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LIFT Business Conference

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Whether you're just starting out or running a well-established business, get connected and elevate your operation at the LIFT Business Conference! This conference is a flagship initiative to energize & drive connection within local businesses. Leave the day with practical knowledge, tangible skills, and collaborative relationships.

Thursday, October 22, 2026
1:00 PM - 7:30 PM
Barrhead Seniors' Drop-In Center
Tickets $40 each 
Registration deadline: October 16, 2026

Conference Activities:
Conference attendees will find an itinerary packed with sessions targeted at local businesses in all fields! 
Business Support Showcase
"Give & Take: Two-Way Business Exchange"
 
Give: 
  • Attendees can share what they believe makes the County & Town of Barrhead an exceptional place to do business.
  • Their insights will help shape future investment attraction materials, business retention initiatives, and economic development strategy at both the Town & County of Barrhead.
  • Members of the economic development teams at the County of Barrhead, Town of Barrhead, and regional representatives will be available to chat with participants about their vision for business in Barrhead! 
Take:
  • Connect with local, regional, and provincial business support agencies at this tradeshow-style showcase.
  • Discover the vast array of services available to Barrhead business owners!
Panel Discussion
"Real Stories, Real Results"
Hear directly from local business owners who are putting their story to work. Our panelists will share real-life examples of how they communicate what makes their business unique with customers, employees and future talent along with examples of how they keep the great people they have. 
Keynote Speaker: Jeph Maystruck
Jeph Maystruck has an utter disregard for the status quo. He’s a keynote speaker who has energized audiences across Canada with bold, funny, and sometimes candid takes on marketing, artificial intelligence, and storytelling.  Always entertaining with lots of free giveaways. By day, Jeph helps run StratLab, the little marketing company in Regina that believes 'caring more' is a strategy. By night, he is handing out lottery tickets, cooking, golfing, or trying to keep the garden alive. He co-founded Big Idea Camp (10 years strong!) and the Caring Conference, a gathering for the nonprofit sector. Jeph has taught Marketing at Saskatchewan Polytechnic and Social Media Marketing at the University of Regina.

"Looking for Humans in all the Wrong Places" - Keynote Presentation
Marketing has changed, A LOT. Social media, search, AI and endless amounts of content have completely transformed how we attract customers, but what about how we attract people? In this keynote, we’ll look at how the same principles we use to build great brands, tell better stories and earn the attention and trust of customers can help us attract and retain great employees. We’ll explore what it means to stand out in a technology-driven world, how to tell the story of what makes your organization worth joining, and why, as AI becomes more powerful, being genuinely human might just become your greatest competitive advantage.

"I Got Some Ocean Front Property Made With AI" - Hands-on Workshop
This hands-on workshop is where we stop talking about AI and actually start using it. We’ll roll up our sleeves, play with ChatGPT, learn how to ask better questions, build Custom GPTs, and explore practical ways to save you time and make your work easier. Bring your laptop, bring a problem you’d love some help with, and come ready to experiment. No expertise required; we’re going to learn by doing, trying, failing, laughing, and figuring out what this stuff can actually do for you.
 
Networking & Collaboration Session 
  • Connect with other businesses & service providers over refreshments & appetizers!
  • Funding partners, business supports, provincial agencies, and other resource organizations will be in attendance to answer questions and forge long-lasting supportive relationships.