Southeast corner opportunities, challenges discussed at 2024 Economic Growth Forum

Posted on November 28, 2024 by Sunny South News

By Anna Smith
Southern Alberta Newspapers
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Recently, business owners from Medicine Hat and beyond learned what sorts of possibilities lay within Alberta’s southeast corner at the 2024 Economic Growth Forum.

Put on by Community Futures Entre-Corp, the forum was a day and a half of various panel discussions from local and travelling experts, touching on a number of innovation, workforce and business growth topics to help attendees leave with a better grasp on what might be coming to the region in the near future.

This year the forum has seen a large growth in attendance, even with it being the first year charging for tickets, said Jordan Pomrenke, business adviser with Community Futures and forum organizer.

“We’ve got lots of feedback on just how timely lots of the sessions are, how relevant it is to the region, and just the work that this helps set up for future collaboration and progress in the community,” said Pomrenke. “So we’re quite happy to help facilitate some of those discussions and things like that.”

Topics ranged from workforce development and housing initiatives to the emerging aerospace sector, energy transition and many more. Pomrenke highlighted the aerospace discussion as a relatively hidden gem for the region.

“A lot of people don’t know just how much work is being done in the region. Round out at aerospace; we have companies launching rockets, Medicine Hat has produced the most drones in Canada,” said Pomrenke. “There’s so many unique assets that create this hub in the community, and having these three different businesses talk about their experience was really something.”

The forum was bookended with keynote speaker Brock Dickinson, director of the Economic Development program at the University of Waterloo. He spoke on various “things that go bump in the night,” concerns for the future which he referred to as “invisible mice” that may drive the immediate future for economic development.

Dickinson touched on declining birthrates throughout the world, growing rates of depression and anxiety throughout younger populations and the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic on the world..

“There’s stuff that’s happening that is a little bit frightening. Think about the sort of conflicts and wars breaking out around the world. We’ve just come through a pandemic. We’re worried about inflation. We’ve got massive workforce challenges,” said Dickinson. He also addressed the implications of increased reliance on artificial intelligence and the impact of cell phones on today’s workforce.

Dickinson ended his discussion on various shadows over the sector, but with a strong message of hope for the future.

“There’s a lot of stuff that makes me fret, that gives me sleepless nights, that I worry about to some extent, but I do think there are absolutely massive numbers of opportunities out there as well,” said Dickinson. “I think if we focus on the opportunities, we could be assured that we will get that rest that we need.

“We will be able to wake up with a positive and focused approach about where we go next. I think when I look at the steps you’ve already taken in this region, in this community, you’re ahead of most others in the country.

“So, congratulations and good luck.”