EDCO Regional Economic Development Professional Development Event
Earn 3 Economic Development Certification Points for Attending!
Southwestern Region - Walkerton
Tuesday, September 24, 2024
Agenda
8:30 - 9:00 am Registration, Networking
9:00 - 9:15 am Opening Remarks
9:15 - 10:15am Energy Transition: Shifting Fossil Fuels to Clean Energy
· What is Energy Transition
· Providing Opportunities for Economic Development
· Your role as a municipal EDO to support these opportunities
Speaker: Chad Richards
Chad is the Senior Director of Policy & Partnerships at the Nuclear Innovation Institute (NII). Through this work Chad seeks opportunities to for the nuclear industry to collaborate with communities, governments, and other sectors on projects and programs that support decarbonization and economic growth. Programs under Chad’s purview produce original research and thought leadership on the fundamental role of nuclear in a clean economy.
Prior to joining NII, Chad worked at the federal and provincial levels of government. He spent nearly 8 years working on Parliament Hill and served as a Senior Advisor to the Associate Minister of Energy in Ontario.
10:15 - 10:35 am Break
10:35 - 11:20 am Laugh Lessons, Entertainment - Why Community and Economic Development?
11:20 - 12:30 pm Fireside Chat (Panel Discussion): Small Business Investment and Expansion
· Entrepreneurs from Southwestern Ontario sharing their stories as to why they opened their business while providing examples of how municipal EDOs were able to support their business development.
12:30 - 1:30 pm Lunch and Networking
1:30 - 3:00 pm Fireside Chat: Agriculture and Innovation Panel
Learn from entrepreneurs in the agriculture industry about opportunities, challenges and gaps. How EDOs can collaborate with the Agriculture industry and add value.
3:00 - 3:15 pm Break / Refreshment / Networking
3:15 - 4:15 pm Destination Management:
Potty Talk - Why providing great visitor experiences should be your number one and number two priority.
Speaker: Chris Hughes
Chris is meticulous about the little things that make your business and experiences memorable. The bed, the phone charger, the cutlery, the bathroom, right down to the type of music playing in your lounge are all things that can determine your tourism fate. Looking at your business through a micro lens can be scary, but it’s the key to making people happy, and spending money…lots of it.
Chris is co-owner and director at BC Hughes located in Shallow Lake, Ontario (located right beside the really big one – Lake Huron). As a University of Waterloo alumnus, Chris was trained on the integration of business and the environment. Something extremely relative in today’s tourism economies. Chris specializes in developing memorable and innovative tourism experiences; from the Han Wi (full moon dinner), to goat yoga to motorcycle touring routes, he thrives on working with businesses of all sizes.
4:15 - 4:30pm Closing Remarks
Venue:
Best Western Plus Walkerton Hotel & Conference Centre
10 East Ridge Road, Walkerton, ON N0G 2V0
Accommodations:
Best Western Plus Walkerton Hotel & Conference Centre
10 East Ridge Road
Walkerton, ON
N0G 2V0
· King Standard Rooms with 1 bed - $165.00, per night
· Queen Standard Rooms with 2 beds - $175.00, per night
· Rates include the full hot breakfast buffet plus all the amenities of the hotel.
· Guests must call in to the hotel to book the rooms and get the rate. (226) 436-3030
· Reservation Method: Guests to call into hotel individually to book their rooms & provide their own Credit Card to guarantee their reservation.
· Block of rooms held under name “EDCO Forum 2024” – Block will be held until Monday August 12th, 2024.
*Regional Event Registrations are non-refundable after September 13, 2024. Before this date, registrations are refundable less a $50.00 +HST administration fee*
*Event registrations are transferrable until September 17, 2024.*
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