With Government of Canada’s new fiscal year underway and rising uncertainty around tariffs and global trade, manufacturers in Canada are entering a challenging and fast-evolving funding environment. Government programs are shifting to respond—but staying on top of what’s available, what’s changed, and what you’re actually eligible for can be overwhelming. If your team is focused on day-to-day operations, it’s easy to miss out on valuable support that could help offset rising costs and drive growth.
Join NorthBridge Consultants for a practical, insights-packed session designed to help you:
<ul>
<li>Understand the latest updates in government funding</li>
<li>Match current programs to your business goals</li>
<li>Learn strategies for stacking and timing funding</li>
<li>Improve your applications with actionable tips</li>
</ul>
Whether you&#8217;re new to funding or looking to sharpen your approach, this session will help you find opportunities and make every dollar go further.

Funding Insights for Manufacturers

Join NorthBridge Consultants for a practical, insights-packed session regarding government funding supports.

Government Funding for Today's Manufacturing Challenges

Alberta

British Columbia

Manitoba

Saskatchewan

Central Ontario

Eastern Ontario

Food and Beverage

Golden Horseshoe

Greater Toronto Area

Grey Bruce Counties

New Brunswick

Newfoundland

Northern Ontario

Prince Edward Island

Nova Scotia

Southwestern Ontario

Join us for a Human Resources Roundtable discussion designed specifically for manufacturers across Nova Scotia. This is a great opportunity to connect with fellow HR professionals, share challenges, exchange best practices and explore practical strategies to strengthen your workforce.
What to Expect:
Open discussion on HR trends and challenges in manufacturing 
Recruitment and retention strategies 
Workforce planning and employee engagement 
Peer-to-peer knowledge sharing

Best Practice Sharing for Nova Scotia Manufacturers

Whether you manage HR full-time or it’s just one of many hats you wear, this roundtable for Nova Scotia manufacturers is a chance to connect with others, talk through common challenges, and walk away with practical ideas you can use right away.

Human Resources Roundtable

As new and evolving U.S. tariffs take effect and Canada prepares its policy response under a new government, join us to learn more about programs and resources that can assist manufacturers in solving their trade challenges.
<ol>
<li>EMC: Introduction / Overview</li>
<li>EDC: (20 minutes) Andrew Verlaan, Regional Director, Southwest and Northern Ontario</li>
<li>BDC: (20 minutes) Lance McLellan, Vice-President, South West Ontario</li>
<li>Q&amp;A (20 minutes)</li>
</ol>
Overview:
As the manufacturing sector faces new and evolving challenges from the recently imposed tariffs and shifting global trade dynamics, access to timely financial and risk management support is critical.
Join EMC, Export Development Canada (EDC), and the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) for a focused discussion on the tools, programs, and strategies available to help manufacturers navigate this evolving trade environment.
This timely session will explore:
<ol>
<li>EDC’s risk management and trade finance solutions to support exporters managing market uncertainty</li>
<li>BDC’s financial and advisory supports designed to strengthen the resilience and competitiveness of Canadian SMEs</li>
<li>Practical examples of how manufacturers are using these resources to offset trade disruptions, protect cash flow, and diversify markets</li>
<li>Key considerations for manufacturers developing export strategies in a high-tariff climate</li>
</ol>
Who Should Attend: 
Manufacturers and SMEs, exporters, supply chain managers, trade specialists, policy professionals, and anyone with a stake in Canada-U.S. trade or international market development.
About Our Presenters:
BDC: Lance McLellan, Vice-President, South West Ontario &#8211; Based in Kitchener, Lance oversees BDC’s financing and advisory services in South West Ontario, which includes Business Centres in Kitchener, St. Catharines, London, Windsor as well as the Bank’s Automotive Sector strategy. He leads a team of seasoned professionals dedicated to providing essential financing and strategic advice to business owners, facilitating their growth.
Since joining BDC in 2010, Lance has taken on roles of increasing responsibility including Account Manager, Team Lead, Manager-Ontario Automotive and Aerospace Sectors and Business Centre Manager. While he has gained skills and experience supporting entrepreneurs across diverse industries, his true passion is the support and growth of Ontario’s automotive industry supply chain.

In the wake of the federal election – for the next event in our series on trade and tariffs, EMC will be joined by Export Development Canada (EDC) and Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) for a timely discussion on the resources and supports available to help deal with tariff implications for Canada’s manufacturing sector.

Supporting Canadian Manufacturers Amidst Tariff Pressures

For more information or inquiries, please contact Steve Holmgren, MCM &#8211; <a href="mailto:sholmgren@emccanada.org" rel="noopener">sholmgren@emccanada.org</a>

Location: Kingston, ON (exact address to be disclosed upon registration)
<h2>Agenda:</h2>
8:00am &#8211; Registration &amp; Networking Breakfast
8:45am &#8211; Welcome
9:00am &#8211; Creating a Culture of Usefulness &#8211; Glenn Bostock
9:45am &#8211; Networking Break
10:15am &#8211; Energy &amp; Sustainability Presentation by EMC
11:00am &#8211; Panel Discussion &#8211; CI / Productivity
12:00pm &#8211; Lunch
1:00pm &#8211; Plant Tours (SnapCab or Haakon)
<h2></h2>
<h1>More Info</h1>
<h3>Glenn Bostock | CEO &amp; Founder of SnapCab</h3>
About the Speaker 
Glenn Bostock&#8217;s story is one of remarkable success, shaped by his experiences with learning disabilities and adversity during his school years. Glenn went on to found SnapCab which manufactures simple-to-install elevator interiors and award-winning custom privacy pods.
Bostock&#8217;s unique philosophy of embracing failure and seeing challenges as opportunities for growth has been instrumental in creating the workplace environment he has built. His ability to foster a culture that follows the company&#8217;s values of being kind, authentic, and useful has helped propel SnapCab&#8217;s impressive growth and success across two manufacturing facilities located in the United States and Canada.
<h3>Facility Tours</h3>
SnapCab
Haakon Industries
&nbsp;
<h2>Sponsorship / Partnership Opportunities</h2>
Please <a href="https://partners.blackbean.marketing/emc/wp-content/uploads/sites/21/Sponsorship-Package-2025.pdf">click here</a> to review opportunities for sponsorship.  We look forward to hearing from you!

Join us for a dynamic in-person event tailored to tackle today’s manufacturing challenges while unlocking opportunities for future growth. Designed to spark ideas, foster collaboration, and drive innovation, this forum will leave you energized, informed, and ready to lead with confidence.

Manufacturing Excellence Forum - Kingston

Detailed agenda to follow.
About Our Speaker: 
Pamela MacDonald began her career with the government at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) in 2001. She’s had the opportunity to work on many high-visibility teams and projects, such as the Inspection Modernization Office, Operations Modernization Project Office, and led the team responsible for transitioning the Meat Program over to the Standard Inspection Procedure. In addition to these projects, Pamela has gained experience in the inspection space through roles as a Food Safety Specialist, Inspection Manager, and Director of Operations for NE Ontario.
Currently, Pamela is the Executive Director for the Inspection Support Directorate in Operations branch. In this role, she has oversight of the inspection program delivery in terms of issues management, inspector guidance, planning and delivery, as well as quality and consistency of inspections. Pamela and her team are working to build a collaborative relationship with external stakeholders, such as industry representatives and other government departments, in order to bring consistency and predictability to the regulatory and service activities the CFIA’s inspectors perform.

A Food, Beverage, Bio & Ag Network event

Hear insights from Pamela Macdonald, Executive Director for the Inspection Support Directorate in Operations branch of CFIA.

Insights from CFIA

Hosted by Excellence in Manufacturing Consortium.

<h3>Workshop topics for discussion:</h3>
<ul>
<li>9:00 &#8211; Introductions, Networking and briefing on EMC’s Canadian Manufacturing Supply Chain Initiative</li>
<li>10:00 &#8211; Connecting Demand to Supply: Results and insights from EMC’s ManufacturingGPS: A Roadmap to Growth for Alberta Manufacturers labour market study.</li>
<li>11:30 &#8211; Lunch</li>
<li>12:00 &#8211; Creating a Solutions Roadmap: Facilitated stakeholder discussion</li>
<li>1:00 &#8211; Farewell</li>
</ul>
The Province of Alberta is working in partnership with the Government of Canada to provide employment support programs and services. This event is funded in part by the Province of Alberta’s Department of Jobs, Economy, and Trade, aimed at strengthening Alberta’s manufacturing sector by addressing critical labour market gaps, enhancing workforce development, and building partnerships with educational programs and initiatives.

Manufacturers across Alberta are navigating unprecedented challenges affecting business operations and competitiveness. Please join us in Red Deer for an in-person event designed to share important initiatives in the sector, unveil Alberta labour market survey data, and discuss practical solutions.

A Workshop for Alberta Manufacturers

Current Issues and Best Practices

Join us for an open discussion about Supply Chain.

Current Issues and Best Practices

Supply Chain Strategic Interest Group

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