Chris Clegg
South Peace News
Laying new groundwork for long-term economic success was the focus of a workshop held at the Eagle River Casino near Whitecourt April 15-16.
Leaders from across north-central Alberta gathered for the workshop, hosted by the Growth Alberta Partnership.
Joining representatives from High Prairie, East Prairie Metis Settlement, Sucker Creek First Nation, and Big Lakes County were those from Woodlands County, Veolia, Mayerthorpe, Buffalo Lake Metis Settlement, Camp Creek and Swan Hills. The event focused on building stronger connections and sparking new ideas.
Facilitators Beth Ed and Brittany Vine from The Social Impact Lab led the group through two days of interactive sessions. Based in Calgary, the Social Impact Lab is a partnership between United Way of Calgary and Area and J5 Design. They help communities and organizations tackle tough challenges with community-driven solutions.
Through group discussions, small group activities, and examples from other regions, participants mapped out the known local strengths of the region and explored creative new ideas for collaboration and innovation.
The workshop began with a short film shared by Peter Kuelken, the Growth Alberta partnership’s chairperson. The film focused on food security and other pressing issues, setting the tone for meaningful discussion.
“If we share ideas and our life experiences, we have collectively an opportunity to create our future,” said Kuelken, who is also a councillor for Weodlands County.
The theme for the two-day workshop was Building a Movement. It reflected the collective energy of the attendees.
The theme followed last year’s message of viewing the region as a community of communities, which was the resounding theme that came out of the 2024 Growth Alberta Partnerships workshop. Thus, it built and became the foundation for the organization’s new, more inclusive approach to regional development.
The workshop came at a critical time. The Government of Alberta is phasing out operational funding for the province’s Regional Economic Development Alliances (REDAs), including the Growth Alberta Partnership, by 2027. As a result, REDAs are finding new ways to fund their work in developing increased opportunities in their respective regions.
The workshop was seen by organizers as a very important step in preparing for that shift. Rather than seeing the funding change as a setback, participants embraced the moment as an opportunity to think differently, strengthen partnerships, and take more ownership of their region’s future.