CBDC Blue Water

10/16/2026

Small Business Week is coming — October 19–25! 🎉
CBDC Blue Water is pleased to share two great learning opportunities for entrepreneurs and small business owners:
• Competition Bureau webinar — October 20: The Rules of the Game: Competition Law and Procurement 101, offered in English and French.
• BDC Small Business Week 2026 — webinars and events on business growth, AI, productivity, acquisitions and more.
A great opportunity to learn, connect and get practical information for your business.
👉 Explore the events and register today.
📍 Also check with your local community and business organizations for Small Business Week events happening near you.

La Semaine de la PME approche — du 19 au 25 octobre! 🎉
CBDC Blue Water est heureuse de partager deux belles occasions d’apprentissage pour les entrepreneurs et les propriétaires de petites entreprises :
• Webinaire du Bureau de la concurrence — 20 octobre : Les règles du jeu : La loi sur la concurrence et l’approvisionnement 101, offert en français et en anglais.
• Semaine de la PME de BDC 2026 — webinaires et événements sur la croissance, l’IA, la productivité, les acquisitions et plus encore.
Une belle occasion d’apprendre, d’échanger et d’obtenir des renseignements pratiques pour votre entreprise.
👉 Découvrez les événements et inscrivez-vous dès aujourd’hui.
📍 Consultez également votre communauté locale et les organismes d’aide aux entreprises de votre région pour découvrir les activités organisées dans le cadre de la Semaine de la PME.

10/12/2026

🚀 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗕𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀? 𝗟𝗲𝘁’𝘀 𝗖𝘂𝘁 𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗱 𝗧𝗮𝗽𝗲!🚀

📅 Date: October 14th, 2026
🕒 Time: 1 PM (90 minutes)
🎤 Facilitator: Krista Harding, South Shore Opportunities
💰 Cost: FREE

Your business plan is done. Your idea looks solid. Maybe you’ve even secured your funding. But what actually needs to happen before you can officially open your doors?
This practical workshop will walk you through some of the essential administrative steps involved in starting a business so you can move forward with fewer surprises and more confidence.

In this session, you’ll learn about:
✅ Choosing the right business structure
✅ Registering your business
✅ Understanding HST requirements
✅ Important administrative steps before opening
✅ Common start-up pitfalls and how to avoid them

💡 Take some of the confusion out of starting a business and get a clearer picture of what needs to happen next.

🎟️ 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝘁𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆!
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/a4_XQX-LR--ZmPuqCz-XUQ #/registration

10/12/2026

Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at CBDC Blue Water! 🍂
We’re grateful for the entrepreneurs, small businesses, partners, and communities we have the opportunity to work with throughout the year.
Wishing you and your loved ones a happy and restful Thanksgiving.

Joyeuse Action de grâce de la part de toute l’équipe de CBDC Blue Water! 🍂
Nous sommes reconnaissants envers les entrepreneurs, les petites entreprises, nos partenaires et les communautés avec qui nous avons le plaisir de travailler tout au long de l’année.

Nous vous souhaitons, à vous et à vos proches, une joyeuse Action de grâce, remplie de beaux moments et de repos.

10/07/2026

From a Grade 10 summer job to one of Guysborough County’s most trusted painting businesses, Sheldon Richard has built RSR Painting Limited on hard work, community, and pride in every project. With support from CBDC Guysborough, Sheldon turned his passion into a thriving business known for quality craftsmanship, kitchen cabinet transformations, and lasting customer relationships. More than a decade later, he still measures success by the smiles on his customers’ faces.

Read how family, perseverance, and a love for the trade helped RSR Painting become a local success story. https://cbdc.ca/stories/rsr-painting/

10/05/2026

💰 𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗕𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀 — 𝗕𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗕𝘂𝗱𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗕𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗰𝘀 💰

📅 Date: October 7th, 2026
🕒 Time: 1 PM (90 minutes)
🎤 Facilitator: Krista Harding, South Shore Opportunities
💰 Cost: FREE

A good business budget is about more than tracking what comes in and what goes out. It can help you manage cash flow, prepare for unexpected expenses, set realistic goals, and make better decisions about where your business is headed.

Whether you’re just starting out or already running a business, this practical workshop will help you:
✅ Understand the fundamentals of business budgeting
✅ Track income and expenses more effectively
✅ Better manage and plan for cash flow
✅ Prepare for expected and unexpected costs
✅ Set financial goals and make more informed spending decisions

💡 Gain greater clarity and control over your business finances and feel more confident making financial decisions.

🎟️ 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝘁𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆!
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/pvYp3wTmTzKLzs-8AwkRcg #/registration

10/02/2026

👥 Running a business means managing people, and sometimes workplace situations can become difficult to navigate.

💬 Through the Hire for Talent initiative, employers across Nova Scotia can access up to 3 FREE confidential coaching sessions with an experienced HR professional. Sessions offer practical, one-on-one guidance for workplace situations involving mental health, accommodation, return to work, conflict, team dynamics, and more.

✅ Confidential one-on-one support
✅ Practical guidance for real workplace situations
✅ Support tailored to small and medium-sized employers
✅ Available to employers across Nova Scotia

⏳ Availability is limited.

🇬🇧 Sessions are currently offered in English.
🇫🇷 For support in French, contact [email protected].

🤝 This initiative is supported by Hire for Talent, uptreeHR, and CBDC Restigouche.

📌 If you’re facing a difficult HR situation and could use confidential guidance, this may be a helpful resource.

09/30/2026

Orange Shirt Day | National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
🧡 September 30
Please note that CBDC Blue Water will be closed on September 30 in recognition of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
We’re taking this day to pause and reflect on the tragic legacy of residential schools, remember the children who never returned home, and honour the survivors, their families, and communities.
Every Child Matters. 🧡


🧡 Journée du chandail orange | Journée nationale de la vérité et de la réconciliation
30 septembre
Veuillez noter que CBDC Blue Water sera fermé le 30 septembre à l’occasion de la Journée nationale de la vérité et de la réconciliation.
En cette journée, nous prenons le temps de réfléchir au douloureux héritage laissé par les pensionnats autochtones, de nous souvenir des enfants qui ne sont jamais rentrés chez eux et de rendre hommage aux survivants, à leurs familles et à leurs communautés.
Chaque enfant compte. 🧡

09/28/2026

🌟 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐚 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐁𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐎𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐩𝐬! 🌟

This October, join us for three practical workshops covering some of the essential financial and administrative skills every business owner needs. Whether you’re preparing to launch a new business or looking to better manage an existing one, these sessions will help you navigate budgeting, start-up requirements, and bookkeeping with greater confidence.

𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗞𝗦𝗛𝗢𝗣 𝟭 – 𝗕𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗕𝘂𝗱𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗕𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗰𝘀
A clear and realistic budget can help you understand where your money is going, prepare for upcoming expenses, and make better financial decisions for your business. This practical workshop will walk you through the fundamentals of business budgeting, including tracking income and expenses, managing cash flow, planning for expected and unexpected costs, setting financial goals, and controlling spending. Whether you’re just starting out or already running a business, you’ll leave with a better understanding of how to create and maintain a budget that gives you greater clarity and control over your finances.

📅 Date: October 7th, 2026
🕒 Time: 1 PM (90 minutes)
🎤 Facilitated by: Krista Harding, South Shore Opportunities
💰 Cost: FREE

𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗞𝗦𝗛𝗢𝗣 𝟮 – 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁-𝘂𝗽: 𝗖𝘂𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗱 𝗧𝗮𝗽𝗲
Your business plan is done, your idea looks solid, and you’ve secured the funding—now what? Getting a business officially up and running involves a number of important administrative steps, and knowing where to start can be overwhelming. This workshop will help you cut through the red tape by walking you through topics such as choosing the right business structure, registering your business, understanding HST requirements, and other important start-up considerations. You’ll gain practical guidance to help you move forward with confidence and avoid common start-up pitfalls.

📅 Date: October 14th, 2026
🕒 Time: 1 PM (90 minutes)
🎤 Facilitated by: Krista Harding, South Shore Opportunities
💰 Cost: FREE

𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗞𝗦𝗛𝗢𝗣 𝟯 – 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗸𝗲𝗲𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗶𝗽𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀
Feeling overwhelmed by bookkeeping? You’re not alone! This practical workshop will help make managing your business finances feel a little less intimidating. You’ll explore the pros and cons of handling bookkeeping yourself versus hiring someone to do it for you, along with different ways to keep your records organized. From simple manual methods and free tools to popular bookkeeping software, you’ll learn about the options available and get practical tips to make bookkeeping clearer, more manageable, and (almost) painless.

📅 Date: October 21st, 2026
🕒 Time: 1 PM (90 minutes)
🎤 Facilitated by: Krista Harding, South Shore Opportunities
💰 Cost: FREE

💡 Join us for one workshop—or all three—to build your financial knowledge, simplify the administrative side of your business, and feel more confident managing the numbers and requirements behind the scenes.

👉 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗽𝘀: https://setraining.ca/

09/23/2026

What begins as one simple question can change an entire family's future. When Danine suggested buying a small spray foam business so Jason could finally come home, they had no idea what ups and downs lay ahead. Equipment failures, financial uncertainty, and a steep learning curve tested them early, but with determination, support from CBDC Shelburne, and a commitment to doing things right, JASE Insulfoam Ltd. emerged stronger than ever.

Discover how one South Shore couple turned setbacks into steady growth, community impact, and a business built to last. https://cbdc.ca/stories/jase-insulfoam/

09/22/2026

↓↓↓

Budget engagement sessions are running in communities across Nova Scotia.

Sign up to the attend the September 24 session in New Minas at the Louis Millett Community Complex: https://yourbudget.novascotia.ca/engagement-sessions

Can't make an event in person? Use the Build Your Own Budget tool: https://yourbudget.novascotia.ca/take-part