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January 2025

Level Up Your Leadership With 1855 Masterclass

Get 2025 off to a strong start by signing up for the 1855 Masterclass. Presented by Invest Durham, this free evening session on January 27 promises to challenge your perceptions of leadership and how to lead for the future.

Don Lovisa, President Emeritus of Durham College will provide the keynote on business leadership and the changing landscape, followed by an interactive discussion from an experienced leadership panel on critical topics that include:

• Adaptability and Agility

• Communication and Transparency

• Empathy and Emotional Intelligence

• Empowerment and Autonomy

• Collaboration and Team Building

• Resilience and Mental Toughness

• Strategic Decision-Making

• Transformational Leadership

• Technology and Innovation

• Organizational Culture

• Sustainability and Long-Term Thinking

Invest Durham And ACE Partner At CES

Invest Durham and Ontario Tech University’s ACE are exhibiting in a joint booth at tech’s biggest show, CES from January 7 to 10, 2025.

Put on by the Consumer Technology Association, CES bills itself as the proving ground for breakthrough technologies and global innovators. Invest Durham is looking forward to using the global platform to showcase the Region’s competitive advantage and innovation across all sectors, including advanced manufacturing.

Businesses looking to explore new opportunities and collaborations in Durham Region are invited to meet directly with Invest Durham and ACE at CES.

Learn more about Invest Durham

Background shows a film clapboard and popcorn on a table. Text reads February 11 2025 from 130 p.m. to 4 p.m. Your business. Their next film. Learn how to conduct business with the film and television industry. On the bottom are the logos of partners.

Get Your Business Ready For Its Close-up

Don’t wait for your business to be discovered—learn how to get involved in the film and television (TV) industry by signing up for Film Durham’s free seminar on February 11. Durham Region has a vibrant film and TV industry that relies on hundreds of creative and professional services and your business could be one of them.

Hosted in collaboration with the Region’s municipal film offices at

Parkwood National Historic Site (one of Canada’s top 10 film locations), the afternoon session will have you engaging with industry professionals and gaining valuable takeaways from panel discussions on what products and services are needed by the film and TV industry and how to market your business to this unique sector.

Registration closes February 5.

This is a video showing the Signature Sites in Durham Region

Signature Sites: The Durham Advantage

Home to an established energy cluster, a strong transportation network, and a diverse range of industrial and commercial properties, Durham Region is an ideal place to start, relocate, or build a business. Properties are available in various levels of servicing, and new properties regularly come to market.

Featuring more than 40 properties in all eight of Durham’s local municipalities, our Signature Sites package highlights detailed investment information, transportation infrastructure and permitted use and connectivity.

Watch this video to learn more about the Durham advantage or contact Invest Durham to learn about a specific property.

View Durham Region's Signature Sites

Events and Partnerships

January Events At BACD

Kickstart your business journey in 2025 with Business Advisory Centre of Durham (BACD). Sign up for these BACD free events this month:

January 8, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.: Business Planning Workshop. Develop a solid business plan to guide your success.

January 14, 9:30 to 11 a.m.: Start Up Session. Learn the fundamentals of starting a business with insights from our experienced advisors.

January 16, 4 to 6:00 p.m.: Marketing and Sales Workshop. Create a marketing plan that targets your ideal customer and identify effective marketing tactics.

January 23, 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.: Create Your Google Business Profile

January 28, 11 to 12:30 p.m.: Marketing and Sales Workshop

January 29, 2 to 4 p.m.: Financials and Operations Workshop

All sessions are designed to equip you with the knowledge and tools for success. Spaces are limited.

Secure Your Spot For UnConference 2

Early-bird tickets are available now for the second annual Urban Agriculture UnConference. Hosted by Durham College’s The Barrett Centre of Innovation in Sustainable Urban Agriculture, the event will look at reimagining urban spaces to strengthen urban agriculture in communities.

Join leaders from across the policy, education, food security, and innovation sectors on February 27 at the Galen Weston Centre for Food at Durham College’s Whitby campus.

Ticket prices go up January 15 and registration closes February 24.

Recent Business News

For the second straight year, Ontario Tech University has placed first in its tier as Canada’s Research University of the year by Research Infosource Inc. The first-place ranking among Canada’s smaller, primarily undergraduate universities recognizes Ontario Tech for its research impact, reputation among partners and continuing growth in industry-sponsored research income. Read more about the honour.

High marks as well for Durham College . It has once again been named one of

Canada’s Top 50 Research Colleges by Research Infosource Inc. Durham College placed 24th in the annual ranking and was highlighted as second among medium-sized colleges for the number of paid student researchers and third for industry research income as a percentage of total college research income.