Schedule

PRE-EVENT NETWORKING MIXER

Tue, Feb 17, 2026

Delegates for the 17th Annual 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 17, 2026 from 5:00 to 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 be able to register for the conference and pick up your badge to avoid lineups! The Taste of the Peace Local Market will also be open!

Join us for an evening of networking, appetizers, refreshments including a cash bar and door prizes. For directions to the venue, please visit www.evergreenpark.ca.

DAY ONE (* subject to change) TBA

Wed, Feb 18, 2026

8:00 AM: Registration Open

8:30 AM: Welcome

9:00 AM: PLENARY KEYNOTE: Leonard Brody – Futurist

10:00 AM: Networking Break

10:30 AM: PLENARY SPEAKER: Chris Sankey – Indigenous Affairs & Economic Reconciliation Advocate, Energy Oil and Gas – Communal Prosperity

11:30 AM: Lunch

12:00 PM: FOUNDER SPOTLIGHT: Len Morissette – CIA Solutions – Water Worlds Series

12:30 PM: PLENARY SPEAKER: Mark Parsons – Chief Economist, ATB

1:30 PM: BREAKOUT SESSIONS:

• Northwestern Polytechnic Deans Update – Dr. Julia Dutove, Dean of the School of Applied Science and Technology; Megan Stone, Dean of the School of Health; Chantel Lussier, Dean of the School of Business and Education; Bobbi Craig-Sparkes, Dean of the School of Skilled Trades (Grande Prairie)
• Jesse Hill – Cybersecurity Readiness and Incident Simulation
• Panel: Grace Larson, Community Builder & Mentor & Elli McDine, Executive Director: Alberta 2SLGBTQI+ Chamber of Commerce, moderated by Jessica Schoepp
• Colin Knoll – How to Create the Next Boom: Blending Technology, AI, and Energy – This workshop will explore how Northern Alberta can become the anchor of Canada’s next economy by combining energy, technology, and AI

2:30 PM: Networking Break

3:00 PM: PLENARY KEYNOTE: Doug Stephens – The Future of Competitive Advantage: From Chaos to Competitive Superpower: How Great Brands Lead Through Uncertainty; The Art of Retail; The Future of Physical Stores

4:00 PM: Close of Day One

DAY TWO (* subject to change) TBA

Thu, Feb 19, 2026

8:00 AM: Registration Open

8:30 AM: Welcome

9:00 AM: PLENARY KEYNOTE: Mid-Day Squares – Jake Karls, Nick Satarelli and Moderator Lisa MacGregor

10:00 AM: Networking Break

10:30 AM: PLENARY SPEAKER: James Leppan – Explore Edmonton: The Development of the Northern Sky Corridor from Edmonton to the NWT

11:30 AM: Lunch

12:00 PM: FOUNDER SPOTLIGHT: Tracy Golnick – Tough Enough to Talk About It – Grassroots to Groundbreaking: Mental Health Leadership in Industry

12:30 PM: PLENARY SPEAKER: Peter Nelson – Senior Economist, Labour Market Information Council

1:30 PM: BREAKOUT SESSIONS:

• Lois Duke & Miranda Laroche – Friendship Centres and Industry: Building Meaningful Partnerships for Northern Growth
• Tonya Fleming – Alberta Securities Commission: Capital raising for small/scaling businesses. How does securities law apply – what are the rules around taking investment money from others for your business. As an investor, what are any ‘red flags’ to be aware of before investing.
• Yvonne Rempel – Community & Economic Development – Co-creating for Thriving Communities (Community Sustainability)
• Danielle Cherewyk – Elevating Your Industry Through Empowerment – combine years of speaking to salon industry, learning in the GP entrepreneurial space, teachings and mentors – prove that investing in your team provides more space for you to take time away from your business, knowing it is well taken care of

2:30 PM: Networking Break

3:00 PM: PLENARY KEYNOTE: Mike Downie – Telling Canada’s Story

4:00 PM: Close of Conference