Monday
November 22, 2021
Local Leadership Day
This pre-conference working session is for community leaders, municipal staff and elected officials to explore issues related to economic development. Attendance is reserved.
Registration opens at 8:00 a.m.
Tuesday
November 23, 2021
8:45 am – 9:00 am
Welcome & Opening Remarks
Start today’s Rising Economy experience by zooming in for special appearances by:
- Cecelia Dick, Elder, Songhees First Nation
- Emilie de Rosenroll, Startup CEO, COAST, and CEO, South Island Prosperity Partnership
- Kear Porttris, Director, Indigenous Relations, QM Environmental
- Kathy Whitcher, Executive Director, UDI Capital Region
- Calen McNeil, Owner, Big Wheel Burger
- Jennifer Keesmaat, Former Chief Planner, City of Toronto
- Kevin Hall, President & Vice Chancellor, University of Victoria
- Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada
9:00 am – 10:00 am
The Rising Tide of Innovation in Our Pacific Ocean Economy
Sponsored by: CFAX Radio
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.
Introduction by:
Ryan Price, News Director, CFAX 1070
Moderator:
Rick Rasmussen – Industry Fellow and Lecturer, UC Berkeley
Panelists:
- Donald Grant, Executive Director, Ocean Startup Project
- Melody Pardoe, Chief Engagement Officer, Canada’s Ocean Supercluster
- Emilie de Rosenroll, Startup CEO, COAST, and CEO, South Island Prosperity Partnership
- Jack MacDonald, Head of Innovation and Technology, Babcock Canada
- Scott Dewis, Co-Founder, Race Rocks 3D
10:00 am – 11:00 am
Shifting Power: Money & Meaning in the Indigenous Economy
Sponsored by: CIBC
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.
Introduction by:
Linda Hartford, Executive Director, Trust Services for Indigenous Markets, CIBC
Moderator:
Dr. Susanne Thiessen, Assistant Professor, Indigenous Community Engagement, University of Victoria
Panelists:
- Chief Gordon Planes, T’Sou-ke First Nation
- Christina Clarke, CEO, Songhees Development Corporation
- Sage Lacerte, Founder & CEO, Sage Initiative
- Angela van den Hout, Director of Economic Development, Malahat First Nation
11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Canada and the U.S. — The Future of Borderless Talent & Innovation
Sponsored by: Times Colonist
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.
Introduction by:
Dave Obee, Editor & Publisher, Times-Colonist
Moderator:
Matt Morrison, CEO, Pacific NorthWest Economic Region (PNWER)
Panelists:
- Laurie Trautman, Director, Border Policy Research Institute, WWU
- Remy Hall, Advisor, Studio Descent
- Shawn Gervais, VP Strategic Foresight, Digital Technology Supercluster
- Nirav Desai, CEO, Moonbeam
12:00 pm – 12:30 pm
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.
1:30 pm – 2:30 pm
Making Canadian Cities Affordable Again
Sponsored by: Capital Daily
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.
Introduction & Moderation by:
Jimmy Thomson, Managing Editor, Capital Daily
Keynote Speaker:
Jennifer Keesmaat, Urban Visionary, CEO of The Keesmaat Group and Former Chief Planner, City of Toronto
3:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Making Canadian Cities Affordable Again – Roundtable Discussion
Sponsored by: TD Bank
Learn more about Canada’s housing affordability challenges, share ideas and discuss solutions at this roundtable discussion moderated by Jennifer Keesmaat.
Wednesday
November 24, 2021
8:45 am – 9:00 am
Welcome & Opening Remarks
Start today’s Rising Economy experience by zooming in for special appearances by:
- Cecelia Dick, Elder, Songhees First Nation
- Emilie de Rosenroll, Startup CEO, COAST, and CEO, South Island Prosperity Partnership
- Mark Collins, President & CEO, BC Ferries
- Basma Majerbi, Associate Professor, Gustavson School of Business, University of Victoria
- Dan Gunn, CEO, Viatec
- Julie Angus, CEO & Founder, Open Ocean Robotics
9:00 am – 10:00 am
Dream, Dare, Do: Why it’s Pacific Canada’s Time to Lead in the Blue Economy
Sponsored by: Shaw
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.
Introduction by:
Virginie Martin, Account Executive, Shaw Business
Moderator:
Emilie de Rosenroll, CEO, South Island Prosperity Partnership
Keynote Speaker:
Julie Angus, CEO & Founder, Open Ocean Robotics
10:00 am – 11:00 am
Humans Wanted: B.C.’s War for Talent
Sponsored by: Douglas Magazine
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.
Introduction by:
Carla Sorrell, Editor, Douglas magazine
Featured Speakers:
Andrew Petter, President Emeritus of Simon Fraser University and Chair of Innovate BC
Cynthia Leach, Senior Director, Economic Thought Leadership, RBC
11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Headspace: Why the Future of Work is Employee Wellbeing
Sponsored by: Big Wheel Burger
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.
Introduction by:
Calen McNeil, Owner, Big Wheel Burger
Moderator:
Erin Skillen, Founder, content4good
Panelists:
- Ian Chisholm, Partner, Roy Group
- Dr. Paul Mohapel, Associate Faculty, Leadership Studies, Royal Roads University
12:00 pm – 12:30 pm
CHEK Spotlight: LIVE on Facebook
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.
2:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Design Lab
Attendance is reserved for this satellite working session.
Thursday
November 25, 2021
8:45 am – 9:00 am
Welcome & Opening Remarks
Start today’s Rising Economy experience by zooming in for special appearances by:
- Cecelia Dick, Elder, Songhees First Nation
- Emilie de Rosenroll, Startup CEO, COAST, and CEO, South Island Prosperity Partnership
- Bruce Williams, CEO, Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce
- Dan Breznitz, Munk Chair of Innovation, University of Toronto
- Raghwa Gopal, President & CEO, Innovate BC
- David Screech, Mayor of View Royal
- Honourable Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Jobs, Economic Recovery and Innovation
9:00 am – 10:00 am
From Disruption to Innovation: B.C.’s Shifting Natural Resources Sector
Sponsored by: Innovate BC
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.
Introduction by:
Raghwa Gopal, CEO, Innovate BC
Moderator:
Gerri Sinclair, BC’s Innovation Commissioner
Panelists:
- John Weigelt, National Technology Officer, Microsoft Canada
- Orlando Rojas, Professor and Canada Excellence Research Chair, Scientific Director Bioproducts Institute
- Mike Williamson, President & CEO, Cascadia Seaweed
- Jay Milroy, Director of Product Management, LlamaZOO
10:00 am – 11:00 am
It’s Now or Never: Our Economy and the Race to Net Zero
Sponsored by: University of Victoria
with VANCOUVER ISLAND IMPACT INVESTING HUB
AND PACIFIC INSTITUTE FOR CLIMATE SCIENCES
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?
Introduction by:
Jennifer Vornbrock, Executive Director, Community and Government Relations, University of Victoria
Moderator:
Evan Pivnick, Senior Policy Advisory, Clean Energy Canada
Panelists:
- Merran Smith, Executive Director, Clean Energy Canada
- Sybil Seitzinger, Executive Director, Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions
- Barbara Buchner, Global Managing Director, Climate Policy Initiative
11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Following the Money Trail: Why Local Capital Matters
Sponsored by: CHEK Television
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.
Introduction by:
Rob Germain, GM & CEO, CHEK News
Moderator:
Kristi Fairholm-Maider, Director, Innovation and Initiatives, Scale Collaborative
Panelists:
- Zita Cobb, Founder & CEO, Shorefast Foundation
- Bill Young, Founder & Chairman, Social Capital Partners
12:00 pm – 12:30 pm
CHEK Spotlight: LIVE on Facebook
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.
1:30 pm – 2:30 pm
Innovation in Real Places: Strategies for Prosperity in an Unforgiving World
Sponsored by: RBC
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.
Introduction:
Jack Leung, Vice President Commercial Financial Services at RBC
Moderator:
Emilie de Rosenroll, CEO, South Island Prosperity Partnership
Keynote Speaker:
Dan Breznitz, bestselling author and Munk Chair of Innovation and Co-Director of the Innovation Policy Lab, University of Toronto.
3:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Innovation in Real Places — Roundtable Discussion
Dive deeper into brave new approaches to innovation, ask questions and explore ideas in this roundtable expertly moderated by Dan Breznitz.
Introduction:
Ronald J Lees, Director, Consulting – Digital Transformation Lead, Western Canada, CGI
Moderator:
Dan Breznitz, bestselling author and Munk Chair of Innovation and Co-Director of the Innovation Policy Lab, University of Toronto.
Keynote Speaker:
Frank Bourree, Chair, South Island Prosperity Partnership
4:00 pm – 6:30 pm
Cocktail Networking Reception
Sponsored by: Babcock Canada and COAST
This Cocktail Reception for registered attendees will be held at the Delta Hotels Victoria Ocean Pointe Resort.