Small Business Week: Adapt. Connect. Grow.

Description

Join us as we kick off Small Business Week 2026, celebrating New Westminster's small business community! 

Hosted by the New West Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the City of New Westminster, Downtown Business Association, Uptown Business Association, Sapperton Business Collective, and Tourism New West, this evening is for entrepreneurs, small business owners, and their teams.

Event Agenda

What To Expect

• Insights from leaders at the Business Council of BC, the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, Douglas College, BDC, and BIABC. on the trends and challenges shaping small business today
• Hands-on breakout workshops with practical tools you can use right away (More information is in the registration link)
• Networking with fellow local business owners and organizations
• A celebration of the hard work and risk-taking behind running a small business

Additional details

• Refreshment and light snacks provided
• Complimentary childcare (ages 3–12), led by City of New West Parks & Recreation staff

Date: Monday, October 19, 2026
Time: 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Location: Anvil Centre, 777 Columbia Street
Cost: Free event for small businesses, registration required

Website: Register here

For more information about Small Business Week and the full lineup of events happening throughout October, please visit the City of New Westminster website. 

Panelists

Laura Jones President & CEO of the Business Council of British Columbia Laura Jones is President and Chief Executive Officer of the Business Council of British Columbia, a non-partisan organization representing leading businesses across all sectors of the provincial economy. She is a nationally recognized public policy leader, known for her work on regulatory modernization and economic competitiveness, including the creation of Canada’s annual Red Tape Awareness Week. Laura has chaired the federal External Advisory Committee on Regulatory Competitiveness and has advised governments at both the provincial and federal levels. Before joining the Business Council, she was the Chief Strategic Officer and Executive Vice President of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, where she led national advocacy, research, and member engagement initiatives. Her work has been published by the OECD and the Harvard Journal of Law & Public Policy. She holds a B.A. in Economics from Mount Holyoke College and an M.A. in Economics from Simon Fraser University.

Jeremy Heighton   President, Business Improvement Areas of British Columbia For almost 35 years, Jeremy has consistently found himself in a leadership role, whether it is consulting for the largest multi-national military organization on leadership and organizational dynamics, or coaching small business on start-up, operations and effective strategy. Jeremy is a passionate community leader who believes in the strength of servant leadership, effective process and policies, and the power of people (People, Process, Profit). Regardless of his role, Jeremy leans in and commits to finding the pathways which best serve the most people possible while focusing on the greatest outcomes.

Kalith Nanayakkara Senior Policy Analyst, CFIB, British Columbia Kalith Nanayakkara is CFIB’s Senior Policy Analyst for British Columbia. Based in Vancouver, he leads research, advocacy, and communications on issues affecting small businesses across the province, including taxation, crime, red tape, and affordability. Kalith began his career advocating for students at Canada’s leading research universities before moving into public policy and communications at the BC Legislature and serving as Press Secretary in the Mayor’s Office at the City of Vancouver. He brings experience in government relations, strategic communications, and stakeholder engagement, with a focus on making policy accessible and practical for small business owners. Coming from a family of small business owners, Kalith is passionate about strengthening entrepreneurship and reducing barriers for local businesses. He also brings an entrepreneurial mindset to his work, having co-founded a Vancouver-based creative brand focused on storytelling, media, and community engagement. Kalith holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of British Columbia.

Sarah Lloyd, CPA, CBV Business Centre Manager, BDC   Sarah is a Business Centre Manager at BDC, working with mid-sized businesses across Greater Vancouver. A Chartered Professional Accountant and Chartered Business Valuator, Sarah helps entrepreneurs grow stronger and more profitable businesses through tailored financing and advisory solutions. Leveraging BDC’s extensive network and expertise, she supports business owners with creative funding strategies for expansion, acquisitions, real estate, equipment, and working capital needs.

Breakout Sessions 

1. Cross-promotion & Collaboration: Teaming up with New West businesses - presented by the New Westminster Chamber + New West BIAs

2. Financing Growth: Securing and selecting the right capital at the right time - presented by Sarah Lloyd (BDC)

3. Own Your Digital Presence in the AI Era

Speaker: Dave Keighron - Professor, Douglas College

Dave Keighron is a marketing educator, practitioner, and podcast host with a focus on helping businesses and students bridge the gap between strategy and execution. He is a Professor of Marketing at Douglas College and University Canada West, where he specializes in social media marketing, digital strategy, analytics, entrepreneurship, and AI-powered marketing applications.

With over 15 years of industry and teaching experience, Dave works closely with small businesses, startups, and community organizations to design practical, results-driven marketing strategies. His approach emphasizes clarity, authenticity, and sustainable growth — helping organizations choose the right platforms, develop a consistent brand voice, and engage meaningfully with their audiences.

Dave is also the host and creator of several business and education-focused podcasts, including Innovation Fuel and Marketing Corner Talks, which spotlight real-world business challenges and teaching innovations. More recently, his work has expanded into AI and marketing, exploring how tools like generative AI and automation can support smarter decision-making without losing the human side of brand-building.

Dave is passionate about experiential learning, community partnerships, and empowering small business owners with practical tools they can apply immediately.