Transforming Alberta's Economy: Issue 12
Tyler Chisholm
Endlessly Curious CEO | Marketing Leader | Podcast Host ??? | Philanthropist | Top 40 Under 40
Welcome to Issue 12 of Transforming Alberta’s Economy.?This month you'll discover plenty of inspiring initiatives, events, and insights into the ever-changing economic landscape of Western Canada.
From AI taking over everyone's feeds and workday to advancing economic reconciliation with Inuit, Métis, and First Nations individuals, there are many people and companies building an inclusive, diverse future right here.
What you’ll find inside:
1?? Alberta News & Events
2?? Collisions YYC: April Episodes
3?? Curious About Calgary?
Alberta News & Events
ChatGPT pushing the evolution of AI in business in Calgary
#ArtificialIntelligence has been in development for years. Still, recent advancements in #GenerativeAI , such as #ChatGPT , have hit the accelerator on the technology, signaling a significant ramp-up in the efficiencies of businesses and services.
Past Collisions YYC guest, Cory Janssen , said this moment reminds him of Netscape:?
“Think of this as that Netscape moment — for the first time, we’ve seen what is coming. Think of Netscape as maybe the second or third inning of the internet and how it was going to change the world. We’re in that same model, this is just the beginning. The world is now seeing what we’ve been working on for the past five years. And so it’s a real, real exciting time.”
However, adoption seems to be a bit slower in Canada. A recent KPMG survey of 250 business and technology leaders showed 37% of Canadian companies surveyed were experimenting with ChatGPT, but this was far behind their American counterparts at 65%. When it came to all forms of AI use in their operations, only 35% of Canadian companies said they were using it, compared with 72% of American companies.
How Energy Innovation in Calgary Could Shape The World
Calgary has a long history of energy innovation.? Richard Masson , a longtime energy project development consultant and executive fellow of the 加拿大卡尔加里大学 ?recalls that in the early 1990s, there were only three main oil sands projects in Alberta — and it took ingenuity to make them work.?
Now, this culture of innovation is poised to take Calgary in a different direction as the energy sector prepares for the approaching global energy transition.
“The only way we’re going to be able to produce this resource in a responsible way for the world is if we can address climate change. We have an ecosystem of companies and organizations who are aligned on this and have been for a long time."
Olympic gold medallist becomes Classroom Champion for kids
Steve Mesler has an incredible life story as a gold medallist. More importantly, his company, Classroom Champions , has helped more than a million students to thrive socially, emotionally, and academically through the mentorship and mindset of world-class athletes. The success is achieved thanks to 300-plus Olympic, Paralympic, university and student-athletes, and professional athletes who volunteer as mentors. Along with more than 5,000 enthusiastic teachers, the programs and curriculum have worked with predominantly underserved, rural, and Indigenous communities across the U.S. and Canada.
More than 300 business leaders will gather at the Hyatt Regency Calgary to raise funds for high-needs classrooms. A unique aspect of this year’s event will be the celebration of 21 energy companies that have united to support Classroom Champions. Geri Greenall, CFO of Spartan Delta Corp. , says, “It is incredible how energy leaders have come together to raise funds to help communities where they operate. They want to give back and make a long-lasting positive impact. What could be better than investing in children?”
Collision Conference Announces Startup Program, ALPHA
Beyond its great name, Collision Conf is a premier event for startups, founders, and innovators who are disrupting and changing the global technology landscape. This year, they introduced a startup program – ALPHA – that shines a spotlight on early-stage startups with outstanding potential, connecting them with the world's most influential people and companies. Their?initiatives ?are designed with your goals in mind.
If accepted, you have the chance to pitch and wow the judging panel, gain mentorship in your area of tech, participate in the startup showcase, and more.
Forward Summit: Canada’s premiere event for advancing economic reconciliation
Taking place at the Grey Eagle Resort & Casino on Tsuut'ina Nation from May 17-18, Forward Summit is a convergence of Indigenous and non-Indigenous organizations, thought-leaders, and industry experts gather to share best practices, challenges and successes of doing and creating business opportunities within Indigenous communities.
Participants are provided with?an unrivaled and immersive experience where each?has the opportunity to participate in 16 roundtable discussions actively, 4-panel discussions, and hours of networking.
Avenue Calgary's 2023 Innovation Event
Innovation. Inspiration. Exploration.
Join Avenue Calgary Magazine on June 14 at the Platform Calgary Innovation Centre to connect with Calgary's innovation leaders at Avenue's annual Innovation Event, followed by a networking hour! Enjoy a keynote presentation from James Lochrie , Partner at Thin Air Labs , who will be interviewed by Head of Story, Leah Sarich . This is one event you don't want to miss!
Inventures 2023
Join the best and brightest in global innovation for three days of learning, inspiration and creative collisions. From rousing keynotes and expert panels to startup pitch competitions and informal networking opportunities, Inventures 2025 is the must-attend event of 2023. Make connections, strike deals and launch creative ideas into overdrive!
Collisions YYC: April Episodes
Here are all of the episodes you might have missed!
领英推荐
Wendy Beauchesne - CEO at Alberta Cancer Foundation
Wendy is a true expert in her field and has deployed hundreds of millions of capital into transformational campaigns. She shares her insights on how to spur innovation and commercialization in non-profits and why nonprofits should not be treated differently than any other business. You'll gain clarity on the ACF's role in the province and how you can get involved to support its mission.
Wendy Beauchesne explains how the Alberta Cancer Foundation taps into the philanthropic spirit of Alberta to deliver $1.5M to offset these burdens while also investing donations into accelerating innovative cancer treatments. Discover the impact of philanthropy on innovative cancer research and treatments and gain a new appreciation for the power of collaboration, generosity, and an innovative approach to solving complex problems.
Lauren Dwyer - Academic Chair for Data Analytics and Artificial Intelligence at the SAIT School for Advanced Digital Technology at Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT)
Lauren J Dwyer, PhD is an expert on the intersection of communication, culture, technology, and practice. She firmly believes that students need to get familiar with technology to ensure they're career-ready. Through our conversation, Lauren articulates how AI is changing the landscape of work and the profound impact it will have on society and people.
Get informed about the future of technology interactions and the role that non-engineers and non-programmers can play in contributing to the future of technology. Lauren's unique background in communications brings a fresh perspective to AI, including how it affects humans, the problem of bias, and the possibility of widening socio-economic gaps due to uneven access to high-speed internet and technology, even here in Canada.
Ian Hargreaves - Data Science Fellow at ATB Financial
Delve into the fascinating world of AI with Ian Hargreaves , Data Science Fellow at ATB Financial , who advises businesses on how to leverage AI to solve complex problems strategically. As we continue to navigate the world's largest AI experiment by using tools such as ChatGPT and Midjourney, it's more important than ever to understand the regulatory, ethical, and legal aspects of this technology.
Ian will guide you through the risks and opportunities of AI and help you consider the important questions that could impact your business operations. Change can be intimidating when uncertainty is high, but Ian provides valuable insights to address these fears by opening conversations in organizations to voice concerns and explore opportunities.
Clark Lai - CEO of Motiv Innovation Group
If you're responsible for digital transformation and innovation in your organization or simply want to gain a better understanding of commercialization from an innovation perspective, then this episode is a must-listen. Digital transformation and innovation bring with them new opportunities and challenges, but according to Clark Lai , CEO of Motiv, the problem is never the technology itself.?
Technology is very predictable. People, on the other hand, are less so. Innovation is inherently risky and requires an honest look at the risks and possible outcomes before diving in. Clark shares many of the questions he includes in Motiv’s process to help you think through how to validate your innovative idea, and inspire you to explore the possibilities.
Jon Neufeld - President of IO-Aerospace and Partner at GNO-SYS Technology Ltd.
President of IO Aerospace , Jonathan Neufeld , shares his expertise on geographic information system mapping (GIS) and how it has evolved from simple mapping to layering technology insights. He highlights the importance of GIS in our daily life, from using maps on our phones to local farmers analyzing soil data. If you want to understand the Canadian roots of GIS and learn how it can help your organization meet ESG requirements, improve data processing, and find new ways to track what matters, this episode is a must-listen.
Jon also provides insights on the optimistic outlook of the tech ecosystem in Alberta and his favourite resources to learn more about GIS. This episode can help you realize the important role geomatics plays in our lives and how it can facilitate innovative solutions to pressing problems
Derek Armstrong - Manager of Innovation Ecosystems at Prairies Economic Development Canada
In this episode, Derek Armstrong , Manager of Innovation Ecosystems at Prairies Economic Development Canada I Développement économique Canada pour les Prairies , discusses how his team operates as a funding agency to support innovation in the prairies. With a focus on growing, scaling, and diversifying the economy, Derek and his team spend time in sectors like CleanTech, energy transition, AGtech, and life sciences to understand how best to invest in and support entrepreneurs and SMEs.?
This episode will inform you on how to take advantage of the investment capital available to help you succeed, whether you're growing, scaling, or thinking about your next move. Derek also highlights how Prairies Economic Development has been at the forefront of fields like hydrogen and how de-risking projects help more individuals have the willingness to be 'first' and take bold risks. If you're interested in the prairies' economic development and want to know more about how to get involved, this episode is a must-listen.
Sabrina Sullivan - Director of Transformation + Ecosystem at the School for Advanced Digital Technology at SAIT
In this episode, Sabrina Sullivan (she / her) , Director of Transformation + Ecosystem at the SAIT School for Advanced Digital Technology , shares her experiences attending SXSW 's EDU track. This track brings together educators, technologists, futurists, and venture capitalists to gain new perspectives and applied knowledge to return to their daily roles. Sabrina discusses how to get the most out of any conference you attend and will inspire you to push your thinking to new heights.
No matter what industry you work in or what role you hold, this episode provides crucial insights into effective problem-solving for the future. By attending conferences and seeking diverse perspectives, you can gain new knowledge and push your thinking to new heights, opening up opportunities for growth and innovation. Tune in to hear Sabrina's thoughts on how to make the most out of events like SXSW and apply her strategies to your own professional development.
Lori, Shalzah, Tanya & Paul - Making Changes Association
Discover Calgary’s best-kept secret, Making Changes Association, and hear from team members Lori James, Shalzah Visram, Paul Selway, and Tanya Sharma-Moore. They discuss how their organization is helping women overcome obstacles, find employment, and create their own paths in Calgary. With programs such as Dress For Success, My Best Friend's Closet, and employment and life skills training, as well as partnerships with over 100 local agencies, the Making Changes Association has been helping women for over 30 years.?
Their brand new Women In Technology program aims to provide new opportunities for women in the tech industry and bridge the gap between industry and overlooked candidates. This episode is a reminder that as Western Canada grows and scales, we must ensure that no one is left behind. Whether you are an employer or a job seeker, this episode will provide you with insights on how to create a more inclusive and diverse future for all.
Curious About Calgary?
I’ve noticed many of the new subscribers are reading this newsletter from cities like Houston, Toronto, Vancouver, Ottawa, Montreal, and San Francisco, so I wanted to showcase some of the best parts of Calgary and Western Canada.
Key Stats & Insights
If you want to learn more about the current economic landscape in Alberta, visit the Government of Alberta 's provincial dashboard to see key indicators and stats. You can also explore industry trends, benchmarks, and more on Calgary Economic Development ’s website .
If you’re curious about #YYC , comment your questions below, and I’ll answer as many as I can.?
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Owner of Paper Mountain Accounting | Helping business owners in Calgary to increase their profits and understand their numbers with our high-touch accounting & bookkeeping services.
1 年Thanks for sharing the AI article! I think AI is a major opportunity for Canadian businesses, perhaps even more for small business owners. Eventually, Canadian businesses will catch up to US businesses in usage, if only because of the advantage it will give them over businesses that don't adopt.