Can you believe it? Another year is almost at an end. It feels like a few short weeks since we were basking in the warmth of summer, but the busy holiday season has arrived and winter is making its presence felt across the province.
As we look towards the holiday season and an exciting year to come, we’re feeling nostalgic for the year that was. It was a busy 12 months at Small Business BC, with lots of exciting new resources, the re-opening of our office to the public, and the long-awaited return of in-person events.
Let’s check out some of our highlights.
The Year in Numbers
It was a year in which the worst of the pandemic was left behind, but our small business community faced a whole new set of challenges. Whether it was inflation, supply chain, or staffing issues, BC’s entrepreneurs needed to be nimble and creative in their operations. We were continually inspired by the ingenuity and hard work they displayed to keep servicing their communities.
We’d like to express our gratitude to everyone who supported this community of entrepreneurs, and we’re proud to have played a part in servicing so many. Here are some of our numbers for 2022:
- 3.1 million entrepreneurs and small business owners helped through our online resources
- 67,000 + members of our BC community interacted with us on social media
- Over 11,000 entrepreneurs supported in 149 webinars – including 24 webinars with dedicated ASL and closed captioning
- 38,000+ votes, 636 nominations and 88 communities represented in our Small Business BC Awards
- 3,400+ clients helped by our one-on-one consultations
- 4,400+ businesses registered and promoted on our BC Marketplace
A message from our CEO, Tom Conway
My team recently asked if I could write an end-of-year message, “but that’s impossible,” I said to myself. “It can’t already be December, can it?!”
When I was younger, my mom would always tell me to “not wish time away because it already goes too fast.” But that’s tough from a child’s point of view, especially when they are waiting for holiday break. As I grew older, I continued to try to fast-forward life to get through final exams; go on vacation; and jump through bureaucratic hoops to get my business started.
When I reflect on the events of this past year, I realize the importance to live the life and work with the conditions with which we’ve been presented. Those moments turn into memories for which we can be grateful – capturing those moments in our thoughts, in photos and writing.
Small Business BC and our clients have many memories for which to be grateful this past year, including:
- SBBC partnering with Immigrant Services Society of BC to connect small businesses with newcomers to Canada through SmartMove;
- After years of preparation, SBBC was ultimately selected as one of two administrators for the Canada Digital Adoption Program to provide over $20 million in grants and support for small businesses to grow their online business;
- Our 19th Annual Small Business BC Awards took place virtually in April and for the first time, our prize money to the top-three winners totalled $15,000;
- We launched our on-demand E-Learning platform, allowing business owners the flexibility to take self-directed courses anywhere, anytime; and,
- We held our first-in person event in more than two years with nearly 300 attendees at our Build. Grow. Thrive. day of education and networking.
Upon reflection, there are so many more memories for which to be grateful. Going forward, I will remind myself that it is okay to look forward to life events in anticipation, but I need to stop wishing away time because it is a precious, limited resource with immeasurable value.
I dedicate this end-of-year message gratefully to my team at Small Business BC. None of those memories could have been created, nor would they mean anything, without each-and-every one of them.
Wishing you and yours the best for the coming year,
Tom Conway, CEO, Small Business BC
SBBC Holiday Opening Hours
Small Business BC’s office will be closed for the holidays from close of business on Friday, December 23rd to Tuesday, January 3rd, 2023.
Happy Holidays from the Small Business BC team.
