policetech Accelerator Pitch to the Chief: Youth
Date: May 14, 2025 | Time: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. | Venue: Venture13’s Lecture Hall – 739 D’Arcy Street

This exciting competition will showcase innovative ideas from local high school students aimed at improving community safety and well-being.

Six finalists – the top two from each school: Cobourg Collegiate Institute, St. Mary’s, and Port Hope High School, as decided by Cobourg Police and Port Hope Police officers – will pitch their solutions to a panel of Police Chiefs and community leaders in a winner-takes-all event. After months of hard work, these young innovators will compete for a $500 cash prize, office space at Venture13, and a chance for summer employment to bring their vision to life! This unique program is funded in part by the Ontario government through the Rural Economic Development (RED) program.

Business Accelerate Series – Search Engine Optimization – Steps to Succeed in Brand Awareness
Date: June 18, 2025 | Time: 12 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. | Venue: Venture13’s Lecture Hall – 739 D’Arcy Street
Join us for an insightful, hands-on session where you'll learn the essential steps to boost your website’s visibility, attract your ideal audience, and stay ahead of the competition. Whether you're a business owner, marketer, or content creator, this event will equip you with proven strategies to make search engines work in your favour. Delivered by local digital media strategist Erin Law, Story Unlocked, she will delve into tools that can be used to effectively grow sales.

The Business Blend
Dates: April 3, May 1, June 5, July 3 and August 7, 2025 | Time: 9 a.m. – 10 a.m.  | Venue: Venture13’s Part-time CFO Services Community Kitchen – 739 D’Arcy Street

This monthly discussion with small business owners and entrepreneurs continues in the Part-time CFO Services Community Kitchen. The discussion is an opportunity to share your experiences and learn from others in a structured format.

Register for upcoming 2025 scheduled programs or events here.

John Pincott Memorial Award
Once again this year, the Venture13 Innovation and Entrepreneurship Centre will award $600 to two students during the graduation ceremonies at St. Mary Catholic Secondary School and Cobourg Collegiate Institute on Thursday, June 26, 2025. These awards named the John Pincott Memorial Award will be given to two students pursuing post-secondary education in a science, technology, engineering and math program or entrepreneurship and business program.

About the Venture13 Innovation & Entrepreneurship Centre
The Venture13 Innovation & Entrepreneurship Centre serves as a vital regional catalyst for emerging businesses and innovative ideas. Venture13 has emerged as a hub for knowledge-based ventures, powered by a collaborative ecosystem of visionary partners, including nventure, Town of Cobourg, Cobourg Police Services, and Northumberland Manufacturers’ Association. In collaboration with community partners and industry thought leaders, Venture13 provides flexible co-working space and educational programming designed to equip entrepreneurs and local business professionals along their growth pathway. For more information visit www.venture13.ca.

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