AGENDA
Wednesday, January 24, 2024
8:00AM Registration: Coffee and Networking
8:30AM Welcome and Opening Remarks
Land Acknowledgement and Economic Reconciliation Call to Action
Chris Sicotte, Chair of the Board
Sparrow Hawk Developments (Peepeekisis Cree Nation)
Western Canada Economic Forum Introduction
Alex Fallon, Founder and Co-Chair
Host Organization, Welcoming Remarks
Brad Parry, Chief Executive Officer
Calgary Economic Development
9:00AM Government of Canada: Growth in the West and Growth in Canada
Maninder Sidhu
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development
Government of Canada
Diane Gray
President
Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan)
Government of Canada
9:35AM The Economic Outlook for the West and for Canada
Moderator: Annette Bester, Partner, National Credit Union Leader, MNP
Mark Parsons
Chief Economist
ATB Financial
Marie-France Paquet
Chief Economist
Global Affairs Canada
10:15AM STRETCH & COFFEE BREAK
10:30AM The Provincial Perspective – Provincial Growth Strategies
Moderator: Hon. Gary G. Mar, KC, President and CEO, Canada West Foundation
Jodi Banks
Deputy Minister
Ministry of Trade and Export Development, Government of Saskatchewan
David James
Deputy Minister
Ministry of Technology and Innovation, Government of Alberta
Government of Manitoba*
*invited
11:15AM Business Opportunities & Challenges for Growth in the West
Moderator: Shauna Feth, President and CEO, Alberta Chamber of Commerce
Prabha Ramaswamy
Chief Exeutive Officer
Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce
Adam Legge
President
Business Council of Alberta
Chuck Davidson
Chief Executive Officer
Manitoba Chamber of Commerce
12:00PM LUNCH
Presentation: The Westerly Award for Outstanding Contribution to
Economic Development in the West
1:00PM Financing Business Growth Across the West
Moderator: Richard Arthurs, Partner, National Leader - Internal Audit, MNP
Chris Fowler
Chief Executive Officer
Canadian Western Bank
Paul Poscente
Chief Executive Officer
Axxcelus Capital Advisory
Ted Bauer
VP Engagement and External Relations
Alberta Indigenous Opportunities Corporation
1:45PM Investment Attraction, Trade and Export Development
Moderator: Vina Nadjibulla, Vice-President, Research & Strategy, Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada
Jacquie Griffiths
President
Invest Vancouver
Chris Dekker
Chief Executive Officer
Saskatchewan Trade & Export Development (STEP)
Mark Livingston
Regional Vice President
Export Development Canada
2:30PM: BREAK
2:40PM: Transformational Growth Opportunities for the West
Heather Exner-Pirot
Senior Fellow
The Macdonald-Laurier Institute
Drew Zieglgansberger
Executive Vice-President and Chief Commercial Officer
Cenovus Energy
3:30PM: The West, First Nations and Canada - Can We Grow Together?
Ken Coates
Distinguished Fellow and Director of Indigenous Affairs
The Macdonald-Laurier Institute
Blaine Favel
Founder, First People's Pipeline
Past Chief, Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations
4:00PM KEY NOTE: Unlocking the Full Potential of Economic Growth in the West
Introduction: Gillian McCormack, National Director, Clients & Industries, Bennett Jones and Co-Chair, WCEF 2024.
The Honorable Jason Kenney, PC, ECA
Senior Advisor, Bennett Jones
Fellow, C.D Howe Institute
4:45PM Closing Remarks & Host City 2025
Alex Fallon
Founder and Co-Chair
Western Canada Economic Forum
5:00PM END OF PROGRAM
Networking and beverages available to 6:00pm in the Petroleum Club Lounge.