BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//CQCC: Canadian Queer Chamber of Commerce - ECPv6.15.20//NONSGML v1.0//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://queerchamber.ca X-WR-CALDESC:Events for CQCC: Canadian Queer Chamber of Commerce REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H X-Robots-Tag:noindex X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:America/Toronto BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20240310T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20241103T060000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20250309T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20251102T060000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20260308T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20261101T060000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20270314T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20271107T060000 END:STANDARD END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20251101T080000 DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260331T170000 DTSTAMP:20260513T110926 CREATED:20251101T181142Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260106T142352Z UID:10002206-1761984000-1774976400@queerchamber.ca SUMMARY:CQCC 2025-2026 Trade Mission Series DESCRIPTION:Expand your business horizons with CQCC’s upcoming Trade Missions! \n\n\n\nCQCC’s Global Program is excited to announce a series of domestic and international Trade Missions running now through March 2026\, to key markets including: Toronto (completed!)\, Japan/Taiwan\, France\, and Brazil/Colombia. \n\n\n\nNOTE: CQCC is monitoring the unfolding situation in Venezuela alongside our international affiliates in the region\, and will communicate directly with interested parties and confirmed delegates should any details around the trade missions\, particularly those to Brazil and Colombia\, change.  \n\n\n\nThese missions are designed to open doors and spark connections through curated B2B matchmaking\, market briefings\, trade fair-style showcases\, conferences\, and high-value networking with SMEs and corporate buyers. \n\n\n\nYou don’t need to be a certified supplier to participate! This initiative is specifically aimed at promoting LGBTQ+ and SME businesses and entrepreneurs—even those new to CQCC. All 2SLGBTQI+ entrepreneurs and other diverse-owned organizations are encouraged to submit an application\, including those with minority LGBTQ+ ownership. \n\n\n\nWe’re aiming to build broad networks and engage corporate partners overseas. Exact dates and locations will be confirmed directly with accepted participants. \n\n\n\n\nPre-register here!\n\n\n\n\nWhat to Expect:\n\n\n\nDelegates will gain access to a curated mix of: \n\n\n\n\nB2B matchmaking with SMEs and corporate buyers\n\n\n\nMarket briefings and trade fair-style showcases\n\n\n\nConferences and high-value networking opportunities\n\n\n\n\nFinancial Support Available:\n\n\n\nEligible participants may qualify for up to 50% reimbursement\, covering: \n\n\n\n\nEconomy roundtrip airfare\n\n\n\nPer diem towards meals and accommodation (roughly $250 per day)\n\n\n\nReduced registration costs/Promo rates for hotel and airfare as available\n\n\n\nParticipants can join multiple Trade Missions: please only apply to missions you are able to join if accepted.\n\n\n\n\nImportant Details:\n\n\n\n\nParticipants can join multiple Trade Missions—apply only for those you can attend if accepted.\n\n\n\nCompleting the pre-registration form does not guarantee participation. Final delegation will be determined by CQCC in consultation with partners.\n\n\n\nCQCC continues to monitor the unfolding situation in Venezuela alongside our international affiliate partners in the region. We will communicate directly with interested parties and confirmed delegates should any details for upcoming trade missions change as a result. \n\n\n\n\nRegister today! URL:https://queerchamber.ca/event/cqcc-trade-mission-series/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://queerchamber.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/11/2025-2026-New-Trade-Missions-Banner-no-HFX.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260219T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260219T140000 DTSTAMP:20260513T110926 CREATED:20251015T201842Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260428T154016Z UID:10002196-1771506000-1771509600@queerchamber.ca SUMMARY:2026 EY/CQCC Pitch Competition DESCRIPTION:Canadian Queer Chamber of Commerce\, in collaboration with EY\, invites CQCC’s certified suppliers and OUT for Business entrepreneurs to participate in the 2026 Virtual EY Pitch Series. This series comprises three Pitch Sessions throughout the year\, offering selected participants the opportunity to present their pitches to a panel of judges within a 10-minute timeframe. Judges will provide constructive feedback and tips to help entrepreneurs enhance their selling techniques to corporate buyers. \n\n\n\nThe pitch competition is only for CQCC’s certified suppliers and OUT for Business Entrepreneurs. For a more robust understanding of what the EY Pitch Competition will entail\, join us for an Info Session on February 19th\, 1:00 – 2:00 PM ET . This is a great opportunity to gain knowledge about the application process and what to expect at this year’s competition. This webinar will go over details of the pitch competition\, you will get to meet past participants and will end with a Q&A. \n\n\n\nFormat of the 2026 EY Virtual Pitch Series: \n\n\n\n\nEach round will feature at least three participants.\n\n\n\nThe order of presenters will be randomly selected before the presentations.\n\n\n\nPresentations are limited to two individuals from each participating company.\n\n\n\nEach participant will deliver a ten-minute presentation focusing on their service and value proposition.\n\n\n\nA two-minute warning will be given\, and presentations must conclude after ten minutes.\n\n\n\nPresenters must use visual presentations. (PowerPoint\, slides\, Canva\, Figma\, etc.)\n\n\n\n\nPrizes:Winners of each round will be paired with mentors to prepare for the Finale in May. \n\n\n\n\nBest Pitch: Full scholarship to the Supplier Diversity Professional Excellence\, Tuck Executive Education at Dartmouth (approximate value: $4\,000USD).\n\n\n\nRunner Up: To be announced.\n\n\n\nThird Place: To be announced.\n\n\n\n\nDates (Subject to change): \n\n\n\n\nMARCH 26 | 1-3 PM ET\n\n\n\nAPRIL 16 | 1-3 PM ET\n\n\n\nMAY 7 | 1-3 PM ET\n\n\n\nFINALE in June. Dates to be announced.\n\n\n\n\nYou will receive a calendar invite for your slot upon registration if you get in! Participants are selected on first come\, first served basis. \n\n\n\nMentorship:After the last pitch session on May 7th\, each finalist will be paired with a mentor from EY\, who will receive up to four hours of one-to-one mentoring to perfect their pitch. \n\n\n\nJudging:EY will secure a minimum of 5 judges for each session and the Finale. Candidates will be assessed on a scale of 1-5 for the following criteria: \n\n\n\n\nPresentation materials\n\n\n\nVerbal communications\n\n\n\nNon-verbal communications\n\n\n\nUse of time\n\n\n\nCommunication of core service(s)\n\n\n\nValue proposition\n\n\n\n\nEY is committed to maintaining a diverse supplier base and building relationships with suppliers that reflect the market\, clients and communities they serve. EY seeks to actively identify\, develop\, and do business with diverse suppliers as an integral component of its procurement activities. Their Inclusive and Sustainable Procurement team drives the supplier diversity initiative at EY to promote supplier inclusion. \n\n\n\nRegistration closed. \n\n\n\n2026 EY Pitchers\n\n\n\nRound 1 – March 26th\n\n\n\n\n \n Our Team \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n David LeBlanc (he/him) \n\n \n Founder \n \n \n \n LeBlanc Leadership Group \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n David LeBlanc (he/him) \n\n \n Founder \n \n \n \n LeBlanc Leadership Group \n \n \n LeBlanc Leadership Group helps organizations build stronger leaders and high-performing teams through executive coaching\, team development\, and leadership programs. Our work focuses on creating clarity\, accountability\, and cultures where people and performance grow together. \nhttps://leblancleadership.ca/ \n  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Dr. Alice Curitz (she/they) \n\n \n Founder \n \n \n \n Our Landing Place \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n Dr. Alice Curitz (she/they) \n\n \n Founder \n \n \n \n Our Landing Place \n \n \n Our Landing Place is a 2SLGBTQIA+ and Neurodivergent affirming mental health clinic supporting clients through an intersectional and anti-oppressive lens across Canada. We offer consulting and training services to individuals and organizations to help them expand their understanding of and increase their ability to work with 2SLGBTQIA+ and Neurodivergent folks. \nwww.ourlandingplace.com \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Leonardo Oliveira (he/him) \n\n \n Founder \n \n \n \n Second Nature English \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n Leonardo Oliveira (he/him) \n\n \n Founder \n \n \n \n Second Nature English \n \n \n Second Nature English is a gamified fluency training ecosystem built on pattern recognition and authentic language integration. We help learners move beyond translation and develop the cognitive ability to naturally think and communicate in English. \nhttps://www.secondnatureenglish.ca/ \n  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Michela Toscano (she/her) \n\n \n Founder \n \n \n \n IONICA \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n Michela Toscano (she/her) \n\n \n Founder \n \n \n \n IONICA \n \n \n IONICA is a cyber security and site reliability firm that defends web sites\, AI\, and applications from attack — and we keep them online and fast\, all the time.\n\nhttps://ionica.ca/\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Ty McKinney (he/him) \n\n \n Founder \n \n \n \n 8 Bit Cortex \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n Ty McKinney (he/him) \n\n \n Founder \n \n \n \n 8 Bit Cortex \n \n \n 8 Bit Cortex helps publicly funded non-profits align their fundraising and data strategy through a social return on investment assessment process. Our ImpactCore platform allows our customers to digitally deliver their training programs\, assisted with AI Agents and gamification elements to ensure they can secure their funding with data-driven impact stories. \n8 Bit Cortex \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n\nRound 2 – April 16th\n\n\n\n\n \n Our Team \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Ginny Santos (she/her) \n\n \n Founder \n \n \n \n Neolé \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n Ginny Santos (she/her) \n\n \n Founder \n \n \n \n Neolé \n \n \n Neolé helps leaders and teams think clearly during the day and sleep soundly at night. Through facilitation\, team development\, and NeuroPerformance Coaching\, we enable caring leaders to sustain high performance without burning out. \nHome \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Nazanin Moghadami (she/her) \n\n \n Founder \n \n \n \n Nabat Health Center \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n Nazanin Moghadami (she/her) \n\n \n Founder \n \n \n \n Nabat Health Center \n \n \n Nabat Health Center is BC’s first queer forward\, trans inclusive health clinic dedicated to people of color\, and the first clinic within Fraser Health to explicitly provide gender affirming care and abortion services. \nNabat-health.ca \n  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n PeopleDynamics Learning Group Inc (PDLG) \n\n \n PDLG Partners \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n PeopleDynamics Learning Group Inc (PDLG) \n\n \n PDLG Partners \n \n \n \n \n PDLG helps organizations address the costly breakdowns that occur when leaders lack the relational and conversational capacity required to lead complex teams. \nPeopleDynamics Learning Group Home \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Murielle Bien-Aimé (she/her) \n\n \n Founder \n \n \n \n Le Maison Komando \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n Murielle Bien-Aimé (she/her) \n\n \n Founder \n \n \n \n Le Maison Komando \n \n \n La Maison Komandō is an award winning intimate apparel & clothing company based in canada. Our mission is to DISRUPT the underwear and lingerie industry and redefine what traditional feminine underwear & clothing looks and feels like. \nhttps://bekomando.com/ \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Dr. Jackie F. Steele (she/her) \n\n \n CEO \n \n \n \n enjoi Innovation Inc (Vancouver) // enjoi Japan KK (Nagano) \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n Dr. Jackie F. Steele (she/her) \n\n \n CEO \n \n \n \n enjoi Innovation Inc (Vancouver) // enjoi Japan KK (Nagano) \n \n \n enjoi Innovation empowers leaders to make data-informed decisions\, reduce governance risks\, and to leverage business intelligence from global market analytics that are tailored to the company’s unique human capital footprint. We support leaders in investing rationally in innovation readiness and diverse talent mobilization through the integration of ethical AI and data-wise analytics that are human (legal) expert validated. The long-game payoff is efficiency\, meritocracy and competitive edge powered by a flourishing\, innovative workplace. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n\nRound 3 – May 7th\n\n\n\n\n \n Our Team \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Mitch Schwartz (he/him) \n\n \n Founder \n \n \n \n Ops Machine \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n Mitch Schwartz (he/him) \n\n \n Founder \n \n \n \n Ops Machine \n \n \n Ops Machine is a CGLCC-certified AI implementation and operations consultancy based in Montreal. We untangle complex technical projects by starting with the humans involved — so organizations build AI that actually fits how their people work\, not just how the technology works.\n\nOpsmachine.co \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Mak Rogers (they/he) \n\n \n Co-Founder \n \n \n \n Frankie D's Donuts \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n Mak Rogers (they/he) \n\n \n Co-Founder \n \n \n \n Frankie D's Donuts \n \n \n \nFrankie D’s Donuts is a queer-owned social enterprise born from community conversations about mental health\, suicide prevention\, and other hard conversations shared over sweet treats. We now scale those conversations nationwide through our Conversations That Matter card decks\, helping workplaces and communities create braver spaces for honest conversations that reduce loneliness and build connection. \nwww.frankiedsdonuts.com \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Bryn Bamber (she/her) \n\n \n Founder \n \n \n \n Bryn Bamber \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n Bryn Bamber (she/her) \n\n \n Founder \n \n \n \n Bryn Bamber \n \n \n Employee burnout is quietly costing companies their best employees. I teach practical somatic tools that help employees regulate stress and stay performing. I’ve delivered this work for organizations like the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association and Petrone & Partners Law. \nwww.brynbamber.com \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Hadis Saffari (she/her) \n\n \n Founder \n \n \n \n H&M Maid INC \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n Hadis Saffari (she/her) \n\n \n Founder \n \n \n \n H&M Maid INC \n \n \n Commercial and post-construction cleaning \nHmmaid.com \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Paul Jen (he/him) \n\n \n Managing Partner \n \n \n \n Paul Jen Communications Inc. \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n Paul Jen (he/him) \n\n \n Managing Partner \n \n \n \n Paul Jen Communications Inc. \n \n \n Paul Jen Communications Inc. is a queer-led strategic communications and brand advisory firm that helps established organizations align business strategy\, stakeholder narrative\, and market presence to drive growth with clarity and discipline. We work closely with Indigenous-owned and community-driven businesses\, bringing culturally aware\, structured communications that translate into measurable impact. \nWebsite: https://www.pauljen.com \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Seyed Nozadi (he/him) \n\n \n President \n \n \n \n System Support Canada \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n Seyed Nozadi (he/him) \n\n \n President \n \n \n \n System Support Canada \n \n \n System Support Canada provides 24/7 managed IT services and proactive cybersecurity solutions tailored for small and medium-sized businesses. We specialize in maintaining infrastructure\, data backups\, and remote helpdesk support to ensure continuous productivity at predictable monthly costs.\n\nWebsite URL: https://systemsupport.ca/ URL:https://queerchamber.ca/event/2026-ey-cqcc-pitch-competition/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://queerchamber.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/10/CQCC-EY-Pitch-Competition-96-in-x-36-in-scaled.png END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR