Start today’s Rising Economy experience by zooming in for special appearances by:

COVID-19 has reminded us that we can be disrupted by events around us — or we can disrupt ourselves. In this compelling presentation, innovation thought leader and Silicon Valley native Rick Rasmussen explores why entrepreneurial ecosystems, like the newly established Centre of Ocean Applied Sustainable Technologies (COAST), are needed to drive high-value, sustainable economic prosperity in Pacific Canada.

Economic development from an Indigenous worldview is being reclaimed within the modern economic space. This conversation will explore how prosperity is defined and how non-Indigenous people and organizations can support and respect Indigenous Nations and people and their approach to economic development.

Canada and the U.S. — The Future of Borderless Talent & Innovation

Join Matt Morrison, CEO of the Pacific NorthWest Economic Region (PNWER), as he leads a panel exploring trends that will impact this economic mega-region, of which Greater Victoria is part. Topics include talent mobility, cluster development, and how savvy companies can simultaneously optimize their strategic growth on both sides of the Canada/U.S. border.

CHEK Spotlight: LIVE on Facebook

Sponsored by: CHEK Television

We talk to Emilie de Rosenroll, Startup CEO of COAST.
COAST is an exciting economic development initiative to create Canada’s next Pacific ocean and marine hub right here in the Greater Victoria region and to put us on the map as a major player in the $3-trillion global sustainable blue economy.

Making Canadian Cities Affordable Again

An alarming, growing gap exists between how we deliver housing in Canada and people’s ability to acquire it. But is it possible to design, build and deliver housing in a way that’s driven by inclusion and broader public interest? In this timely keynote, Jennifer Keesmaat — an urban visionary and former Toronto chief city planner celebrated for her visionary approach to city-building — shares her views on how we can make housing affordable again.

Learn more about Canada’s housing affordability challenges, share ideas and discuss solutions at this roundtable discussion moderated by Jennifer Keesmaat.

Start today’s Rising Economy experience by zooming in for special appearances by:

What does rowing across the Atlantic have in common with building Pacific Canada’s hub for the sustainable blue economy? A lot, actually. Join National Geographic adventurer, scientist and bestselling author Julie Angus of Open Ocean Robotics for a candid talk on the vision, grit and entrepreneurial spirit it takes to accomplish a dream. Julie explores what’s possible when we harness the innovation and drive to make our coastal region a global blue economy leader.

Work, as we know it, is rapidly changing, with all sectors experiencing major shifts and unprecedented labour shortages. Join Cynthia Leach, RBC’s Senior Director, Economic Thought Leadership in conversation with Andrew Petter, President Emeritus, Simon Fraser University and Chair of Innovate BC, for an in-depth look at what it will take to develop, attract and retain the workforce we need now.

The pandemic has disrupted the workplace, with major impacts on job satisfaction and retention as employees cope with health concerns, lifestyle epiphanies and uncertainty about the future. This panel explores how massive societal and workplace changes have highlighted the need for a new kind of leadership that puts employee wellbeing first — and why that’s a good thing for companies and employees alike.

We talk to Mark Collins, President and CEO of BC Ferries, about ambitious plans to turn the publicly owned company into the biggest electrified ferry fleet in the world and why this is good for mitigating climate change, helping the whales and building B.C.’s innovation economy.

Attendance is reserved for this satellite working session.

Start today’s Rising Economy experience by zooming in for special appearances by:

From e-com and automation to AI and quantum computing, we’ve entered an age of deep technological disruption that leaves no sector — even the primary industries — untouched. In this high-energy panel, learn about recent business trends and how B.C.’s traditional natural resources sector is embracing many technological disruptions to increase resilience, profitability and sustainability.

The science is clear — human-made CO2 emissions must drop by 45% by 2030 from 2010 levels and reach ‘net zero’ by 2050 to give the world a good chance of limiting warming to 1.5C and avoiding the worst impacts of climate change.

Our panel of global experts tackles critical questions such as: Where do we find the leadership and resolve to do what needs to be done to shift our economy to a greener future?

Local communities are on the front line of addressing complex environmental and social challenges. This session will explore integrated and innovative models that bring capital to support and strengthen local solutions, whether structuring business succession into community ownership, developing financing models that connect local capital into local economies or mobilizing the power of procurement for social impact.

Join Kristi Fairholm-Mader, Director of Innovation and Initiatives at Scale Collaborative in conversation with Zita Cobb, CEO & Founder of Shorefast and Bill Young, Founder of Social Capital Partners for a close look at what’s at stake, and what’s possible, for local economies.

Today, CHEK Spotlight Live on Facebook features Raghwa Gopal, President & CEO of Innovate BC about the state of B.C.’s tech sector and how Innovate BC is helping to reboot BC’s economy by assisting innovators across the province to build great companies.

When companies and governments worldwide want to talk about new strategies for innovation, they call Dan Breznitz, global innovation expert and the bestselling author of Innovation in Real Places: Strategies for Prosperity in an Unforgiving World. Dan will explore how cities and regions can develop their own unique innovations strategies that don’t simply imitate the Silicon Valley model.

Dive deeper into brave new approaches to innovation, ask questions and explore ideas in this roundtable expertly moderated by Dan Breznitz.

This Cocktail Reception for registered attendees will be held at the Delta Hotels Victoria Ocean Pointe Resort.