Fall Outlook: A Look Back at Q2 and What's Coming Next

As we step into our third quarter and the fall season, there’s a fresh sense of momentum in the air! The changing season brings new opportunities, and we’re ready to carry forward the progress we’ve built together.

With a strong foundation behind us, we’re moving into this next chapter with exciting initiatives on the horizon and impactful work already underway.
Here’s to a productive fall ahead, one filled with collaboration, growth, and meaningful progress across our communities!

Celebrating Progress. Shaping the Future.

Our 14th Annual General Meeting, held on September 11, 2025, was a meaningful opportunity to come together and reflect on the collective impact that we’ve had through the delivery of the Community Futures Program (CFP) and administration of the Southern Ontario Fund for Investment in Innovation (SOFII) across Western Ontario in 2024-25.

A strong emphasis was placed on highlighting the diversity of entrepreneurs and small businesses that have benefited from our support, both locally and regionally.  Our clients continue to be our biggest champions and the driving force behind our strategic efforts to raise awareness and enhance our capacity to meet their evolving needs and those of the communities we serve.  

Over the past six months, progress has been made towards strengthening our external relationships, updating our governance structure, establishment of new office space within The Collider and the development of new partnerships that will enable the regional expansion of the BizLink™ Program.   Our momentum is great.          

A full-day facilitated strategic planning session followed our AGM.  This allowed us to build consensus around our strategic goals and initiatives, with a focus towards increasing our visibility and maximizing our impact.

Achieving our desired outcomes will require proactive management of internal resources and the continued development of new programs, in collaboration and partnership with others. The potential is endless.

Fall forward!

Todd Copeland
CFWO, Executive Director

Community Futures Ontario Launching New Peer Councils

This October, Community Futures Ontario will be launching new Peer Councils to support members across the province.

These groups are designed to bring together CFDC staff and volunteers in similar roles for peer-to-peer support, collaboration, and shared learning.

The Peer Councils offer a built-in network of colleagues from across Ontario, a place to share challenges, exchange solutions, and strengthen connections in a participant-driven space.

Three councils will begin meeting this fall:

Administrators Peer Council: For administrators and bookkeepers to exchange tools, ask questions, and share strategies to simplify day-to-day operations.
Board Chairs Peer Council: For Board Chairs, Vice-Chairs, and Past Chairs to explore governance, leadership, and shared challenges in a confidential, peer-led space.
Marketing & Communications Peer Council: For communications staff, interns, and creatives to share ideas, solve challenges, and explore strategies for branding, events, and social media.

Each council will meet quarterly, with ongoing discussion supported through Community Futures Ontario’s Member Lounge.

To sign up, email communications@cfontario.ca with the name and email of each participant from your CFDC.

Regional Tariff Response Initiative in southern Ontario

The Government of Canada is helping Canadian businesses respond to global trade pressures. The Regional Tariff Response Initiative (RTRI), delivered by Canada’s regional development agencies (RDAs), is part of the broader Government of Canada tariff response plan that includes $6.5 billion in new measures to protect Canadian businesses and workers.

The $450-million RTRI helps businesses overcome trade disruptions and includes support for businesses in the steel and automotive industries. It invests in targeted, time-sensitive activities that boost productivity, lower costs, strengthen supply chain resilience, and open doors to new markets, enhancing overall competitiveness.
RTRI is intended to support businesses and sectors impacted by tariffs.

To learn more, click here.

Western Ontario Wardens’ Caucus Advances Rural Priorities

Ottawa, Ontario – The Western Ontario Wardens’ Caucus (WOWC) concluded a productive week at the 2025 Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) Conference, held August 17–20 in Ottawa, with focused advocacy on housing, infrastructure, workforce development, and mental health and addictions.

During the conference, WOWC met with:

Hon. David Piccini, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development
Hon. Rob Flack, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing
Parliamentary Assistants, Steve Pinsoneault and Bob Bailey, Ministry of Rural Affairs
The Caucus also engaged with the Ontario New Democratic Party, Ontario Liberal Party, and Ontario Green Party to reinforce the importance of cross-party collaboration on rural priorities.

The WOWC started the conference on Sunday, August 17, with a joint meeting with the Eastern Ontario Wardens’ Caucus (EOWC). The two regional caucuses came together to discuss shared opportunities and challenges facing their collective 220 rural and small urban municipalities across Ontario.

Click here to read the release in its entirety.

SOFII Funding Announcement

We’re excited to share that AXE Living, a leader in delivering high-quality, sustainable homes quickly and without surprises, has received funding through the Southern Ontario Fund for Investment in Innovation (SOFII), administered by Community Futures Western Ontario.

Believing in the strength of AXE Living’s innovative product and mission, Frank Rupcic, General Manager, and Volker Loetfering, Business Loans Officer at Venture Niagara, first provided support through the Community Futures Program and then referred the company to SOFII, recognizing a shared commitment to helping businesses that create meaningful, long-term impact in their communities.

As an integrated housing supplier, AXE Living provides completed projects to residential homeowners, developers, non-profits, and municipalities, helping meet the growing demand for sustainable housing across the region.

Xavier Toby, CEO of Axe Buildings, shared his thoughts on this milestone:

“Without the support of SOFII, Axe Living would be in a far less favourable position. As a young and fast-growing company providing the housing Canadians so desperately need, we have found support from banks hard to come by. However, SOFII recognized the opportunity and potential and provided much-needed financial support, allowing us to continue our path of aggressive growth and hiring, which enabled us to fulfill orders and purchase new equipment. Thanks to SOFII, we have been able to sustain our fast growth and continue to work through our huge backlog of orders. If it weren’t SOFII, Axe Living would today be a far smaller business on a much different trajectory. We cannot thank SOFII enough for the support and belief.”

To read more about Axe Living, click here for the full funding announcement.

CFWO 2024-2025 Annual Report

The following Annual Report has been created to provide statistics and other information on the work and initiatives the Community Futures Western Ontario Network has accomplished during the 2024/2025 fiscal year.

Thank you to the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario for their continued support and to all the western CFDCs that make our region stronger with their passion and dedication to their communities.

Click here to view the report in its entirety.

BizLink™ Program Set to Expand Across Western Ontario

Cambridge, ON – Today, through the program at the 14th Annual General Meeting (AGM) being hosted at the Cambridge Hotel and Conference Centre, Community Futures Western Ontario (CFWO) in partnership with the Orillia Area Community Development Corp. (Orillia Area CDC), announced their plan to invest in the redevelopment and regional expansion of the BizLink™ Program — an innovative business transition support platform designed to connect businesses buyers and sellers with confidence and confidentiality.

Tailored support for business succession is key to preserving the local economic impact that small businesses have on communities in terms of the goods and services that they offer in addition to employment. A 2024 joint report by the Northern Policy Institute, Ontario Chamber of Commerce and Société Économique de l’Ontario (Taking Care of Business: The State of Business Succession and Planning in Ontario) found that “73% of Ontario business owners do not have a completed succession plan in place. One-third of those planning to sell or retire within five years have no plan at all.” This represents a significant opportunity for small businesses to leverage the business advisory and financial support available through the local and regional delivery of the Community Futures program.

Click here to read this announcement in its entirety.

CFWO Sets Up Home at Western University

We’re excited to announce that Community Futures Western Ontario (CFWO) has moved into The Collider at the Western Advanced Manufacturing Park, part of the fast-growing Western Research Parks community. This new home puts us right at the center of Southwestern Ontario’s innovation ecosystem, an ideal place to connect rural entrepreneurship with cutting-edge industries.

For over 30 years, Community Futures has been helping rural businesses thrive through flexible financing, hands-on mentoring, and the strength of our 21-office network. Now, alongside innovators at The Collider, we’ll be able to amplify that impact and open even more doors for entrepreneurs across the region.

This move also shines a spotlight on the Southern Ontario Fund for Investment in Innovation (SOFII), delivered by CFWO. With SOFII now part of The Collider, businesses in sectors like advanced manufacturing, agri-tech, and cleantech will gain direct access to the capital and connections they need right where innovation is happening.

We’re thrilled to be part of this vibrant community and can’t wait to see the collaborations and opportunities that grow from it.

Introducing Our New Board of Directors

Community Futures Western Ontario is proud to announce the newly formed Board of Directors. This accomplished group of leaders brings together a diverse range of expertise, from community economic development to entrepreneurship and social impact. Their insight, passion, and leadership will play a vital role in guiding CFWO’s mission to support small businesses, strengthen local economies, and drive innovation across Western Ontario.

We are pleased to welcome the following members to the Board:

Gillian Fairley, General Manager, Community Futures South Georgian Bay - Board Chair
David Argenti, General Manager, Community Futures Chatham-Kent - Vice Chair
Rose Austin, General Manager, Saugeen Economic Development Corp. - Treasurer
Barb Fisher, General Manager, Bruce Community Futures - Secretary
Tauri Caputo, General Manager, Grand Erie Business Centre
Martin Kuzma, General Manager, Nottawasaga Futures
Jim Fitzgerald, General Manager, Orillia Area CDC
Kevin Culhane, General Manager, North Simcoe Community Futures
Brandon Houston, Founder/President, Collingwood Foundry
Clarke Teeple, Founder/Principal Consultant, Clark Teeple Digital Health
Suzanne Stevens, Founder, YOUMEWE Social Impact Group

Together, this team represents the strength, collaboration, and innovative spirit that define Community Futures Western Ontario. We look forward to the impact their leadership will bring in the months and years ahead.

Exciting Changes for North Simcoe Community Futures...

Or should we say North Simcoe Business Centre! That’s right, you read that correctly. North Simcoe Community Futures Development Corporation is proud to announce the launch of its new brand, marking an important step forward in its journey to support entrepreneurship and economic growth across the region. Operating under the new name North Simcoe Business Centre, this refreshed identity reflects a strong commitment to innovation, accessibility, and connection as the organization begins its next chapter guided by its Five-Year Strategic Plan.

The new home at 600 Hugel Avenue in Midland, a designated historic building just steps from downtown, provides greater visibility and a vibrant presence in the community. With office space for tenants upstairs and in the newly finished, office-ready garage, the centre is set to become a dynamic hub of entrepreneurial activity. A simplified website (nsbcentre.com) and an easy-to-remember phone number (705-245-1400) will make it even easier for local businesses to connect. The full rollout of the new brand will be completed by early October; in the meantime, the current website and phone number remain the best way to reach the office.

This new brand isn’t just a new name and look; it’s a renewed promise to be a well-known, trusted partner in the entrepreneurial network of North Simcoe.