If you missed any of the Rising Economy Week 2020 sessions, here’s your chance to catch up — or to rewatch and share — keynotes and panels from the event.
Watch 2020
How to Reboot Our Economy
In-depth talks on economic recovery with Emilie de Rosenroll, South Island Prosperity Partnership; Matt Morrison, PNWER; Mary Rowe, Canadian Urban Institute; and Christina Clarke, Songhees Development Corp.
Cascadia’s Next Economy
As population growth, trade patterns and economic and cultural links strengthen between cities in the Pacific Northwest, there is a growing recognition of the importance of the Cascadia mega-region on the world stage.
Bring Forward Mainstreet
With the commercial districts of our downtowns heavily impacted by the pandemic, the CHEK News Spotlight talks to two urban development experts about how to bring our mainstreets back to life — and back to prosperity.
The Skills Revolution
John Stackhouse interprets trends for RBC’s executive leadership team and board with insights on how these affect RBC’s clients and our society.
Bringing Mainstreet Back
Mary Rowe is a leading urban advocate and civil society leader who has worked in cities across Canada and the United States. In this talk, Mary explains how vital mainstreets are to the fabric and soul of a city and how we can help them recover from the pandemic.
The Digital Tsunami
From e-com and automation to AI and quantum computing, we’ve entered an age of deep technological disruption, and COVID. Our panel explores which industries are most impacted, which trends are emerging and how companies can pivot and thrive as part of the new resilience economy.
Connecting Cascadia
From e-com and automation to AI and quantum computing, we’ve entered an age of deep technological disruption and COVID. Our panel explores which industries are most impacted, which trends are emerging and how companies can pivot and thrive as part of the new resilience economy.
Are Black Swans the New Normal?
In this critical keynote presentation, Dr. Myles Druckman, SVP and Global Medical Director at International SOS — the world’s leading global health, security and logistics company — discusses black swans, global health security and crisis management in an era of increasing uncertainty.
The She-Cession
The pressures of COVID-19 have hit women disproportionately hard — a third of Canadian women are considering quitting jobs and 1 in 4 U.S. women are reducing hours due to COVID-19 pressures. Our panel discusses why women’s advancement is backsliding, the serious impact of the “she-cession” and how we can create greater economic social equity.
US/Canada Relations After the Election
The past four years have been a challenging time for the U.S./Canada relationship, with the recent border closures further impacting our strong ties. In this fascinating session, Dr. Christopher Sands explores how the outcome of the U.S. election will impact our cross-border relationship and affect the future of bilateral cooperation, policy priorities and trade.
Economic Megatrends for 2021 and Beyond
Avery Shenfeld is one of Canada’s leading economists, known for his perceptive analysis and insight on economic development. In this insightful keynote, he expands upon projections for our region (and country’s) recovery for 2021 and beyond.
Health, Safety and Innovation for Smart Borders
This timely panel explores how we can expand border cooperation and use improvements in technology, processes, facilities and innovation to drive economic recovery and prosperity and ensure the safe and secure flow of goods and people across the Canada/U.S. border.
Resilient Policy Creates Economic Opportunities
The Honourable Lana Popham, Minister of Agriculture discusses how implementing resiliency-based policies will benefit the agricultural sector in our region.
Where Have All the Women Gone?
Recent research suggests the pandemic is having a disproportionate impact on Canadian women when it comes to going back to work — and the gender gap is widening. In this CHEK News Spotlight we talk to a researcher and a local working mom and professional about the problems and solutions of the“she-cession.”
The Future of Flight
Airlines and airports have struggled mightily during the COVID-19 pandemic as passengers stayed home and air travel slowed. Hear from policy experts, airline CEOs and electric plane manufacturers on the role decarbonization can play in saving and reviving small airports across the region, maintaining vital links between communities.
The Green Recovery
Cleaner air, healthier water, enhanced carbon management and broadened biodiversity not only reduce the vulnerability of communities to pandemics but have the potential to boost economic activity in new directions. Our panel discusses the widespread potential of a clean, green approach to the future and the areas of our economy we need to start nurturing and investing.
Opportunities in the Indigenous Economy
A recognized First Nation’s business leader and adviser, Carol Anne Hilton led the establishment of a line of thought called #indigenomics — the building and strengthening of Indigenous economies.
The Zoom Boom
With the rise of virtual platforms like Zoom, many knowledge workers are flocking to new frontiers known as “Zoom Towns,” where they can live more inexpensively and achieve a work/life balance which many never dreamed of achieving. Our panel explores how this workforce migration is changing both the cities they are leaving — and the towns they are choosing on both sides of the US-Canada border.
Bringing Back Tourism
Tourism is a key economic driver for Greater Victoria, averaging $2.3 billion in economic impacts in 2018. The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted this vital industry in a major way and highlighted the value of cross-border travel and tourism to both local jurisdictions and the Pacific Northwest region.
Profits With Purpose
Throughout the pandemic, we’ve seen resilient companies fare better than non-resilient companies. With record liquidity, we’ll cover what this means for the investment community and the businesses in the highest demand. As we shift to designing our recovery, we’ll explore how investment can be directed for a more resilient future.
Restarting Tourism
Tourism is a key economic driver for the Pacific Northwest (PNW) region, averaging $71.4 billion per year in visitor spending. The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted this vital industry in a major way and highlighted the value of cross-border travel and tourism to both local jurisdictions and the PNW region.
The Blue Economy
As Greater Victoria focuses on creating the Ocean Futures Innovation Hub, our panel explores how the West Coast can accelerate its Blue Economy to compete both nationally and with ocean nations like Norway, whose ocean industries account for about 70% of the country’s export earnings, and our own East Coast.
Greater Victoria Rising
Tim Moonen heads up The Business of Cities, a U.K.-based urban intelligence firm that helps organizations make the most of the changing 21st-century relationships between businesses and cities. Tim has advised city and business leaders in Amsterdam, Auckland, Brisbane, Helsinki, Oslo, Philadelphia and 20 other city-regions globally on long-term strategies, governance, investment and development.
Diving into the Blue Economy
As Greater Victoria focuses on creating the Ocean Futures Innovation Hub, our panel explores how the West Coast can accelerate its Blue Economy to compete both nationally and with ocean nations like Norway, whose ocean industries account for about 70% of the country’s export earnings.
The Future of Higher Education
COVID-19 has been both a disruptor of the status quo and a driver of innovation for colleges and universities. Our panellists explore how higher education is responding to challenges of the 21st century, from rethinking skills development to reimagining online learning.
Featured Presentation with Melanie Joly
The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages discusses how the federal government is helping to craft a British Columbian specific recovery strategy and how different sectors can move forward out of the pandemic.
Ambassador Listening Session
In this virtual, moderated listening session, Ambassador to the United States Kirsten Hillman and US Acting Ambassador to Canada, Chargé d’Affaires Katherine Brucker will listen to a series of 2- to 3-minute presentations from up to 10 sector stakeholders on topics related to border issues, supply chains, trade (including USMCA implementation) and bilateral collaboration during COVID.
Wrapping Up #RisingEconomyWeek2020
As Rising Economy Week comes to an end we would like to thank all of the panelists, keynotes, sponsors and anyone else who came together and made this event possible. For a copy of Reboot, Greater Victoria’s Recovery Plan please see here.