The Business-to-Business Expo is October 18 at the Halifax Metro Centre from 10:00 a.m. to 6 p.m.. If you want to establish or expand your presence in the Halifax region, this is the place to be. Besides the trade show, there will also be seven workshops on business-related topics at the show. After Hours at The Expo, which runs from 4 to 6 p.m. is a great networking opportunity. Attendance is free. Contact Lori Blaxland at the Metropolitan Halifax Chamber of Commerce at (902) 468-7111.

The Small Business Week Trade Show is October 21 in Sydney at the Delta Hotel. Come and celebrate women entrepreneurs and Cape Breton business at this event organized by the Women in Business Committee. The show starts at noon. Contact Carolyn Spencer at (902) 564-7702 for details.

There is also a Women in Business Conference going on in Sydney. This day of workshops and a luncheon all geared towards women involved in starting and/or growing a business, is October 22 at the Delta Hotel. Carolyn Spencer at (902) 564-7702 is the person to contact for information.

October 22 is also the date for the Small Business Expo in Port Hawkesbury. Starting at 4:00 p.m., this event will be a great opportunity for showcasing local businesses and B2B networking. Contact Carolyn Spencer at (902) 564-7702 to learn more.

Customer Relations Management is hot - but what exactly is it and how can you take full advantage of it? Join Jim G. Barnes, Executive Vice-President of Bristol Group, on October 23 from 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. to find out just what a company needs to actually develop what he refers to as genuine relationships with customers. This event, part of the Chamber Luncheon Series in Dartmouth, costs $20 per person for Chamber of Commerce members, and $25 per person for non-members.

The Truro Chamber of Commerce has organized a Business Fest for October 24. Contact Sheila Rankine at (902) 895-6643 to see how you can be a part of this celebration of small business.

Newfoundland Small Business Events in October

There will be "Starting a Small Business Seminars" on October 22 in Grand Falls-Windsor. Contact Dale Rideout at (709) 489-2182 for details.

The Clarenville Chamber of Commerce is organized a Small Business Week Dinner for October 24. Starting at 6:30 p.m., the dinner will include a guest speaker. Contact Jim Garland, Account Manager of the Entrepreneurship Center, at (709) 772 4778.

The Small Business Week Luncheon organized by St. John's Board of Trade is also October 24, at 12:30 p.m. at the Fairmont Newfoundland Hotel. The event begins with half an hour of networking, to be followed by dinner and a guest speaker. Contact Larry Dalley at (709) 772-4745 for more information.

And Business Expo runs October 24 and 25 in Mount Pearl at Reid Community Centre. This business trade show will feature booths outlining all the resources available to small businesses. There will be business Seminars on topics such as How to Start a Small Business, Small Business Financing, Bringing Entrepreneurs and Investors Together and E-Commerce on both days. Larry Dalley at (709) 772-4745 is the person to contact to find out more.

Once again, these are just some of the many business-related events that will be occurring during Small Business Week October 21 through 27 across Canada. Space only allows me to list so many. Do check with your local branch of the Business Development Bank of Canada and/or your local Chamber of Commerce to find out what's happening where you live.

Wherever you are, I hope you get the chance to participate in this year's celebration of Canadian small business. All of these events are great opportunities to make new contacts, to hear new ideas, to share our expertise with other small business owners - and to celebrate our successes of the past year and start planning our next achievements!