On October 23, 2024, approximately 250 people gathered at NAIT’s Shaw Theatre for the Edmonton Metropolitan Region Board’s (EMRB) inaugural State of the Region. The theme of the event was “Charting a Course for Growth and Competitiveness.” The Edmonton Metro Region is grappling with rapid population growth, an evolving economic landscape, and labour market shortages. While none of these are new, the reality is that all three are happening with such intensity at the same time.
The Region’s success will ultimately depend on our ability to grow, attract and retain talent. The right people are the foundation for any successful endeavour. In an increasingly interconnected world, the competition for the best and brightest is only intensifying. The regions that pull ahead in the coming decades will be those that offer a compelling mix of economic opportunity and quality of life.
Board Chair Allan Gamble and CEO Karen Wichuk kicked the night off by introducing the issue of talent attraction and retention. The event’s moderator, ATB Financial Chief Economist Mark Parsons, then took to the stage to provide context for the panel discussion. A wide-ranging and thoughtful discussion featuring Laura Jo Gunter (President and CEO, NAIT), Catalina Vasquez (COO, Nanostics Inc.), and Mark Plamondon (Executive Director, Alberta’s Industrial Heartland Association), looking at the Region through the lens of legacy industries, emerging businesses, and post-secondary institutions.
Plamondon spoke to the burgeoning opportunities in the energy sector, pointing to multi-billion investments by companies like Linde and Dow. Vasquez discussed the competitive environment that makes the Region attractive to life sciences upstarts, while Gunter made the case for industry working with post-secondary institutions to align programming with labour market needs.
The EMRB hopes to make the State of the Region an annual event where vested stakeholders come together and unite to manage the opportunities and issues associated with significant growth. The Region is fortunate to have leaders who are committed to building a prosperous region where municipalities, post-secondaries, and businesses can collaborate to build a future-ready Region.
State of the Region photo gallery
EDMONTON, AB; Event photos from the Edmonton Metro Regional Board EMRB State of the Region at the NAIT Shaw theatre, Oct 23/24.
(Photos by Walter Tychnowicz/Wiresharp Photography)
