The Battle River Alliance for Economic Development (BRAED) - A Year - To - Date Perspective

On November 10 the Battle River Alliance for Economic Development held their Annual Meet & Greet Social evening in Daysland.

This is always a great opportunity to meet with our friends & neighbors around east central Alberta without having a meeting Agenda to follow & decisions to be made.   

We were pleased to have Jeff Schnieder from Marketing Ninjas as our Key Note Speaker, talking about Social Media & It’s Importance.  He was both entertaining & informative, and opened some eyes to a new form of communication. 

As well I had the opportunity to provide those in attendance with a synopsis of BRAED's activities over the past several months.  For 2011 it has been interesting to say the least, but our organization continues to deliver good value to the region.  I am constantly amazed at what is being accomplished.

I have included my remarks here, so you can get a sense of what BRAED has been up to recently.  I know it's a bit long, but it gives you an understanding of the commitment of our members & of the good work being done.

Cheers,

Bud James

A Year – To – Date Perspective

BRAED November 10^th, 2011

If you have been following the story of BRAED over the past year you know we have been going through some interesting times to say the least.

In February of this year BRAED and her sister alliances were told of a significant funding cut by AB Finance & Enterprise, our main funder, along with the loss of 2/3 of our staff.  As well the Camrose AF&E office closed. 

While this was very challenging for our organization, the timing worked in our favour as we were in the final stages of organizing our BRAED Symposium, held in March, where we invited municipal leaders, business leaders, and youth from our region to Killam, had a few topical presentations, then asked our audience where BRAED should be going.  This was followed by a Strategic Planning event later in spring in Sedgewick attended by our members.  We recognized this was going to be a transition year and were in a position to re examine our priorities and react fairly quickly.

The result –

Today BRAED is a leaner organization.  We have made moves organizationally to tighten our belts and continue to look for ways to be efficient.

Today BRAED is well positioned in terms of management & support.  We have engaged Siddle & Associates under contract to provide this service and they have done a fantastic job for us.

Today BRAED’s every move is working toward having a positive impact on the economic sustainability of our member communities.

What Have We Done To Impact the BRAED Region?

Four Task Teams have been established, each focusing on a specific area that was 

identified as important during the consultation process. They include:

1. ·        Youth Entrepreneurship and Engagement
2. ·        Business and Investment Attraction
3. ·        Trade Corridor Development
4. ·        Communications and Marketing

It is important to recognize that these task teams have proven to be very valuable and to recognize the commitment that the Members have made – it is a result of their efforts that we have made as much progress as we have this year.

Marketing and Communications:  Task Team Members include:

• ·        Eric Jerrard, Mirror Economic Development
• ·        Dawna Elliot, Mayor, Town of Coronation
• ·        Jennifer Fossen, EDO, Flagstaff County
• ·        Kevin Kisilevich, EDO, Beaver County

Deliverables to Date Include:

• ·        Are publishing a monthly electronic news letter that currently boasts approximately 180 subscribers and is posted on our website - look for the signup sheet at the registration table if you are not already receiving this.
• ·        Have initiated a number of updates to the BRAED website – there are a number of other improvements that have been identified and will be implemented
• ·        Have had a number of communities participate in two, with a third scheduled, Community Profiles training and all have subsequently updated their respective profiles
• ·        Google analytics is available for our use
• ·        Task team is recommending to maintain our current website and place increased emphasis on updating its currency and functionality rather than moving forward with a website re-development project
• ·        This group has also organized the BRAED Small Business Week Award again for 2011. 
  I would like to congratulate the following businesses who were recipients –
• Camrose - Business IQ
• Tofield - Beaverhill Auction
• Wainwright - Davco Welding

As well the Village of Alliance received the BRAED Community Involvement Award at the Flagstaff County Awards event.

Business and Investment Attraction:  Task Team Members Include:

·        Kevin Kisilevich, EDO, Beaver County

·        Wanda Diakow, EDO, Special Areas #4

·        Alan Parkin, CAO, Town of Hardisty

·        Jean Vidal, AB Department of Human Services

Deliverables to Date Include:

·        Pat Klak, former Executive Director of the Leduc Nisku Economic Development group, has been contracted to complete a review of the community specific efforts that are currently underway or contemplated in the Region and to make recommendations on how and what role BRAED could play to further enhance or expand Ambassador Programs in the Region

·        Pat Klak was recently engaged to provide a report that will outline the potential of increasing Chinese investment and trade opportunities.  Her recommendations will be based on her findings during a recent trade mission to China

·        Siddle & Associates have been engaged to provide recommendations on the role that BRAED could play to support greater participation and profile by the Regions key industry sectors in identified trade shows and events

·        The Business Link has agreed to extend three “Local Trade Show Selling” seminars in the Region – the first was extended via a webinar in Special Areas Four – the two others will be made available to interested BRAED Member Communities through an expression of interest that will be promoted in the next edition of KNotice (option will exist for webinar extension of the session)

Youth Entrepreneurship and Engagement:  Task Team Members Include:

• ·        Mike Kueber, Councillor, Flagstaff County
• ·        Sarah Wray, Farmon.com
• ·        Linda Cherry, AB Employment & Immigration
• ·        Darlene Curtis, Executive Director - ECACF
• ·        Wanda Diakow, EDO, Special Areas #4

Deliverables To Date Include:

• ·        The Fall Forum was recently hosted attracting 44 participants – including a number of service providers that have expressed an interest in introducing or expanding the benefit of their programs into the BRAED Region, they include:
• o       Junior Achievement
• o       Community Futures East Central
• o       Canadian Youth Business Foundation
• o       The Business Link Business Service Centre
• o       Creating Pathways for Entrepreneurial Families
• ·        Each of the these organizations indicated an interest to explore working relationships with others in attendance to advance increased access to youth focused programming and services in the BRAED Region
• ·        As a result of the event Junior Achievement and the Battle River School Division have agreed to collaborate to accelerate efforts to have the elementary programs delivered the School Division
• ·        On December 6^th selected participants will meet again to explore options for introduction of enhanced programming – including; “company” programs and entrepreneurship camps.

Trade Corridor Development:  Task Team Members Include:

• ·        Myself - Bud James
• ·        George Glazier, Councillor, Paintearth County
• ·        Tim Doering –  with Marlene Grandinetti recently becoming the new Task Team Member, Town of Viking
• ·        Major John Page, CFB Wainwright

The Eastern Alberta Trade Corridor Project is a Tri-REDA effort.  BRAED has partnered with her sister alliances – Palliser Economic Partnership in south east Alberta, and the North Eastern Albert HUB.

Deliverables to Date include:

• ·        Participated and played a lead role in advancing a FDI project and hosted FDI Seminar in Wainwright.
• ·        Second phase of FDI project (Leads Protocol) currently being formulated.
• ·        Participated in Tri-REDA contingent that attended the Ports To Plains Annual Trade Corridor Alliance AGM in Texas and delivered a presentation that focussed on the potential economic impact of the Keystone XL Pipeline Project.
• ·        BRAED is also leading the efforts to obtain approval for federal grant funds that will see the three REDA’s continuing to work together on a new project that will focus more specifically on industries in our respective Regions.
•  

As well I would like to recognize the commitment that Alan Parkin, CAO, Town of Hardisty, has demonstrated by representing BRAED in the ongoing efforts that Lakeland College and others are making to explore the merits of establishing a Regional Innovation Network (RIN) in North Eastern Alberta – although there is no firm decision to proceed this is obviously something where BRAED will want to be at the table.

As for our Executive team, which consists of –

·        Myself

·        Arnold Hanson, Councillor, Beaver County

·        Tom Allan, Councillor, Town of Coronation

·        Lorraine Donovan, Councillor, Town of Tofield

·        George Glazier, Councillor, Paintearth County

·        Wanda Diakow, EDO, Special Areas #4

·        Carley Herbert, EDO, Town of Wainwright

·        We are working on a budget for the upcoming year of operations, and will be able to share that with you shortly.

·        We continue to press AB Enterprise for funding to be restored, and have taken a lead role in this effort.  I have recently been asked to attend a meeting of REDA Chairs to be held in December.  Minister Doug Horner has spoken positively during the recent leadership campaign about this issue, so we are cautiously optimistic.

·        BRAED has gained two members in this last while, but have lost a few members as well.  We continue to be in contact with these folks as we move forward – there is good value to being a member of BRAED, and we remind these former members of that fact as often as we can.

I want to thank all whose names I have mentioned, and there are several, who do the work of BRAED, whether as a member of Executive, task teams, or those working on a special project.  You are the folks who are rowing the ship, and your effort is appreciated.

A special thank you to Rick Siddle, Rodger Cole, and Debi Anderson – our management & administration team – for all they do.  Our organization is very well served in this area; these three do an amazing job of looking after us.

As well I want to especially thank my wife Tammy, for allowing me the opportunity to be a part of this.  If you have a family at home you know that it is their commitment that really makes this work.  For me it’s breakfast meetings, early morning conference calls, interrupted meals, evening meetings & events, and travel – it all impacts life at home.  So Tammy, thank you for all that you do.

To our members and friends – we need your good ideas and your good work now more than ever.  We need your commitment to BRAED.

My friend Michael Reeves, President of the Ports to Plains group, was in Alberta last week helping us with the Foreign Direct Investment seminars for the EATC.  Michael talks about the story of the chicken & the pig.  When you get up in the morning & have your bacon & eggs, the chicken may be involved, but it’s the pig who is committed.

In case you just missed that, yes I am asking you all to be pigs when it comes to BRAED.

We need your commitment.  We need your ideas.  We need you to roll up your sleeves & go to work for us.  This organization is simply the sum of all it’s members, but together we can do some incredible things.  We need your commitment.

Thank you for allowing me this evening to give you a bit of a BRAED update.  I always find it amazing, when I look back over the year, of what has been accomplished – this year especially due to our recent challenges.  I believe however that challenges create opportunities, and in East Central Alberta the opportunities are endless.

Thank you.

The Importance of Remembrance Day

Each year on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, and in the days prior at schools across our country, many Canadians will pause for two minutes of silence to remember our fellow citizens who gave the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our nation.

Remembrance Day for my family has always meant being outdoors (no matter the weather) at 10:45 AM, near the Cenotaph in Killam waiting for the Legion members to form up and march around the parade ground.  The outdoor service is followed by an indoor inter-denominational service nearby, then a banquet for Veterans & families.

Additionally I have had the opportunity to attend services at Killam Public School in past years as a member of the Royal Canadian Legion, Killam Branch #65.  Thanks to support from the Legion and the school’s staff, the school service is a very respectful event.  Members of the public are welcome to attend. 

In my youth and into young adulthood, the war veterans I knew were all WWII Veterans – my Dad, along with men and women close to his age who had retired from military life long ago and returned to the community.  That demographic is much different today because of Canada’s involvement in several conflicts in recent years; most war veterans today are younger than me.

The same can be said regarding the Silver Cross Mother.  The Memorial (Silver) Cross Mother is named annually by the Royal Canadian Legion, and lays a wreath at the National War Memorial on behalf of all mothers who have lost sons or daughters in the military, para-military, or the RCMP in the service of Canada. 

When I was a kid the Silver Cross Mother was always an elderly lady who had lost her son or daughter many years before.  

For 2011 the Silver Cross Mother is Patricia Braun of Raymore Saskatchewan.  Patricia works at the school in Raymore.  Her son Corporal David Braun, born in 1979, was a member of 2^nd Battalion Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry based in Shilo, Manitoba. He was killed by a suicide bomber while on patrol in Kandahar on August 22, 2006.  He is survived by his mom, one sister, two brothers, and one daughter.  Ms. Braun lost her son five years ago.  Cpl. Braun would have celebrated his 32^nd birthday this year.

The age of our veterans and of the Silver Cross Mother has changed.  Our fallen soldiers, however, have not; they are still young men & women who have had their lives cut tragically short.    

I think most Canadians understand the sacrifice our fallen soldiers made to protect Canada and her freedom, and most understand the importance of remembering.

However, many of us have fallen out of the habit of attending a local service or even pausing at 11AM to reflect.  Everyone is busy after all, and a day off work is a chance to do some Christmas shopping or partake in a leisure activity.

It is time to get back in that habit.  I invite you to attend the Remembrance Day Service with my family in Killam this November 11, or to attend a service in your own community.  If you are unable to attend a service in person, you can remember by watching the National Remembrance Day Ceremony, broadcast from the National War Memorial in Ottawa, starting at 8:30AM MST.

There will be lots of time for Christmas shopping.  On November 11 there is something more important to do.