I have thought long and hard about what I wanted to say as 2020 draws to a close.  I didn’t want this message to be just a few nice words and pleasant thoughts.  

As you know, it truly has been an extraordinary year.

For many of us, the year started with great optimism and hope. Then we faced the COVID-19 pandemic. Uncertainty, loss of normalcy, and growing anxiety ensued. Strategic plans had to be shelved; fundraising goals went unmet; trips were cancelled; events went online or were postponed indefinitely; our homes became classrooms, virtual offices and/or global headquarters; and “you are on mute” became the most frequently quoted statement.

Even though I have been training families, businesses and communities in disaster preparedness, response and recovery for a number of years, the pandemic forced me to put this theory into practice as well. My number one goal quickly became navigating EDA successfully through these turbulent COVID waters.

What I know, without a doubt, is that with every crisis comes opportunity. I am proud of the work the EDA board and team has accomplished this year. Our focus has been simple. Keep our members interests core, while increasing the value of what we offer. While it has been challenging, I believe we have re-envisioned how we do things, established new partners, and become more resilient as a result.

To be honest, it has been tough. I’ve said on a number of occasions that I have felt like a pretzel- having to turn, contort and twist continually. We had to reinvent our Annual Conference, Ministry Dinner, Invest in Alberta publication, Leaders’ Summit, CEDTP training and AGM to name a few. I feel tired writing this....

I recognize that everyone is disappointed we have been unable to meet in person, but I believe our economic development family is still very much connected and engaged. The pandemic will pass, and we will find our next normal, hopefully soon. In the interim, we will continue to make lemonade out of lemons.

To all of our devoted partners, board, members, and supporters, thank you for your continued support, encouragement and active engagement this year. Rest assured, I do not take your support for granted and look forward to reconnecting in the New Year.  

I trust you will be able to celebrate with your loved ones (in whatever form that takes) this holiday season, and may you continue to enjoy COVID-free health and success in 2021!

Sincerely,

EDA Ministry Meet Ups  & 2021 EDA Ministry Dinner Our first EDA Ministry Meet Up is being held this Wednesday, October 28 noon sharp! The topic: Small Business Supports. You will have the opportunity to meet with representatives from: Business Link, BDC, WD and Office of Small and Medium Enterprises. Here's another perk to EDA membership; the EDA Ministry Meetups are FREE for EDA members!  Ministry Meet Up: Small Business Supports Wednesday, October 28 12:00 - 1:00 PM MST Register for the October 28 Ministry Meet Up Here  The COVID-19 pandemic, limiting our ability to meet in person safely, as thrown a wrench in our 2020 Ministry Dinner in October. EDA's creative solution is developing a series of virtual EDA Ministry Meet Ups. You will still be able to network, share information and discuss potential partnerships with key government officials and each other, while at the same time maintaining social distancing. Beginning Wednesday and leading up to our in-person 2021 EDA Ministry Dinner, we are hosting a series of noon hour virtual EDA Ministry Meet Ups with key government officials discussing specific topics.  Thank you to AUMA for being a Gold Sponsor for the 2020-21 Ministry Meet Ups and Ministry Dinner. Read about and register for all sessions below:  EDA Ministry Meet Ups and 2021 EDA Ministry Dinner  Support this creative idea by becoming a sponsor of the EDA Ministry Meet Ups and our 2021 EDA Ministry Dinner.  Check out our Sponsorship Package. We are looking forward to this virtual series culminating in an in-person EDA Ministry Dinner in 2021.

Upcoming EDA Events  Community Economic Development Training Program (CEDTP) Economic Development Establishing the Foundation *Nov. 10 - Dec. 14 Register here Online through the University of Calgary Economic development is complex. This course will help you understand your role; key to the success of your career, and to the overall success of economic development in your community. These courses earn you points toward your professional certification Don't forget, if you're an EDA Member, you qualify to apply for an EDA Scholarship *new date    Ministry Meet Ups Our First Meet Up October 28 12:00 - 1:00 PM Register here EDA has created a series of virtual Ministry Meet Ups! Our creative solution to the cancellation of our in-person annual Ministry Dinner.   Beginning October 28 and leading up to our in-person 2021 EDA Ministry Dinner, we are hosting a series of noon hour virtual EDA Ministry Meet Ups with key government officials discussing specific topics.   You will be able to network, share information and discuss potential partnerships with key government officials and each other, while at the same time maintaining social distancing.    AlbertaBusinessCounts FREE Webinar Dashboarding Feature *Tomorrow! October 20 11:00 - 11:30 AM Register here If you are a user of our AlbertaBuisnessCounts CRM or you are thinking about signing up; join us a FREE webinar that explains the new Dashboarding feature. Dashboarding provides an easy way to show “at a glance” data trends, goal attainment and more. Whether your focus is business retention/expansion, business recruitment, COVID-19 resiliency, community or workforce development, this feature is essential.     EDA's Annual (virtual) Conference Xperience#EDA2020 November 25 - 26 Are you "Zoomed-out?" Then, you'll want to attend our virtual annual conference. It will be a unique "Xperience!" Stream first-rate professional development; attend live networking events; and get ready to receive a special delivery, right to your doorstep. Our Xperience#EDA2020 Annual Conference is much more than a Zoom, so, join us! Visit www.XperienceEDA.ca and register See the complete EDA Event Calendar here

EDA News Today, EDA received the prestigious Silver Award for Innovation in Economic Development Week at the 2020 IEDC Annual Conference. The award was presented via Zoom this morning.  We are thrilled and grateful to the EDA team and EDA Board of Directors who together created an award worthy series of events! Visit our 2020 International Economic Development Week webpage to see the various events we initiated.

EDA Professional Development Economic Development Tools This is a quick reminder to take a minute to enrol for a couple of our online offerings designed to equip you with the tools you need to help your community thrive. The first one begins tomorrow.  #1  Join us for a free webinar and learn the new Dashboarding feature in our AlbertaBuisnessCounts CRM.   You'll want to learn about Dashboarding; a tool that provides an easy way to show “at a glance” data trends, goal attainment and more. Join us October 13 or 20. These sessions are free but you must register to receive call in information. Register by clicking the link below:   October 13 at 1:00 - 1:30 PM MST October 20 at  11:00 - 11:30 AM MST The 30 minute session includes Q&A. #2 Our next online course in our Community Economic Development Training program, Economic Development Establishing the Foundation, begins October 20. This world class training is one of our most popular as it provides the foundational information you need: Economic Development Establishing the Foundation October 20 - November 23 Register Here

EDA Professional Development AlbertaBusinessCounts  FREE Dashboarding Webinars Begin Tuesday If you are a user of our AlbertaBuisnessCounts CRM or you are thinking about signing up; join us for FREE webinars that explain the new Dashboarding feature. You'll want to learn about Dashboarding because it provides an easy way to show “at a glance” data trends, goal attainment and more. Whether your focus is business retention/expansion, business recruitment, COVID-19 resiliency, community or workforce development, this feature is essential.   Join us October 13 or 20. These sessions are free but you must register to receive call in information. Regiser by clicking the link below:   October 13 at 1:00 - 1:30 PM MST October 20 at  11:00 - 11:30 AM MST The 30 minute session includes Q&A. The  AlbertaBusinessCounts (ABC) Program gives your community a consistent method for gathering the data needed to identify and analyze business needs at the local, regional and provincial level.     EDA holds the provincial master license for Executive Pulse, a software designed to collect and analyze data on existing industries in Alberta. A special licensing agreement enables EDA to make this software available to economic development organizations at a reduced price.

EDA Professional Development Economic Development Tools Before you carve the Thanksgiving turkey, take a minute to enrol for a couple of our online offerings designed to equip you with the tools to help your community thrive. #1 Our next online course in our Community Economic Development Training program, Economic Development Establishing the Foundation, begins October 20. You'll get the foundational information you need: Economic Development Establishing the Foundation October 20 - November 23 Register Here AND #2 If you like FREE webinars then join us and learn the new Dashboarding feature in our AlbertaBuisnessCounts CRM.   You'll want to learn about Dashboarding; a tool that provides an easy way to show “at a glance” data trends, goal attainment and more. Join us October 13 or 20. These sessions are free but you must register to receive call in information. Register by clicking the link below:   October 13 at 1:00 - 1:30 PM MST October 20 at  11:00 - 11:30 AM MST The 30 minute session includes Q&A.

EDA Professional Development  Economic Development Establishing the Foundation   ONLINE Course Begins October 20  Dear Nancy Toombs, We don't have to tell you that economic development is complex. Our Economic Development Establishing the Foundation online course  is necessary if you want to fully understand how economic development positively impacts your community; and how you can maximize your role as an economic development professional. Register now and suggest this course to your colleagues; it builds an excellent foundation.  Economic Development Establishing the Foundation October 20 - November 23 online through the University of Calgary Register Here  All of our online Community Economic Development Training program (CEDTP) courses are open for registration; read our schedule of online CEDTP courses here and register. By successfully completing the courses in our CEDTP program, you qualify for points toward your Ec.D Certification.  You can also earn points toward the Professional Management Certificate - Economic Developers through the University of Calgary.

The EDA LINK October 2020.pdf

EDA Professional Development  Business & Investment Attraction (BIA)  ONLINE Course Begins Tomorrow Dear Nancy Toombs, A quick reminder that tomorrow is the day your Business and Investment Attraction journey begins. Register for our online course and learn how to develop strategies that will have a positive impact on your community. Important information, especially now.   Business and Investment Attraction (BIA) October 6 - November 9 online through the University of Calgary Register Here  All of our online Community Economic Development Training program (CEDTP) courses are open for registration; read our schedule of online CEDTP courses here and register. By successfully completing the courses in our CEDTP program, you qualify for points toward your Ec.D Certification.  You can also earn points toward the Professional Management Certificate - Economic Developers through the University of Calgary.