BC Business
HORTONIAN EMPIRE Tim Hortons plans to open up to 120 restaurants in the UAE and wider Gulf region by the end of 2015
THE FRANCHISE SHOW What most franchisees like about franchising is that it’s a way to be in business for themselves but not by themselves, according to the Canadian Franchise Association, which produces this annual trade show. And if you’ve already got a business and want to know how to franchise it, there is a one-day seminar tackling just that the day after the main event; it includes a resource package, continental breakfast, light lunch and two free tickets to the franchise show, assuming you’ve booked ahead of time.Franchise Show, Vancouver Convention Centre, November 7 and 8 $10; $5 off if you preregister onlineHow to Franchise Your Business, Vancouver Convention Centre, November 9, 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. $125 for CFA members, $249 for non-members
MANAGING PRIVACY COMPLIANCE Offered annually by Toronto-based Federated Press, which provides information for senior business executives, lawyers and other professionals, this year’s course includes information on the latest government privacy regulations, designing and implementing a privacy compliance program, legal risks associated with employee surveillance and monitoring, minimizing privacy exposure in outsourcing relationships and preventing ID theft. And in case you still have a privacy breach, there is a workshop on how to contain the damage.Four Seasons Hotel, Vancouver, November 5 and 6 $1,975 (registration ends October 29);
BC BUSINESS SUMMIT 2015 What will happen to our provincial economy over the next 20 years? To mark the Business Council of BC’s 50th anniversary, this summit, titled “BC 2035: Forging British Columbia’s Future,” kicks off a yearlong conversation between BCBC members and the public about the future of B.C.’s economy. Expect an audience that includes senior business leaders, elected and government officials from the provincial, federal and municipal governments, First Nations leaders and thought leaders. Vancouver Convention Centre, November 19, 7:30 a.m. to noon $299
CUSTOMER SERVICE EXCELLENCE (UBC) This brand-new course from UBC’s Sauder School of Business promises to teach you the essentials of delivering extraordinary customer experiences. You will learn how to figure out what your customers expect, acquire professional attitudes and master the five phases of customer engagement (which are: initial contact, assessment, service delivery, negotiation and follow up).Sauder School of Business, November 5 and 6 $1,495
OUR TURN BY KIRSTINE STEWART Now Twitter’s VP of media, Kirstine Stewart is proof that, yes, you can succeed with an English lit degree. Fresh out of UofT in 1988, she got a job as a “girl Friday” at Alliance Atlantis films, worked her way up to senior VP there and then became the first woman and youngest person ever to head CBC’s English service. While Our Turn is aimed at women, Stewart provides useful tips for any current or aspiring business leader in today’s workplace plus an insider look at the CBC and Twitter.Random House Canada $29.95 (hardcover)
THE LAST MILE BY DILIP SOMAN The “last mile” is a telecommunications term that refers to the end of the communications process where the message is actually delivered to the recipient. According to Rotman School of Management marketing professor Dilip Soman, most organizations focus on the startup stage only to fall back at the “last mile”: the end of the process where consumers come to their website, store or sales representatives and make a choice. This book shows how to use insights from behavioural science to close the gap and provides practical tools for overcoming common last-mile difficulties.University of Toronto Press $34.95 (hardcover)