Delegates for the 2025 Growing the North Conference are welcome to join us for a Pre-Event Networking Mixer hosted by the Grande Prairie & District Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday, February 18, 2025 from 5:00-7:00 PM in the TARA Centre at Evergreen Park in the County of Grande Prairie. Admission is included in your conference registration. You will also be able to register for the conference and pick up your badge to avoid lineups!
Join us for an evening of networking, appetizers, refreshments and door prizes. For directions to the venue, please visit www.evergreenpark.ca.
8:30 AM: Welcome
9:00 AM: PLENARY KEYNOTE: Shawn Kanungo, Futurist
10:15 AM: Networking Break
10:30 AM: PLENARY SESSION: Edward Olson, MNP – Why does ESG matter? Insights on five key factors.
11:30 AM: Lunch
12:00 PM: PLENARY SESSION: Mark Parsons, Chief Economist, ATB
1:00 PM: Municipal Government Roundtable
2:15 PM: Networking Break
2:30 PM: BREAKOUT SESSIONS
Stream 1: Workforce Development: Dr. Jodi Peebles, Northwestern Polytechnic – Shaping Tomorrow’s Workforce – Education as a Catalyst for Economic and Social Growth
Stream 2: Business Growth & Innovation Tools: PANEL – Ernest Siu, Ken Turkenmeir, Matt Cornall, Christopher Smith
Stream 3: Disaster Preparedness: Rachel Himer, BFL Canada – Triggered by the Extreme – Protection Provided by Parametric Insurance
Stream 4: Networking Discussion:
3:30 PM: PLENARY KEYNOTE: Waneek Horn-Miller, Olympian – Indigenous Reconciliation – Finding Common Ground Through Dialogue
4:30 PM: Closing followed by Networking Event
4:30 – 6:00 PM – Delegates are welcome to stay following the first day of the conference for more networking, refreshments and appetizers.
8:30 AM: Welcome
9:00 AM: PLENARY KEYNOTE: Jackie Forrest, ARC Energy Research Institute – Finding the Opportunity in Energy
10:15 AM: Networking Break
10:30 AM: BREAKOUT SESSIONS
Stream 1: Tourism Industry: PANEL – Operators and Showcase Supports to New Asset Development – ATIS Program Unpacked.
Stream 2: Healthcare: PANEL – Ken Drysdale, Palvi Sharma, Megan Stone, Dr. Alex Clark
Stream 3: Agriculture Industry: PANEL – Trends and Opportunities for the North.
Stream 4: Forest Industry
11:30 AM: Lunch
12:00 PM: PLENARY SESSSION: Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers
1:00 PM: Alberta Government Roundtable
2:15 PM: Networking Break
2:30 PM: PLENARY SESSION: Keren Perla, Energy Futures Lab – Shaping Energy Future Competitiveness in the North.
3:30 PM: PLENARY KEYNOTE: David Usher, AI
4:30 PM: Closing
Schedule subject to change. You will able to register via the link at the top of this page, or for more information please contact the Grande Prairie & District Chamber of Commerce by phone 780-532-5340 or email info@gpchamber.com. The conference takes place at the TARA Centre in Evergreen Park, located five kilometers south of Grande Prairie. For venue information and directions, please visit www.evergreenpark.ca.