2023 Conference Agenda
The Conference will be in-person only this year, with sessions and events held at Credit Union Place, Summerside, PEI – with all sessions in the “Veterans’ Convention Centre” room.
Shuttle Bus
A daily shuttle will run from Quality Inn and Loyalist to the Conference centre once in the morning and once at the end of sessions. Each morning pick up is at 7:40am at Quality Inn and Loyalist, the bus will then be available after each day’s sessions outside the Microtel to return delegates to Quality Inn and Loyalist.
MONDAY, OCTOBER 2
8:00 AM – Breakfast
Registration desk opens
8:30 – AM – Truth and Economic Reconciliation
- Peggy Domingue – Director of Marketing and Training, OFNEDA
9:00 – 10:00 AM Jon Kupi (Director, Global Affairs Canada) available to have discussions with delegates
- Located in the Executive Boardroom overlooking Convention Centre Lobby
9:00 AM – A Spotlight on Canada’s Tourism Workforce: trends, forecasts and tools to keep you current!
- Michael Burt – Vice President, Conference Board of Canada
- Kim Marshall – Vice President, Workforce Strategies
- Facilitator: Austin Hracs – Senior Vice President of Research and Partnerships, Vicinity Jobs
- Facilitator: Strac Ivanov – President and Founder, Vicinity Jobs
9:45 AM – Investment Readiness and the Investor Journey
- Rebecca Skinner – Regional Advisor, Invest in Canada
10:30 AM – Refreshment Break and Tradeshow Walk
11:00 AM – National Security and FDI: What You Need to Know
- Bernard Li – Deputy Director, Investor Services Division, Global Affairs Canada
12:00 PM – Lunch
12:45 PM – The Lighter Side of Economic Development
- Patrick Ledwell – Comedian
2:15 PM – Depart for Study Tours – ALL TOURS ARE FULL
Busing will be provided from the Microtel and will be returning delegates to all three hotels (Microtel, Quality Inn and Loyalist)
Tour 1: Slemon Park – Presentation and guided bus tour through Slemon Park.
Tour 2: Cavendish Farms – An informative walking tour of the Cavendish Farms Plant 2.
Free Night – Dinner on own
Click here for some dinner suggestions
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 3
8:00 AM
Registration desk opens
Breakfast
9:00 – 10:00 AM – Bernard Li (Deputy Director, Global Affairs Canada) available to have discussions with delegates
- Located in the Executive Boardroom overlooking Convention Centre Lobby
9:00 AM – Canada’s Path to Net Zero and the Future for Local Economic Development
- Dr. Herb Emery, Vaughan Chair in Regional Economics
9:45 AM – LEAP Year
- Chris Fields – Speaker, Writer and Principal, Rynic
10:30 AM – Refreshment Break and Tradeshow Walk
11:00 AM – Everyday Resiliency in Ever-Changing Times
- Dr. Robyne Hanley-Dafoe – Expert on Resiliency and Workplace Wellness
12:00 PM – Global Perspectives – When the world is flat, how do you standout?
- Ron Sege – Operating Partner, BGV
- David Maasz – Serial Entrepreneur & Business Angel
- Jason Aspin – Co-founder, Aspin Kemp & Associates
- Jeff Cormier – Lawyer, Key Murray Law
- Facilitator: Mike Thususka, Ec.D., Director of Economic Development, City of Summerside
1:00 PM – Lunch
1:45 PM – Digital Strategies to Attract Investment, Support Business and Boost Tourism
- Alissa Sklar, Ph.D. – VP Marketing, GIS Planning
2:30 PM – Leveraging the Trade Commissioner Service for FDI
- Jon Kupi – Director, Investment Promotion, Global Affairs Canada
3:15 PM – Refreshment Break
3:45 PM – Federal Update
- Rob LeForte – Founder, First Lake Solutions
4:30 PM – Crafting the Perfect Pitch to Site Selectors, Businesses and Talent
- Dave Parsell – CEO, Localintel
5:15 PM – Sessions End
6:30PM – President’s Reception
- Cash bar
7:15 PM – President’s Dinner
- Marketing Awards Cup presentation
- Ec.D. Recipients
- President’s remarks
- Incoming President’s remarks
- Presentation of 2024 Conference
Shuttle bus will pick-up at the Quality Inn and Loyalist hotels at 6:45pm. Will return from Microtel at 9:30pm (or at end of President’s Dinner).