Haldimand County Business Symposium to feature guest speaker Avery Swartz

Haldimand County is pleased to announce the return of its annual Haldimand Business Symposium. This free networking event will take place on Thursday, April 16 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Haldimand County Administration Building (53 Thorburn St. S, Cayga).

The Haldimand Business Symposium is presented by Mayor Shelley Ann Bentley, Council and the Economic Development & Tourism division. This event provides an opportunity for Council to formally recognize and express appreciation to local business owners for their ongoing contributions to our communities and the residents they serve. 

This year’s guest speaker is Avery Swartz; tech educator, AI adoption speaker, founder & CEO of Camp Tech, and co-lead of AI Skills Lab Canada. Avery has provided expert commentary on CTV's Your Morning, CBC Radio, and in national publications such as The Globe and Mail, Chatelaine, and Today's Parent. She also hosted Season 2 of the AI Meets World podcast from Microsoft and The Globe and Mail Content Studio.

In this engaging presentation, Avery will show how AI can become a trusted partner in the everyday work of running a business. You’ll learn how AI can streamline marketing and operations, boost productivity, and support better decision-making, through clear, real-world examples that show where AI delivers value for small business owners and where human oversight remains essential.

Attendees will leave with confidence and strategies they can act on immediately. Whether the goal is improving marketing, streamlining operations, exploring new tools, or simply understanding how to make AI work in practical ways, this session delivers insights that are relevant, easy to grasp, and ready to put into action.

“Our business community grows stronger when we come together to share ideas and embrace innovation. The symposium provides a valuable opportunity for collaboration while also celebrating and thanking our local businesses for the vital role they play in strengthening and enriching our community,” said Mayor Shelley Ann Bentley.

Haldimand County invites local business owners, representatives from Chambers of Commerce, Business Improvement Areas and business organizations across the county to attend. There is no cost to attend but pre-registration is required, and recommended no later than April 2nd to secure a seat. Register now at https://events.haldimandcounty.ca/default/Detail/2026-04-16-1700-2026-Haldimand-Business-Symposium to RSVP.

Anyone seeking more information can e-mail opportunity@haldimandcounty.on.ca or call 905-318-5932 ext. 6331 to connect with the Economic Development and Tourism Division.