Thursday September 19
Pre-Conference Seminar
Investment Readiness & Strategic Planning – Day 1
This seminar precedes the Economic Developers Association of Canada conference to help maximize the professional benefits from limited travel budgets. Please note, registration to this seminar and the conference are separate.
Friday September 20
Pre-Conference Seminar
Investment Readiness & Strategic Planning – Day 2
Saturday September 21
2019 EDAC Golf Tournament
Broadmoor Golf Course, Sherwood Park
Optional/Register directly with Golf Course
Starting at 8:00 am – 18 hole Texas Scramble
Price $100 cart golf and lunch included.
Please complete Registration Form and email to trent.wright@strathcona.ca
Payment will be made directly to the Broadmoor Golf Course via credit card or invoice attention: Trent Wright.
EDAC Registration Desk Opens
Trade Show Booths Set-Up
Opening Reception
Join us at the brand new J.W. Marriott in the Wayne Gretzky Ballroom for our Opening Reception! Enjoy some hors d’oeuvres, cash bar and an opportunity to connect with colleagues as we kick off EDAC 2019.
Sunday September 22
EDAC Registration Desk Opens
Welcome Breakfast
Welcoming remarks from Michele Evans, Assistant Deputy Minister – Economic Development at Government of Alberta
EDAC Annual General Meeting
Members Only Event
Keynote: Canada C3 - Retracing the Historic Journey
Geoff Green – Founder & President, Students on Ice Foundation
In 2017, Geoff Green led a 150-day sailing expedition around Canada’s three coasts to mark Canada’s 150th Anniversary of Confederation. Learn how this inspiring journey connected millions to the people and places along Canada’s coastline, the longest coastline in the world. Geoff will bring the journey to life with stories of diverse Canadians he met along the way, from the St. Laurence to the far reaches of the Arctic to the Pacific. Canada C3 shined a spotlight on Canada’s strength in diversity and promise for the future.
Refreshment Break / Trade Show Walk
Plenary: Revitalization
Roger Brooks – President & CEO Roger Brooks International Consulting
Everything is changing. For the first time in Canadian history, jobs are going where the talent is – or wants to be. So what does that mean? In this fast-paced and engaging keynote address, Roger will share the top seven ingredients that will make you THE place that top-notch talent will gravitate to: as a place to live, work, invest in, and play. As we move to the European standard, you’ll see what Millennials, GenXers and Boomers are looking for, why downtowns are back and more important than ever, and what it takes to make your downtown the nucleus for your entire economic and tourism development effort. Don’t miss this session! This is where “inspired change” gets into high gear!
Plenary: The New Activism - Who Funds It And Why This Matters
Vivian Krause – Canadian Writer/Blogger, “Fair Questions”
For more than a decade, well-funded activist campaigns have targeted Canadian resource-based industries with great success. First forestry, then salmon farming and now, a multi-million dollar campaign aims to land-lock Canadian oil and gas, keeping Canada out of overseas energy markets. This campaign, literally, has Canada over a barrel. Vivian’s presentation provides detailed research on the sources of funding behind anti-pipeline activism, the motivations of the funders and the influence of this activism in elections and politics at the municipal, provincial and federal level.
Lunch
Marketing Canada Awards Presentation
Panel: Investment – FDI: Site Selectors
Chris Steele – Vice President, Advisor, Conway Inc.
Marc Beauchamp – President & CEO, CAI Global
Gregg Wassmansdorf – Senior Managing Director, Consulting, Newmark Knight Frank
Site Selectors Panel – A fantastic opportunity for members to engage with Site Selection Consultants from across North America. Discover what companies and consultants look for when searching for locations. Learn how to best engage with consultants, the information they will be looking for, and how to position your municipality to successfully attract investment.
Breakout Sessions
Bob Black – Executive Vice President, Katz Group
Gary Klassen – Senior Advisor, Crestview Strategy
This session will be on the negotiations between the City and the Katz Group (Downtown Edmonton Ice District) and how partnering with private industry can drive development for a municipality.
Chris Steele – Vice President – Advisor, Conway, Inc.
Site selection and inward investment projects occur within a highly competitive context. Companies and investors have literally the entire world to choose from, and how economic development organizations respond to the initial inquiry can make or break a community’s chances. Come to this session to learn more about how to anticipate investors’ needs and put together an effective response to an investment inquiry.
Joy Romero – Vice President, Technology & Innovation – Canadian Natural Resources Limited
Operationalization of the Clean Resource Innovation Network (CRIN), the “Network of Networks”.
Refreshment Break / Trade Show Walk
Breakout Sessions
Mike Thususka, Ec.D. – Director Economic Development, City of Summerside
The Hello Lamp Post (HLP) project is centered on a citizen engagement platform utilizing a technology platform to engage residents and visitors to provide feedback on areas of insights to inform the decision making process in Summerside around the themes of culture, recreation and finance. The HLP system is a completely innovative and digital approach to citizen engagement and consultation, our system encourages citizens to share thoughts and opinions in a playful way, building their trust, allowing us to gather honest feedback and responses anonymously.
Jessica Linthorne, Ec.D. – Manager, Strategic Initiatives, Town of Saugeen Shores
Aileen Murray, Ec.D.(F) – President, Mellor Murray Consulting
David Campbell – President, Jupia Consultants Inc.
Data mining and meticulous review isn’t’ for everyone, but when the right person is on the job and the data is brought to the surface, this careful research provides an invaluable opportunity. With the right collection of data, a creative and customized strategy can be built. The Town of Saugeen Shores is a community with a population of 14,000, on the shore of Lake Huron in Ontario. The Economic Development Strategic Plan provides recommendations and actions toward short- and long-term goals. Saugeen Shores is implementing a plan based on data and is seeing results.
Colin O’Leary, Ec.D. – Principal, O’Leary and Associates Ltd.
Emergencies and disasters are unavoidable and are happening more and more frequently in Canada. Time and time again, well prepared businesses have been proven to fare much better through and after a disaster. Although it is impossible to predict what will happen in the future, it is possible to use the best available information now to prepare for futures disasters and take steps to mitigate potential impacts. Therefore, a business continuity plan is such a vital piece for all businesses in Canada.
Breakout Sessions
James Cox – Manager of Economic Development, Tourism & Special Events, Municipality of Leamington
David Howe, Manager for Government and Municipal Affairs with Aurora Cannabis
This panel will examine the international, national, and local outlook for the cannabis industry, discuss the impact the industry has had on communities, and highlight how municipalities have adapted to the opportunities and challenges of having cannabis production as part of their economic mix.
Christopher Fletcher – Business Development Manager at AltaML
Walter Schwabe – Chief Evolution Officer, fusedlogic inc.
Steve Jast – President & CEO, Gazelle.ai, ROI Research on Investment
There will be no better time to start building Machine Learning into Economic Development Organizations than right now. Thanks to cutting edge AI research occurring at the University of Alberta and throughout Canada, every Economic Developer in Canada will soon have projects powered by Machine Learning (ML). However, careful consideration must be undertaken to minimize risk when adopting cutting-edge technology like ML. In this session, you will learn the strategies AltaML has used to launch multiple ML projects, and how ML could be used to attract investment and develop export opportunities.
Jason Rasevych, Ec.D. – President, Anishnawbe Business Professional Association
Learn about the indigenous economy and how partnerships between First Nations and municipalities or industry proponents can create regional economic growth.
Fun Night
Join us at the Central Social Hall for our annual EDAC Fun Night! Come prepared to sing and dance to the Grand Duelling Piano Show, starting at 7pm. Appetizers will be served and a cash bar will be available.
A shuttle bus will be going back and forth between the JW Marriott and the Central Social Hall starting at 6:45pm from the hotel. The last shuttle back to the hotel will be at 10:00pm.
Monday September 23
EDAC Registration Desk Opens
Breakfast
Plenary: International Trade & Investment - Developing Awareness & Generating Opportunities
Yvonne Gruenthaler – Trade Commissioner Service
Michael Padua – Manager, Key Accounts, Alberta Economic Development, Trade and Tourism
Are you gearing up to take advantage of emerging global opportunities? Are you ready? Learn how to get in touch with trade, export and investment attraction supports to help your community and organization stay competitive and succeed in a global marketplace.
Plenary: Successfully Planning and Developing On A First Nation: What You Didn’t Know You Needed to Know
Corina Hollingworth – Executive Director, Planning and Development Division, Enoch Cree Nation
First Nation’s are preparing their communities and people to be self governing, self sustaining, culturally astute and progressive. What will the future look like for First Nations and Indigenous communities taking into account the different legislation, regulations, policies and governance structures that affect all kinds of development. Is it possible to work with First Nations and their adjacent neighbors, communities and people towards a new kind of relationship that is positive? What kind of economic opportunities are possible? Are developer’s prepared to break new ground and create a viable, sustainable, environmentally aware and commercially successful partnership with government and First Nations? Is It possible to change the way we think and do business together? What does ”planning and development ‘ mean in a First Nation and what should your business be prepared to for when embarking on such ventures.
Breakout Sessions
Judy Lam – Manager, Urban Renewal Section, Economic Development, City of Hamilton
The City of Hamilton has been recognized, and continues to be viewed, as a national leader in brownfield redevelopment efforts. The City was the first municipality in Canada to adopt a brownfields Community Improvement Plan (CIP) in 2001 and since then, the CIP has been amended to stay innovative and to address current legislative amendments in environmental regulations with the most recent update completed in 2018. The ERASE program has generated significant assessment value and property taxes but more importantly, it has played a key part in the revitalization and enrichment of Hamilton.
Dorothy St. George, Ec.D. – Director, Economic Development, Town of Oakville
Development and implementation of a Mitigation Strategy to address the impact to Downtown Oakville resulting from a two year reconstruction and streetscape project on the main street.
Rebecca Taylor – Business Development Officer, Town of Amherst
Traditional public events drive positive awareness and activity to a downtown, but they often don’t do much to increase sales for businesses. Find out how to design and plan downtown events in a totally different way to create new customer relationships, increase local shopping, and bring a downtown to life. Examples will be shared along with a planning tool that can be used for any downtown event.
Refreshment Break / Trade Show Walk
Plenary: What Are We Selling? Re-evaluating your Value Proposition
David Campbell – President, Jupia Consultants Inc.
There are many challenges facing municipal economic development organizations these days from heightened competition for investment to the challenges of an aging workforce. Despite these challenges, it is important for communities to ensure they are focused on leveraging core strengths, assets and attributes as the best way to ensure long term, sustained economic growth and vitality. This discussion will elevate the conversation above the provision of the tactical, day-to-day functions of economic development to a strategic focus on the fundamentals to ensure long term economic prosperity.
Breakout Sessions
Gillian Hatton – Founder and Managing Consultant Location Strategies
Small communities face unique challenges in attracting investment. Drawing on practical hands-on experience, this seminar will cover the components involved in developing and deploying investment attraction strategies through the lens of smaller communities. The presentation will explore how a small community can capitalize on its strengths through realigning its assets, leveraging technologies, positioning, partnerships, and resources to deploy campaigns that will engage potential investors.
John Regan, Ec.D.(F) – Chief Administrative Officer, Director of Economic Development, Township of Black River – Matheson
Do you want to be Tourists #1, because of their #2? Not really, however this may be a side effect of Public Washrooms. Hear about two case studies. (1) How a simple boat launch revitalization project turns into a year-round operation that will generate tourism, visitors, jobs and revenue through quality of place and public events. And (2) hear about a community that has debated Public Washrooms for over 30 years.
Are public washrooms an economic driver? Who should build and or operate them? Are they even needed?
Kevin Poole – Manager of Economic Development & Tourism, City of Vernon
Wayne Robert – Principal and Economic/Management Consultant, Lochaven Consulting
Hidden professionals are dynamic creatures that make substantial contributions to local economies, but surprisingly little is known about the scale and nature of this sector in most communities. This presentation will explore the findings of our research within the North Okanagan 1) the characteristics Hidden Professionals in the North Okanagan; 2) the socio-economic factors and motivations that drive the segment; 3) Explore types of community benefits of the hidden professionals to communities and Regions; and, opportunities for strategies support the cohort.
Lunch
Keynote: Entrepreneurship - What Communities Can do to Support their Entrepreneurs
Arlene Dickinson – CEO, Venture Communications, District Ventures & YouInc.
Can anyone be an entrepreneur? Arlene Dickinson’s emphatic answer is “Yes.” In this talk, one of Canada’s most high profile business speakers distills a lifetime of experience to reveal everything you need to know—and do—to start, to run, and to grow a great business. (A customized clip from the hit show Dragons’ Den provides buzz, though that’s just a starting point.) On stage, as on the small screen, Dickinson is an inspirational speaker. She displays a palpable and infectious belief in the entrepreneurial spirit; she reminds us of the major contributions Canadians have made to international business and the entrepreneurial tradition.
*Please note: No audio or video recording permitted (no exceptions)
Alternate to Study Tours
Economic Disaster Resilience & Recovery Condensed Workshop
Presenter: Leann Hackman-Carty, CEO EDA Alberta – Disasters don’t discriminate. Floods, fires and other natural disasters can happen without warning. Factory closures, cyber security breaches, and major industry shifts can also cause significant economic disruptions. This 1/2-day workshop delivers practical steps to help lessen damages to your local economy.
*Additional fees: EDA is offering special pricing for this course. $60 includes the course as well as a copy of the Community Toolkit for Economic Recovery and Resiliency (2019 Canadian Version).
Must pre-register in advance: http://edaalberta.ca/event-3446256
Depart for Study Tours
Register to choose your Study Tour now
*Pre-registration/payment required – All tours must be paid upon registration.
*For all tours, please be ready to leave as soon as sessions end at 2:30pm
*All tours should be back at the hotel by 5:00pm.
Tour 1: Alberta Food Processing Development Centre
Cost: $45 plus tax
Learn first-hand how the Food Processing Development Centre helps support entrepreneurs in the province by providing them with access to a modern and fully equipped pilot plant to develop and fine-tune their products. The facility is staffed with experienced food scientists, engineers, and technologists that provide assistance to strengthen and expand the capabilities of Alberta’s food processors.
– Must complete consent form and bring to registration desk – download here
– No skirts, dresses or shorts permitted
– You will be provided with personal protective equipment upon arrival
Tour 2: Industrial Heartland
Cost: $45 plus tax
A tour of the Sturgeon Refinery will showcase the first refinery built in Canada in over 30 years and the only one with a carbon capture solution from the outset. The refinery is designed to process bitumen feedstock, mainly owned by the Government of Alberta through a royalty-in-kind program, helping to optimize the value of the province’s raw energy resources. The ultra low sulphur diesel produced at the refinery has one of the lowest carbon footprints, feeding the demand for cleaner fuels in Canada and beyond our borders.
Tour 3: Aurora Sky Cannabis/Edmonton Airport
Cost: $45 plus tax
Half of the tour, at the Edmonton International Airport (EIA), will offer insight into the air cargo and global logistics services, inbound tourism and retail offerings and emerging sectors that are key drivers for the Edmonton Metro Region economy. The second part of the tour will be at Aurora Sky. Aurora Sky is the largest fully operational purpose built cannabis facility in the world. See what makes Aurora an industry leader in automation and innovation, giving this company a distinct advantage in the emerging global cannabis industry. Take this brief tour of a catwalk overlooking key production areas of the facility while engaging directly with industry experts to have your budding questions answered.
– Must wear closed-toed shoes
– Must bring ID
Tour 4: Alberta Craft Tour
Cost: $75 plus tax
This tour showcases Northern Alberta’s first Distillery (Rig Hand) and one of Edmonton’s breweries (Yellowhead) with over a century of history. Edmonton Brewery Tours takes guests on a journey through Edmonton’s thriving craft beer and spirits scene. Discover how passionate tap pullers and a thirst for good beer quickly evolved into a local liquid obsession. As we take you through a journey of breweries and distilleries, you will sample a variety of custom beers and spirits, each with their own unique, local story. Bottoms up!
Free Night
Tuesday September 24
Breakfast
Registration Desk Opens
Plenary: Downtown Revitalization - Shaping a Dynamic Urban Core
Andrew Malcolm, RPP, MCIP – Urban Revitalization Manager, City of Lethbridge
A look at the force behind Lethbridge’s healthy and thriving urban core including a dive into the dedicated urban place management program that focuses on addressing challenges head on, harnessing the energy and ideas of community champions, developing and implementing strategic incentives and program and investing in key infrastructure improvements.
Plenary: Is Economic Development 9 to 5 or 24/7?
Jennifer Schnier, Ec.D.(F) – Economic Development Officer, Township of Georgian Bay
Since her presentation at EDAC 2018, Jennifer has had countless conversations and encouraged EDP’s all over the country to show how the economy is changing and how 9-5 just doesn’t fit anymore to those who manage their workspace. This year Jennifer will share with you information you need to solicit the change in the work environment so that is a win-win exists for everyone in your organization.
Panel: EDAC/IEDC Inspired Change
Its Election Time Again: Government Relations Tips for Economic Development Practitioners
Speakers will share insights to encourage economic development professionals to prepare their content messages and methods to key influencers in the Canadian and United States federal elections.
This panel presentation, moderated by EDAC Past President Mike Thususka, will hear from contributors on the following themes:
EDAC – Mike Thususka, Ec.D., EDAC Past President – The Canadian Perspective on Government Relations on the Economic Development Profession and our Communities.
IEDC –Kenny McDonald, Vice Chair, IEDC – The American Perspective on Government Relations on the Economic Development Profession and our Communities.
Refreshment Break / Trade Show Walk
Plenary: 25 Years of Indigenous Community Economic Development
Ray Wanuch – Executive Director, CANDO
Sharing results of the IMPACT CANDO makes on its EDO’s and the IMPACT CANDO Certified EDO’s make on their community economy.
Lunch
Plenary: The Future of Social Innovation
Brock Dickinson, Ec.D.(F) – Adjunct Professor and Entrepreneur-in-Residence, University of Waterloo
Economists have recently begun to divide descriptions of our economy into three sectors: the public sector, the private sector and the “social economy” sector. This rapidly growing economic sector – driven in part by the rising influence of Millennials – is now worth some $10 trillion annually, and because of its triple bottom line approach to investment, it often has more substantial local economic development impacts than other kinds of investment. How ready are economic development offices for this booming opportunity, and how can we support a growing cohort of social enterprise, social entrepreneurs and social investors? Economic development thinker Brock Dickinson is joined by successful social entrepreneurs in a dynamic and eye opening multimedia session exploring the future of social innovation.
Trade Show Booth Teardown
Breakout Sessions
Tracey Snow – Economic Development Officer, Lennox & Addington County
Lennox and Addington recognizes that “on the ground” economic development focusing on small businesses and entrepreneurs is a significant catalyst for business and community growth. We developed a “Made in Lennox and Addington” Business Coaching program that for ten years has been coaching and mentoring new and existing businesses. When we coach a business we focus on three key business elements: Product / Service, Marketing and Financial Management. We work with each business to determine their gaps or challenges and then find a community resource to help them with their problem. Let us show you how this unique approach to economic development can bring results and opportunities to rural communities.
Cody Joudry – Director Economic Development, Huron County
We are second tier County with 9 lower tiers. We have developed an integrated investment attraction, lead handling, and business development system we would like to share.
Daniel Silverman – Executive Vice President, Investment Attraction, Toronto Global
Karra-Lee Gerrits – Vice President, Investment and Trade, Edmonton Global
Marjorick Foisy – Director, Business Development, Foreign Investments, Montreal International
Attracting investment to large metropolitan areas with multiple municipalities, and multiple stakeholders is not always as straight-forward as it may seem. Inter-regional competition, fragmented data, multiple approaches, and varying levels of investor readiness across a metro regions can hamper and derail the best FDI strategies. A regional approach to attracting investment allows for resources to be pooled to bridge gaps when it comes to available data and investor readiness, and presents a cohesive and impactful message to investors, while ensuring no community is left behind. Learn how municipalities in the Edmonton, Montreal, and Toronto region are banding together and gaining the attention of global investors.
Larry Horncastle, Ec. D., HLM – Keystone Strategies
Richard Horcastle, Ec. D. – Partner, Keystone Strategies
Economic development professionals all across this great country are certifiable, are you?
Find out how you can stand above the crowd and become a Certified Economic Developer (Ec.D.) This session will explain the requirements, including recent changes, on how you can receive EDAC’s Certified Economic Developer designation.
This session will explore what requirements must be met in order to challenge the Certification exam, where training opportunities exist, and more importantly, what to expect when you sit down to challenge the exam. This highly interactive session will help you prepare to join the elite field of professional economic developers who have already attained their Ec.D. designation.
Refreshment Break
Plenary: Chasing FDI in Germany and Europe - a Company’s Look on FDI
Hendrik Taulin – Senior Investment Officer, Embassy of Canada Germany
This session will look into the mechanism of German potential investors and their thinking when it comes to strategic decisions such as greenfield investment, retention and expansion. It will also show how economic developers can work with Global Affairs Canada and the Embassies to reach out to key FDI target markets such as Germany. And we will hear about the necessity of building long-term relationship and what it takes to be successful in generating a potential investor’s interest.
Plenary: Globally Standardized City Data to Drive Economic Development
Patricia McCarney, Ph.D. – President & CEO, World Council on City Data (WCCD)
James Patava – Vice President Public Affairs & International Relations, WCCD
Cities need reliable, comparable data to drive evidence-based planning, investment and economic development. Cities reporting ISO standardized indicators in conformity with the ISO 37120 Series, are ISO certified by the WCCD. Standardized metrics allow city leaders to monitor their own year over year performance and learn from other comparable peer cities globally with “apples to apples” data. This data supports cities in identifying investment opportunities and innovative solutions.
End of Sessions
President’s Reception
Formal Evening
President’s Dinner
Greetings & Comments from President
EDAC Marketing Canada – EDAC Cup Awarding
Ec.D. & Ec.D.(F) Recipients
President’s Award
Legacy Scholarship
2019 MIPIM Award Recipient
Recognition of EDAC Past Presidents
Recognition of Provincial / Territorial Presidents
Recognition of EDAC’s HLM’s
Introduction of EDAC’s 2019-2020 (President & BOD)
2019-2020 Presidents Comments
EDAC 2020 Conference Presentation
