EDA News Centre

EDA was pleased to host an Economic Development in Alberta Roundtable on June 12 as part of the IEDC Future Forum.  I had the pleasure of introducing a number of economic development partners from IEDC, the Government of Canada, Government of Alberta, REDA's and smaller communities, to delegates participating in the 2023 Duke of Edinburgh Commonwealth Study Conference. The goal was to provide an overview of how we collaborate with each other in order to achieve our goals.  It was an engaging discussion and excellent exchange of ideas.

Economic Developers Alberta (EDA) Announces its 

2023-2024 Board of Directors

This morning, Economic Developers Alberta (EDA) held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) via Zoom. EDA voting members elected the 2023-2024 Board of Directors as follows: 

2023-2024 EDA Board of Directors

Shane Olson - President (Strathcona County)

Amanda Mercer - Vice President (Sylvan Lake)

Eleanor Miclette - Past President (Canmore)

Hetti Huls - Secretary Treasurer (Grande Prairie) 

Ben Young - Director (Lethbridge)

Trevor Lewington - Director (Lethbridge) 

Amy Oshanyk - Director (Sturgeon County) 

Lisa Sweet - Director (Fort McMurray)

Lorie Watson - Director (Okotoks)

Kate Koplovich - Director (Calgary)

Kent McMullin - Director (Edmonton)

Message from the President: Shane Olson

I am looking forward to my term as President of Economic Developers Alberta. As a member driven organization we work tirelessly to elevate economic development as a profession and at the same time support practitioners in their critical roles to promote sustainable long-term growth that benefits all members of our society.

In 2024, EDA celebrates is 50th anniversary. This milestone will be an excellent opportunity to celebrate where we have come from, and to reinvigorate our work that provides economic developers with leading edge programs, best practice sharing, networking opportunities and other valuable tools to help create thriving communities.

 I appreciate the vision and leadership that has created an effective and admired organization at provincial, national and international levels. The success of our association can be attributed to our committed and talented staff, and also to the special contributions each President and board members have made over the years.

Thank you, EDA members, for your continued participation and enthusiasm in our professional community; and to our partners, thank you for your ongoing support. EDA will continue its dedication to meeting the needs of our members while at the same time, working with all Albertans to build strong communities.

The Honourable Brian Jean, Minister of Jobs, Economy & Northern Development is EDA's Honorary Patron. 

As you know, EDA Xperience 2023 is being held at The Pomeroy Kananaskis Mountain Lodge which is located within the boundary of (the majestic and stunning) Kananaskis Country. Alberta Parks requires all vehicles parked at the conference site to have a Kananaskis Conservation Pass.  To avoid a fine, please purchase this pass. It's easy to do by clicking this link.  Expect to pay about $15 a day.  This fee supports conservation efforts in the area. The resort does not charge for above ground parking.  See you at the Conference!

Message to EDA Members

Here is a reminder that the Match Factor Pilot Project is an excellent business retention and expansion, and investment attraction tool available to EDA Members.

As you know, this project involves Alberta businesses looking to sell their enterprises, matches those businesses with an investor buyer then offers job opportunities for Ukrainian people displaced by the war in their region.

Many of your know first-hand the high percentage of businesses looking to sell or exit a community in the next year or two, the economic impact to our communities will be profound. 

SuccessionMatching, our partner in this project, has given us helpful information that we would like to pass on to you.

By clicking this link, you will see a list of the types of businesses investor buyers are looking for in Alberta. In the same document is a list of key messages that will be useful.

Since you may know businesses are looking to transition or sell, please reach out to those that you think might be a good fit, and tell them about the project.

All you need to do is have your selected businesses go to the EDA website and apply for the project here: https://www.edaalberta.ca/match-factor.

SuccessionMatching reviews the applications, makes the match, and takes care of the details.

2023 Community Challenge in Alberta 

Help us to amplify the importance of economic development by taking part in the 2023 Community Challenge. 

For the third year in a row, Alberta Municipalities and Rural Municipalities of Alberta are joining EDA to encourage municipalities, large and small, to formally recognize and celebrate Economic Development Week.  

You can participate by having your community officially proclaim May 8 - 12 to be "Economic Development Week!"

Let's get it on your community's calendar now.  

Last year, more than 50 Alberta communities made the official proclamation.

It's easy, here's how: 

1. Customize a sample resolution.

2. Have your Council/Mayor officially proclaim the week in your community and sign the resolution.

3. Share the proclamation with local media, and on your social media pages. 

4. Don’t forget to tag us: Twitter: @edaalberta; LinkedIn: @Economic Developers Alberta (EDA) and Facebook: @EconomicDevelopersofAlberta 

4. Email us at admin@edaalberta.ca and it will be added to the EDA website.

EDA Annual General Meeting: Proxy Vote Deadline Friday, March 17

All EDA voting members in good standing are eligible to attend the EDA Annual General Meeting on Thursday, March 23, 9:00 AM.

If you cannot attend the AGM, you can vote by proxy. 

If you want to be represented by proxy you must visit the AGM webpage, download the proxy form located there and submit the form by Friday, March 17 at 4:30 PM.

To submit the form email: leann@edaalberta.ca        

Be sure you are signed in with your EDA user email and password to access the AGM webpage.

At the AGM, EDA voting members in good standing will elect the 2023-24 EDA Board of Directors.

Register here. You will be sent the login information. 

Please note, registration is restricted to voting members so please be sure you are signed in with the email and password associated with your EDA membership. 

EDA Annual Awards of Excellence 

NEW Submission Deadline March 15

Thank you to all our members who have already submitted their entry for an Annual Award of Excellence. 

Many of you have reached out to us personally to ask for some extra time to prepare your award submission.

So, we are extending the deadline by just a few days to Wednesday, March 15 at 4:30 PM. 

Please take a few moments today or over the weekend and submit your entry as soon as possible. 

You will be showcasing your accomplishments and sharing your best practices in front of a sold-out crowd at the EDA Annual Awards of Excellence gala event during EDA Xperience 2023 Leaders' Summit and Conference. As you know, in person conference registration is now closed.

But don't let that stop you from applying for an award. Join us as an ONLINE delegate.

The awards ceremony will be streamed LIVE to our online conference delegates! That means, even if you are unable to attend in person, you can cheer right along with all delegates through our event platform as it provides realtime networking. 

If we don't see you in person, plan to join us online in April. 

PrairiesCan the Platinum Partner at EDA Xperience 2023 Leaders' Summit and Conference

Economic Developers Alberta (EDA) is pleased to welcome PrairiesCan as the Platinum Partner at EDA Xperience 2023 Leaders' Summit and Conference held April 12-14 at the Pomeroy Mountain Lodge in Kananaskis Alberta.

"This commitment reflects the leadership of PrairiesCan in building a diverse, competitive and resilient economy by supporting economic development unique to Alberta," said Leann Hackman Carty, EDA CEO. 

"EDA is the only professional organization for economic developers in the province and provides tools and resources, such as our Leaders' Summit and Conference, to help community leaders create thriving economies. At EDA Xperiecne 2023, delegates will share best practices, identify emerging trends and learn about new techniques and successes in economic development." 

Each year, our Leaders' Summit and Conference attracts more than 350 economic development professionals regionally, nationally and internationally. 

For the past two years, our Leaders' Summit and Conference has been a sold out event. 

We're on week three of the new year and many of you have begun to execute your plans for 2023.

Or, maybe you're plotting your calendar.  

Whatever stage you are in, schedule our Match Factor Pilot Project into your timetable.

Match Factor takes Alberta businesses looking to sell their enterprises, helps them put together a transition plan, matches them with investors and facilitates the employment of skilled Ukrainian people displaced by the war in their region.

It's a unique and creative solution to keep Alberta businesses open in communities and to address workforce challenges.  

EDA and SuccessionMatching, an online community of business buyers, sellers, and succession planning professionals launched this pilot project last month. 

SuccessionMatching has already identified capital investors interested in purchasing and partnering with suitable Alberta businesses. And the SuccessionMatching team will be the point of contact for onboarding Ukrainian people who have landed in Canada and match them to the business opportunities.

What can you do?

Identify businesses in your communities, ready to transition, who would benefit from participating in the project.

It's a win - win- win solution which will ultimately result in thriving communities. 

Read more and get involved here.

As we flip the calendar to a brand-new year, we have an opportunity to reflect on the year that was and contemplate the exciting possibilities for the future.

Our province has emerged from the murky uncertainty caused by unprecedented challenges we have all faced over the past two years and proven our strength and resilience once again. 

Driving this resilience are economic developers like you, our members, who roll up their sleeves every day to create stronger, inclusive economies. Economic Developers Alberta (EDA) remains dedicated to providing you with the right tools and resources enabling you to continue the hard work on the frontlines across our beautiful province. We invite you to take advantage of our programs: explore our newly launched Match Factor Pilot Project; become involved in our premiere event, EDA Xperience 2023 Leaders’ Summit and Conference; and don’t forget about our award-winning Economic Resilience and Recovery Program and our courses in the Community Economic Development Training Program.

Thank you for your continued support of EDA. Our commitment to you in 2023 is to continue our hard work to provide innovative responses to contemporary challenges to support your efforts to create thriving communities. Knowing the strength, energy and drive of the economic development practitioners that form our organization, this province is in excellent hands. Wishing you good health and continued success in 2023. Eleanor Miclette, EDA President and Manager of Economic Development · Town of Canmore