YSpace Northern Entrepreneurship Hub
Entrepreneurship in East Gwillimbury
YSpace Northern York Region Entrepreneurship Hub provides entrepreneurial resources, including mentorship, access to peer-to-peer networks, and coworking space for collaboration. It fosters new business opportunities as well as personal and professional development for new and existing businesses.
A combination of on-demand business support and programming is available in East Gwillimbury and Georgina, both in-person and virtually. Programs are refined and augmented to address the specific needs of each business community.
Schedule an Idea Consultation (in-person or virtual) with our entrepreneurship team to get started.
Digital Skills for Business
.png "Digital Skills for Business")
Looking to grow your business and gain confidence using online platforms? YSpace’s Digital Skills for Business is a 10-week workshop series designed to help entrepreneurs build and enhance their online presence.
The program features in-person workshops in East Gwillimbury and Georgina and virtual sessions covering essential topics like AI Marketing, LinkedIn, Introduction to Canva, and more.
This free series is open to entrepreneurs aged 18 and older living in northern York Region, including East Gwillimbury, Georgina, the Chippewas of Georgina Island First Nations, and surrounding areas.
Workshops run weekly from until Friday, April 11, 2025.
Digital Skills Schedule
| AI and Small Business | South Lake Futures |
| Date and Time: Thursday, March 20, 2025 from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. EST
Location: Online, Zoom Description: As the business world embraces digital transformation, “AI for small business” is not just a trend but a necessity. Artificial intelligence (AI) has evolved from a complex tech jargon into an invaluable asset for businesses of all sizes. In this workshop, Calumet Media, in partnership with SADC Pontiac and the Pontiac Chamber of Commerce, will delve into demystifying AI and offer straightforward insights into harnessing this technology for growth and efficiency. We will discuss: · Evolution and overview of AI – From the Turing Test to Terminator and smart speakers, we discussed how we got here and where we’re going. · What AI is – and isn’t! – Although we call it “artificial intelligence” modern AI is still just regurgitation text it’s been fed. Machine learning is a key step in the development of “artificial general intelligence. · Tools for AI Content – including text, image, and video generation that can be used to improve the content on your website, social media, and newsletters. · Improving your prompts – identifying the 6 components of a good prompt to get better output from AI tools like ChatGPT. · Business examples – We revisit Pontiac Fitness, our fictitious business who uses AI technology to improve it’s business operations. Don't miss out on this learning opportunity with Jon Stewart, Calumet Media and South Lake Futures to stay ahead of the curve and take your business to the next level with AI. |
|
Optimizing for Search Engines - Understanding SEO | Digital Main Street |
|
Date and Time: Tuesday, March 25, 2025 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Location: Online Description: Welcome to this online event where Digital Main Street will dive deep into the world of SEO! Often you will hear about needing to optimize for search engines or SEO. But what is it, and how does it impact your digital presence? In this webinar, the Digital Main Street’s Toronto Digital Service Squad will explain search engine optimization and the best tactics you as a business can use towards increasing your ranking in the search engine result pages. What you will learn:
About the Facilitator Digital Main Street was created by the City of Toronto and the Toronto Association of Business Improvement Areas (TABIA) in 2016 to assist main street businesses in growing their operations through digital transformation with easy-to-use tools and resources. The Digital Service Squad is a team of trained marketers with strong technology and digital marketing skills, offering Toronto businesses free, customized 1-on-1 support to get started online, enhance their digital presence, and grow their business. Learn more by visiting www.digitalmainstreet.ca |
|
E-mail Marketing Webinar | Digital Main Street |
|
Date and Time: Tuesday, April 1, 2025 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Location: Online Description: Welcome to the "Email Marketing Webinar" by Digital Main Street! Join online for an informative session on how to take your email marketing to the next level. In the busy space of the digital world, connecting with your business through the noise is significant to having online success. Despite being around for so many years, email marketing is still a powerful tool to engage with your audience. In this webinar, the Digital Main Street’s Toronto Digital Service Squad will teach you the basics to email marketing, to help you create high quality and targeted emails to send to your subscribers. You'll finish this session feeling confident in your email marketing strategy in the digital world. What you will learn:
About the Facilitator Digital Main Street was created by the City of Toronto and the Toronto Association of Business Improvement Areas (TABIA) in 2016 to assist main street businesses in growing their operations through digital transformation with easy-to-use tools and resources. The Digital Service Squad is a team of trained marketers with strong technology and digital marketing skills, offering Toronto businesses free, customized 1-on-1 support to get started online, enhance their digital presence, and grow their business. Learn more by visiting www.digitalmainstreet.ca |
|
AI Marketing | TechConnex |
|
Date and Time: Thursday, April 3, 2025 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Location: YSpace Georgina at 1 Market Street, Sutton, ON L0E 1R0 Description: Artificial Intelligence is transforming many industries with marketing at the forefront. It is enhancing customer experiences, driving engagement, optimizing tasks and acting as a powerful assistant for entrepreneurs juggling many roles. Join Geraldine Gerardo as she shares practical tips on leveraging AI in your marketing strategy, helping you work smarter, and stay competitive. Don't miss out on this chance to stay ahead of the curve in the ever-evolving world of marketing! *Please be aware that our in-person events have limited capacity. Upon registering, you will receive a confirmation email with event details closer to the event date. Be sure to secure your spot early! |
|
Web Presence 101 - Ensuring Your Foundation is Set | Digital Main Street |
|
Date and Time: Tuesday, April 3, 2025 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Location: Online Description: Welcome to Digital Main Street's insightful workshop focused on establishing and enhancing your business's online presence! Your customers are on the web. Having a strategy for your online presence allows you to market your small business online so customers can easily find you. In this workshop hosted by the Digital Main Street’s Toronto Digital Service Squad, the importance of getting your business online will be discussed and where to start with developing your online presence. What you will learn:
Join Digital Main Street to lay the groundwork for a robust web presence for your business. About the Facilitator Digital Main Street was created by the City of Toronto and the Toronto Association of Business Improvement Areas (TABIA) in 2016 to assist main street businesses in growing their operations through digital transformation with easy-to-use tools and resources. The Digital Service Squad is a team of trained marketers with strong technology and digital marketing skills, offering Toronto businesses free, customized 1-on-1 support to get started online, enhance their digital presence, and grow their business. Learn more by visiting www.digitalmainstreet.ca |
|
Canva Foundations: Part 1 | Stella Graphix and East Gwillimbury Public Library |
|
Date and Time: Thursday, April 10, 2025 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Location: East Gwillimbury Operations Centre at 19850 Woodbine Avenue, Queensville, ON Description: The Introduction to Canva workshop series is designed to equip business owners with the skills to create professional and impactful designs using Canva. This free, two-part workshop will cover the fundamentals of Canva and techniques for content creation and design. Attendees will gain hands-on experience and leave with practical skills to enhance their business’s visual presence. Basics of Canva: Learn how to navigate Canva’s interface, explore its features, and set up your account for creating professional-quality designs. This includes an introduction to templates and an understanding of how to customize them. Using the Brand Kit: Understand how to set up and use Canva’s Brand Kit to streamline your design process. This includes incorporating your logo, brand colors, and fonts to ensure consistency across all your designs. Interactive session: Bring your designs to work on during the session! The East Gwillimbury Public Library (EGPL) will be on-site to provide hands-on help and technical support. You’ll also get time for feedback from professionals and peers, plus a Q&A session to make sure you leave with useful skills and confidence to create impactful designs. Note: To get the most benefit out of this workshop, we will be using Canva’s PRO (paid) version. If you don’t have a PRO account, you can sign up for a free seven-day trial to follow along. Facilitated by: Stella Graphix and East Gwillimbury Public Library (EGPL) Don't miss out on this opportunity to enhance your design skills and unleash your creativity with Canva! |
|
Canva Foundations: Part 2 | Stella Graphix and East Gwillimbury Public Library |
|
Date and Time: Friday, April 11, 2025 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Location: East Gwillimbury Operations Centre at 19850 Woodbine Avenue, Queensville, ON Description: The Introduction to Canva workshop series is designed to equip business owners with the skills to create professional and impactful designs using Canva. This free, two-part workshop will cover the fundamentals of Canva and techniques for content creation and design. Attendees will gain hands-on experience and leave with practical skills to enhance their business’s visual presence. How to Design Graphics and Ads:Gain step-by-step guidance on creating eye-catching social media graphics, digital ads, and promotional materials. The focus will be on incorporating your brand’s style while designing layouts that effectively communicate your message. Exploring Canva AI Tools:Discover the latest AI-powered features in Canva, such as Magic Resize, text-to-image tools, and other innovative functions that simplify and enhance the design process. Interactive Session:Bring your designs to work on during the session! The East Gwillimbury Public Library (EGPL) will be on-site to provide hands-on help and technical support. You’ll also get time for feedback from professionals and peers, plus a Q and A session to make sure you leave with useful skills and confidence to create impactful designs. Note: To get the most benefit out of this workshop, we will be using Canva’s PRO (paid) version. If you don’t have a PRO account, you can sign up for a free seven-day trial to follow along. Facilitated by: Stella Graphix and East Gwillimbury Public Library (EGPL) |
Ongoing Programs
Idea Consultations are your entry-point into the YSpace program. This one-on-one consultation connects you with the YSpace entrepreneurship team who will learn about your aspirations and how our programs can support your business growth or bring your ideas to life.
Join TechConnex, local entrepreneurs, and business owners in-person for a monthly peer-to-peer session. Peer-to-peer is where fast-growth business leaders and entrepreneurs can come together to exchange information that will help expand your businesses.
The Entrepreneurs in Residence (EIR) program offers an 8-session, one-on-one mentorship experience. Our industry-leading mentors will work closely with you, providing guidance to accelerate your business growth.
Frequently Asked Questions
| What is YSpace Northern York Region? |
| YSpace is York University’s pan-university entrepreneurship and innovation hub supporting startups and entrepreneurs from a variety of sectors and communities. YSpace programming spans scaling innovative technologies through customer and investor capital to scaling agri-food businesses into mass retail to diversity-focused initiatives like ELLA for women-led businesses and Black Entrepreneurship Alliance (BEA) for Black-led businesses.
YSpace Northern York Region in an entrepreneurship hub in East Gwillimbury and Georgina. YSpace offers an ecosystem of entrepreneurial resources, including mentorship, peer-to-peer networks, and co-working space. It fosters new business opportunities as well as personal and professional development for new and existing entrepreneurs. A combination of on-demand business support and programming is available in East Gwillimbury and Georgina, both in-person and virtually at no cost to your business. |
| Who is eligible to join YSpace Northern York Region? |
| YSpace Northern York Region is open to entrepreneurs 18+ who reside in northern York Region, primarily in East Gwillimbury, Georgina, and the Chippewas of Georgina Island First Nations. |
| Is there a cost to access mentorship or enroll in a program? |
| No, there is no cost to join a YSpace Northern York Region workshop, networking group, or to use the coworking space in Georgina. YSpace Northern York Region is made possible through a partnership and funding between the Town of East Gwillimbury, the Town of Georgina, and York University's YSpace, with additional funding from the Rural Economic Development (RED) program from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA). As a result of this funding and collaboration, the program is available to businesses at no cost. You can find more details in the full press release. |
| How do I enroll into YSpace Northern York Region? |
| Enrolling in the program starts with an Idea Consultation. During this session, you'll receive one-on-one consultation services connecting you with YSpace's entrepreneurship team. Together, you'll explore how the program and its resources can support the realization of your idea.
Idea Consultations provide:
To schedule your Idea Consultation and embark on your entrepreneurial journey, book a meeting with the entrepreneurship coordinator here. |
| Is there working space available for entrepreneurs? |
| Yes, there is a physical entrepreneurship hub in Georgina (YSpace Georgina) which is open to entrepreneurs from East Gwillimbury and Georgina. YSpace Georgina is located at 1 Market Street, Georgina, ON L0E 1R0. You can find more details about YSpace Georgina on their website.
Study Rooms are available as working space at the East Gwillimbury Public Library. Private study rooms are in the Mount Albert and Holland Landing library branches and are free to use if you are a library card holder. You can find more details about the East Gwillimbury public library and study rooms on their website. |
| How do I become a program mentor or workshop facilitator? |
| YSpace Northern York Region has an ongoing intake process for individuals interested in mentorship or facilitator roles. The specific responsibilities and time commitments can vary depending on the program and the needs of the businesses involved.
If you're interested in becoming involved, please fill out an application form. This will help us understand your background and match you with the appropriate program. Once you've completed the application, a YSpace representative will reach out to schedule an introductory call. |
| Where can I find more information on YSpace? |
| YSpace is York University’s pan-university entrepreneurship and innovation hub supporting startups and entrepreneurs from a variety of sectors and communities. Our programming spans scaling innovative technologies through customer and investor capital to scaling agri-food businesses into mass retail to diversity-focused initiatives like ELLA for women-led businesses and Black Entrepreneurship Alliance (BEA) for Black-led businesses. You can find more details about YSpace on their website. |
Meet with EG's Economic Development team to learn how YSpace can help your business.