A Recap of Community Futures Week 2025
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who played a role in the success of Community Futures Week 2025.
Collaboration in Action: A Successful 2024 Loans Manager Conference Inspires New Ideas and Connections
2024 Loans Manager Conference Recap
We’d like to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined us for the 2024 Loans Manager Conference! It was an incredibly productive and collaborative event, where the importance of our shared mission truly shone through. Our Community Futures Development Corporations (CFDCs) work together to provide critical support to entrepreneurs, and this event highlighted the power of our collaboration and the collective expertise within our network.
Community Futures Week is a dedicated celebration organized by Community Futures Eastern Ontario (CFEO) and Community Futures Western Ontario (CFWO), with the collaborative support of its member Community Futures Development Corporations. The purpose of this week is to promote entrepreneurship, small business development, and economic opportunities in Southern Ontario. The event will take place from April 7 to 13, 2025, with a mix of virtual and in-person events happening across Ontario.
Event Schedule
| Type | Event |
|---|---|
| Monday, April 7 | |
|
In-Person Event |
Topic: Pitch Your Biz Workshop Speaker: Dean Howley Location: Bay of Quinte Business Centre, Belleville Time: 10:00am - 11:30am |
| Tuesday, April 8 | |
|
Live Webinar |
Topic: Funding & Financing Workshop Hosted by: Trenval Community Futures Time: 10:00am - 11:30am |
|
Live Webinar |
Topic: Small Business Fraud Prevention Speaker: John Armit, Major Fraud Detective (OPP) Time: 11:30am - 1:00pm |
| Wednesday, April 9 | |
|
In-Person Networking Event |
Topic: Sip & Mingle Open House! Hosted by: Community Futures Oxford Location: The Olde Bakery Cafe - 120 Thames St S, Ingersoll, ON Time: 8:00am - 9:30am |
|
In-Person Event |
Topic: TikTok 2 Hosted by: Wellington-Waterloo Community Futures Location: Wellington-Waterloo Community Futures, Elora ON Time: 10:30am - 12:00pm |
|
Live Webinar |
Topic: Succession Planning: Buying or Selling a Business Speaker: Celeste Lalumiere – Orillia CDC/BizLink Time: 11:30am - 1:00pm |
|
In-Person Event |
Topic: TRENVAL Open House Hosted by: Trenval Community Futures Location: Bay of Quinte Business Centre, Belleville Time: 1:00pm - 4:00pm |
| Thursday, April 10 | |
|
In-Person Event |
Topic: Spring Business Start Up Workshop Hosted by: Bay of Quinte Business Centre Location: Small Business Centre, Belleville Time: 10:00am - 11:30am |
| Friday, April 11 | |
|
Live Webinar |
Topic: Future-Proof Your Marketing Plan: How Small Businesses & Nonprofits Can Adapt and Thrive in 2025 Speaker: Emily Baillie Time: 10:00am - 11:30am |
|
In-Person Event |
Topic: Protect Your Data: Cyber Security Workshop Speakers: Delilah Chartrand & Bruce May Location: Bay of Quinte Business Centre, Belleville Time: 10:00am - 11:30am |
|
Hybrid Event |
Topic: Business Basics for Newcomers Speaker: Jade Calver Location: Renfrew Public Library Time: 3:00pm - 4:00pm |
A Message from our Partners
Kate Burn Gallagher, Executive Director, Western Ontario Wardens' Caucus shares a video message of support for the Community Futures Program and SMEs across Southern Ontario.
Community Futures
A Pan-Canada Program
What we do.
Boots on the ground in rural communities
267 non-profit offices across Canada that provide small business services to people living in rural and remote communities. Each office delivers community-based small business loans, tools, training and events for people wanting to start, expand, franchise or sell a business. Community Futures offices are supported by regional Networks designed to increase their member offices’ capacity and reach within the community through shared training, regional programming, advocacy and value-added service offerings.
Impact in Ontario.
Success through partnerships
*Results from 2023-24 fiscal year.
269
STAFF
60
CF OFFICES
1,144
VOLUNTEERS
3,228,616
POP. SERVED
1,089
# LOANS ISSUED
$91,766,372
$ LOANS ISSUED
$118,359,610
$ LEVERAGE
5,897
TOTAL JOBS
619
#CED PROJECTS
$1,174,982
CED LEVERAGED*
Success Stories
Paddler Co-op kept their dream—and their paddling community—afloat with the support of the Community Futures program.
Grains & Goods turned a love for traditional baking into a community staple with the help of the Community Futures program.
Ecowool Canada Inc. tackled the issue of limited funding for agricultural innovation with the support of the Community Futures program.
Gingerbug Brewing Company skyrocketed to national distribution with the support of the Community Futures program.
Our Funder
Rural businesses, organizations and communities are the cornerstone of Canada’s economy. To ensure rural Canadians are positioned for success, the Government of Canada, through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), has partnered with the Community Futures Development Corporations (CFDCs) across southern Ontario to provide access to the tools and support these businesses within their communities need to succeed.
The Community Futures Ontario Conference - Leading a vibrant future
The Community Futures Ontario Conference - Leading a vibrant future, held in Ottawa, was a great success. The event brought together CFDCs from across Ontario for professional development sessions, networking, and engagement with parliamentary leaders, all with the aim of equipping teams to lead a vibrant future.
Volunteer Week 2023
Volunteering can have a profound impact on both the volunteer and the community they serve. As we celebrate National Volunteer Week, we want to express our deepest gratitude to our CFEO Board of Directors and IRC members.
Government of Canada continues support for rural economic development in southern Ontario
News Release
For Immediate Release
Government of Canada continues support for rural economic development in southern Ontario.
FedDev Ontario to invest nearly $40 million for Community Futures Development Corporations to provide targeted support to grow regional economies
Read More:
News Release, February 13, 2023
CFEO Welcomes Devon Girard, Executive Director of Community Futures Peterborough
Community Futures Eastern Ontario wishes a warm welcome to Devon Girard, Executive Director of Community Futures Peterborough.
StrikeUP Conference
Calling all Women Entrepreneurs, Make 2023 YOUR Year!
We are proud to invite you to StrikeUP 2023 , a FREE digital conference dedicated to supporting women entrepreneurs and providing a forum for growth, mentorship, and financing.
CFEO Welcomes New Staff Member
We are proud to introduce our newest team member – Leslie Worsfold! Leslie is our Office Administrator/Bookkeeper at Community Futures Eastern Ontario. Join us in welcoming her to our team!
CFEO Welcomes New Board Member
Community Futures Eastern Ontario welcomes new Board Member, Jim Beechey, from South Lakes CFDC.