Township of Clearview Regional Event
The The Township of Clearview is hosting EDCO's Central Regional Professional Development Event on October 8th, 2026!
EDCO Regional Economic Development Professional Development Event
Earn 3 Economic Development Certification Points for Attending!
October 8th, 2026
October 7th, 2026 -Pre-Conference Day
1:00 to 4:00 pm EDCO Pre-Conference Seminar: Investing in Our Future: Why Economic Development Matters
EDCO is pleased to offer our Central Ontario Elected Officials Investing in Our Future: Why Economic Development Matters on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, at Creemore Station on the Green.
This focused half‑day session is designed for elected officials and senior municipal leaders who want a clear, practical understanding of how economic development influences long‑term community prosperity. Participants will explore what economic development truly is, what it is not, and how municipal decisions directly shape business growth, investment readiness, and overall community vibrancy.
Please note: Registration is $25 (+HST) and includes morning refreshments. Please note Registration is required to attend and separate from the regional event registration, limited space is available, secure your spot today!
1:00 to 4:00 pm MRA Pre-workshop: Building the Skills for a Successful BR+E Project
This interactive workshop focuses on the core skills and practical steps needed to deliver an effective Business Retention and Expansion (BR+E) project in your community. Participants will gain hands-on experience in planning and conducting meaningful business interviews, reviewing and interpreting BR+E data, and translating findings into clear, actionable priorities. The session emphasizes moving from information gathering to implementation, with a focus on practical tools that can be applied immediately at the local level.
Please Note: Registration for this workshop is separate from the main event. Very limited spaces, more details and registration below.
October 8th, 2026
Agenda:
8:30 AM – 9:00 AM – Registration & Networking
9:00 AM – 9:10 AM – Welcome and Opening Remarks
9:10 AM – 10:10 AM – Idea Exchange
Facilitated peer to peer connecting and learning session. Get ready to roll up your sleeves, co-create and approve a live agenda. Then choose your own adventure as you dig into topics and conversations that create value, spark ideas, channel inspiration, and lead to action.
Speaker: Tim Newton, SGB SBEC
10:10 AM – 10:20 AM – Coffee and Networking Break
10:20 AM – 11:05 AM – Planning for Growth: A Rural Municipality's Perspective on Economic Development
What does it really take to support economic development in a rural municipality and what do planners need from their economic development partners to make it work? This session offers a practical look at municipal planning through the lens of Clearview Township, a rural community navigating rapid change, infrastructure constraints, and an evolving regulatory landscape.
The Director of Planning for the Township of Clearview will walk participants through the fundamentals of municipal planning as they relate to economic development, share lessons learned from Clearview's recent Zoning Bylaw Review, and explore how changes to planning policy are reshaping investment attraction and business development in rural Ontario.
Speaker: Derek Abbotts, Director of Planning & Building, Clearview Township
11:05 AM – 11:15 AM – Coffee and Networking Break
11:15 AM – 12:00 PM – Walker Duntroon Quarry Tour
- Attendees will be on a bus for the majority of the tour (no safety gear needed)
- We will have the opportunity to view a scheduled blast; for individuals sensitive to noise, they may want to bring headphones
12:00 PM – 1:30 PM – Lunch and Networking Break
1:30 PM – 2:30 PM – Panel Discussion: Sustainable Resource Extraction: Balancing Environment and Economy
Moderator: Ryan Dosch, Walker Industries
Speakers:
Ryan Dosch: General Manager – Aggregates, Simcoe Aggregates & Construction Division
Danielle Allen: Quality Control & Assurance Manager
Sarah Nicoll-Lawler: Operations Manager – Grey-Bruce Aggregates
Pat Francella: Aggregates Sales Manager – Simcoe
Robert McKean: Operations Manager, Simcoe
2:30 PM – 2:40 PM – Coffee and Networking Break
2:40 PM – 3:25 PM – Cleared for Takeoff: Supporting Private Airports as an Economic Driver in Rural Ontario
Participants will explore how local airports can drive economic diversification and growth. The session will showcase how these assets can enable high‑value opportunities and cluster development such as advanced manufacturing, aircraft maintenance and repair (MRO), pilot training, agri‑tech innovation, logistics, and tourism, while also demonstrating how a robust ecosystem of aerospace‑supporting industries—including supply chain manufacturing, precision engineering, and technology services—can be successfully cultivated in rural communities.
Speaker: Lake Simcoe Regional Airport
3:25 PM – 3:35 PM – Coffee Break
3:35 PM – 4:20 PM – Closing Panel: Climate Resilience: Reframing Risk for Economic Development
Climate change is no longer just an environmental concern — it is increasingly an economic one. For municipalities and economic development organizations, evolving climate conditions are shaping business viability, investment decisions, and long-term economic growth. This workshop approaches climate resilience through an economic development lens, providing professionals with the tools and insights needed to understand and respond to these emerging challenges.
Participants will explore how climate-related risks such as flooding, wildfires, and shifting environmental conditions are affecting business operations, including rising insurance costs, infrastructure disruptions, and supply chain vulnerabilities. The session will also examine how these risks are influencing investor confidence and decision-making, particularly as climate risk assessments and mitigation strategies become more central to investment and development planning.
Drawing on insights from leading researchers, attendees will gain a deeper understanding of how climate change is reshaping business behaviour, investment patterns, and economic competitiveness — and what communities can do to strengthen resilience and support sustainable growth.
Speaker: Kathryn Bakos, Managing Director, Finance and Resilience of Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation, Faculty of Environment, University of Waterloo
4:20 PM – Closing Remarks
4:25 PM – Art Trail Tour
A Different Kind of Gallery Walk
Art looks different outdoors. Part trail, part gallery, this South Georgian Bay experience invites you to slow your pace and pay attention. Between trees and under open sky, art and nature meet in a way that feels refreshingly uncontained. Learn more about the collision of culture and wilderness and what you can experience: https://healthwithnature.org/art-and-tree-trail/ Please note: Golf carts are available for those who may wish to use them for this activity.
Venue:
Duntroon Highlands Golf Club
2220 Concession 10 S
Duntroon, ON
L0M 1H0
Accommodations:
Days Inn & Suites Collingwood
15 Cambridge Street
Collingwood, ON
L9Y 0A2
Alternatively, guests can call the hotel to book at (705) 444-1880, directly quoting either the block code 100726ERE OR name EDCO Regional Event to book from this block and receive the block discount.
Rate: $153.85 – $162.35 / night
Cut Off Date: September 7th, 2026
The Westin Trillium House, Blue Mountain
220 Gord Canning Dr.
The Blue Mountains, ON
L9Y 1C2
Alternatively, guests can call the hotel to book at (705) 444-1880, directly quoting either the block code 100726ERE OR name EDCO Regional Event to book from this block and receive the block discount.
Rate: $359.00 – $399.00 / night
Cut Off Date: September 7th, 2026
Please note The Resort Fee Includes:
- Parking for 1 vehicle per reservation (Underground only) at Village Suites, Mosaic and Westin (self-parking only).
- Enhanced Wi-fi for all guestrooms.
- Access to: Gondola, Hiking, Canopy, AGORA, Beach, Access is subject to seasonal closures and weather permitting and included from day of arrival until day of departure for all registered guests (excluding Westin Trillium House which will provide activity access for up to 4 guests. ($10 fee per guest per night will apply if additional activity access is desired).
- 30 minutes of consecutive arcade play at The Bunker Arcade for $5 – valid per person, per night of stay
- Marriott Bonvoy Elite Members (Gold Elite, Platinum Elite, Titanium Elite, and Ambassador Elite) – also receive 2 Starbuck drink vouchers per room per night of the stay (i.e. 2-night stay = 4 vouchers total)
*Regional Event Registrations are non-refundable after September 24, 2026. Before this date, registrations are refundable less a $50.00 +HST administration fee*
*Event registrations are transferrable until September 30, 2026.*