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Earn 5 points towards your Ec. D designation!


Are you eligible?

The Bright Ideas Competition is open to any EDCO member. 

What's the cost?

$50 plus HST

How do I register?

Click here to register - Registration by April 11, 2023

Bright Ideas Competition Handbook

The Bright Ideas Competition is an annual idea competition for economic development practitioners of all experience levels. It is designed to give economic developers from across Ontario the opportunity to develop a modern response to proposed topics, have the work evaluated and receive 5 professional certification points towards your designation.

Join your fellow colleagues and team up to take on one of today’s prominent economic development challenges. Propose a modern solution in a risk-free working environment and help create a resource that will better improve our economic development community.


2023 Competition Topics

The 2023 Bright Ideas Competition participant groups will develop a topic of their own choosing.  This topic should aim to develop an innovative solution to an issue or struggle that municipalities in Ontario are facing.  Below is a list of guiding principles that your topic should aim to meet:

  • The topic should be new and upcoming in Ontario
  • The topic shouldn’t have a clear industry best practice already developed
  • The topic should touch on all or a high number of municipalities in the province
  • The topic should be something that your group believes an innovative solution can help fix

Next steps?

Your group will need to submit a short proposal document (less than 1000 words) that outlines the following:

  • A clear definition of the problem that will be reviewed
  • A proposed methodology on how your group will aim to tackle this issue
  • Define a workplan and a timeline, including established meeting dates with your group and with your mentor
  • Provide information on why this topic is relevant to economic development and how it will help other solve the specific issues

Previous topics:

· Covid-19: Disaster Preparedness & Economic Resilience

· Tackling Diversity in the Economic Development Profession

· Post Covid-19 Tourism Recovery

· Coping with Housing and Commercial Real Estate Demand

· Building Better Communities through Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

2023 Important Dates

Launch

EDCO 66th Annual Showcase

Registration Period

March 1 - April 11, 2023

Registration Payment Deadline

April 11, 2023

Competition Kick-Off

Week of April 17, 2023

Competition Check-In & Report Outline

May 15, 2023

Competition Check-In & Progress Report

September 1, 2023

Team Submissions Due

November 1, 2023

Preliminary Judging

November 15, 2023

Seminar & Awards Announcement

EDCO 67th Annual Showcase


2022 Competition

2020 Competition

2019 Competition

  • Bright Ideas Competition Officially Launched at #EDCO2019

    30 Jan 2019 11:21 AM | Deleted user

    The EDCO Bright Ideas Competition officially launched at the 62nd Annual Conference and Showcase in Toronto, ON. 

    Jason Dias, Bright Ideas Committee Member and Past-Chair of the EDCO Young Professionals Network explained "the Bright Ideas Competition is your chance to solve some of economic development’s biggest challenges, embark on a journey of learning, explore new solutions and experience what it’s like to work with like-minded colleagues from across the province."

    During the competition, economic development practitioners will work in teams to explore local economic development issues, tackle the issues and present their innovative ideas, giving an additional resource to EDCO members.

    The Economic Developers Association of Canada will award 5 certification points to participating individuals and the finalist teams will gain recognition by presenting at #EDCO2020 conference in Toronto.

    To register, visit www.edco.on.ca/Bright-Ideas. The cost to participate is $25 per person.

  • Earn 5 EDAC Points by participating in the Bright Ideas Competition

    17 Jan 2019 9:48 AM | Deleted user

    EDCO is excited to announce that participants of the Bright Ideas Competition will receive 5 certification points from the Economic Development Association of Canada (EDAC).

    The Bright Ideas Competition is an opportunity for professional growth in an experiential setting.  The competition is two-years in the making and will officially launch at EDCO's 62nd Annual Conference & Showcase.

    Registration will take place between January 31, 2019 and April 30, 2019.

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