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X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Digital Nova Scotia – Leading Digital Industry
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20260428T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20260428T133000
DTSTAMP:20260427T231128
CREATED:20260327T132638Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260327T132638Z
UID:3501726-1777377600-1777383000@digitalnovascotia.com
SUMMARY:Trade Market Intelligence Program | Lunch & Learn
DESCRIPTION:Explore new markets with Megan MacAulay—learn how TMI insights can guide growth\, reduce risk\, and support smarter expansion decisions. \n\n\n\n\nA Lunch & Learn with Megan MacAulay\nThinking about expanding beyond your local market—but not sure where to start? Understanding where your product or service fits\, and which markets offer the best opportunity\, can make all the difference.\nIn this Lunch & Learn\, Megan MacAulay from Invest Nova Scotia will introduce the Trade Market Intelligence (TMI) program and how it helps businesses make informed decisions about growth and expansion. You’ll learn how to access customized market research\, identify new opportunities\, and reduce the guesswork when exploring new markets.\nWhether you’re considering exporting for the first time or looking to grow into new regions\, this session will show you how data-driven insights can support your next move. \nWhat you’ll learn:\n• What the Trade Market Intelligence (TMI) program is and how it works \n• How to access market research tailored to your business \n• Ways to identify new markets and growth opportunities \n• How data can support smarter\, more strategic decisions \n• Who is eligible and how to get started with TMI \nWho this is for:\nThis session is ideal for startups\, small businesses\, and growing companies interested in expanding beyond their current market—locally\, nationally\, or internationally.\nWalk away with a clearer understanding of how to explore new markets—and the tools available to help you do it with confidence.
URL:https://digitalnovascotia.com/event/trade-market-intelligence-program-lunch-learn/
LOCATION:Cape Breton Business Innovation Centre\, 500 George Street #suite 200\, Sydney\, NS\, Nova Scotia\, B1P 1K6\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Events,Training
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20260429T093000
DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20260429T153000
DTSTAMP:20260427T231128
CREATED:20260414T121018Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260414T121018Z
UID:3502082-1777455000-1777476600@digitalnovascotia.com
SUMMARY:Bridging Marine Excellence w/ AI-Driven Observability
DESCRIPTION:AI observability foundations\, real-time visibility\, public sector and defense outcomes\, plus a Dynatrace demo for strategic innovation. \n\n\n\n\nEvent Overview\nJoin PureLogic and Dynatrace for a private session exploring how AI-driven observability is helping organizations gain real-time visibility across increasingly complex environments. Set against the backdrop of Atlantic Canada’s marine innovation ecosystem\, this event will highlight how observability supports mission-critical operations across both public and private sectors\, including defense. \nThroughout the day\, attendees will learn about the foundations of AI Observability\, the value of real-time insights for strategic decision-making\, and how public sector customers are using Dynatrace to improve performance\, resilience\, and innovation. The session will also include live demonstrations showing how observability can help organizations respond to operational challenges\, modernize with confidence\, and build a stronger common operating picture. \nEvent Details\nWhen: Wednesday\, April 29\, 2026 | 9:30 AM – 3:30 PM\nWhere: Colin McLean Hall\, COVE | 27 Parker Street\, Dartmouth\nTheme: Bridging Marine Excellence with AI-Driven Observability
URL:https://digitalnovascotia.com/event/bridging-marine-excellence-w-ai-driven-observability/
LOCATION:COVE\, Colin MacLean Hall\, Dartmouth\, Nova Scotia\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Events,Training
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://digitalnovascotia.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/image-22.webp
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20260430T093000
DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20260430T120000
DTSTAMP:20260427T231128
CREATED:20260408T140654Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260408T140654Z
UID:3501983-1777541400-1777550400@digitalnovascotia.com
SUMMARY:Marketing Your SME on a Budget: Practical Strategies for Growth
DESCRIPTION:SME’s often face the challenge of growing their brand with limited marketing budgets. This practical workshop is designed to help business owners\, entrepreneurs\, and marketing managers learn how to maximize their impact without overspending. Participants will explore cost-effective marketing strategies\, including leveraging social media\, building strong customer relationships\, creating engaging content\, and using free or low-cost digital tools. \nThrough real-world examples and hands-on exercises\, attendees will discover how to identify their target audience\, craft compelling messages\, and prioritize the marketing activities that deliver the highest return on investment. The workshop will also cover how to measure results and adjust strategies to ensure continued growth. \nBy the end of the session\, participants will leave with actionable ideas\, practical tools\, and a simple marketing plan they can immediately apply to promote their SME effectively—even on a tight budget. \nPrioritize High-Impact\, Low-Cost Channels \nLearn how to focus your limited budget on marketing activities that deliver the greatest return\, such as social media\, email marketing\, partnerships\, and word-of-mouth strategies \nCreate Consistent\, Valuable Content \nDiscover how simple\, authentic content can build trust\, attract customers\, and strengthen your brand without requiring expensive campaigns or large teams \nMeasure What Works and Optimize \nUnderstand how to track key marketing metrics and use free or affordable tools to evaluate performance\, refine your strategy\, and continuously improve result \nMeet Your Presenter –  Alison Knott \nAlison Knott is the founder of Alison K Consulting; a marketing consultancy with a commitment to supporting small but mighty teams who put good into the world get more visibility. \nSince 2014\, Alison has been helping B2B teams market their nuanced\, sensitive\, or complex subject matter offerings. By addressing messaging\, capacity\, and technology simultaneously in her strategic work\, she helps both for-profit and non-profit team members connect their marketing efforts to their sales pipeline and mission. As a queer business owner\, Alison has an affinity for attracting and working with underrepresented folk in sectors such as mental health\, executive training\, life sciences\, HR\, community development\, government relations\, education\, philanthropy\, and sustainability. \nStartup Ecosystem Advisor \nAlison holds marketing advisory and mentor roles for national cohorts such as CQCC Out for Business\,  Business + Arts’ artsvest program\,  Lab2Market (Founders Council)\,  The Forum E-Series\, Grow Now\, and Digital Skills For Women+. \n  \n 
URL:https://digitalnovascotia.com/event/marketing-your-sme-on-a-budget-practical-strategies-for-growth/
LOCATION:The PIER 1209 Marginal Road\, Halifax\, Nova Scotia\, Canada\, Nova Scotia\, Canada
CATEGORIES:DNS Events,Events,Training
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://digitalnovascotia.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/sme-budget-scaled.png
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20260501T083000
DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20260501T160000
DTSTAMP:20260427T231128
CREATED:20260421T173335Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260421T173335Z
UID:3502316-1777624200-1777651200@digitalnovascotia.com
SUMMARY:Workshop: AI in the Workplace - A Practical Guide for Business Leaders
DESCRIPTION:Join the Halifax Chamber of Commerce as Symplicity Designs offers their 1-day training on AI in the Workplace\, covering best practices on how to leverage its use in each core area of your business (Marketing\, Sales\, Operations\, HR\, and Leadership). \nThis comprehensive training will provide current best practices and risk mitigation when employing artificial intelligence in a business setting\, beginning with practical ground rules regarding AI’s use as a co-pilot. \nThe training is designed to include every level of eagerness and reluctance in the face of AI\, with hands-on activities\, and open Q&A periods at the end of each section. \nMEET YOUR FACILITATOR\nMatt Symes\, CEO & Founding Partner\nSymplicity Designs \nMatt Symes is the CEO and founding partner of Symplicity Designs. He has guided 600+ private and public-sector organizations through strategic transformation\, unlocking over $1B in profitable growth and helping Symplicity earn and sustain B-Corp certification—with impact that places the firm among the global top decile for the triple bottom line. As a serial company builder\, he has started\, acquired\, and scaled a diversified portfolio—from a specialty coffee roastery to professional services—giving him credibility that most consultants can only reference. \nHe is the AI Entrepreneur-in-Residence at UNB’s Technology Management & Entrepreneurship (TME) program\, a transformation strategist\, and an AI-first organizational architect. Matt’s point of view is direct: AI is no longer an IT project; it’s a management discipline. Since 2023\, he and the Symplicity team have introduced practical AI to more than 300 organizational leaders. Their deeper deployments have produced millions of dollars in unlocked productivity and capacity by redesigning workflows\, compressing cycle times\, and instrumenting decisions with data. His playbook blends leadership behaviors\, change mechanics\, and hands-on systems integration so teams can ship value on Monday—not someday. \nHis operating experience includes stepping in as COO to help scale a CPG firm from $20M to $155M in revenue\, doubling a global IT firm’s revenue in less than three years\, and has supported systemic performance improvements in education and healthcare. His grandfather was a roofer who started a roofing company and his heart lies with helping small business owners. That breadth informs how he mentors founders and executives: align on a compelling future\, make the few hard choices that matter\, and build an environment where execution becomes routine. \nAn award-winning CEO and award-winning educator\, Matt was named Business Leader of the Year by the Halifax Chamber in 2021 for his role in helping the region navigate the Covid-19 pandemic and he has been recognized four times as Atlantic Canada’s Top 50 CEOs (2022–2025). Through keynotes\, workshops\, and his 12-month Levership™ cohort\, he distills what works in the field into pragmatic tools leaders can use immediately to scale—without sacrificing their desired lifestyle. Offstage\, you’ll find him enjoying his own espresso\, logging miles as he works toward seven marathons on seven continents\, and living a life of intention and adventure with his partner Emily and their two young daughters. Matt’s a business builder\, a curious human\, and proud girl dad—committed to showing up with purpose (and not just talking about it). \n  \nAs per the guidelines for LSI funding\, there is eligibility criteria for participants. **\nA business is eligible to participate if it: \n\nis located in Nova Scotia\nis registered and active in the Nova Scotia Registry of Joint Stock Companies or incorporated by an Act of the Nova Scotia Legislature\nhas a direct workforce development need (like upskilling employees\, adopting new technologies or addressing critical skills gaps within their industry)
URL:https://digitalnovascotia.com/event/workshop-ai-in-the-workplace-a-practical-guide-for-business-leaders-4/
LOCATION:Halifax Chamber of Commerce Building 32 Akerley Blvd\, Dartmouth NS B3B 1N1\, Halifax Chamber of Commerce Building 32 Akerley Blvd\, Dartmouth NS\, Dartmouth\, Nova Scotia\, B3B 1N1\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Events,Training
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://digitalnovascotia.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Symplicity-StackedLogo_Growth.png
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20260508T083000
DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20260508T160000
DTSTAMP:20260427T231128
CREATED:20260421T173628Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260421T173628Z
UID:3502319-1778229000-1778256000@digitalnovascotia.com
SUMMARY:Workshop: What If Your Pricing is Your Biggest Profit Problem? An AI-Amplified Masterclass for Business leaders
DESCRIPTION:Is your current pricing strategy based on data or guesswork? “What If Your Pricing is Your Biggest Profit Problem? An AI-Amplified Masterclass for Business leaders” is a high-impact\, one-day session that equips leaders with the architecture to align features\, benefits\, and human psychology\, then shows you how AI amplifies every step of the process. \nThis session will dive deep into value discovery and segmentation to uncover what your customers are actually willing to pay\, using AI tools to accelerate research\, surface competitor pricing signals\, and model value scenarios faster than any manual process could. Because AI doesn’t fix broken pricing systems\, it scales whatever system you already have. You’ll make sure yours is worth scaling. \nSymplicity Designs will deliver a hands-on Pricing Masterclass that teaches leaders how to turn price into their most powerful profit lever. Participants will learn to rapidly uncover customer value signals and segments\, apply core pricing models\, and architect price structures that align benefits with buyer psychology. We’ll also show you how to use AI as a co-pilot throughout\, from running OSINT competitor analyses and generating pricing hypotheses\, to drafting value-based proposals and designing 90-day pilots with governance dashboards. \nYou’ll leave with a Value-Based Pricing Ladder framework\, a Pricing KPI Dashboard template\, a Price Test Design guide\, a detailed 90-Day Action Roadmap with roles and milestones\, and ready-to-use AI prompts for competitive pricing research and value-based pricing conversations. \nThese frameworks recently drove a 17% gross-margin lift on a core service line within six months. Bring AI into the equation\, and you move faster from insight to implementation. \nMEET YOUR FACILITATOR\nMatt Symes\, CEO & Founding Partner\nSymplicity Designs\nMatt Symes is the CEO and founding partner of Symplicity Designs. He has guided 600+ private and public-sector organizations through strategic transformation\, unlocking over $1B in profitable growth and helping Symplicity earn and sustain B-Corp certification—with impact that places the firm among the global top decile for the triple bottom line. As a serial company builder\, he has started\, acquired\, and scaled a diversified portfolio—from a specialty coffee roastery to professional services—giving him credibility that most consultants can only reference. \nHe is the AI Entrepreneur-in-Residence at UNB’s Technology Management & Entrepreneurship (TME) program\, a transformation strategist\, and an AI-first organizational architect. Matt’s point of view is direct: AI is no longer an IT project; it’s a management discipline. Since 2023\, he and the Symplicity team have introduced practical AI to more than 300 organizational leaders. Their deeper deployments have produced millions of dollars in unlocked productivity and capacity by redesigning workflows\, compressing cycle times\, and instrumenting decisions with data. His playbook blends leadership behaviors\, change mechanics\, and hands-on systems integration so teams can ship value on Monday—not someday. \nHis operating experience includes stepping in as COO to help scale a CPG firm from $20M to $155M in revenue\, doubling a global IT firm’s revenue in less than three years\, and has supported systemic performance improvements in education and healthcare. His grandfather was a roofer who started a roofing company and his heart lies with helping small business owners. That breadth informs how he mentors founders and executives: align on a compelling future\, make the few hard choices that matter\, and build an environment where execution becomes routine. \nAn award-winning CEO and award-winning educator\, Matt was named Business Leader of the Year by the Halifax Chamber in 2021 for his role in helping the region navigate the Covid-19 pandemic and he has been recognized four times as Atlantic Canada’s Top 50 CEOs (2022–2025). Through keynotes\, workshops\, and his 12-month Levership™ cohort\, he distills what works in the field into pragmatic tools leaders can use immediately to scale—without sacrificing their desired lifestyle. Offstage\, you’ll find him enjoying his own espresso\, logging miles as he works toward seven marathons on seven continents\, and living a life of intention and adventure with his partner Emily and their two young daughters. Matt’s a business builder\, a curious human\, and proud girl dad—committed to showing up with purpose (and not just talking about it).
URL:https://digitalnovascotia.com/event/workshop-what-if-your-pricing-is-your-biggest-profit-problem-an-ai-amplified-masterclass-for-business-leaders/
LOCATION:Halifax Chamber of Commerce Building 32 Akerley Blvd\, Dartmouth NS B3B 1N1\, Halifax Chamber of Commerce Building 32 Akerley Blvd\, Dartmouth NS\, Dartmouth\, Nova Scotia\, B3B 1N1\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Events,Training,Workshop
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://digitalnovascotia.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Symplicity-StackedLogo_Growth.png
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20260512T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20260512T113000
DTSTAMP:20260427T231128
CREATED:20260414T164911Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260414T164911Z
UID:3502121-1778580000-1778585400@digitalnovascotia.com
SUMMARY:Export Café Series: Germany
DESCRIPTION:Gain actionable insights\, practical considerations\, and trusted contacts to successfully enter and thrive in this market \n\n\n\n\nPart 3: Germany — Europe’s Innovation Powerhouse in Life Sciences \nDiscover new markets for your business through Life Sciences Nova Scotia (LSNS)’s Export Café Series: Unlocking New Growth Opportunities Abroad in 2026. LSNS\, in partnership with Global Affairs Canada and the Nova Scotia Health Innovation Hub\, is pleased to host their third market‑focused session. Each instalment in this hybrid educational series highlights a global market with strong potential for life sciences collaboration and strategic expansion opportunities for Nova Scotia companies. \nThis session will focus on Germany- one of the world’s most robust life sciences markets\, driven by a dense network of biotechnology\, pharmaceutical\, and medical technology organizations supported by advanced research institutions. \nIn this session\, Canada’s Trade Commissioner Service will guide participants through the German market landscape\, exploring business culture\, opportunity areas\, and strategic pathways for Canadian life sciences companies. A partner panel will follow\, highlighting programs and supports available to help Nova Scotia organizations expand their business or R&D presence in Europe’s largest economy. \nLearn how to position your business for global success in 2026 and beyond.
URL:https://digitalnovascotia.com/event/export-cafe-series-germany/
LOCATION:1344 Summer St\, Halifax\, NS B3H 0A8\, 1344 Summer St\, Halifax\, NS\, Halifax\, Nova Scotia\, B3H 0A8\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Events,Training
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://digitalnovascotia.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/image-23.webp
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20260514T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20260514T133000
DTSTAMP:20260427T231128
CREATED:20260327T132508Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260327T132508Z
UID:3501723-1778760000-1778765400@digitalnovascotia.com
SUMMARY:Cyber Security | Lunch & Learn
DESCRIPTION:Learn cybersecurity basics with Matt Usher—spot risks\, protect your business\, and take practical steps to stay secure. \n\n\n\n\nA Lunch & Learn with Matt Usher\nCyber threats aren’t just a concern for large corporations—small and medium-sized businesses are increasingly becoming targets\, often without realizing how vulnerable they may be. \nIn this Lunch & Learn\, Matt Usher from NSCC’s IT program will walk you through the current cybersecurity landscape and what it means for your business. You’ll learn where common risks exist\, how attacks typically happen\, and what practical steps you can take to better protect your data\, systems\, and operations.\nThis session is designed to make cybersecurity approachable—no technical background required—while giving you the knowledge you need to spot risks and take action. \nWhat you’ll learn:\n• Common cybersecurity threats facing small businesses today \n• How to identify vulnerabilities in your systems and processes \n• Simple\, practical steps to improve your business’s security \n• Best practices for protecting sensitive data and information \n• What to do if your business experiences a security breach \nWho this is for:\nThis session is ideal for small business owners\, teams\, and anyone responsible for managing business systems or data—especially those without a dedicated IT or cybersecurity background. \nWalk away with a better understanding of your business’s potential vulnerabilities—and clear\, actionable steps to help keep your operations secure.
URL:https://digitalnovascotia.com/event/cyber-security-lunch-learn/
LOCATION:Cape Breton Business Innovation Centre\, 500 George Street #suite 200\, Sydney\, NS\, Nova Scotia\, B1P 1K6\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Events,Training
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://digitalnovascotia.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/lunchnlearn-april-7.png
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