Durham Business Showcase Event 2022

Thank you for your interest in the Business Showcase. This virtual event has ended, please email BusinessShowcase@durham.ca to be added to the mailing list to be informed of upcoming events.

In June 2022, the Region of Durham, in partnership with public sector partners, hosted the Business Showcase Event, providing businesses the opportunity to showcase their services or solutions to Municipal staff from Durham Region, Ajax, Clarington, Oshawa, Pickering, Whitby, the Durham District School Board, and Durham Regional Police Service.

This was a successful event and more than half of registrants were new to the event. Over 170 staff attended and 47 businesses presented across the four day-event. Overall, staff felt this was a good opportunity to explore new products and services, and enjoyed the wide range of informative business presentations.

Common feedback from businesses was that it was a great opportunity to raise awareness and many liked the concise presentation structure. Common suggestions for future events were to provide further details about divisional goals/priorities and audience members so businesses have a better understanding of who they are presenting to. Additional suggestions included opportunities to interact with the audience and engage through a live question period.

We thank all staff and businesses for their participation and providing helpful feedback. Your input will help shape future iterations of the event.

The virtual event takes place June 20-23 2022.

Businesses presentations will be grouped by themes and given approximately 10 minutes to present their product or service. Staff whose work relates to each theme will attend to learn about participating businesses and their services or products.

Select "Continue Reading" below to view event schedule and theme information:

Note: Timeslots for each day are filled on a first-come-first-served basis.

The Business Showcase Event supports Durham's Regional and Municipal commitment to innovation and continuous improvement. This Showcase bridges the municipal, public and private sectors and supports a robust innovative ecosystem. This is a great opportunity to share innovative products and ideas with Municipal and public staff.

Participation in this event is voluntary and does not guarantee a business contract. Next steps will follow the Region’s or local municipality’s established procurement policies.

Theme Information

Below are brief descriptions and additional links related to eight key themes that support municipal programs and services areas.

The Region has made a commitment to being a leader in the community-wide transition to carbon neutrality and climate resilience. This means taking action to address the climate impacts of municipal infrastructure – including Regional buildings, the transportation network, waste and wastewater management, and clean water provision. We are also working in collaboration with our eight local area municipalities, and five conservation authority partners to invest in programs that support climate action by residents and businesses, as well as building resilience within the Region’s agricultural and natural systems ecosystems. Sustainable efforts across the Region and its eight local area municipalities demonstrates our commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and seize economic opportunities related to the clean energy transition.

Each local area municipality is taking action to address climate change. Learn more below:

Ajax - Brock - Clarington - Oshawa - Pickering - Scugog - Uxbridge - Whitby - Region of Durham

1. Solutions for Emergency Services

Solutions in this theme include Durham Regional Police Service, Fire Services, and Durham Region Paramedic Services.

The Health Department is responsible for providing ambulance services for the Region of Durham and works with other community partners to help deliver emergency services. Paramedic Services respond to 9-1-1 calls, offer educational programs, and work in cooperation with Durham Regional Police Service and Municipal fires services as first responders. Learn more about Region of Durham Paramedic Services here.

Durham Regional Police Service (DRPS) strives for the safest community for people to live, work, and play. DRPS is committed to providing quality service in partnership with the community. DRPS is comprised of four specialty units: 9-1-1 communications, auxiliary unit, field and patrol support, and serious/organized crime. Learn more about DRPS here.

Fire services are the responsibility of the Local Area Municipalities. Each Municipality offers a variety of fire and emergency services including fire suppression, inspections, training, prevention and risk management, and education. Learn more about municipal fire and emergency services here.

2. Solutions for Facilities and Operations

Facilities operations in the Region include the management of Regional facilities and leased premises including design, construction, operation, maintenance, and demolition activities, including Long-Term Care and Durham Region Police Service facilities.

At the Municipal level, facilities management oversees the maintenance of Municipal facilities, which include recreation centres, fire halls, Town Hall, and park facilities such as sports fields and splash pads. Fleet services include the maintenance of municipal vehicles and equipment.

3. Solutions for Health and Social Services

The departments of public health and social services each provide high-quality programs and services to Durham residents. Social services provide support and assistance to meet the needs of people in our community in a variety of ways including case management, counseling, employment support, financial assistance, housing, childcare and family support, and long-term care and senior services.

Public health work with community partners to promote and protect community health, prevent infectious diseases, inspect for health hazards, investigate occupational and environmental health hazards, and provide paramedic services. Health staff also work collaboratively with other Regional departments, Local Municipalities, and external agencies, to identify and plan for future local public health programs and services.

4. Solutions for Information Technology and Innovation

Information Technology (IT) divisions provide leadership, and expertise to support IT functions and technology infrastructure, network communications, telephone services, and other technology solutions to provide effective Municipal services and efficient government operations. Some services include wide area and local network support, desktop support, application development, IT security, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) services, and troubleshooting.

Innovation is integrated into municipal daily operations to support continuous improvement and enhanced service delivery. This theme will capture those products and services that are brand new to the market or still in development that don’t fall within any of the other themes listed.

5. Solutions for Roads and Transportation

Municipal transportation services include the planning, design, survey, construction management, and maintenance of all municipal roads, bridges, traffic signals, and other road infrastructure. Other services include traffic by-law, traffic control crossing guard programs, and winter maintenance. Learn more about each municipality’s works services below:

Ajax - Brock - Clarington - Oshawa - Pickering - Scugog - Uxbridge - Whitby - Region of Durham

This thematic group also includes solutions for Durham Region Transit (DRT). Durham Region Transit (DRT) is one of Ontario's largest regional transit systems, serving eight unique area municipalities. DRT operates scheduled bus services, On-Demand transit, and specialized transportation. Learn more about DRT here.

6. Solutions for Service Excellence

Each organization oversees finance, human resources, legal, and legislative services.

Finance divisions fulfill the legislative duties of the Treasurer, financial accounting and reporting of all municipal activities, and leads financial business planning and administration, and budget processing. Other operations include purchasing and property taxes.

Human resources provide administrative support to all departments and fair, transparent, and efficient support to employees including policy and organization development.

Legal Services coordinates and provide legal advice to Council, the Chief Administrative Officer, and municipal staff. Legal services also oversee the Provincial Offences Act-Court Services and Provincial Offences Act-Prosecution Services.

Legislative Services carries out the statutory duties of the Clerk as outlined in the Municipal Act and other provincial Acts, serves as secretariat to Council and its committees, and administers Municipal elections. This division manages Municipal records and archives and coordinates requests for information and privacy complaints under the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (MFIPPA).

7. Solutions for Smart Cities and Economic Development

Economic Development and Tourism at the Region works closely with local economic development offices to collectively support the growth of the regional economy and the attraction and retention of businesses. Economic development provides business services to attract new investment, enabling a vibrant tourism industry, as well as providing agricultural and rural programming in the northern townships. The teams engage in strategic business missions, partner together to support businesses, and build a robust innovative ecosystem.

Select the links below to learn more about Regional and Local economic development:
Ajax - Brock - Clarington - Oshawa - Pickering - Scugog - Uxbridge - Whitby - Region of Durham

In support of broader economic development objectives, the Region and local municipalities are implementing a Smart Cities/Intelligent Communities strategy and driving innovation forward to strengthen economic competitiveness and increase connectivity to support smarter, healthier, equitable, and sustainable communities.

8. Solutions for Water/Wastewater

The Region is responsible for planning, design, construction, operation, and maintenance of water supply and sanitary sewerage services. Operations include the planning and design of all water treatment plants, water mains, reservoirs, water pumping stations, and sanitary sewers and sewage treatment plants. Other essential services include the development and management of all Regional water efficiency programs. Learn more about programs and services provided by Regional Works here.

Local municipalities oversee storm sewers and stormwater management, learn more by visiting the links below:
Ajax - Brock - Clarington - Oshawa - Pickering - Scugog - Uxbridge - Whitby