Conference Agenda

This high level overview of our agenda will give you a perspective on the day’s content.  Bookmark this page and refer back for updates.  New and specific information will be added as it is confirmed.

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

8:30 am – 5 pm, Shipyard Market

Welcome

Mark O’Keefe

Overview of the Day

Pam Mood

Panel:  The True Newcomer Experience

How do you think you’d feel moving to a brand new country, with no business contacts, no family and no friends – just the desire to start a business and raise your family in this place?A panel of business people who’ve decided to settle here share the good, the bad and the ugly of making Summerside  home.  Following their discussion, we’ll all have a chance to comment and question. How can the experiences of these new Summerside residents help us to welcome (and retain) newcomers who can contribute to our community?

Moderated by Craig Mackie

Community-Led Immigration

Morden, Manitoba is a city of about 9,000.  A few years ago, they developed an immigration process which has led to significantly positive results and is, as far as we know, the only community-led program in Canada.  Immigration Officer Shelly Voth will tell us about it and why it is working.

Shelly Voth

Live-streamed

LocaNomics:  Why building from our own strength may be the smartest route to community development

Michael Shuman believes that the existing  businesses in a community are the key to that community’s success or failure and he has a list of reasons why.  He also has some suggestions based on years of experience, about kickstarting our business growth.

 Michael Shuman

Live-streamed

20 Years ago, we had a vision...

..and what a vision it was.  Now Fredericton is a vibrant, growing city that is the envy of much of Atlantic Canada.  Ignite Fredericton CEO Larry Shaw will tell us how the formula came about for this unified approach to economic planning and the reasons for their amazing progress to date.

 Larry Shaw

Big Possibilities

Mayor Martin will give us a quick tour through the City’s vision for Summerside; its current business attraction plans and the things we can all do to help.

Mayor Bill Martin

Panel:  Seeing Opportunity in Summerside

A panel of entrepreneurs tell us what compelled them to specifically choose Summerside to locate their business.   What can we learn from their perspectives on the opportunities here?

Moderated by Craig Harris

Prioritization exercise and next steps

Pam Mood

Cash Bar