Q-EDGE

Join us in Ottawa on March 30 for Q‑EDGE, CQCC’s inaugural Economic Development & Growth Exchange—created to advance 2SLGBTQI+ economic prosperity and strengthen our business ecosystem.

This high‑energy, in‑person event will bring together 2SLGBTQI+ entrepreneurs, innovators, and ecosystem partners. The day includes open networking and a tradeshow, CQCC remarks, and a Regional Partner Spotlight featuring the Ontario Queer Chamber of Commerce (OQCC), exploring Creative Economies & Queer Innovation.

You’ll also hear from QueerTech in a timely panel on AI, access, and agency, and take part in facilitated Brain Dates designed to spark meaningful peer‑to‑peer exchange.

Whether you’re growing a business, exploring new ideas, or looking to connect with the queer business ecosystem, Q‑EDGE offers:

• Actionable insights you can use right away
• Meaningful connections with peers and partners
• A welcoming space to learn, share, and build community

Be part of the movement advancing inclusive economic growth: come curious and leave connected. Register now!

Date & Time: March 30, 2026 | 9am-2pm ET
Location: Alma Duncan Salon @ OAG Ottawa Art Gallery, 50 Mackenzie King Bridge, Ottawa ON

AGENDA

MEET THE Hosts & Speakers

canadian queer chamber of commerce (cqcc)

Our Team

Darrell Schuurman (he/him) CEO Canadian Queer Chamber of Commerce (CCQC)

Vanessa Ntinu (she/her) Membership Services Coordinator, Supplier Diversity

Merve Tosun (she/her) Business Development Manager, National

Hanna Haddad (he/him) Business Development Manager, East

Chris Mariano (he/him) Business Development Manager, West

ontario queer chamber of commerce (OQCC)
Creative Economies & Queer Innovation

Our Team

Jeff St. Denis, MBA (he/him) Founder & CEO Culture Catalyst Inc.

Steven Hilliard (he/him) Program & Events Coordinator OQCC

Chimaera (she/her) Speaker

Chambre de commerce lgbt du québec (cclgbt)

Our Team

Mathieu Vézina, MBA (il/lui/he/him) Président du conseil d'administration CCLGBT

Queertech
Access & Agency: Understanding AI Before It Decides for Us

REGISTER HERE!

Please note that dietary restrictions may not be able to be accommodated for registrations received after March 18, 2026.

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Contact information:

Full Name *

First

Last

Pronoun(s)

• She/Her
• She/They
• He/Him
• He/They
• They/Them
• He/She/They
• Other (please specify)

Other: *

Email *

Phone

Are you or your business one of the following? *

• CQCC Certified Supplier
• CQCC Corporate Member
• Rainbow Registered
• CQCC FAM Member
• CQCC Affiliate Member
• 2SLGBTQI+ entrepreneur, but not a CQCC member
• Representative from an ecosystem or affiliate organization
• Government representative
• Media representative
• I’m not a 2SLGBTQI+ entrepreneur, but interested in attending
• CQCC staff / Speaker

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Job title *

Company name *

Company URL *

Demographic questions (optional)

Before we proceed with the demographic questions, we want to share why we are asking for this information. The Canadian Queer Chamber of Commerce (CQCC) is committed to fostering an inclusive and equitable environment for all entrepreneurs and community members. Collecting data on race, gender identity, and other demographic factors allows us to: – Understand the diverse makeup of our community and ensure that our programs and initiatives are accessible and relevant to everyone. – Identify and address any gaps or barriers that equity-deserving groups may face in accessing our services. – Measure our progress towards creating a more inclusive ecosystem and inform our strategies for continuous improvement. Please be assured that your responses will be kept confidential and used solely to enhance our programs and support diversity and inclusion within our community. 

Please indicate the languages you speak or understand. (Please select all that apply) * *

• English
• French

Which of the following best describes your primary geographical location? (Please select one)

• Rural Community
• Remote Community
• Northern Community
• Urban/Suburban Community
• None of the above

Rural: outside of urban and suburban communities but within reasonable driving distance of an urban centre. Remote: not within reasonable driving distance of an urban centre, limited access to services and infrastructure.

Could you tell us about your cultural or ethnic background? Please describe your background in the way you identify with it most.

Do you identify as a member of the 2SLGBTQI+ community? (Please select one)

• Yes
• No
• Prefer not to say

Which 2SLGBTQI+ communities do you identify with? (Please select all that apply)

• Lesbian
• Gay
• Bisexual
• Transgender
• Queer
• Intersex
• Asexual
• Two Spirit
• Non-binary
• Other

Other *

Understanding gender identity will help us tailor our programs and support to meet everyone's needs. Please select the option(s) that best describe your gender identity. (Please select all that apply)

• Woman
• Man
• Non-binary
• Two Spirit
• Transgender
• Prefer not to say
• Other

Other *

To better support equity-deserving groups, we are also interested in understanding if you identify as part of any of the following groups. (Please select all that apply)

• Black Community
• Other racialized communities
• Indigenous Peoples (First Nations, Métis, Inuit)
• Persons with disabilities
• Newcomers
• Refugees
• Veterans
• Prefer not to say
• Other
• Not applicable

Other *

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Questions about the event

Dietary restrictions, if any

• Vegetarian
• Gluten-free
• Dairy-free
• Lactose intolerance
• Allergies (please specify in others)
• Halal
• Kosher
• Other (please specify)

Other: *

Accessibility needs, if any

• Wheelchair Accessibility
• Sign language interpretation
• Other (please specify)

Other: *

How did you hear about this event? *

• Search engine (Google, Yahoo, Bing, etc)
• CQCC LinkedIn
• CQCC Facebook
• CQCC Instagram
• CQCC Newsletter
• CQCC staff
• Social media (not a CQCC account)
• Word of Mouth
• Other (please specify below)

Other *

Comments or Questions?

Image consent

By registering, you consent to the following: *

• You may be filmed or photographed during the event. They might be used for promotional material, including advertisements on CQCC social media and website. If you have any concerns, please notify a staff member upon arrival.

I agree to receive communications from CQCC.

• I agree to receive promotional communications from CQCC. In order to provide you the content requested, we need to store and process your personal data.

You may unsubscribe from these communications at any time. For more information please review our Privacy Policy at https://queerchamber.ca/privacy-policy/

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