DCI News

Media Release – October 11, 2024 Charlottetown, PE – Downtown Charlottetown Inc. (DCI), in collaboration with The Salvation Army, Stearns Launderers & Drycleaners, and Confederation Court Mall, is proud to announce the launch of the annual Coats for Kids campaign. This initiative aims to provide essential winter clothing to families in need across the Island. From October 15th to 26th, we invite the community to donate gently used or new winter coats, jackets, and accessories for infants, children, and teens. Donations can be conveniently dropped off at the Confederation Court Mall’s drop-off depot, located at the base of the escalators on the main level. “Island winters can be long and harsh, and many children are in need of proper winter clothing. With the cold weather fast approaching, it’s crucial that we provide coats to families as soon as possible,” says Dawn Alan, Executive Director of DCI. “Let’s fill those bins at the drop-off depot and help make this winter a little warmer for Island children.” The Salvation Army will host a Free Shop from November 4th to 7th, open from 10 AM to 12 PM and 1 PM to 3 PM each day . During this event, all Island families are welcome to choose from a variety of clean, donated winter coats and snowsuits, along with an array of hats and mittens. For any questions regarding the distribution, please contact The Salvation Army at 902-892-2281. We encourage local businesses and organizations to join us in this vital effort. Consider organizing office-wide collections to bring donations to the drop-off depot. Together, we can ensure that Island kids stay warm this winter. -30- Media Contact: Dawn Alan, Executive Director Downtown Charlottetown Inc. (902) 368-8636 dawn@downtowncharlottetown.com

Small Business Week 2024 is from October 20th to 26th. During Small Business Week, and every week, we celebrate our Downtown small business owners and teams who make Charlottetown a great place to do business. See our list below of Events and resources available to Small Businesses on PEI. Events Monday, October 21st: All Day: Downtown Charlottetown Inc: Parking Forgiveness For the month of October, if you receive a parking meter ticket in Downtown Charlottetown you are eligible to have it forgiven, using a purchase receipt of $35 or more from a downtown business*. All Day: Downtown Charlottetown Inc: Giveaway A Day Everyone who shops downtown during Small Business Week will have the chance to enter their name in a draw for DAILY giveaways of a $100 Downtown Charlottetown Gift Card How It Works: Each participating business will be giving out small flyers with a QR Code/Website Link with each purchase during SBW; customers scan the QR Code, supply their full name, email, phone number, and where they shopped to be entered to WIN! 10am-4pm: Charlottetown Chamber of Commerce: Small Business Week Resource Fair 2024 A free event open to the public featuring vendors from organizations that offer services and programs such as financial support, network expansion, mentoring, workforce supports and market readiness to entrepreneurs. 11:30am-12:30pm: Summerside Chamber of Commerce: Lunch & Learn with Procurement Assistance Canada (PAC): Looking to grow your business by becoming a supplier to the federal government? Join us for a Lunch & Learn with Procurement Assistance Canada (PAC), part of Public Works and Procurement Canada. PAC will demystify the procurement process and provide valuable insights on how small businesses can supply goods and services to the federal government. This session is perfect for any business interested in expanding its reach by tapping into government contracts. Enjoy lunch while learning how to navigate federal procurement opportunities! Registration is $30 and includes lunch, coffee/tea, cold beverage and dessert. 5pm-7pm: Skills PEI: PEI Biz Connect – Building Connections, Fuelling Success Connect with fellow business owners, Explore booths offering industry support services , Hear from a panel of four local industry experts. Whether you own a business or dream of starting one, this will be an excellent opportunity to network and build connections with experts and supports to help educate and launch you into success of your own! Tuesday, October 22nd: All Day: Downtown Charlottetown Inc: Parking Forgiveness For the month of October, if you receive a parking meter ticket in Downtown Charlottetown you are eligible to have it forgiven, using a purchase receipt of $35 or more from a downtown business*. All Day: Downtown Charlottetown Inc: Giveaway A Day Everyone who shops downtown during Small Business Week will have the chance to enter their name in a draw for DAILY giveaways of a $100 Downtown Charlottetown Gift Card How It Works: Each participating business will be giving out small flyers with a QR Code/Website Link with each purchase during SBW; customers scan the QR Code, supply their full name, email, phone number, and where they shopped to be entered to WIN! 9am: PEIBWA Trailblazers Hike oin PEIBWA's Communication & Event Officer, Rachelle Wight, for PEIBWA's first-ever Trailblazers Hike, a leisure hike designed to allow entrepreneurs and business individuals to connect in nature. Join us for a friendly 1-hour nature hike to forge new paths in business and a chance to connect with others while enjoying nature. Routes will be decided by group consensus. 10am-11:30am: Charlottetown Chamber of Commerce: Small Business Week Coffee Chat with Sam Sanderson (Construction Association on PEI) Join us for an informal chat with Sam Sanderson from the Construction Association of PEI as we dive into the Island’s housing crisis, workforce challenges, housing starts, and more. It’s a free event, but we highly recommend treating yourself to a fancy coffee! Don’t miss this insightful conversation! 1pm-2pm: BDC: Webinar – Unlock Tomorrow’s Business Trends to Fast-Track your Growth Discover the 4 business trends you can’t ignore! Pierre Cléroux, BDC’s Chief Economist, will present an economic update and insights on the major trends shaping Canada’s rapidly evolving business landscape. A panel of experts will then discuss concrete actions you can take now to position your business for future growth, one step at a time. Wednesday, October 23rd: All Day: Downtown Charlottetown Inc: Parking Forgiveness For the month of October, if you receive a parking meter ticket in Downtown Charlottetown you are eligible to have it forgiven, using a purchase receipt of $35 or more from a downtown business*. All Day: Downtown Charlottetown Inc: Giveaway A Day Everyone who shops downtown during Small Business Week will have the chance to enter their name in a draw for DAILY giveaways of a $100 Downtown Charlottetown Gift Card How It Works: Each participating business will be giving out small flyers with a QR Code/Website Link with each purchase during SBW; customers scan the QR Code, supply their full name, email, phone number, and where they shopped to be entered to WIN! 9:30am-10:30am: PEBWA Webinar: Find Funding Faster with Fundica Did you know that TD helps you find government funding with Fundica? Join PEIBWA and TD in learning about Fundica – Fundica is an AI-powered funding search engine that matches businesses with relevant government funding programs. 1pm-4pm: CBDC Western PEI: HR Workshop - Conflict, Harassment & Bullying in the Workplace Workshop deliverables: Differences between conflict, harassment, & bullying, employer obligations & due diligence, impace of social media and off-duty conduct on workplace behavior 5pm-7:30pm: Charlottetown Chamber of Commerce: Mega Mixer Join us at Lone Oak in Borden for an evening of connection, live music, and fun. Transportation is available to and from for a $20 fee, with pick-up in downtown Charlottetown at 4:15 PM and return at 7:45 PM. Enjoy complimentary appetizers, live music, a cash bar, door prizes, and a chance to win for the longest drive on the golf simulator. Thursday, October 24th: All Day: Downtown Charlottetown Inc: Parking Forgiveness For the month of October, if you receive a parking meter ticket in Downtown Charlottetown you are eligible to have it forgiven, using a purchase receipt of $35 or more from a downtown business*. All Day: Downtown Charlottetown Inc: Giveaway A Day Everyone who shops downtown during Small Business Week will have the chance to enter their name in a draw for DAILY giveaways of a $100 Downtown Charlottetown Gift Card How It Works: Each participating business will be giving out small flyers with a QR Code/Website Link with each purchase during SBW; customers scan the QR Code, supply their full name, email, phone number, and where they shopped to be entered to WIN! 9am-12pm: CBDC Western PEI: CRA Information Session Tax help for small businesses and self employed with CRA Liason Officers Marlie Rayner & Capri Dawson. Friday, October 25th: All Day: Downtown Charlottetown: Sidewalk Sale Our Annual SBW Sidewalk Sale is scheduled to take place Friday, Oct 25th. Be sure to come downtown to support your small businesses and cash in on some great deals! Sidewalk Sale Participants: Beans Story Inc. (94 Kent St.) Book Emporium (169 Queen St.) Grace Gifts & Lifestyle (119 Kent St.) Green Eye Designs (160 Richmond St.) Merle Norman (134 Kent St. Inside Confederation Court Mall) Rising Tide Electric Bicycles (125 Queen St.) Town City (155 Queen St.) MORE TO COME! All Day: Downtown Charlottetown Inc: Parking Forgiveness For the month of October, if you receive a parking meter ticket in Downtown Charlottetown you are eligible to have it forgiven, using a purchase receipt of $35 or more from a downtown business*. All Day: Downtown Charlottetown Inc: Giveaway A Day Everyone who shops downtown during Small Business Week will have the chance to enter their name in a draw for DAILY giveaways of a $100 Downtown Charlottetown Gift Card How It Works: Each participating business will be giving out small flyers with a QR Code/Website Link with each purchase during SBW; customers scan the QR Code, supply their full name, email, phone number, and where they shopped to be entered to WIN! 9:30am-12:30pm: PEIBWA Co-Working Pop Up Are you an entrepreneur or business professional looking for a change of scenery? Join PEIBWA for a relaxed morning of co-working during Small Business Week! Escape the home office and connect with like-minded individuals at the Charlottetown Library Learning Centre. Whether you’re looking to focus on your projects, network with others, or simply enjoy the energy of working alongside fellow entrepreneurs and business individuals, this event is for you! Saturday, October 26th: All Day: Downtown Charlottetown Inc: Parking Forgiveness For the month of October, if you receive a parking meter ticket in Downtown Charlottetown you are eligible to have it forgiven, using a purchase receipt of $35 or more from a downtown business*. All Day: Downtown Charlottetown Inc: Giveaway A Day Everyone who shops downtown during Small Business Week will have the chance to enter their name in a draw for DAILY giveaways of a $100 Downtown Charlottetown Gift Card How It Works: Each participating business will be giving out small flyers with a QR Code/Website Link with each purchase during SBW; customers scan the QR Code, supply their full name, email, phone number, and where they shopped to be entered to WIN! Resources Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) : The Canada Revenue Agency has information and resources that are tailored to the needs of entrepreneurs. They are here to help you make managing your business taxes as quick and easy as possible, with services such as: Free Liaison Officer Digital Services Tax calculators Scientific Research and Experimental Development New Legislative changes that affect business taxes Community Business Development Corporation (CBDC): CBDC assists the expansion and modernization of existing businesses by providing financial and technical services to entrepreneurs. Their services are typically targeted to entrepreneurs who require customized financing not normally available from traditional resources. Innovation PEI (IPEI): Innovation PEI is PEI’s lead economic development agency. Their goal is to build a vibrant, diverse, and growing Prince Edward Island economy by providing funding and expertise to enable strategic sectors, accelerate entrepreneurship, and foster innovation. Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA): The Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency works to create opportunities for economic Growth in the region by helping businesses become more competitive, innovative, and productive by working with diverse communities to develop and diversify local economies, and by championing the strengths of Atlantic Canada. SkillsPEI: SkillsPEI is a Division of the Department of Workforce, Advanced Learning and Population. It was established in 2009 to manage the design and delivery of employment and skills development programming funded by the Canada-Prince Edward Island Labour Market Development Agreement and Canada-PEI Workforce Development Agreement. PEI Connectors: PEI Connectors offer support services to businesses owned and operated by immigrant entrepreneurs and connects job-seekers, new Islanders and new graduates to business and community leaders in order to grow professional networks and expand career opportunities on the Island. Prince Edward Island Business Women Association (PEIBWA): The Prince Edward Island Business Women’s Association (PEIBWA) is a dynamic network of women entrepreneurs and business professionals from across PEI. A member-based not-for-profit organization, PEIBWA has a mandate to educate, empower and inspire PEI women to succeed in their business endeavours. PEIBWA provides advisory services, training, opportunities for development, and connections with other women in business. Greater Charlottetown Area Chamber of Commerce (GCACC): The Chamber is proud to be Prince Edward Island’s largest business advocacy organization committed to supporting and connecting business members through advocacy, benefits, education, and networking opportunities