Ontario – February 2025 – The Economic Developers Council of Ontario (EDCO) proudly celebrated outstanding achievements in economic development across Ontario at the 68th Annual Conference President's Dinner in downtown Toronto. During this prestigious event, held in early February, EDCO recognized the exceptional contributions of economic development leaders and initiatives that have positively impacted the province's economic landscape.
As Canada's largest provincial professional economic development association, EDCO serves a network of over 1,300 members, providing a platform for collaboration and innovation in economic development. The recognition of excellence highlights the dedication, hard work, and leadership of professionals who have played a significant role in driving growth, creating jobs, and fostering prosperity across Ontario.
"We were proud to celebrate the best-in-class achievements of our award winners, whose outstanding contributions elevate the profile of our members and shape Ontario's economic landscape." said Stephanie Hopkin, 2025 EDCO President. "Congratulations to these exceptional individuals and organizations for their visionary leadership and dedication to fostering prosperity across our communities. Their innovative approaches and commitment to excellence set a new standard for economic development in Ontario."
2024 EDCO Awards of Excellence Recipients
This year's awards honoured a range of individuals and initiatives that have made a significant impact in their communities. The prestigious Lieutenant Governor's Award for Marketing Excellence in Ontario was presented to the Toronto Arts Foundation for their "ArtworksTO" initiative, celebrating the vibrancy of the arts in Toronto.
The Joseph A. Montgomery Economic Development Achievement Award was awarded to Sean Dyke, St. Thomas Economic Development Corporation for his remarkable leadership and contributions to Ontario's economic development. The Hazel McCallion Community Leadership Award was presented to Bill Steele, City of Port Colborne for his outstanding dedication to community growth and leadership.
Other notable award recipients include:
• President's Award: Aileen Murray & Cindy Hick
• Inclusive Community-Based Initiative & Programming: "Convergence Music and Art Festival" – Greater Oshawa Chamber of Commerce
• Planning and Strategic Development (Rural, under 100,000 population): "Norfolk County Economic Development Strategy – Future Ready Norfolk" – Norfolk County
• Planning and Strategic Development (Urban, over 100,000 population): "Sport Tourism Strategy" – City of Barrie
• Business Attraction and Retention (Rural, under 100,000 population): "Move to Minto" – Town of Minto
• Business Attraction and Retention (Urban, over 100,000 population): "10 Steps to Starting a Small Business" – City of Hamilton
• Visitor Attraction & Tourism Product Development (Rural, under 100,000 population): "Emerging Aurora's Cybersecurity Escape Room" – Town of Aurora
• Visitor Attraction & Tourism Product Development (Urban, over 100,000 population): "2024 Barrie Airshow" – City of Barrie
• Workforce Development & Resident Attraction (Rural, under 100,000 population): "Land in Lanark" – County of Lanark; "Cobourg's Programs to Enable Stickiness with Youth and the Young Population" – Town of Cobourg
• Workforce Development & Resident Attraction (Urban, over 100,000 population): "ArtworksTO" – Toronto Arts Foundation
• Excellence in Rural Economic Development: "Experimental Acres: A Regenerative Agriculture Programme" – County of Wellington; "Lake Huron North Shore Tourism and Recreation CED Initiative" – Destination Northern Ontario – Mississauga First Nation – Blind River
• Excellence in City Building: "SDG Idea Factory" – City of Kitchener
• Judges Changemaker Award: "Yspace ELLA and Black Entrepreneurship Alliance" – Yspace and York University
These recipients were honoured for their creative and impactful contributions to the field of economic development, from strategic planning and business retention to tourism product development and workforce attraction. EDCO is proud of the many initiatives and projects it has helped celebrate that have contributed to the overall excellence of Ontario competitiveness. A complete list of 2024 Award Finalists and Recipients can be found on the EDCO website at edcoawardsofexcellence.ca/
The EDCO Annual Conference remains a significant event for professional development, networking, knowledge sharing, and recognition of the continued success of the province's economic development professionals.
About EDCO The Economic Developers Council of Ontario (EDCO) is Canada's largest provincial professional economic development association, with over 1,300 members. EDCO provides professional development, resources, and advocacy for economic developers in Ontario, helping to build strong, vibrant communities through effective and innovative economic development strategies.
P.O. Box 86, Toronto, ON M5C 2H8 T 519-377-4462 info@edco.on.ca www.edco.on.ca
For more information about EDCO or to learn more about the Awards of Excellence, please visit www.edco.on.ca