7:30 am-12:30 pm ec.d. exam - edaalberta.ca 2016 conference agenda.pdfignite®#eda2016 will give...

Agenda as of Friday, April 01, 2016

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6

7:30 AM-12:30 PM

EC.D. EXAM (Pocaterra Room) Would you like to obtain EDAC's Ec.D. Designation with your colleagues during the Economic Developers Alberta Conference? Contact the EDAC office as soon as possible if you are ready, have enough points and would like to write! EDAC will be hosting a group sitting of the Ec.D. exam during the EDA Conference April 6-8, 2016. Join your colleagues across Canada who have already earned the Ec.D. Designation. Seats are limited, so contact the EDAC office today to inquire if you are eligible to write. Partner: EDAC & Keystone Strategies

9:00-11:00 AM PRE-CONFERENCE SESSION: TOURISM AND THE LOCAL ECONOMY- BEING A PART OF ALBERTA’S DYNAMIC TOURISM INDUSTRY (Explorer) Tourism in Alberta is an $8 billion industry supporting over 19,000 small businesses and sustaining 127,000 full time equivalent jobs in all regions and corners of the province. The Tourism Division of Alberta Culture and Tourism, supports the growth and diversification of Alberta’s tourism industry by collaborating with industry, government and stakeholders to create new and expanded tourism attract ions, destinations and experiences. In addition to developing and influencing government policy to support tourism development, the division provides programs and services focused on helping communities and their entrepreneurs and small businesses to realize the benefits and opportunities of being part of the tourism economy. Attend this free session to learn more about Alberta’s dynamic tourism industry and how the Tourism Division can support and work with your community to benefit from being part of the tourism economy. Advance registration is required. Moderator: Matt Cornall, EDA President Presented by: Chris Heseltine, Assistant Deputy Minister, Alberta Culture and Tourism and other department staff

Partner: Alberta Culture and Tourism

9:00-11:30 AM IGNITE PRACTICE SESSION (Mount Kidd Ballroom) If you have been selected to present at Ignite #EDA2016 session, you are required to attend this practice session. Moderators: Sara Chamberlain and Gary Slipp, EDA Board Members

9:00 AM-1:00 PM CONFERENCE REGISTRATION (Conference Lobby)


1:00-2:00 PM

OFFICIAL CONFERENCE OPENING & KEYNOTE- UNLOCKING THE POWER OF YOUR COMMUNITY: INNOVATIVE APPROACHES TO STRATEGIC ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (Gold/Silver/Bronze)

Moderator: Leann Hackman-Carty, Chief Executive Officer, EDA Opening Remarks: Matt Cornall, 2015-16 President, EDA Introductory Remarks: Tom Mansfield, Alberta Economic Development and Trade Keynote Speaker: Angela Marshall Hofmann, President, World Strategies, LLC

Angela Marshall Hofmann is the founder and President of World Strategies, LLC where she provides international trade and investment expertise to companies growing their business overseas. Previously, she served as Corporate Affairs Executive and Senior Policy Advisor for Walmart Stores, Inc. as Vice President for International Corporate Affairs. During her 13 years at Walmart, she led company efforts to grow retail, ecommerce and sourcing in 40+ countries around the world as well as led supply chain capacity building efforts focused on transparency, building safety, agricultural development and women’s economic empowerment. Angela has served as a trusted advisor to members of the U.S. Congress and Executive Branch as well as to various CEOs and senior executives in complex, multi-national organizations. She also served as President and continues to be active in the Organization of Women in International Trade (“OWIT”) that comprises a global network of women trade professionals. She is skilled at working across different cultures as well as leading cross-functional and international teams, while enhancing global business performance through leveraging operational experience, deep international trade expertise and innovation while integrating business and social responsibility initiatives. She is a creative and dynamic leader that develops long-term relationships and builds strategic alliances among corporations, governments, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and communities worldwide. She catalyzes change and drives social entrepreneurship by developing innovative public-private partnerships in emerging markets. As a global team-builder, that is a strong advocate for associate talent development, diversity and inclusion. An experienced world-traveler and adventurer, she is passionate about the people and places she has and is yet to meet and explore.

Angela will be speaking about some of the innovative approaches to economic development she has seen in her broad travels and unique experience. Partner: Alberta Economic Development and Trade

2:00-3:00 PM

ENERGY INDUSTRY KEYNOTE- INNOVATING TO COMPETE: THE STATE AND FUTURE OF CANADA’S

OIL AND GAS (Gold/Silver/Bronze)

Introductory Remarks: Linda Erickson, Alberta Economic Development and Trade

Keynote Speaker: Jeff Gaulin, Vice President, Communications, Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP)

The Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP) is the voice of Canada’s upstream petroleum industry. CAPP represents companies, large and small, that explore for, develop and produce natural gas and crude oil throughout Canada. CAPP's member companies produce about 90 per cent of Canada's natural gas and crude oil. CAPP's associate members provide a wide range of services that support the upstream crude oil and natural gas industry. Together CAPP's members and associate members are an important part of a national industry with revenues from oil and natural gas production of about $120 billion a year. CAPP's mission, on behalf of the Canadian upstream oil and gas industry, is to advocate for and enable economic competitiveness and safe, environmentally and socially responsible performance.

Jeff Gaulin is Vice President, Communications, Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP). He is a values-driven leader of

a team of more than 20 high-performing individuals responsible for research and market insights, marketing and corporate communications, member communications, media relations, community outreach and citizen engagement from coast to coast on behalf of small, medium and large oil and natural gas producers. He has experience in private and publicly-traded corporations, government and industry associations, including: oil and natural gas production; environmental and energy services; electricity generation; beverage industry; provincial government; and news media.


Jeff will be providing an update on issues pertaining to the oil and natural gas industry both within Alberta and across Canada, including proposed policies, economic realities, and the role of technological innovation. Partner: CAPP

3:00-3:15 PM

REFRESHMENT BREAK (Convention Foyer)

Partner: AUMA

3:15-4:45 PM

BREAKOUT SESSIONS

Session 1: Let’s Make a Pitch (Bronze)

NOTE: You must register in advance for this session

Back again this year, this fun, interactive session, based on the hit television show “Dragon’s Den,” will teach you how to “pitch” your project to corporate partners. Learn what they look for in a partner, and how you raise your profile. Come with your creativity, innovation and best “pitching” skills so you are ready to participate in this session. There may even be prizes for the team with the best pitch! Moderator: Kent McMullin, Honorary Board Member, EDA Facilitator: Catherine Murray, Repsol Oil & Gas Canada Inc. Panelists: Gerry Pratt and Jennifer Findlay

Organized by: Repsol Oil & Gas Canada Inc.

Session 2: Ignite®#EDA2016- Inspire and Enlighten Us- But Make it Quick! (Gold)

Ignite® is a fast-paced, fun, thought-provoking presentation format that educates and entertains. It was originally developed by O'Reilly Media, and has been enthusiastically received in more than 100 cities throughout the world.

Ignite®#EDA2016 will give pre-selected EDA members the opportunity to share their enthusiasm and passion with other delegates by delivering a 5 minute presentation, with 20 slides, on an interesting, fun, challenging, and provocative topic. Come prepared to learn and enjoy this fun, entertaining format.

Moderators: Sara Chamberlain and Gary Slipp, EDA Board Members

Presenters: 8-10 Partner: Jandel Homes Ltd.

Session 3: Elected Officials Session- Leader Follower Relationships: The Workplace Dance (Mount Kidd

Ballroom) Moderator: Cathy Goulet, EDA Board Member Introductory Remarks: Bev Thornton, Alberta SouthWest Regional Alliance Speaker: Dan Gaynor, Gaynor Consulting

Have you wondered why it is that change and innovation can be so difficult to carry off? Or why you have such a tough time getting buy-in for all the tough choices you've got to make? What if buy-in is actually creating more problems than it is solving and there is a much more powerful alternative? This is the one workshop every leader should take, it holds the keys to creating alignment and positioning leaders to build adaptable agile teams that take change in stride. Why? Because most of the resistance leaders face in trying to turn the ship is the product of leader follower relationships that are not working. And day-to-day performance issues usually trace back to basic problems in this all important relationship. The result is corporate chaos, a discouraged workforce and often higher than necessary employee turnover. This workshop will highlight a simple powerful five step approach to building the kind of strong leader follower relationships that get the right things done.


As the former president and publisher at both the Calgary Herald and the St. Catharines Standard, Dan Gaynor brings a rare body of first-hand executive leadership experience to his work. Dan has successfully led several significant change efforts, including integrations, team turn-arounds and the resolution of several difficult labour situations. Dan has mentored several of today's leading executives, within and outside the newspaper business. Since leaving his own leadership career in 2003 to form Gaynor Consulting, Dan has built a reputation as a leading teacher, executive coach, speaker and consultant, working with a wide variety of clients and industries. Not at all a fan of faddish leadership thinking, Dan teaches the same timeless and powerful practices he developed and used for years in building the teams he personally developed. Partner: Alberta REDA’s

6:00-6:30 PM COCKTAIL RECEPTION (Convention Foyer)

6:30-8:30 PM EDA PRESIDENT’S DINNER (Gold/Silver/Bronze)

This is an excellent opportunity to meet the EDA Board of Directors and network with colleagues, partners and speakers. The event features a full buffet dinner and a cash bar. Dress: Business Attire Partner: Economic Developers Alberta

Following the President’s Dinner, the EDA Hospitality Suite (Walker/Champion Room) will be open until midnight. Partner: EDA & Townfolio

THURSDAY, APRIL 7

7:00 AM

BREAKFAST BUFFET (Convention Foyer)

8:00-8:45 AM

PLENARY SPEAKER: DIVERSIFY, DIVERSIFY, DIVERSIFY…A KEY GROWTH STRATEGY FOR SMALL AND MID-SIZED FIRMS (Gold/Silver/Bronze)

Moderator: Leann Hackman-Carty, Chief Executive Officer, EDA Introductory Remarks: Richard Jensen, Executive Vice President, Operations, Plains Midstream Canada Keynote Speaker: Pierre Cléroux, VP Research and Chief Economist, Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC)

At the end of last year, BDC released the results of an Alberta based study on the impact of diversification. The study included nearly 1000 Alberta based companies across a variety of industry sectors, and the message was clear—diversification is a critical strategy for Canadian businesses to succeed in these challenging times. Business owners who fail to do so may be missing growth opportunities and putting their company under unnecessary risk. They also found a clear relationship between financial performance and the level of diversification. In fact, nearly seven in 10 fully diversified companies had strong revenue growth—versus less than two in 10 undiversified businesses. Even businesses with a modest degree of diversification were more likely to have strong revenue growth than undiversified companies. Pierre Cléroux will be sharing highlights from this report, and speak to potential areas of opportunities our businesses may realize through further diversification efforts. Pierre Cléroux was appointed Vice President, Research and Chief Economist at BDC in 2012. He is responsible for providing economic analysis and advice to the Senior Management Team, while helping interpret economic trends


and their impact on businesses. His responsibilities also include all marketing and industry research activities. Mr. Cléroux has more than 25 years of experience as an economist, mainly in the public sector. Before joining BDC, he worked for the government of Saudi Arabia as Vice President, Business Analysis in the National Industry Clusters Development Program. His role was to create program strategies, define sector policies and conduct financial and economic analyses of industrial projects. Prior to that, Mr. Cléroux was the Quebec Assistant Deputy Minister for Economic Development, Innovation and Export Trade, responsible for the implementation of economic policies and programs to support small and medium-sized businesses and encourage entrepreneurship. He was also a strategic advisor for Montreal International, responsible for attracting foreign investment from India and the Middle East, and developing international relationships and partnerships. He also worked for 12 years at the Canadian Federation of Independent Business in various roles, including economist and Quebec Vice President. He holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Master’s degree in Economics from Université Laval, and an MBA from MIT Sloan School of Management. Partners: Plains Midstream Canada & Business Development Bank of Canada

9:00-10:15 AM BREAK OUT SESSIONS

Session 1A: Building Community Economic Resilience through Collaboration and Partnerships (Silver/Bronze)

Moderator: Holly Sorgen, EDA, Community Economic Development Trainer (CEDTP) Introductory Remarks: Leanne McBean, Sturgeon County Panelists: Eleanor Miclette, County of Northern Lights; Byron Peters, Mackenzie County; Elvira Smid, Eastern Alberta Trade

Corridor Economic development today requires establishing diverse partnerships and complex collaborations. This session will highlight three examples where collaboration and partnerships are helping further community economic resilience: North Western Peace Country: The Regional Economic Development Network has learned partnerships are essential on so

many different levels. This group of driven Economic Development Officers successfully came together to create a tool for e-commerce and skill development. By thinking local and acting global they developed www.ThinkLocalMarket.com and ended up receiving national recognition for its positive economic impact. Now www.thinklocalmarket.com is spreading across the province and growing from just a regional project to a provincial economic development tool.

Eleanor Miclette has been the Manager of Economic Development and Community Services for the County of Northern Lights for over 5 years. She was born in England and raised in Holland where she received her Bachelor’s Degree of Human Resources and she completed the two year certificate program with the University of Waterloo towards her Economic Development Designation. Presently she is completing her certificate in Municipal Leadership with the University of Alberta. Eleanor is the current chair of the ThinkLocalMarket.com committee and part of the initial project team that brought this economic development and business development tool to life. In her role as Economic Development Manager she has played an integral part of bringing about Move-Up Business and Lifestyle Magazine, Peace Oil Sands Conference, and the award winning projects of Paddle the Peace, and ThinkLocalMarket.com Mackenzie County: While decisions pertaining to economic development and to land-use planning and design are intuitively

interrelated, the conventional approach has been to address relevant policy documents, whether it is an economic development strategy, a municipal development plan, or a streetscape design, in isolation. Mackenzie County has addressed this concern by proposing an interdisciplinary approach to economic renewal, whereby the streetscape and façade design guidelines for commercial sectors in La Crete and Fort Vermilion are developed concurrently with an economic development strategy for the entire county. The communities of Fort Vermilion and La Crete could hardly be more different. In undertaking this project, a decision was made to enlist the citizens of both communities together to encourage community and economic renewal and growth. This project uniquely combines what would typically be three independent projects into one, while promoting an interdisciplinary approach. While the synergies of the project are obvious, there is also the ability to leverage budget dollars, and to more effectively utilize staff, consultant and citizen’s time. Byron Peters is Director of Planning & Development at Mackenzie County.

Eastern Alberta Trade Corridor: The Eastern Alberta Trade Corridor initiative, Palliser Economic Partnership, Battle River

Alliance for Economic Development and Northeast Alberta Information HUB have taken regional collaboration to another level bringing the number of communities involved to over 80. This initiative aims to be an advocate for economic development in eastern Alberta and operates joint projects that will result in benefits for the member communities. A collaboration of this size has both successes and challenges, but it is working. Elvira Smid is the Executive Director, Eastern Alberta Trade Corridor.

http://www.thinklocalmarket.com/

http://www.thinklocalmarket.com/


Partner: Sturgeon County

Session 2A: Renewal by Balancing Downtown Vitality and Suburban Growth (Gold)

Moderator: Chris King, EDA Board Member Introductory Remarks: Court Ellingson, Calgary Economic Development Panelists: Kieron Hunt, Cushing Terrell Architecture

With a focus on smaller towns and secondary markets, this presentation will provide a roadmap to identifying the challenges of retail as well as the role of the public sector in retail. The presentation will help set the stage so that communities can know the when, why and how they can create a downtown that is resilient in face of suburban growth pressures, while renewing the passion for what Main Streets can do for a community by Reinventing the mix, urban form and streetscape of what should still be the beating heart of a community. Kieron Hunt is the Director of Canadian Operations for Cushing Terrell Architecture; a 77 year old architectural and engineering firm with 17 offices across the US and Canada. Based in Vancouver, Kieron is tasked with market analysis, project management, and business development. He has 15 years of experience in retail development planning ranging from market analysis to urban design and master planning. His expertise is in feasibility and development market studies for the public and private sector comprising mixed use, downtown revitalization, retail repositioning and adaptive re-use studies, hotel feasibility studies, transit oriented development planning, airport master planning and resort master planning. Kieron has conducted feasibility, development and master planning strategies around the world. His experiences spans markets across Canada and the US as well as Internationally in Russia, Romania, Ukraine, Germany, Poland, Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong, Egypt, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Mexico and Brazil. Kieron is a long-standing member of the Township of Langley Economic Development Advisory Committee and is currently the National Co-Chair for the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) Alliance Program. Partner: Calgary Economic Development/International Council of Shopping Centers

Session 3A: Broadband and Economic Development (Explorer)

Moderator: Schaun Goodeve, EDA Board Member Introductory Remarks: Pat O’Neill, NADC Panelists: Bev Thornton, Executive Director, Alberta SouthWest Regional Alliance; Pete Lovering, Advisor, SouthGrow

Regional Initiative; Bob Miller Calgary Regional Economic Development Alliance Just as roads and rail were essential to connecting people and building economies, high speed-high capacity broadband is essential to 21st century community sustainability, growth and prosperity. Connectivity is vital to economic development, to creating new jobs, to attracting new industries and providing access to regional, national, and worldwide markets. Current broadband infrastructure and operational systems fall short of the capacity needed to support economic development. How do we help our communities understand the complexities, define the issues and plan next steps? What are the opportunities? How can community leaders and economic development professionals implement plans and actions to have accessible, affordable telecommunication connectivity? Representatives from Alberta’s REDAs will speak about how they have tackled these issues, what they have learned and what the options are for going forward. This session will highlight the importance of communications technology in economic development and some real examples and processes that communities are implementing to access technology in new and innovative ways. Partner: Northern Alberta Development Council


Session 4A: Leading Through Stormy Seas (Mount Kidd Ballroom)

Moderator: Cathy Goulet, EDA Board Member Introductory Remarks: Osazale Ebinda, Investors Group Speaker: Dan Gaynor, Gaynor Consulting

You can only tell the strength of a submarine's hull when you take it down – it's pressure that reveals the cracks. Leaders are not defined by their efforts when things are going well, the most defining moments come when the team faces hardship and needs good leadership most. Make the wrong moves in these critical periods and performance will decline just when everyone needs it most. Virtually all teams face stormy seas at some point. Alberta’s boom and bust oil economy makes this inevitable. These are the situations that test leaders most and can build or break teams. Leading people through them takes a different approach, it’s certainly not business as usual. When teams are well led, these challenges can produce accelerated team development; however these same periods can also break confidence and lead to big setbacks. During this session, Dan Gaynor draws together lessons from the Shackleton Expedition and his direct experience through several stormy periods to offer a powerful and practical workshop that will prepare you to lead your team through the toughest challenges with confidence. As the former president and publisher at both the Calgary Herald and the St. Catharines Standard, Dan Gaynor brings a rare body of first-hand executive leadership experience to his work. Dan has successfully led several significant change efforts, including integrations, team turn-arounds and the resolution of several difficult labour situations. Dan has mentored several of today's leading executives, within and outside the newspaper business. Since leaving his own leadership career in 2003 to form Gaynor Consulting, Dan has built a reputation as a leading teacher, executive coach, speaker and consultant, working with a wide variety of clients and industries. Not at all a fan of faddish leadership thinking, Dan teaches the same timeless and powerful practices he developed and used for years in building the teams he personally developed. Partner: Investors Group

10:15-10:30 AM REFRESHMENT BREAK (Convention Foyer)

Partner: MDB Insight

10:30 AM-11:45 AM BREAK OUT SESSIONS

Session 1B: Resilience Through Innovation (Silver/Bronze)

Moderator: Holly Sorgen, EDA, Community Economic Development Trainer (CEDTP) Introductory Remarks: Tara Hartley, Office of Small and Medium Enterprises, Public Works and Government Services

Canada Other Speakers: Ron Matheson, National Research Council (NRC); Irene R. Mikawoz, P.Eng., Natural Sciences and

Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC); Karl Miller, National Research Council (NRC); Nadean Langlois, Western Economic Diversification Canada. The Government of Canada has several programs in place designed to help Canadian companies grow and move forward. Three Government of Canada representatives will present details on the Build in Canada Innovation Program (BCIP), National Research Council (NRC) Concierge Service and opportunities through the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC). Public Works & Government Services Canada’s Office of Small and Medium Enterprises will present the Build in Canada Innovation Program, which is a program designed to assist Canadian businesses with products and services at the later stages of Research and Development (R&D) move their innovations from the laboratory to the marketplace. The procurement program provides the opportunity for innovators to:


• sell their pre-commercialized goods and services to the Government of Canada through an open, transparent, competitive and fair procurement process;• connect with potential clients in federal government departments and showcase their innovations to them;• get feedback on the use of their innovations in an operational setting before taking them to market. Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) works with companies to help them find solutions and benefit their businesses through a suite of targeted partnership offerings that connect companies to experts at Canada's universities and colleges. Working with a research team from a university or college can help you achieve business goals, solve problems and get results. These programs can help: • Reduce your time to innovate: access world-class knowledge, facilities and students at colleges and universities. • Address an immediate challenge or a longer-term innovation need. • Manage costs: NSERC's funding underwrites up to 100% of project costs. • Identify future hires for your business A total of 92% of participating companies report that their NSERC Engage project helped develop a new product or prototype. Ron Matheson, B.Sc., M.Sc., has over 30 years of experience in the pharmaceutical, medical device, diagnostic, and life sciences industries; initially in executive management roles within multi-national companies (Mallinckrodt and Schering AG), and then in several start-up companies (SynChem Research, Meros Polymers, and OncoMetabolics) as Co-Founder and CEO. He has significant experience in intellectual property management and licensing negotiation and agreements, as Business Unit Manager, Medical and Life Sciences, at UTI Inc. (University of Calgary) and as Executive-in-Residence at TEC Edmonton (University of Alberta). Fund-raising for start-up companies from public and private sources has also been a significant activity over the past 14 years. Ron is currently an Advisor, Concierge Service, NRC-IRAP, providing guidance and recommendations to innovative SMEs in the Prairie Region (AB, SK & MB). As the Manager of the NSERC Prairies Regional Office, Irene Mikawoz directs a wide range of activities and initiatives aimed at increasing NSERC’s visibility and presence in the region. She facilitates collaboration among post-secondary institutions, industry and other agencies involved in science and innovation. Irene began her engineering career working in manufacturing with Procter and Gamble in Ontario. She left the company in 1992 and returned to the University of Manitoba to become the Director of Student Affairs in the Faculty of Engineering. In 1998, Irene left the university to start her own business before coming to work at NSERC in 2005. Irene is an active member of a variety of boards and committees. Irene has a BA in Psychology and a BSc in Industrial Engineering from the University of Manitoba. She completed her master’s work in Mechanical Engineering at McMaster University. Irene is a registered professional engineer in Manitoba and Ontario. The Government of Canada's Concierge Service provides a single access point where small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) can find high-quality, timely advice to help them innovate and accelerate their growth. Developed, implemented and operated by the National Research Council of Canada's Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC–IRAP) in collaboration with over 40 federal and provincial partners, the Service improves innovation and economic opportunities for SMEs by helping them navigate the available innovation resources and support programs. By combining online, phone and in-person services, it addresses the individual needs of SME clients. WINN is a $100 million, five-year federal funding initiative that provides repayable contributions to SME’s located in Western Canada. WINN complements WD’s existing programs and supports an environment where local businesses can thrive and innovate. The objective of WINN is to assist small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in commercializing new technology-based products, processes and services. WINN seeks to enhance Canada’s business advantages and encourage the private sector to bring new ideas to market. Partner: OSME

Session 2B: Transportation and Economic Renewal (Gold)

Moderator: Chris King, EDA Board Member Introductory Remarks: Ken Noskey, Northern Alberta Development Council (NADC) Panelists: Michael Reeves, Port to Plains; John Ehr, Perkins Specialized Transportation; Shaun Hammond, Alberta

Transportation; Gillian McCormack, Calgary Economic Development Does good transportation create economic development or does economic development drive the need for good transportation? The reality is, transportation and economic growth are interrelated and interdependent. They go hand in hand.

Alberta’s prospects for economic development now and into the future are inextricably linked to transportation. An effective network of roads and highways fosters the safe, efficient movement of people and goods and contributes to Alberta's overall economy. Alberta’s 31,000 km highway system forms an extensive network throughout the province; providing a vast network of primary weight and national highways linking to the broader national and international transportation system. Roads and highways directly connect to other transportation modes and are vital to moving Alberta's products to markets both within and


outside the province, enabling better market access. The growth and development of inland ports can bring economic growth to a region. This session will explore the interdependence of transportation and economic development. Michael Reeves is President at Ports to Plains Corridor Coalition based in Lubbock, Texas which is a voice for small town, grassroots members that may otherwise not have access to the right audiences, as well as a conduit for industry to come together in support and promotion of transportation improvements. They are committed to working as an alliance to improve transportation infrastructure and business networks opportunities, by advocating for appropriate funding levels, so business and industry can thrive; and are focused on the economic and business interests that are the lifeblood of the region. Michael Reeves was appointed as president of the Ports-to-Plains Trade Corridor Coalition in the spring of 2004. Reeves has extensive knowledge of transportation issues and governmental affairs at local, state and federal levels. During his time at Ports-to-Plains, Reeves has focused on strengthening relationships with state departments of transportation and building partnerships in Canada and Mexico. Under his leadership, the coalition is also working on decreasing America's dependence on Middle East oil by providing needed infrastructure to support the region's diverse energy production industry. Prior to Ports-to-Plains, Reeves served as Vice President of Governmental Affairs for the Lubbock Chamber of Commerce. There he was involved with coordinating transportation initiatives, including delegation appearances before the Texas Transportation Commission, and serving as liaison between TxDOT and the business community. Mr. Reeves also led the Chamber's legislative programs and conducted communications efforts. John Ehr is the Chief Operations Officer for Perkins Specialized Transportation Contracting (STC) out of Northfield, Minnesota. Perkins STC is a heavy haul trucking and logistics professional specializing in the planning, engineering, project management and transportation of extreme dimension and extreme characteristic loads. Gillian McCormack is the Vice President, International Business for Calgary Economic Development. She will be addressing the inland port initiative. Shaun Hammond is the Assistant Deputy Minister of Safety, Policy and Engineering for the Alberta Transportation department. He will be speaking about the 41 Avenue and Highway 2 interchange in Edmonton and how this project fits within Alberta Transportation’s goal to support economic growth through excellent transportation corridors. Partner: Northern Alberta Development Council (NADC)

Session 3B: Industry Reinvention – Agriculture and the Growing Pulse Industry (Explorer)

Moderator: Schaun Goodeve, EDA Board Member Introductory Remarks: Jeff Bell, Alberta Economic Development and Trade Panelists: David Fielder, Senior Scientist, Bioprocessing, Alberta Agriculture and Forestry; Leanne Fischbuch, Executive

Director, Alberta Pulse Growers Commission; Chris Chivilo, President/CEO, W.A. Grain & Pulse Solutions; Dr. Mehmet Tulbek, AGT Foods Canada

Peas, lentils, beans...what do they have to do with economic development? Ask Jack and he'll tell you that a few magic beans made the difference between wealth and prosperity. Come join us to discuss what kind of magic can be worked to expand Alberta's already growing pulse industry- and how supporting the pulse industry could have economic spin-offs for your community.

Pulses -beans, lentils, peas and other legumes have been a staple in diets around the world for centuries. They are so important that the United Nations has proclaimed 2016 as the “International Year of Pulses”. Pulses are delicious, highly nutritious and are great in crop rotations as a way to improve soil quality- a natural way of adding nitrogen. Pulses are also an important contributor to Alberta's agriculture industry. Pulse acres within Alberta have grown from 5% to 8% cent in the past five years. Yellow peas and lentils together represented 1.8 million acres in 2015. Like oil, crops can either be sold "crude" or refined to capture more value before export. Already there are companies exploring the possibility of separating pulses into protein, fibre and starch fractions to sell separately for higher profit. Will pulse fractionation be the secret that raises Alberta's pulse industry to beanstalk heights? Panelists in this session will provide:

An overview of the importance of pulses to Alberta. Their economic impact, environmental benefits, health benefits, etc.

An understanding of Pulse Fractionation- arguments for fractionation, technology innovation, research findings, current best practices

A local and international industry perspective- market realities, future outlook, challenges, benefits


Leanne Fischbuch is the Executive Director of the Alberta Pulse Growers Commission (APG), and she is passionate about the potential that pulses hold for producers and consumers. APG represents farmers who grow field pea, dry bean, lentil, chickpea, faba bean and soybean, and it is one of 14 agricultural commissions in Alberta. The mandate of the organization is to help growers sell more pulses, and this is accomplished through research, market opportunities and grower engagement. Before joining Alberta Pulse Growers in 2011, Leanne held various positions with the Agriculture and Food Council of Alberta, and led a popular program for leadership development, risk management, human resources and innovation for the farming sector. Building on a farm upbringing and almost 20 years of experience with the agri-food industry, Leanne is excited to be contributing to the objectives of producing sustainable food to nourish a growing population and celebrating International Year of Pulses in 2016. David Fielder is a Senior Scientist, Bio-Industrial Opportunities Branch - part of the Food and Bio Processing Division of Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development. This branch comprises a diverse integrated team working to bring the benefits of an innovative, efficient bioeconomy to Alberta in the fields of bio-chemicals, bio-energy, bio-materials and other areas. One area of focus relates to specialty chemical ingredients for cosmetics and personal care products. This initiative seeks to capitalize on a rapidly increasing consumer preference for plant-based ingredients within this multi-billion dollar market. Leading the new Phytochemical Extraction, Fractionation and Purification Program, we have the ability and expertise in new process and product development from small lab scale to large pilot scale. Analytical support is part of the services provided. The Branch also helps companies develop their products from Concept to Commercialization, including providing marketing and business development assistance. Chris Chivilo is President and CEO at W.A. Grain & Pulse Solutions. Chris and Tracey Chivilo founded W.A. Grain & Pulse Solutions in April 2007, primarily to buy and sell export quality peas, both green and yellow varieties. They now handle all cereals, pulses and oilseed types and varieties. They are a family oriented company that takes great pride in their working relationships with buyers and sellers alike. Volumes have increased steadily every year they have been in business, leading it to build a processing facility in Bowden Alberta, and to buy Bashaw Processors. In May 2013, W.A. Grain bought their first Saskatchewan processing facility in Vanguard SK. They now have 3 locations, lease 2 others and have 3rd party shipping contracts with 10 additional facilities in Alberta and Saskatchewan. They source directly from growers, process and/or clean the product themselves and then ship products worldwide. Partner: Alberta Agriculture and Forestry

Session 4B: Personal Resilience- The Growing Importance of Brain Health to your Life and Work (Mount

Kidd Ballroom)

Moderator: Adena Cheverie, EDA Board Member Introductory Remarks: Osaze Ebinda, Investors Group Speaker: Jeanette Queen, Evolvewell

We all know the importance of keeping healthy and are familiar with the phrases: “exercise more”; “eat better”; and “get regular physicals”. But what about our brain health? Brain health is just as important as physical health.

Everyone seems to be stressed these days. Given the uncertain economic situation; depressing world events; increased pressures to do more at work and home; and the sheer amount of information we have to take in on a daily basis—it is tough not to have a feeling of brain drain. All of these pressures influence our ability to function at a high level both personally and professionally. One way to enhance our own personal resilience is to ensure our brain is healthy. Brain health is one of today’s hottest health topics. There is a continual stream of information from research showing ways to enhance memory, and even lower our risk for serious memory disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease. Alberta’s own Hotchkiss Brain Institute is setting the course for advancements in brain and mental health research. Join Jeanette Queen from EvolveWell for an informative, interactive session on Brain Health where she will discuss ways to improve and preserve your brain health. Jeanette is a licensed and certified Nurse Practitioner, whose medical practice is in adult health care --diagnosing, preventing and treating illness. Jeanette’s advanced degrees, training and experience have led her to be a foremost expert in Functional Medicine, in-depth assessments and treatments, and bio-identical hormone replacement therapies (BHRT). Partner: Investors Group


NOON-1:30 PM LUNCHEON BUFFET & KEYNOTE: TOURISM WORKS- ALBERTA’S VISITOR ECONOMY

(Gold/Silver/Bronze) Moderator: Leann Hackman-Carty, Chief Executive Officer, EDA Introductory Remarks: Shelley Grollmus, Travel Alberta Speaker: Royce Chwin, CEO, Travel Alberta

One of the fastest growing and most resilient sectors in the world, tourism is a key economic driver in Alberta. It’s an $8 billion industry that supports 19,000 businesses and employs more than 127,000 people across the province. Alberta’s “visitor economy” holds great promise as a core pillar of economic diversification now and in the future. The full impact of the visitor economy is felt when the multiplier effect of tourist spending ripples throughout our whole economy, supporting job creation, infrastructure development and community building. Royce Chwin leads Travel Alberta’s award winning team as Chief Executive Officer. Prior, as Chief Marketing Officer, responsibilities included nine markets worldwide comprised of consumer, Travel Trade, Meeting, Incentive, Convention and Events and Global PR & Social Media business units. Before joining Travel Alberta, Royce was Executive Director, Global Brand Integration at the Canadian Tourism Commission, Canada’s national tourism marketing agency. There he led the international brand and creative strategy and launched CTC’s social media strategy. Royce spent the previous 20 years in the retail and hospitality industries in management and leadership positions developing and executing many aspects of business operations. Organizations included Starbucks, Blockbuster Video and Boston Pizza International. Royce is a graduate of the Queens University Executive Program. He also volunteers as a member of the Board of Directors for the Western Tourism Alliance and Heritage Park Historical Village organizations. Partner: Travel Alberta

1:45-3:00 PM BREAK OUT SESSIONS Session 1C: Resilience- Helping Businesses Expand and Grow (Silver/Bronze)

Moderator: Holly Sorgen, EDA, Community Economic Development Trainer (CEDTP) Introductory Remarks: Chaz Osburn, JuneWarren-Nickle’s Energy Group (JWN) Speaker: Mary Anderson, WBE Canada; Corinne Finnie, Bow Valley College; Laura Didyk, BDC

Many times economic developers are found on the front lines in their communities, helping local business expand and grow. For many, business retention and expansion is a key priority. So what are some tactics EDOs’ may want to incorporate into their strategies in order to help build resilience in the local business community, while helping them thrive and grow? This session will highlight three approaches EDO’s should consider as part of their BR&E toolkit: Support Business Diversification: Based on a recent survey that BDC conducted in Alberta, companies that are diversified

are by far the top performers. Diversification is not dependent on the business age or size, so it’s a strategy that can be used by entrepreneurs in all industries. Since small and mid-sized businesses in Alberta face an extra layer of challenges given the province’s heavy dependence on the energy sector, it is crucial to be considering strategies to counteract this impact. How are you promoting business diversification in your communities? Laura Didyk, VP of Financing and Consulting from BDC will highlight approaches that businesses can take to diversify and strategies that you can look at to promote business diversification in your communities. During her 21 years with BDC, Laura has worked with thousands of entrepreneurs and is currently responsible for the operations of business centres across Southern Alberta. Laura holds a Business Degree as well as a Degree in Actuarial Science from the University of Manitoba and she is a CPA and Charter Business Valuator. Workforce Development: With the drop in oil prices, many communities are experiencing a loss of jobs. Some of these jobs

may not come back for a long time. So in the interim, what can an EDO do to help develop new opportunities for workers in their local community? As an organization, Bow Valley College is positioning itself to help support workforce development efforts to pivot labour market skills, support employers to develop and transition employees, and connects skilled labour with emerging sectors through their Economic Diversification Strategy.


Corinne Finnie is Director Regional Stewardship Department at Bow Valley College. In 2012, she completed a research project titled “Rural Workforce Development: Assessing Employer Needs and Improving Access” to understand the barriers for improving skilled labour in rural communities. Corrine will speak about how their work is leading the drive for economic diversification through workforce development. Supplier Diversity: Supplier diversity is a tool to allow equal access from non-traditional suppliers to be introduced to large

corporate and public procurement entities. It is a market access opportunity, enabling diverse suppliers to have a fair opportunity to tender for contracts. Since 2009 WBE Canada, a Canadian not-for-profit organization, has worked to increase participation of women-owned businesses in supply chains. WBE certification assures buyers that a supplier is at least 51% owned, managed and controlled by women. Once certified, businesses are connected with buyers seeking diverse and innovative products and services. Beyond certification WBE Canada delivers education and training programs to build the capacity for successful bidding on procurement contracts. In her role as President of WBE Canada, Mary Anderson brings a wealth of experience. During her career, Mary has worked in corporations, non-profit organizations, academia, and has also been an entrepreneur. She was the first woman president to be appointed in the 75-year history of the Canadian Association of Importers and Exporters (I.E. Canada), a position she held from 2005 to 2009. She was also President of the Brazil Canada Chamber of Commerce and served as the chair of the board of the Forum for International Trade Training (FITT) from 2008 to 2010 where she encouraged young women to enter the field of international business. In 2003 and 2004, she was Co-President of the Toronto Chapter of the Organization of Women in International Trade (OWIT-Toronto). Mary serves on many boards and advisory committees, including: the Supplier Diversity Advisory Council to the organizing committee for the Toronto 2015 Pan American Games and the Supplier Advisory Committee with Public Works and Government Services Canada. She was recognized as one of the top 18 Influential Women in Diversity and HR in 2013. Partner: JuneWarren-Nickle’s Energy Group (JWN)

Session 2C: All About Pipelines (Gold)

Moderator: Chris King, EDA Board Member Introductory Remarks: Greg Filipchuk, Director, Stakeholder Relations, Emergency Management & Security, Plains

Midstream Canada Speaker: Jim Donihee, Canadian Energy Pipeline Association (CEPA)

Pipelines are a critical part of Canada’s oil, petroleum products and natural gas delivery network. Pipelines carry more than just crude oil and natural gas. They deliver economic benefits to all Canadians, province by province, enabling more than one quarter of the value of Canada’s goods-producing economy and generating thousands of jobs. The Canadian Energy Pipeline Association (CEPA) represents Canada’s transmission pipeline companies and works to increase the safety, transparency and accountability of the industry. Plains Midstream Canada, an active member of CEPA, shares the belief in building relationships with stakeholders and communities along our pipelines. Plains Midstream Canada is proud to partner with CEPA and bring you this session which will discuss the pipeline environment in Alberta, market access, economic impacts and other relevant topics regarding pipelines across Canada. Jim Donihee was appointed Chief Operating Officer of CEPA in January of 2013. Previous roles in the energy industry include: VP & Chief of Staff at Pengrowth, Chief Operating Officer at the National Energy Board, and VP Organizational Effectiveness at EnCana. Decorated by Canada’s Governor General for his proven leadership, Mr. Donihee, a retired Colonel from Canada’s Air Force has led and learned from extensive multinational operational experience in high-risk fighter operations having served as a NATO Commander of forces in Yugoslavia, NORAD Commander in the Arctic, the US and as Base Commander of CFB Cold Lake, Canada’s largest operational CF-18 fighter base. Partner: Plains Midstream Canada & Canadian Energy Pipeline Association

Session 3C: Reinvention through Online Marketing and Social Media (Explorer)

Moderator: Schaun Goodeve, EDA Board Member Introductory Remarks: Kimberley Worthington, Central Alberta Economic Partnership (CAEP) Speaker: Isabelle Poirier, Founder, Intelegia; Davie Lee, Co-Founder, Townfolio; Kelly Doody, Press + Post

As we continue to become more connected globally, and technologies change, economic development organizations are have to rethink and reinvent how they can best communicate to their audiences. Learn about how some communities are using social media, online marketing and other marketing techniques to support their economic development efforts.


Social Media: Many believed social media was a fad. Years after the introduction of the first blogging application, the use of

various social media platforms has become an important function for economic development organizations. From engaging in conversations with local stakeholders; to marketing opportunities to potential investors; social media has proven to be efficient and efficient communication tool. One of the main differentiator that distinguishes agencies that use social media on a consistent basis from those which use tools occasionally is access to resources. “Doing more with less” is an ongoing challenge that a majority of agencies face in which it can have a definite impact on a social media strategy. Whether it is reducing the amount of time managing selected social media accounts or cutting budgets needed to create original content, agencies must adopt and focus on the right approaches and utilize the right tools to be effective and efficient on regular basis to meet stakeholders’ expectation. Isabelle Poirier, is an experienced executive and strategist, with more than 15 years’ experience in economic development and more specifically in competitive intelligence, investment attraction and regional development. As an expert in communication and applied marketing in the fields of economic, industrial and tourism development, she recently developed and deployed MinesQC.com. First initiative of its kind for the North American mining industry, MinesQC.com aims to foster dialogue between an industry, its stakeholders and the population at large. Since 2008, Isabelle Poirier has been the guest speaker of large organizations and renowned universities in North America and Europe. Kelly Doody has been breathing life into the digital footprints and social presence of start-ups to super brands since YouTube was a baby, Facebook was fledgling and MySpace ruled the pool. She is a journalist-turned-communications junkie, and prior to finding her dream partners and co-launching Press + Post, was the proud founder of Daily Ink Media & PR. Nothing makes Kelly happier than putting words on a page, while conceiving of cutting edge public relations and content marketing strategies for the people, moving organizations big and small towards becoming the brilliant masters of their online domain, and connecting western Canada's top writers and creatives with the brands and businesses who need them most. Online Marketing: Davie Lee and Ryley Iverson are the Founders of Townfolio. Townfolio started as an idea on a piece of

paper a year ago by three Saskatchewan entrepreneurs with a vision to change the way business is done in the economic development industry. It all started when Davie worked for the Irish Government in site selection helping Irish companies open Canadian offices. During this time he recognized a need to help communities with their online investment attraction efforts as he found it extremely tough to find the information he needed on communities to make an investment decision. The information he needed could be as simple as labour force size and as complicated as water lagoon capacity. If he was lucky enough to find the information it was usually out-of-date. The result of the missing and out-of-date information was weeks of searching, research and dozens of phone calls that could have been avoided. He wanted to build a platform to make this process easier and Townfolio was born! They now have communities from across the prairies on their system and have a vision to be a full-on marketplace for economic development down the road. Communities value what they have to offer because their solution can almost completely automate community profiles and online investment attraction, saving time and money. Partner: Alberta REDA’s

Session 4C: Collaborative Leadership- Creating Resilience (Mount Kidd Ballroom)

Moderator: Cathy Goulet, EDA Board Member Speaker: Michael Scheidl, Manager Municipal Dispute Resolution Services, Alberta Municipal Affairs; Mayor Jim Rennie,

Woodlands County; Mayor Maryann Chichak, Town of Whitecourt; Mayor William Choy, Town of Stony Plain In a volatile and uncertain environment, the ability to forge and maintain collaborative relationships is critical for success. This leadership paradigm is about identifying the common good, and creating results. The ability to create trust and to communicate openly and fully is a key competency for success. This session will identify the critical elements for successful collaborative leadership and provide examples of successful and longstanding collaborative relationships across municipalities. Michael Scheidl is the Manager Municipal Dispute Resolution Services for Alberta Municipal Affairs. In this role he manages programs and services to Alberta’s municipalities designed to help local governments improve intermunicipal collaboration, resolve intermunicipal disputes, and build municipal capacity to manage conflict.

Mayor Jim Rennie was first elected into office in 2001 and has been the mayor of Woodlands County since 2005. Some of his greatest mayoral accomplishments have resulted from his consistent enthusiasm toward developing inter-municipal partnerships. These partnerships have allowed residents to reap the rewards of new facilities and also experience world-class events that would otherwise not have been possible. Mayor Rennie is also an advocate for economic development and spends


a great deal of time working with new businesses that are looking to expand in the community. In addition, he has owned and operated a business in Whitecourt for the past 25 years. In his spare time, Mayor Rennie volunteers with the local Tae Kwon Do club as an instructor. Mayor Chichak was elected Mayor in 2013, and previously served as a member of Whitecourt Town Council for one term. Maryann moved to Whitecourt from Fox Creek in 2005 and loves Whitecourt and all that it has to offer to families of all ages. She is a mother of two, and manages a local business. Mayor Chichak also belongs to the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association (AUMA) Board of Directors as the representative for Towns West. William Choy was acclaimed to the office of mayor on Oct. 21, 2013 in the general election but was first elected to the office in a by-election on May 1, 2012. Between October 2007 and March 2012, he was a member of Council. During that term-and-a-half, and his current time as Mayor, many new initiatives have been launched, making the community stronger and local government more transparent. Partner: Killick Leadership Group & AUMA

3:00-3:15 PM REFRESHMENT BREAK (Convention Foyer) Partner: Miller Thomson LLP

3:15-4:45 PM Bonus Sessions

Session 1D: Mentoring Young Professionals. Innovation through Entrepreneurship - The Junior Achievement Model (Gold)

Moderator: Holly Sorgen, EDA, Community Economic Development Trainer (CEDTP) Session Participants: Karen Vavrek, Director, Regional Operations and Britni Brady, Regional Program Coordinator, Junior

Achievement of Northern Alberta (JANA)

Junior Achievement (JA) is a non-profit organization with a vision to help youth succeed in a global economy. Fulfilling this mission, JA has become a global leader in educating youth about financial literary, work readiness, and entrepreneurship. Now in over 121 countries, JA brings corporate volunteers together with students via partnerships with local school system. Operating successfully in Alberta for over 50 years, JA reaches 50,000 students in grades 5-12 every year via the help of over 3,000 corporate volunteers. Global economics are affecting all Albertans. Workplace and community demands can test anyone’s entrepreneurial spirit. Learn more about JA and test your knowledge of entrepreneurial principles in this interactive and fun session. Partner: Junior Achievement Southern and Northern Alberta

Session 2D: Preparing for the Ec.D. Certification- Everything You Wanted to Know (Bronze Room)

Moderator: Karen Wronko, EDA Board Member Facilitator: Larry Horncastle, Keystone Strategies

Are you interested in obtaining your Ec.D? Certification in the near future? Then sign up for this session to learn about:

The core skills every certified economic developer demonstrates

Specific requirements for receiving an Ec.D

What’s covered on the certification exam

How to prepare for the exam and be successful

How certified professionals can benefit the communities they serve This pre-conference session will be facilitated by Larry Horncastle, Ec.D, who has supervised and graded numerous Ec.D. certification exams over the years.


There is no cost to attend, but you must pre-register for the session. Partner: EDAC & Keystone Strategies

Session 3D: Connect Café- Networking (Hospitality Suite)

Are you new to EDA's Annual Conference? Are you interested in expanding your network? Do you like beer? Then join us along with our Hospitality Suite partner Townfolio for this unique, fun networking opportunity. Here you can participate in a Micro-Brew Tasting, learn about and taste some of Alberta’s finest craft beverages, meet new colleagues while also having the opportunity to support and showcase micro-breweries in your region. Don’t just plan to attend though. Bring a "growler" or sample pack of your local craft brewer, distiller, or cidery to the Conference. If you do not have a local brewer but would like to contribute, feel free to bring brews from your favourite craft producer. Materials from the producers are also welcome. Simply drop off your beer at the EDA registration desk when you arrive at the Conference. If you can, email Townfolio’s Ryley Iverson at [email protected] to let him know if you are contributing product to the Micro-Brew tasting session.

Hosted by: Matt Cornall, EDA President and Gary Slipp, EDA Board Member & Townfolio Partner: EDA & Townfolio

Session 4D: Investment Attraction Session (Mount Kidd Ballroom)

Moderator: Natalie Gibson, CEDTP Trainer Introductory Remarks: Anita McGillis, Venture Publishing Speaker: Hania Kronfol, World Bank Group, Investment Policy and Promotion; Pierre Desmarais, Global Affairs Canada

This session will highlight investment attraction, the policy environment, best practices, and some supports for communities to foster investment. Hania will be highlighting the World Bank Investment Policy Reform Map. In particular, how to use the investment policy cycle and typology to connect the dots and design a sound and coherent investment policy. Pierre will be speaking about the federal Invest Canada-Community Initiatives (ICCI) program in particular. Partner: Venture Publishing

4:45-6:00 PM FREE TIME FOR DELEGATES 6:00-6:30 PM COCKTAIL RECEPTION (Convention Foyer)

6:30 PM MINISTER’S DINNER & ANNUAL AWARDS BANQUET (Gold/Silver/Bronze) Welcome: Matt Cornall, 2015-16 President, EDA Introductory Remarks: Repsol Oil & Gas Canada Inc. Speaker: The Hon. Deron Bilous, Minister of Economic Development and Trade Marketing Awards Presentations: Adena Cheverie, Chair of EDA Marketing Awards Dress: Semi-formal / Business attire

The Hon. Deron Bilous was sworn in as Minister of Economic Development and Trade on October 22, 2015. Prior to this he served as Minister of Municipal Affairs and as Minister of Service Alberta.

mailto:[email protected]


He was first elected as the Member of the Legislative Assembly for Edmonton-Beverly-Clareview on April 23, 2012, and again on May 5, 2015. During his first term he served as a member of the Standing Committee on Private Bills, the Standing Committee on Public Accounts, the Standing Committee on Privileges and Elections, Standing Orders and Printing, and the Standing Committee on Resource Stewardship. Mr. Bilous was born and raised in Edmonton and is very proud of his Ukrainian ancestry. He graduated from the University of Alberta with a bachelor of education degree in 2001. For the past five years he has taught and mentored students at Edmonton’s Inner City High School. An active volunteer in his community, Mr. Bilous has been a member of the Beverly Heights Community League and vice-president of the Boyle Street Community League. From 2008 to 2011 he served as a board member on the Edmonton Aboriginal Urban Affairs Committee. Mr. Bilous also participated in the Canada World Youth program in 1995-96, working in Edmonton, Saint Jerome in Quebec and Tunisia. Mr. Bilous lives in Beverly Heights. In his spare time he enjoys playing recreational hockey and other sports as well as traveling. Partner: Repsol Oil & Gas Canada Inc.

Following the Minister’s Dinner, the EDA Hospitality Suite (Walker/Champion Room) will be open until midnight. Partners: EDA & Townfolio

FRIDAY, APRIL 8

7:00 AM

BREAKFAST BUFFET (Convention Foyer)

8:00-9:00 AM 2016-17 ECONOMIC FORECAST (Gold/Silver/Bronze)

Moderator: Leann Hackman-Carty, Chief Executive Officer, EDA Introductory Remarks: Dan Hill, Jandel Homes Ltd. Speaker: Todd Hirsch, Chief Economist, ATB Financial

For over 20 years, Todd Hirsch has worked as an economist at numerous organizations including the Canadian Pacific Railway, the Canada West Foundation and the Bank of Canada. For almost a decade, Todd taught economics at the University of Calgary. He released his first book, The Boiling Frog Dilemma: Saving Canada from Economic Decline in 2012. Todd provides economic commentary for many Canadian media outlets and is a regular columnist for the Globe and Mail. He currently serves on the University of Calgary Board of Governors and is the chair of the Calgary Arts Academy. Todd recently received the University of Alberta's Alumni Honour Award. Todd holds a BA Honours in Economics from the U of A and an MA in Economics from the University of Calgary. Mr. Hirsch will be providing his annual economic forecast, always a highlight of the EDA Conference. Partner: Jandel Homes Ltd.

9:00-10:00 AM CLOSING PLENARY: IMPROVING THE INVESTMENT CLIMATE FOR DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN INVESTMENT (Gold/Silver/Bronze) Moderator: Leann Hackman-Carty, Chief Executive Officer, EDA Introductory Remarks: Court Ellingson, Calgary Economic Development Keynote Speaker: Xavier Forneris, Senior Investment Policy Officer, Investment Climate Coordinator for East Asia Pacific (EAP),

Trade & Competitiveness Global Practice, World Bank Group, Washington.

http://www.toddhirsch.com/the-owl---a-daily-economic-update.html


Xavier Forneris is a senior specialist in the unit of the World Bank Group that provides advice to client countries on Investment Climate and Investment Policy reforms (including market access, investment incentives, investor protection, special economic zones, and responsible investment). Xavier has been the group’s lead expert on investment codes since 2001 and has contributed to the review and reform of investment laws in about 50 countries in Africa, Asia, Central Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East. He is also the main author of the IFC Handbook on Investment Law Reform (2010). In the Asia-Pacific region, he is currently contributing to WBG projects supporting a number of ASEAN economies in modernizing their investment policies, reviewing their incentive regimes, and strengthening investor protection in order to become more attractive investment destinations. He is also working on PTA’s and IIA’s, for instance to help Vietnam prepare for and implement the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement and to help Cambodia and Myanmar implement their ASEAN commitments (ACIA, AEC blueprint). In Africa, Xavier pioneered the WBG advisory program on OHADA, an innovative program helping 16 countries to harmonize their legal framework for commercial transactions. Prior to joining the World Bank, Xavier worked for two renowned centers providing economic and legal reform TA in developing countries: the IRIS Center at the University of Maryland (Associate Director) and the International Development Law Organization, or IDLO (Senior Counsel). Before entering the field of economic development, Xavier worked as private sector lawyer in France and as lobbyist in Washington advising private sector and government entities on a wide range of international trade and investment issues. Xavier Forneris received two degrees in Business Law and International Trade Law (Maîtrise en Droit des Affaires and DESS en Droit International des Affaires) from the Faculty of Law and Political Sciences at the University of Aix-en-Provence, France. He also holds an MBA from the University of North Carolina (UNC-Chapel Hill). Our closing speaker will be speaking about how countries, provinces or regions can improve their investment climate for domestic and foreign investment. Partner: Calgary Economic Development 10:00-10:30 AM REFRESHMENT BREAK (Convention Foyer)

Partner: McSweeney & Associates

10:30-NOON

EDA ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING (Gold/Silver/Bronze)

Moderator: Matt Cornall, 2015-16 President, EDA

* EDA Voting Members only

7:30 am-12:30 pm ec.d. exam - edaalberta.ca 2016 conference agenda.pdfignite®#eda2016 will give...

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