Attend A Virtual Trade Show July 26 to 28, 2012

Have you ever gotten home from a day at a trade show, plopped on the couch, and wished someone could rub your feet and bring you a feast? Well, the exhausting qualities of old fashioned conventions and traveling expenses are a thing of the past thanks to a Vancouver company, Utherverse. As they gear up to kick off their Second Annual Utherverse Virtual Convention this week, see for yourself how you can now attend trade shows in your sweat pants from the comfort of your own home.

Check it out this Thursday, July 26^th through Saturday, July 28^th. UtherConvention takes place completely online, and you navigate through trade show floors and exhibitor booths with an avatar. Not only are there a variety of booths, but all that you have come to expect at a real life convention is at your keyboard fingertips, including speakers, an award show, and even the opportunity to hit up after parties and comedy shows. There are also great networking events and ways to meet people from around the world who may be able to help further your business goals.

You can check out a full event schedule, but we suggest checking out “Virtual Conventions: A Look Behind the Curtain” at 3:00 pm EST on Thursday, “Town Hall” at 6:00 pm EST on Friday with Utherverse CEO, Brian Shuster; and “The Most Successful Ways to Run a Virtual Event” at 1:30 pm EST on Saturday. You might want to look over all the awesome speakers to see if anyone else’s background and specialty piques your interest.

To attend, create a username here, and then register here. And conventions as you know them will become a distant memory!

by Tim Fairhurst Biz X Magazine

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Province Wide Funding For Community Arts Project

ARTISTS IN WINDSOR-ESSEX COUNTY CAN APPLY FOR UP TO $10,000 IN FUNDING TO DEVELOP COLLABORATIVE, COMMUNITY ARTS PROJECTS

Learn more at the Artists in the Community / Workplace (AICW) program Information Session on Thursday, July 26th, 2012 at 6:30pm

Join Arts Council - Windsor & Region's Cultural Animator, Alana Bartol on Thursday, July 26th, 6:30pm at the GIBSON GALLERY located at 150 Richmond St in Amherstburg, for an Information Session on the Ontario Arts Council's Artists in the Community / Workplace (AICW) grant program.

The AICW grant program supports the research, development, production and presentation of community-engaged, collaborative, arts projects between artists and community organizations. Arts and Non-arts partners can apply for up to $10,000 to cover material costs and artistic fees for their project.

Projects funded by the AICW program take place in various communities and workplaces. Examples of successful applicants include: Hamilton Printmakers Arts Association led a series of mixed-media workshops with staff from Juravinski Cancer Centre, resulting in a public exhibition of artwork, artist Florencia Berenstein worked with Canadian Auto Workers to create a public art installation celebrating 25 years of participation by female members in the union and Weston Mount Dennis Youth Association collaborated with Everybody’s Theatre Company to create a 'theatrical walk' for their neighbourhood. Local recipients included Windsor photographer, Sandi Wheaton, who partnered with the Injured Workers Coalition, Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers and the Workers Health & Safety Centre to create 'Legacy Costs: Burden or Benefit?', a research and development project that aimed to give voice to community members affected by issues of injury or death in the workplace, pension loss, plant closures and other workplace issues.

The program is open to artists from ALL disciplines.

An application to the program requires a partnership between an arts partner and a non-arts partner.

WHO CAN APPLY?

Arts Partners:
-A Professional Artist
-A Professional Group or Collective of Artists
-Not-for-Profit Arts Organizations

Non-Arts Partners:
-Not-for-Profit Community Organizations
-Health Care Facilities
-Ad Hoc Community Groups
-Trade Unions
-Amateur and Emerging Artist Groups

For more information on the AICW project grant program, please visit: www.acwr.net/aicw

For more information about the Gibson Gallery, please visit: www.gibsonartgallery.com

For more information on the Ontario Arts Council, please visit: www.arts.on.ca
by Tim Fairhurst Biz X Magazine

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Summer Patio Party July 11!

Patio Season is the best time of year! It’s a chance to unwind, while enjoying the outdoors with great food and drinks, all while supporting local Windsor restaurants. Erie Street has a beautiful new front and are excited to launch new outdoor patios; therefore we must have a PATIO PARTY!

Family Respite Services has worked on Erie Street the last 13 years for an event called Walk on Erie Street. Every year FRS sells out of tickets (selling 370) as this event is a nice relaxing evening to enjoy friends and amazing food. Since FRS sells out, they decided to plan another successful event, called Patio Party.

 This exciting fun filled event  takes place on Wednesday, July 11^th from 6:30-10:00

6:30-Visit your first restaurant for appetizers (Mezzo is serving pulled pork spring rolls, calamari, brushchetta and caprese)

7:45-Visit your second restaurant for appetizers (Enzo’s is serving rice balls, pizza, stuffed mushrooms and beef sliders)

9:00 Visit Centro for dessert (Centro is serving tarts, brownies, cookies and cheesecake)

Tickets are $50 and include appetizers and dessert.

 Come out for an excellent evening, proceeds benefit FRS (familyrespite.org), supporting over 900 families caring for children with disabilities in Windsor/Essex County.

 Call 519-972-9688 x 156 for tickets, or visit any participating restaurant!

by Tim Fairhurst Biz X Magazine

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Get To Tecumseh Town Plaza June 23!

The Tecumseh Town Plaza presents “Taste of Tecumseh Festival” a celebration of food, wine and local entertainment with proceeds to benefit Transition to Betterness. 

Each of the five local restaurants: The RyeGate Steakhouse and Lounge, La Cucina, Tabouli, Foia and Tecumseh Pizzeria are preparing tapas style plates with individual wine pairings. 

$3 entrance fee includes entertainment for children and adults all day long. Time: 11 a.m. to 11:30 p.m., 19+ 7pm.  (check out the entertainment and all information in the accompanying flyer!)

Visit www.theryegate.com for more details or call 735-6500 and Biz X will see you there!

by Tim Fairhurst Biz X Magazine

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Startup Canada Tour Comes To Windsor May 22&23, 2012!

Calling all entrepreneurs! WEtech Alliance is proud to announce that Windsor has been selected as one of few Ontario cities to host the nationwide Startup Canada Tour. WEtech Alliance along with the support of the Downtown Windsor Business Accelerator, the WindsorEssex Economic Development Corporation, Odette School of Business, SIFE Windsor, other volunteers and entrepreneurs including Blab Media and Accent Media, are thrilled to unveil the action packed agenda for Startup Canada's visit on May 22nd and 23rd.

The tour will kickoff at the Odette School of Business on May 22nd with a keynote address by National Post columnist, Rick Spence, followed by a networking event at Caesars Windsor's VU Bar with word-of-mouth guru, Saul Colt. The day will conclude with a special Startup Canada Town Hall at Walkerville Brewery. One hundred entrepreneurs and members of the local community will be invited to participate in this event. Participants will develop a concrete action plan and community-led solutions to pressing issues facing entrepreneurs in Windsor-Essex. The tour will conclude the following day, May 23rd, with a one of a kind Entrepreneur Show and Tell at the Downtown Windsor Business Accelerator. 

Events are open to entrepreneurs, business owners, students and community enthusiasts from all sectors and stages of operation. Limited seating available for the Town Hall and lunch with Saul Colt. To register for the Town Hall, visit www.windsortownhall.eventbrite.com. To register for Lunch with Saul Colt, visit www.lunchwithaguru.eventbrite.com.

Activities: Startup Windsor: Join The Hunt (Pre-Tour Activity)

Monday May 14th - Sunday May 20th

 Windsor-Essex is home to some amazing businesses! Come together and find some new and exciting things to do and see in your city. Are you ready to join the hunt? Visit www.startupwindsor.ca on May 1st and register for your chance to play and win some seriously cool prizes!    Biz X magazine is proud to be a part of the scavenger hunt as well!

This event is sponsored by Blab Media, Accent Media, WEtech Alliance and The Downtown Windsor Business Accelerator.

-Startup Canada Windsor Kickoff with Rick Spence, May 22nd, 2012
8 am - 10 am  at the Odette School of Business, Room: 104, 401 Sunset Avenue
Registration: www.windsorkickoff.eventbrite.com

Join the Odette School of Business, WEtech Alliance and The WindsorEssex Small Business Centre as we kickoff Startup Canada's visit to Windsor-Essex. The kickoff will feature University of Windsor Alumni, Rick Spence, sharing his over 20 years experience studying Canada's most successful entrepreneurs in a keynote discussion titled "Growth Secrets of Canada's Top Entrepreneur".

 Rick Spence is a Toronto-based business writer, consultant and speaker dedicated to helping businesses grow. He is the former editor and publisher of PROFIT, The Magazine for Canadian Entrepreneurs. He now writes a weekly column on entrepreneurship for the National Post, as well as columns for PROFIT and other magazines. Rick wrote the first Canadian book on growth business (Secrets of Success from Canada's Fastest-Growing Companies, 1997). He has taught "New Venture Startup" at Ryerson University and sits on the board of a Toronto-based geophysical software company.

-Lunch with a Guru: Saul Colt, May 22nd, 2012
12 pm - 2: pm EST at Caesars Windsor - The VU Bar,377 Riverside Dr. Windsor, ON N9A 7H7
Register: www.lunchwithaguru.eventbrite.com.

 Join WEtech Alliance and The Accelerator for an exclusive event with word of mouth guru, Saul Colt. Entrepreneurs and community members are invited to snack and chat with the guy that was recently named one of the iMEDIA 25: Internet Marketing Leaders & Innovators and has been called one of Canada's best community builders/experiential marketers. (ONLY 30 SPOTS AVAILABLE)

 -Startup Canada Windsor Town Hall, May 22nd, 2012

6 pm - 8:30 pm EST at the Walkerville Brewery, 525 Argyle Windsor
Register: www.windsortownhall.eventbrite.com

 Join Windsor-Essex's Entrepreneurial Community for a garage brainstorming sessions that will bring together entrepreneurs and members of the local entrepreneurship community to develop concrete action plans and community-led solutions to pressing challenges facing entrepreneurs in Windsor-Essex, Ontario and across Canada. In groups of 5-8, a diverse mix of participants will create an action plan in 30 minutes to tackle a particular challenge that they define within the particular issue area. The Action Plans generated and discussed during the Town Hall will lead to more probing analysis and questioning in future Town Halls across Canada, as each Town Hall builds on the last. All of these ideas, exercises and opportunities will contribute to the resulting Charter, Action Plan and White Paper. For more information about Startup Canada Town Halls, visit www.startupcan.ca.

 -Entrepreneur Show & Tell at The Accelerator, May 23rd, 2012

11 am - 1 pm  at The Accelerator, 720 Ouellette Avenue
Register: www.showandtell2012.eventbrite.com.

We know Windsor-Essex is filled with talented entrepreneurs but meeting all of them is another story. That's why we're putting all of them under one roof for a special Show and Tell event.

 Join The Accelerator and Startup Canada as we shine the light on local entrepreneurs. Show and Tell participants will include Accelerator tenants, WEtech Alliance members, Essex Angel Capital portfolio companies, community entrepreneurs, and many more. This is a great opportunity to meet and greet with the local entrepreneurial community and Startup Canada representatives.

F or more information or to inquire about exhibiting, please contact Arthur Barbut 519-564-8456.

Windsor’s Startup Canada Guests

 -Saul Colt, Head of Magic at FreshBooks

Saul was recently named as one of the iMEDIA 25: Internet Marketing Leaders & Innovators and has been called one of Canada's best community builders/ experiential marketers, even Chris Brogan once referred to Saul as "exactly who you want representing your company".

-Rick Spence, External Relations Advisor www.canentrepreneur.com

 Rick Spence is a Toronto-based business writer, consultant and speaker dedicated to helping businesses grow. He is the former editor and publisher of PROFIT, The Magazine for Canadian Entrepreneurs. He now writes a weekly column on entrepreneurship for the National Post, as well as columns for PROFIT and other magazines. Rick wrote the first Canadian book on growth business (Secrets of Success from Canada's Fastest-Growing Companies, 1997).

-Victoria Lennox, CEO/Founder, Startup Canada

 Victoria is the first Canadian and one of the youngest recipients of a Queen's Award for Enterprise Promotion on the recommendation of the British Prime Minister. Victoria won the award for having pioneered a grassroots youth entrepreneurship movement both in the UK and globally that has taken on a momentum of its own with a membership of more than 45,000 enterprising students across over 80 universities within 12 months.

 -Cyprian Szalankiewicz, Co-Founder & Creatitve Director, Startup Canada

 Cyprian Szalankiewicz is an entrepreneur, award-winning cinematographer and the owner, artistic and technical director of Genie Media Ltd., an Ottawa-based start-up that offers pre- and post-production services, specializing in camera motion control for the film and television industry.

by Tim Fairhurst Biz X Magazine

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Have Any Electronic Waste? Give It To ERCA on Earth Day!

Bring your E-Waste to Earth Day

 The Essex Region Conservation Authority’s (ERCA) Youth Engagement Team (YES) will collect electronic waste at the Earth Day Tree Planting event on Sunday, April 22.  Participants and others who wish to responsibly recycle old computers and accessories, cell phones, batteries, and even things like old televisions should bring them to the event.

“The YES Team was anxious to undertake a project to benefit the environment for Earth Day,” explains Richard Wyma, ERCA General Manager.  “Responsibly recycling old electronics is a great way to benefit the Earth, while also supporting a great organization, CAW Local 200’s Computers for Kids.”

Tree planters and others are invited to collect their electronic waste and drop it off at ERCA’s Earth Day Tree Planting event on Sunday, April 22 from 10am – 2pm, at McHugh Park, located on Florence and McHugh, just east of the WFCU Centre.   

“Everyone can stay and plant a tree to celebrate Earth Day while they’re there,” Wyma went on to say.  The Earth Day celebration will include the public planting of 1500 trees at the park, kids’ crafts and activities, a fundraising barbeque and a rain barrel sale.

Rain barrels will also be available for $55 and must be pre-ordered at www.rainbarrel.ca/erca.  The barrels can be pre-paid or customers can pay cash when they pick the barrel up at the event. 

The Essex Region Conservation Authority is a community-based organization dedicated to protecting, restoring and managing the natural resources of the Windsor-Essex-Pelee Island region.


by Tim Fairhurst Biz X Magazine

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LOCAL ROTARY CLUBS WELCOME LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR APRIL 18, 2012

Rotary Windsor- St. Clair, in partnership with other Rotary clubs across the Windsor-Essex region, will welcome Honourable David C. Onley, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, to Windsor on Wednesday, April 18.

This celebration, which will be hosted at the Giovanni Caboto Club, includes a kick off for the Rotary at Work initiative.  Hon. Onley will deliver the event’s keynote address.

 "It is expected that by 2020, over 20% of the population in North America will have a disability,” explains Terry Cloutier, Manager of Employment Services at Community Living Windsor and a member of Rotary Windsor-St. Clair.  “Combine that with the Conference Board of Canada’s prediction that by that same year, there will be a one-million worker shortfall, and it is clear there is a looming employment crisis.”

The Rotary at Work initiative offers a solution, and encourages businesses and organizations to hire people with a disability.  The program is gaining a lot of traction in the Toronto area.  Business Leader Mark Wafer, who owns several Toronto Tim Hortons franchises, has hired people who have a disability.  This business move has been met with tremendous success.   Turnover in his business has decreased to 35% compared to the corporate average of 82%, productivity has increased as has greater staff loyalty and dedication; all contributing to cost savings and increased profits.  Wafer will also share his experiences at the event.  

 “The Rotary at Work initiative aims at building awareness and support about the benefits of hiring persons with disabilities,” says Rotary Windsor-St. Clair President Paul Charbonneau.  “We’re very proud to be involved with this program, and recognize that it makes good business sense.”

The event will take place on Wednesday, April 18^th from 5:30pm – 7:00pm at the Giovanni Caboto Club.  Tickets for the dinner are just $22 but must be purchased in advance by contacting Terry at terry@clwindsor.org or by phone at 519 974-4221 ext 235.  

Rotary is the world’s largest service organization with 1.2 million members.  Rotary Windsor St. Clair is comprised of about 40 members from around the Essex Region dedicated to improving our local and worldwide communities by undertaking projects to address hunger, health, literacy, promote physical activity, and provide support to the financially disadvantaged in our community. 

by Tim Fairhurst Biz X Magazine

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