The YMCA Business Centre Workshop offers various workshops and seminars to our community and we want to make it easy for you to keep track of everything we have to offer. For the latest details on our monthly calendar, come back to this page often. We're always refreshing our schedule here with the most recent changes and updates.

Ontario Self-Employment Benefit Program (OSEB) Orientation
This orientation seminar explains the OSEB program and the criteria for eligibility. Designed for current and reach-back employment insurance recipients.

Bookkeeping Basics
Presented by: Maggie Lu
Bookkeeping is a record of financial transactions incurred in the business. In this workshop, you will learn how to get the big picture as to where business stands, whether it’s making a profit or loss. You will also learn how to group the various expenses and revenues for the business.

Business Planning: The Business (Part 1)
Presented by: Guy Russel
Every venture needs a plan. This three workshop series cover the essential elements of business planning and building a business plan. This workshop puts focus on the business: what it does, how it operates and who runs it.

Business Planning: The Market (Part 2)
Presented by: Guy Russel
In this workshop we focus on the market, what it is, how to define it for your business and how to determine your share. We will learn some important research skills and get a handle on some of the resources which are available to you

Business Plan: The Plan (Part 3)
Presented by: Guy Russel
Bring the results from of the first two workshops together to create the core of your business plan including objectives and time lines, operations, and marketing plans.

Business Plan (Lecture 1)
Presented by: Stephen Chua, Avitig Systems Inc., http://www.ancientworldsecrets.com/ 
The What and the How to create a working business plan while planning your business in the most effective and simplest way for implementation.

Business Plan (Lecture 2)
Presented by: Stephen Chua, Avitig Systems Inc., http://www.ancientworldsecrets.com/  
The What and the How to create a working business plan while planning your business in the most effective and simplest way for implementation. 
Pre-requisite: Business Plans (Lecture 1)

Success through Balance: Understanding Success (Lecture 1)
Presented by Zale Tabakman
This session introduces the concepts for becoming successful. Learn why Success is earned and is not luck. Learn who the experts are in becoming successful and what they have to teach you about becoming successful. Learn all about the power you have to become successful. This session is part of a certificate course with a class once a week. You must attend all the sessions to receive the Certificate.

Success through Balance: Creating Your Success Team (Lecture 2)
Presented by Zale Tabakman
Absolutely nobody becomes successful on their own. Everybody needs somebody, sometime. In this class, you will learn how-to create your own personal success team, what is required of the team and why they will want to be part of your team. This session is part of a certificate course with a class once a week. You must attend all the sessions to receive the Certificate.

 Success through Balance: Working For Success (Lecture 4)
Presented by: Zale Tabakman
Everybody has heard the term "Work Smart Not Hard."  But what does it mean to work smart? Learn the meaning of this phrase and techniques that will help you find success. This session is part of a certificate course with a class once a week. You must attend all the sessions to receive the certificate. (This workshop is restricted to SEB & YEP participants.)

Keep Proper Records and Pay Less Tax
Presented by: Pavel Tishchevski
In order to be able to deduct expenses, small business owners have to prove that those expenses were business related. We will show you how to keep track of every penny that you spend on your business, and make your records audit-proof.

Marketing Part I - The Framework For Sales
Presented by: Morton Alpert, Simple Effective Marketing
You need sales to survive. If you understand and use these marketing principles, you will have more sales. (This is a mandatory workshop for SEB & YEP participants.)

Marketing Part II: The Battle To Get The Word Out
Presented by: Morton Alpert, Simple Effective Marketing
Learn the ins and outs of marketing practice, how to create a clear message and how to connect with people you haven't met. (This is a mandatory workshop for SEB & YEP participants.)

Success through Balance: Positive Mental Attitude (Lecture 5)
Presented by: Zale Tabakman
A positive mental attitude is the most important thing for a successful person. Learn how to develop your personal positive mental attitude. Your attitude can unlock doors in the world and ensure that nothing will prevent you from being successful. This session is part of a certificate course with a class once a week. You must attend all the sessions to receive the certificate. (This workshop is restricted to SEB & YEP participants.)

Cash Flow Forecast
Presented by: Felix Leung, Certified General Accountant
This session assists participants in developing cash flow forecasts for their business plans and explains the tie-in with budget forecasts.

Advertising on a Shoe String
Presented by: Earl Sky, President, The Advertising Store
Discover how the small businessperson can reach prospects effectively without the expense of traditional approaches. You'll find out what the letters P.S. should stand for in your sales letters and how your appearance, your handshake and tone of voice affect sales outcomes.

Sales Plan
Presented by: Gord Bartley, Sales Trainer & Coach, Strategic Sales.ca
Take your marketing ideas and plans and grow a prospect list you can use to initiate and sustain sales activities. You will learn how to generate a month by month sales and revenue forecast. (This is a mandatory workshop for SEB & YEP participants.)

Insurance: Personal
Presented by: Gord Bartley, Sales Trainer & Coach, Strategic Sales.ca
Get an introduction to a variety of insurance products and service, ideal for people beginning to grow a business or entering self-employment. Specific insurance products will include Life, Health, Disability, Critical Illness, and Long Term Care. An opportunity to discuss specific needs and situations will be provided.

Enhance Your Professional Image
Presented by: Charmaine Mills, Image Consultant, Positive Impression Development
Gain the competitive edge in this aggressive global economy with good people skills, an impeccable professional image, poise and confidence. You can develop a professional image and appearance that will leave a positive impression. This workshop is a must for anyone involved in outside sales, presentations, interviews and client or customer interaction.

Success Through Balance: The Power Of Time (Lecture 6)
Presented by: Zale Tabakman
This session is not about time management, it is about the value of time. Learn how to count on time to solve your problems. Learn how to trust in time. This session is part of a certificate course with a class once a week. You must attend all the sessions to receive the certificate. (This workshop is restricted to SEB & YEP participants.)

Income Splitting Techniques for Families and Small Businesses
Presented by: Pavel Tishchevski
In some situations income splitting is actually allowed. Learn more about income splitting and how to minimize taxes when working with families.

Importers: Canada Border Services Agency
Presented by: ROn Mckinnon & Cindy Tissplat, Canada Border Services Agency
To benefit individuals or small business entrepreneurs who are thinking about importing commercial goods into Canada. Learn the basics on importing including the importing process, tariff classification of goods, origin, and valuation. There will also be an explanation on how to calculate the amount for duties/taxes, other government department contacts, and other CBSA trade programs.

Exports: Canada Border Services Agency
Presented by: Amelia Ng, Canada Border Services Agency
This is designed for the new exporter and is intended to present a general overview of the exporting process and assist the exporter in complying with Canadian export requirements.

Achieving Financial Success
Presented by: Grace Uy, Field Leader, World Financial Group
Becoming financially independent requires understanding money concepts. Understand how money works and learn how to increase cash flow, manage debt, create emergency fund, ensure proper protection, build long-term asset accumulation and preserve your estate.

Success through Balance: Growing Emotionally (Lecture 7)
Presented by: Zale Tabakman
Emotions can lead you to success. In this session we learn how-to let your emotions become your guide. This session is part of a certificate course with a class once a week. You must attend all the sessions to receive the certificate. (This workshop is restricted to SEB &YEP participants.)

How to Market Yourself
Presented by: Jacqueline C. Roberts
Identify your goals, strengths, weaknesses and potential barriers to your success. Learn several strategies to help you identify, target, and contact your customer. Understand how to present and sell yourself and your company.

Legal Fundamentals for Small Business
Presented by: Timothy M. Carter B.Comm., LL.B. Barrister & Solicitor
Discuss your start-up legal questions with an experienced Business Lawyer from the community. Explore the tax, licensing and form-of-business issues that come with a start-up. Discover tax and liability limiting techniques to protect and enrich your family wealth.

20 Ways to Promote Your Website
Presented by: Roger Wheatley
This primer for business owners and operators will help you realize the basics of web promotion. Learn what to avoid and what to include in your website promotion activities.

Effective Web Content
Presented by: Roger Wheatley, RogerWheatley.com 
Do you have an eCommerce web site? Do you provide a service? Do you provide specialized products or need to promote news letters or other services? Effective content results from focusing on the specific goals of your web site and staying focused! Effective content will not only assist you in increasing the number of visitors to your site but also in building relations with potential clients and supporting existing clients. For those with a basic understanding of the Internet, this seminar will help you learn what to avoid and what to implement in your web site content.

Success through Balance: Growing Intellectually (Lecture 8)
Presented by: Zale Tabakman
A successful person is always learning something. Find out about the different ways people learn and identify the barriers to learning. This session is part of a certificate course with a class once a week. You must attend all the sessions to receive the certificate. (This workshop is restricted to SEB & YEP participants.)

Success through Balance: Marketing Yourself (Lecture 9)
Presented by Zale Tabakman, Writer, Speaker, Consultant, http://www.zaletabakman.ca/ 
A successful person must market themselves. By marketing, we mean making sure that the people critical to your success become aware of you. There are numerous ways to make the world aware of how wonderful you are.  This class will cover some of the basic and not so basic ways of achieving this. This session is part of a certificate course with a class once a week. You must attend all the sessions to receive the Certificate.

Lose Your Fear of Public Speaking
Presented by: Earl Sky, President, The Advertising Store
Communication is key, whether it's getting heard in meetings, giving powerful presentations or speaking on the telephone, your voice must communicate effectively in both social and business settings. Join Master vocal coach Earl Sky of Vocal Power as he shares with you the steps to develop a clear, confident and expressive voice.

Tactical Sales Skill
Presented by: Gord Bartley, Sales Trainer & Coach, Strategic Sales.ca
Learn about day-to-day sales activities that a successful business owner will use to build and grow their business. The workshop provides an introduction to all parts of the sales process from prospecting to follow-up after the sale is complete. (This is a mandatory workshop for SEB & YEP participants.)

Success through Balance:Turning Challenges Into Opportunities (Lecture 10)
Presented by: Zale Tabakman, Director of Sales and Marketing, Hydrogen Creative
In this class we look at what it takes to overcome adversity. And in fact we learn how adversity actually helps us become successful. This session is part of a certificate course with a class once a week. You must attend all the sessions to receive the certificate. (This workshop is restricted to SEB & YEP participants.)

Networking
Everyone welcome. Please call (905) 948-9622 to register or e-mail: ybc@ymcagta.org
Join current and past YEP & SEB clients, as well as members of the Markham Business Community, for an opportunity meet and hone your networking skills. This is an informal afternoon and those interested in attending are encouraged to bring a friend! Don't forget your business cards.

Increase Sales: Get More Clients from Your Network
Presented by Kurt Repole, Optimum Advantage Services
A guide to introduce you to the skills and the methods to achieve your desired sales objectives.We provide a framework that will allow you to identify opportunities and work on them through a process that leads to successful outcomes. Growing your network is critical to identifying new opportunities for success. Our systematic approach will lead you through 6 steps of moving your network from prospect to client.

Success Through Balance: Handling your Success (Lecture 11)
Presented by: Zale Tabakman, Director of Sales and Marketing, Hydrogen Creative
At this point everybody in the class who has been doing the work will be experiencing success. How do we handle this success? How do we ensure the success keeps coming? What do we do to improve the rate of success? How do we help others meet the same challenge? This session is part of a certificate course with a class once a week. You must attend all the sessions to receive the certificate. This workshop is restricted to SEB & YEP participants.)

Success Through Balance: You Will Get What You Want (Lecture 12)
Presented by: Zale Tabakman, Director of Sales and Marketing, Hydrogen Creative
This is the wrap up session of the certificate program and is only open to students who have attended 8 sessions or more. Those who have attended all sessions to date will receive their certificate. Due to space constrictions - each student may bring one person with them. This session is part of a certificate course with a class once a week. You must attend all the sessions to receive the certificate. (This workshop is restricted to SEB & YEP participants.)

Thought Patterns (5-Day Workshop)
Presented by: Academy of Learning
Learn how to handle change, overcome obstacles, and reduce stress. Turn your negative self-talk into words of empowerment. Understand how limiting beliefs and negative habits are holding you back. Design strategies for managing your life and career successfully. Get what you want out of your life while re-building confidence and self-esteem. (Please note: This is a five day workshop; participants must attend all five days.)

Why You Can Do It Too
Presented by Stephen C Wong B.Sc., M.C.S.  President, ESM Group Inc.
So you have decided to run your own business. The one governing success factor is not how well you develop and operate your business. It is YOU having the right mind set believing that can do it in spite of all the inadequacies, and weaknesses including the lack of experience, fund, and time. Learn from hundreds of different samples on how ordinary people under extreme pressure overcome unbelievable obstacles. Success is never easy but acquire the right mind set and learn why you can do it too.

Presentation Skills
Presented by: Zale Tabakman, Director of Sales and Marketing, Hydrogen Creative
Zale has presented 27 different lectures at the YMCA. A number of people have told him how much they enjoy his lectures. Now, Zale is going to take the students through his process. How he selects a lecture topic, How he creates his lectures, and what are some of the techniques he uses for presenting the lectures, so that you can also start presenting at the YMCA!

10 Expensive Mistakes When Preparing Income Taxes
Presented by: Pavel Tishchevski
There is a lot of money at stake when it comes to tax matters. We will show you how to avoid common mistakes when filing your tax returns. You will also learn how to make your return audit-proof.

Tax Issues for Self-Employed Individuals and Small Business Owners
Presented by Peter Lai, Certified General Accountant
This seminar will provide an overview of: 1) how to determine an employment status; 2) self-employed vs. incorporated; 3) income/expenses for business and self-employment; 4) Tax audit; 5) important dates; 6) late penalties; and 7) record keeping.

Cold Calling
Presented by: Karen Cashin, Team Lead/Employment Specialist, YMCA Stouffville Employment Resource Centre
This workshop is designed to give participants the skills and tools to reach the hidden target market. Discover how to find those contacts and connect with them!

Prospecting
Presented by: Gord Bartley, Sales Trainer & Coach, Strategic Sales.ca
This is an interactive, co-learning clinic focused on finding and developing sales prospects. You will create and practice your business infomercial and cold call script using a benefits-based model.

7 Ps of Performance:  How to Connect With Your Audience
Presented by: Adrian Luces, Vocal Impression
Image is everything.  Learn to connect with your audience.  Presenting well is an invaluable asset. The seminar emboldens its participants to step outside their own personal safety and comfort zones, through which becoming a more comfortable and confident public speaker is simplified and made possible.

What Drives you Crazy Makes Them Great
Presented by: Steve Hopkinson, Speaker & Certified Personality Dimensions Facilitator
This is a highly interactive workshop about human temperament.  This workshop will help you to find out why you like to do things your way and why other people do the things they do.  It will develop stronger personal and professional relationships.  This is an absolute must for sales people, business owners, employees, homemakers or anyone who has a relationship and wants to dramatically increase their effectiveness when communicating with people.

14 Common Errors and Misconception in Starting A New Business
Presented by Stephen C Wong, B.Sc., M.CS,.  President,  ESM Group Inc
80% of the small businesses fail in the first 5 years. Learn the common mistakes and misconceptions in starting a new business. Learn the practical side of running a new business. Go beyond what the general business procedures or the text books say. Develop the right entrepreneur attitude and mind set. Replace the job mentality with a business mentality. Avoid these costly mistakes and gives your business the best possible chance to succeed.  This seminar is best suited for people having a desire or thinking seriously about going into business the first time. It is also ideal for people who have been in business for one to two years and start facing a number of the dilemmas and cross roads.

Tariff Classification
Presented by: Tim Kopacz, Canada Border Services Agency
This seminar is an introduction to tariff classification and the harmonized tariff. Among the topics covered are the tariff structure, chapter numbers and headings, reference material, general interpretive rules, explanatory and legal notes, and general classification procedures.

Customer Service - Do You Know Everything You Need to Know?
Presented by: Lucie Papulkas, Virtual Assistant, Incompass Business Support Solutions
Think that customer service only involves taking an order or taking complaints?  Do you know what kind of technical solutions are out there to keep your customer service top notch?  Come and learn about the issues that you can avoid or at least be able to deal with in this course.  Customer service has come a long way from what it was originally so learn new information to help you, your company and your bottom line.

Increasing Performance and Profits with Business Process Optimization
Presented by: David Walcott, Business Systems Analyst, Intelassis
Have you ever wondered why some business owners spend less time working, yet manage to remain highly productive?  Learn how to create a map of your organization that will help you trim the fat and create a lean productive business. Business Process Optimization helps you evaluate and fix current business activities, Information can help you make better business decisions, and technology can give you an edge over competitors.  Reach your goals and achieve more in your business with total agility.

Create the Life You Want - Tools for making powerful choices              
Presented by: Axel Menzefricke, Author of the book "Stay Healthy Without Medical Intervention"
We are all affected by Spiritual Laws that govern the Universe. These Laws determine the experiences and outcomes of our lives. The majority of people use these Laws by default, unaware of their existence and their usefulness. Less than 5% of the total population is aware of how to make these Laws work with intention and purpose. In this workshop, Axel will teach you about these Laws and make you aware of their usefulness in helping you Create The Life You Want!

Tax Deductions Around Us  
Presented by: Pavel Tishchevski                                                                             
Both experienced entrepreneurs and people just starting their businesses will benefit from this workshop.  We will talk about different legitimate tax deductions that most small business owners often miss – and therefore have to pay thousands in unnecessary taxes.  Little known tax “secrets” will be revealed.  We will also teach you how to make your tax return audit-proof.

Develop the Winning Attitude for the Success of Your Business
Presented by Stephen C Wong, B.Sc., M.CS., President,  ESM Group Inc., http://www.etraining-room.ca/
In order to be successful in the business you are in, you must be a winner inside before you become a winner outside.  Success attitude can be acquired through proper self discipline, motivation, and guidance.  It does not need any more talent than what you already have.  Learn from the many successful and amazing stories and be inspired by them.  It is this very spirit that uplifted individuals to overcome major challenges.  You will start to understand why you can be successful in what you are doing as well.