EDC and the World Trade Centre of Toronto (WTC)

With the change to the virtual classroom EDC is continuing to partner with the World Trade Centre of Toronto to bring you the Trade Accelerator Program (TAP), a comprehensive learning platform. Here you will learn how to expand your business' global reach and enjoy direct mentorship and highly personalized coaching from industry experts.

Apply now for these in demand sessions.  

Succeed in export markets faster with the Trade Accelerator Program (TAP)

In-depth workshop sessions for enhanced export knowledge. Now available online.

TAP by the numbers*:

73%

Percentage of TAP Grads Exporting

8.5

The average number of jobs added by companies within one year of participating in TAP

42%

Percentage of companies that start exporting, or enter a new market after participating in TAP

64%

Percentage of participating companies owned or led by underrepresented groups.

Our program supports inclusive trade companies (Black communities, indigenous communities, LGBTQ2+) through dedicated cohorts, specific partnerships with ecosystem partners to provide answers to unique challenges or offer flexible requirements

*Figures from 2023 

TAP Logo

How does TAP accelerate my company’s growth?

TAP is an innovative program designed to help small- and medium-sized enterprises gain knowledge and a network of contacts to unleash their export potential. Offered through a series of online workshop sessions with trade and industry experts, Canadian business leaders learn to overcome export barriers and reach new markets faster. Now available through the World Trade Centre of Toronto’s online platform.

Ready to expand your business horizons? Through TAP, you’ll learn the ins and outs of exporting, discover the resources available to companies like yours, and find out how to build and sustain a profitable future.

City Cohorts 2-day Workshop 3rd Day Export Plan 1 on 1 Mentoring Day

Abbotsford

March Mar 9-10 Mar 18 Apr 14

Kelowna

May

May 12-13 May 20 Jun 16

Langley & Surrey

April Apr 21-22 Apr 28 May 26

Vancouver

February Feb 11-12 Feb 19 Mar 12

Vancouver

June Jun 23-24 Jun 30 Jul 28
Vancouver September – Creative industries Sept 22-23 Sept 30 Oct 28
Vancouver
November Nov 3-4 Nov 10 Dec 8

Victoria

October

Oct 14-15 Oct 21 Nov 18
 

Calgary

March

Mar 4-5

Mar 19 Apr 22

Calgary

May

May 11-12 May 28 Jun 25

Calgary

September 

Sept 2-3 Sept 22 Oct 22

Calgary

November

Nov 9-10 Nov 24 Dec 16

Edmonton

February

Feb 12-13 Feb 25 Apr 7

Edmonton

April

Apr 15-16 Apr 28 Jun2

Edmonton

September

Sept 15-16

Sept 29 Nov 5

Edmonton

October

Oct 28-29 Nov 10 Dec 15
Lethbridge April Apr 1-2 Apr 14 May 13
Red Deer March Mar 16-17 Mar 31 Apr 30
 

Saskatoon

January

Jan 29-30 Feb 6 Mar 10

 

Winnipeg March Mar 11-12 Mar 19 Apr 22

 

Kitchener-Waterloo March – Tech-specific Mar 26-27 April 3 May 6
Kitchener-Waterloo May May 5-6 May 13 June 16
Mississauga February Feb 26-27 Mar 3 Mar 31
Sault Ste Marie March Mar 23-24 Apr 9 May 5
Thunder Bay February Feb 10-11 Feb 18 Mar 18

Toronto

January – Special Women-led companies

Jan 20-21 Jan 27 Mar 3

Toronto

March

Mar 10-11 Mar 23 Apr 21

Toronto

May

May 25-26 Jun 3 Jul 7

Toronto

August

Aug 24-25 Aug 31 Oct 6

Toronto

September

Sept 29-30 Oct 8 Nov 12

Toronto

October – Creative industries 

Oct 28-29 Nov 5 Dec 10
Vaughan March Mar 30-31 Apr 6 May 20
 
Levis (FR) February Feb 5-6 Feb 13 Mar 24

Montreal (EN)

February

Feb 3-4 Feb 12 Mar 17

Montreal (bilingue)

March – Manufacturing sector

Mar 10-11 Mar 17 Apr 14

Montreal (FR)

April

Apr 28-29 May 6 Jun 2
 
Halifax February Feb 24-25 Mar 2 Mar 30
City Cohorts 2-day Workshop 3rd Day Export Plan 1 on 1 Mentoring Day

Abbotsford

March Mar 9-10 Mar 18 Apr 14

Kelowna

May

May 12-13 May 20 Jun 16

Langley & Surrey

April Apr 21-22 Apr 28 May 26

Vancouver

February Feb 11-12 Feb 19 Mar 12

Vancouver

June Jun 23-24 Jun 30 Jul 28
Vancouver September – Creative industries Sept 22-23 Sept 30 Oct 28
Vancouver
November Nov 3-4 Nov 10 Dec 8

Victoria

October

Oct 14-15 Oct 21 Nov 18
 

Calgary

March

Mar 4-5

Mar 19 Apr 22

Calgary

April

Apr 1-2 Apr 14 May 13

Calgary

September 

Sept 2-3 Sept 22 Oct 22

Calgary

November

Nov 9-10 Nov 24 Dec 16

Edmonton

February

Feb 12-13 Feb 25 Apr 7

Edmonton

April

Apr 15-16 Apr 28 Jun2

Edmonton

September

Sept 15-16

Sept 29 Nov 5

Edmonton

October

Oct 28-29 Nov 10 Dec 15
Lethbridge May May 11-12 May 28 Jun 25
Red Deer March Mar 16-17 Mar 31 Apr 30
 

Saskatoon

January

Jan 29-30 Feb 6 Mar 10

 

Winnipeg March Mar 11-12 Mar 19 Apr 22

 

Hamilton February Feb 27-28 Mar 6 Apr 14
Kitchener-Waterloo March – Tech-specific Mar 26-27 April 3 May 6
Mississauga February Feb 26-27 Mar 3 Mar 31
Sault Ste Marie March Mar 23-24 Apr 9 May 5
Thunder Bay February Feb 10-11 Feb 18 Mar 18

Toronto

January – Special Women-led companies

Jan 20-21 Jan 27 Mar 3

Toronto

March

Mar 10-11 Mar 23 Apr 21

Toronto

April

Apr 27-28 May 5 Jun 5

Toronto

May

May 25-26 Jun 3 Jul 7

Toronto

August

Aug 24-25 Aug 31 Oct 6

Toronto

September

Sept 29-30 Oct 8 Nov 12

Toronto

October – Creative industries 

Oct 28-29 Nov 5 Dec 10
Vaughan March Mar 30-31 Apr 6 May 20
 
Levis (FR) February Feb 5-6 Feb 13 Mar 24

Montreal (EN)

February

Feb 3-4 Feb 12 Mar 17

Montreal (bilingue)

March – Manufacturing sector

Mar 10-11 Mar 17 Apr 14

Montreal (FR)

April

Apr 28-29 May 6 Jun 2
 
Halifax February Feb 24-25 Mar 2 Mar 30

Find a TAP session near you

Map of Canada

In partnership with the World Trade Centre of Toronto, the classes are now available coast to coast. TAP can be delivered in two formats: hybrid and virtual. Both formats include the same topics and the use of an e-learning platform.

Click on the link from your closest region to learn about the full schedule available.

After each cohort participants will have access to the new e-learning platform. The platform facilitates staying in touch with graduates, interaction with one another, peer to peer learning and engagement, mentorship, and access to learning materials and resources.

TAP enforced discipline to focus on export growth specifically. It broadened my horizons in terms of the government agencies and programs to facilitate export sales.

David Dickson  —  VP FinanceSignifi TAP Toronto

TAP at a glance

Through the program, you will:

  1. define a growth strategy;
  2. identify and analyze your target market;
  3. complete an export plan; and
  4. identify the resources available for international expansion.

TAP is made up of 4 phases: 

Woman taking an online class, smiling on monitor

Phase 1: Discover

The program comprises intensive workshops that familiarize participants with the available exporting resources, introduces high-level experts in key functions of international trade, stimulates peer-to-peer exchange of ideas & experiences, and provides guidance in recognizing and handling business challenges.

Online group classes, the screen is split into four and a participant is looking on

Phase 2: Develop

Participants will receive focused support from leading Canadian export advisors in the development of their export plan. Participants will tackle key sections of their export plan, detailing strategic objectives, market entry methods, international marketing plan, as well as supply chain and operational resources.

Man running machinery, sewing or embroidery machine

Phase 3: Build

Over the course of the program, participants will develop their trade plan. They will have the full support of export advisors to guide and assist them in developing an export plan that is realistic, high quality, and fully integrated with their overall business strategy. All export plans receive a written assessment from our expert team.

Two businessmen wearing masks greet each other COVID-19 style

Phase 4: Accelerate

The final phase of the program is focused on mentoring, constructive feedback, solutions, and reinforcing business relationships. After reviewing the export plan, participants will receive individual mentoring sessions from our expert partners where potential solutions and ways forward are explored. Participants will walk away with a complete Strategic Export Plan!

How to get started with TAP

If your company fits the criteria below, you’re ready to expand your export capabilities with TAP. Participating companies must have:

  • 2 years of commercial operations
  • A strong competitive advantage
  • More than $500,000 in annual revenue
  • 2 years of income statements
  • A clean record: no corruption or environmental or human rights violations
  • Desire to diversify into export markets, to explore the steps needed to expand into new markets and/or some past export experience
  • Two senior representatives dedicated to the program

TAP changed the whole way we are doing business. We had been doing exports for 20 years thinking we were good at it... TAP opened new doors and gave us opportunities and access in ways we never thought were possible.

Paul Kalia  —  CEOHofmann Plastics TAP Toronto

91% of TAP participants feel more motivated to expand internationally after attending TAP

Apply now and a TAP representative will get in touch to discuss this opportunity in further detail.

Developed by industry experts

TAP was developed by the Toronto Board of Trade and is now organized by The World Trade Centre of Toronto. This includes regional boards of trade, chambers of commerce and associations. The program is supported by EDC and other dedicated partners who participate in a value-packed curriculum, offering expertise, resources and valuable networking opportunities. With TAP, you’ll be in good company.

 

Canada trades network

Program partners 

TAP national partners

 

 

Date modified: 2024-01-26