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A new way to market and network your local Vancouver Island business!

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Vancouver Island Grassroots Entrepreneur Network

community – connection – opportunity – empowerment

The myth of the individual entrepreneur is just that – a myth. Whatever you call yourself – a business owner, creator, founder, innovator or entrepreneur – research shows that we do better when we work together and support each other: when we are part of a community of like-minded people.

CONTACT US

“If your run your own business, and especially if you’re new to the valley, LIFT is essential for your network.”

—ARZEENA HAMIR

Connect with us.

Led by Leif Jason, LIFT is a passion project focused on growing an inclusive entrepreneurial community on Vancouver Island. We want to help you to grow your business and have fun doing it.

“LIFT has been a great part of establishing an entrepreneurial community that has been so beneficial not only for me but hundreds of others! Always great event, parties, online influence.”

—Jabin Postal

Inclusive

Whether you head up a business with 50 employees or you are a solopreneur; whether your product or service is unique or there are others offering similar things; whether you are just starting out or have been in business for 10+ years; whether you’re an introvert or extrovert…

If you’re community minded, ready to grow personally and professionally, and want to surround yourself with great people, you’re a good fit for LIFT.

Innovative

If traditional networking and the idea of handing out business cards to strangers while you make small talk has you running for the hills, well we get it! Time to adjust how you think about networking.

In LIFT you get to know people through innovative facilitated events and discussion, where we work together on real businesses and real issues. We guide and support each other while building real relationships and learning valuable skills. This is not small talk, it’s REAL talk.

“This group is a great place to come if you want to be surrounded with big thinkers. It’s unique because it’s a very collaborative and supportive atmosphere. Come on out and see what it’s like!!”

—Amy Englemark

liftstartups

Vancouver Island Local Business Network
#WeAreVanIsl ✊#networkingbetter
By @mastermynde

Get @reshare_app • @smalltownstartup I’ve spent YE Get @reshare_app • @smalltownstartup I’ve spent YEARS helping promote festivals and events meant to “bring people downtown,” and I absolutely believe they have a place in a healthy/sustainable downtown economy. 

A packed downtown on a Saturday is exciting and businesses can have a great day, people discover places they haven’t been before and there is real value in giving people a reason to gather.

But the longer I’ve worked with small businesses, the more I’ve started asking a different question: what happens consistently midweek, no event, as far as sales go? Because that’s the make or break for a small business. 

We can get REALLY good at creating temporary foot traffic without ever creating sustainable foot traffic and that’s where I feel the most tension between small businesses and the organizations who help throw the festivals.

A healthy downtown needs enough businesses, restaurants, housing, third places and things to actually DO that people have reasons to be there when nobody has closed the street, hired a band or put a festival on the community calendar.

I also think sometimes we put the a lot of the burden of creating that festival activity right back on already-exhausted business owners. They need to stay open later, create a special, staff heavier, stock up, donate something for the raffle, etc. etc. Meanwhile, they’re trying to figure out how to get enough customers through the door beforehand to have the funds for additional inventory for the event in the first place.

Let me be on so clear: I’m not anti-festival - you will find my behind at plenty. I’m just anti-confusing a busy event with a healthy downtown.

The event should introduce people to a downtown that gives them reasons to come back when the tents are gone. Each event should have a “come back” strategy baked in. Because ultimately, I’m much less interested in whether we can pack Main Street a few Fridays and Saturdays a year than whether the businesses there can make a living the 300-some days we have left annually.
Get @reshare_app • comoxvalleychamber In an increa Get @reshare_app • comoxvalleychamber In an increasingly digital world, there is still no substitute for building relationships in person; make new connections at this month’s Business After Business 🤝

This September, @oldhousehotelbc is celebrating 20 years of Making Our House a Home to guests near and far! To celebrate, you’re invited to reacquaint yourself with the amenities and cozy, thoughtful atmosphere that defines our Old House experience. 

Start your evening with a warm welcome, a delicious nibble and a seasonal mocktail. Then enjoy your hosted walk to the stunning Maple Building lobby where more craft mocktails and a cash bar awaits. Scrumptious hors d’oeuvres will be served as you explore and enjoy interacting with one of the Valley’s favourite influencers, @charliekarumi.

A celebratory presentation by the Old House Hotel team is topped off with two business card drawings, one for a one-night stay in an Old House one-bedroom suite and a second for a signature Ohspa customized facial! 

A sweet ending to the evening invites you to the 3rd floor where the opportunity to view one of our renovated suites and a Hot Chocolates truffle await.

Spaces are limited, register now at comoxvalleychamber.com/events 🎟

#buildinggoodbusiness #chamberofcommerce #comoxvalleybusiness #comoxvalley
Get @reshare_app • @chemainusdistrictchamber Socia Get @reshare_app • @chemainusdistrictchamber Social media not your thing? That’s okay. We’ve got you.

Chamber members get more than a listing.

We help get your business seen through our website, social media, member spotlights, newsletters, event promotion and more.

You run your business. We’ll help people find out about it.

Join the Chemainus + District Chamber of Commerce.

#Chemainus #ChemainusBusiness #SupportLocalBusiness #chemainuschamber
Get @reshare_app • @parksvillechamber Just 2 days Get @reshare_app • @parksvillechamber Just 2 days away! 

Join the Qualicum Beach & Parksville and District Chamber of Commerce for a special Joint Chamber Meeting. Get ready for an evening filled with laughs, networking, and delicious food featuring special guest speakers Monika and Robyn, the founders of Mint Cleaning

Event Details:
📆 Date: Thursday, September 10, 2026
⏰ Time: Doors open at 5:30 PM
📍Location: The Shack Taphouse (444 Country Club Drive)

Register: Link in bio or scan the QR code in the graphic!

#QualicumBeachChamber #ParksvilleChamber
Get @reshare_app • @comoxvalleywbn Last week to ge Get @reshare_app • @comoxvalleywbn Last week to get your tickets to this evening unlike any other!

Join the Comox Valley Women in Business Network September 9 - 5:30 - 8:30 pm, for an evening featuring Mayor Nicole Minions of the Town of Comox and Mayor Vickey Brown of the Village of Cumberland as they come together for a candid fireside conversation about the future of our communities and the role local business plays in shaping that future.

Attendees will have the opportunity to participate in an open audience Q&A, creating a unique opportunity to engage directly with two of our region’s civic leaders.

Tickets: https://www.cvwbn.org/store/p/dinner-meet-up-september2026
$55 CVWBN Members
$65 Non-Members

#comoxvalleysmallbusiness #beinformed #comoxvalleywomensbusinessnetwork #civicduty
Get @reshare_app • @westshorechamber Members, plea Get @reshare_app • @westshorechamber Members, please join us on Tuesday, September 29, 2026 8:00 AM - 9:30 AM for coffee and tea with our host @indigenousperspectivesociety! 

This is a great event for those new to or nervous of networking, as everyone has a chance to provide information about their business and connect in a friendly and informal atmosphere. This event will be for a maximum of 30 people. 

🎟️ Secure your spot today! LINK IN BIO.

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.
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#WestshoreBC #YYJEvents #WestShoreChamber #LangfordBC #MixerEvent
Get @reshare_app • @vialliance Some of the best co Get @reshare_app • @vialliance Some of the best conversations at Summit happen between the sessions.

Three days of ideas, connections and conversations from across Vancouver Island - October 20–22 in Nanaimo.

Learn more at the link in our bio.

#VIEASummit2026 #VancouverIsland
Get @reshare_app • @builtforchange.ca Breakfast Ne Get @reshare_app • @builtforchange.ca Breakfast Networking with Built for Change
👉🏻 Join us for a facilitated breakfast conversation and networking with Suzie Read and Lori Lynch from Built for Change.

A small group of business owners and professionals sharing ideas and solutions.

🗓️ This month’s topic: Deciding What Deserves Our Attention in Times of Change
When the conditions keep changing and the options keep growing, how do you decide what matters most?

We’ll explore how business owners and leaders make clearer decisions when priorities compete, new opportunities keep appearing and there are more possible directions than ever.

A practical, peer-led conversation about what helps us choose where to focus and what we can learn from how others approach it.

Friday, Sept 25, 2026
7:30am - 8:30am
Gather Comox, Comox, BC
Coffee and light breakfast bites will be provided.

Space is limited. Registration required.
https://luma.com/b6pwgbdr

Bring a founder friend or leader asking the same questions.
Interested in co-hosting or sponsoring? Get in touch.

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSOR
Home Instead North Island, Courtenay

Tracie Robertson, Owner Home Instead North Island and Island Nursing
Home Instead  is the local provider of personalized in-home care for older adults in the Comox Valley and North Island, part of a global network with more than 1,200 locations worldwide. They offer services like companionship, personal care, and specialized dementia support, all guided by a mission to help people age safely, confidently, and with purpose at home.
@island_nursing_inc
@homeinstead3049

#businessnetworking  #vancouverisland #builtforchange  #peerconversation
Get @reshare_app • @nanaimochamber September’s Bus Get @reshare_app • @nanaimochamber September’s Business After Business is all about meaningful conversations, new connections, and community spirit.

Join the Greater Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce for a relaxed evening hosted by the Rotary Clubs of Nanaimo & Lantzville. It is a great opportunity to meet fellow Chamber members, connect with local business and community leaders, and learn more about Rotary’s long-standing role in service and partnership across our region.

Guests will hear from Evelyn, a Nanaimo business owner, Charter Member of the Rotary Club of Nanaimo Daybreak, and Chair of the Four-Club Partnership Committee, who will share how local Rotary clubs work together to support community projects, fundraising, and service initiatives.

📅 Thursday, September 17, 2026
🕔 5:00–7:00 PM
📍 808 Wing RCAF Association Building, 719 Nanaimo Lakes Rd., Nanaimo

Free for Members | $15 for Future Members

Register through the link in our bio.

#greaternanaimochamberofcommerce  #businessafterbusiness  #nanaimobusiness  #nanaimonetworking  #nanaimobusinesscommunity
Get @reshare_app • @mycommunityfutures Here’s what Get @reshare_app • @mycommunityfutures Here’s what’s coming up next week at myCommunityFutures! 

Explore upcoming learning opportunities to support your business or organization: 

🔹 Sept 8: Key Elements of Service Contracts 
🔹 Sept 9: Sales / Client Acquisition 
🔹 Sept 10: Creating Your Intentional Week 

📌 Business training from Community Futures is free of charge within select CF-service regions. Check eligibility at mycommunityfuturesbc.ca

#vancouverislandbusiness
Get @reshare_app • comoxvalleychamber Join us next Get @reshare_app • comoxvalleychamber Join us next Wednesday, September 9 at LOAM Cumberland. This outdoor lunch-hour experience is designed to help you step away from the demands of your day and reconnect with yourself as we move into Fall 🍂

Facilitated by Annicia, Founder of Shift Experience Collective, together we’ll explore practical breathing patterns and nervous system regulation tools that can be woven into your workday. Leave with accessible practices you can revisit before an important meeting, after a difficult conversation, or anytime you need to reset. 

No yoga experience necessary! Just give yourself permission to pause. 

Tickets are available at comoxvalleychamber.com/events – spots are limited, register now 🎟

#comoxvalleybusiness #chamberofcommerce
Get @reshare_app • @clubkwench Rare opportunity co Get @reshare_app • @clubkwench Rare opportunity coming up! 📣 Private offices for teams of 2 to 20 are available starting October 1, 2026, and January 1, 2027!

☕️ Flexible 1-year lease
☕️ Flexible layout options for remote, hybrid, and enterprise teams, and the in between
☕️ Wave goodbye to overhead costs
☕️ Access to all KWENCH amenities + our radical hospitality
☕️ A highly connected community at your fingertips

+ so much more!

Give your team a turnkey office with wellness, community and support built in.

Get in touch to inquire more. ⬆️🔑

#victoriabc #victoriabcbusiness
Get @reshare_app • @100womenwhocaremidisland Ladie Get @reshare_app • @100womenwhocaremidisland Ladies - Its time to RSVP for the September Giving Meeting

Please let us know you will be joining us, September 16th 7:30pm in Ladysmith

#ladysmithbusiness #ladysmith
Get @reshare_app • @thewebc Help grow opportunitie Get @reshare_app • @thewebc Help grow opportunities for women entrepreneurs in your community!

Applications for the WeBC Pollinator Program intake are now open. Across BC, over 330 WeBC Pollinators are creating meaningful connections, sharing resources, and helping entrepreneurs feel supported every step of the way. 

If you like connecting with fellow business owners, supporting women in business, and making a difference where you live, we invite you to join us!

As a WeBC Pollinator, you’ll become part of a province-wide network of community champions dedicated to helping women entrepreneurs access valuable programs, mentorship, and opportunities.

Along the way, you’ll gain access to exclusive training, networking opportunities, events from our sponsor, @Scotiabank Women Initiative, a complimentary 1-year membership with @athenacollective_, and more.

Applications are open until September 4. 

Learn more and apply by visiting the link in our bio or 👇🏼
go.we-bc.ca/PollinatorProgram

#WomenEntrepreneurs #WeBCPollinator #SupportWomenInBusiness #WomenInBusinessBC #Entrepreneurship CommunitySupport
Get @reshare_app • @saanichpeninsulachamber Your W Get @reshare_app • @saanichpeninsulachamber Your Weekly Update | August 26, 2026

What does your business stand for?

This fall, VIPBC is back with the next conversation in its social purpose series—helping businesses uncover their purpose and turn it into action.

Also this week 👀

👋 Meet our newest member
🤝 A Board opportunity with one of our member organizations
📅 Upcoming events + member opportunities
💼 New local job postings

Want to stay connected to what’s happening in our business community?

👉 Sign up for our weekly newsletter through our website or register for the upcoming VIPBC webinar—link in bio.

#saanichbusiness #saanich #saanichpeninsula
Get @reshare_app • @startupcanada Some of the stro Get @reshare_app • @startupcanada Some of the strongest partnerships start with a simple hello! 👋

Our Startup Canada Tour stops aren’t just about the stage; they’re built on connection! Come meet fellow founders, mentors, and ecosystem builders who are ready to talk shop! You never know who your next connection might be!

Join us in Victoria on September 29 by getting a ticket at the link in our bio!

Presented by @ups_canada @scotiabank @pizzahutcanada

#StartupCanadaTour #VictoriaEntrepreneurs #VictoriaSmallBusiness #VictoriaEvents
Get @reshare_app • @thesulis.co Instagram shouldn’ Get @reshare_app • @thesulis.co Instagram shouldn’t feel like another thing you have to figure out.
If you’re comfortable on Facebook or LinkedIn but Instagram still feels a little…foreign, this one is for you.

Instagram Made Simple is a hands-on, two-hour workshop designed to help you understand how Instagram actually works  and feel confident using it for your business.

We’ll break down:
 → Feed, Stories, Reels & Carousels
 → What to post where
 → How to create and share content
 → Setting up your profile with purpose (and consistency)
 → Engagement, connection & the features that actually matter
 → And plenty of time for your questions

No influencer energy required. No complicated jargon. No expectation that you need to become a full-time content creator.
Simple and practical guidance, hands-on support, and a small group of business owners learning together.

📅 Wednesday, September 9
⏰ 10 AM–12 PM
📍 Sulis Collective
👯‍♀️ Hosted by Meghan of Sulis Collective + Kayleigh of Prismatic Creative
🎟 Only 10 seats 

$39 | $30 for Sulis members

And if you’re ready to go beyond learning how to use Instagram and want to learn what to create, you can continue into our three-part Content That Connects series beginning September 16.

September is a good time to get comfortable with the platform, finish Q3 strong, and head into Q4 with a little more clarity and confidence.

#comoxvalleybusiness #comoxvalley
Get @reshare_app • @iafbc We’re hiring a Communica Get @reshare_app • @iafbc We’re hiring a Communications Coordinator! ✨🌱

We’re looking for someone who likes variety, takes initiative, and can take direction and run with it. IAF moves quickly, so you’ll need to stay organized, manage competing deadlines, and be ready to jump in when something new comes up. This is a full-time, hybrid role (Victoria, BC preferred). Apply by Aug 31, 2026 at 8:00am: https://bciaf.ca/careers/.

#IAFDelivers #bcjobs #yyjjobs #victoriabc
Get @reshare_app • @iwist_org From preparing for e Get @reshare_app • @iwist_org From preparing for earthquakes to unique engineering and technology challenges. These @uvic_ecss women are showing us how the future may look. Congrats and thanks to @rdbrck @shift_browser for their support! 

#vancouverislandbusiness
Get @reshare_app • comoxvalleychamber A huge thank Get @reshare_app • comoxvalleychamber A huge thank you to @cristinesaxon for bringing us some brilliant new books for our Business Community Lending Library! 

If you’re a Chamber member, come in and check it out. We have books on a range of topics including stress management, HR, sales skills, non-profit management and more, all free to borrow 📚 

#BuildingGoodBusiness #BuildingGreatCommunity #chamberofcommerce #comoxvalley
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