ESTEVAN - Southeast TechHub executive director Gord More believes the Innovation Conference for Economic Development (ICED) in Rural Areas was an opportunity to promote what is happening in the Estevan area and elsewhere, while building connections.
The event was held at the Southeast College's Estevan campus from Sept. 10-12. Approximately 140 people gathered to listen about the innovative measures that are enhancing rural communities.
"I'm very proud of how well it came off," said More. "We got a lot of people from outside of Saskatchewan … and outside of our country to come here and look at us as innovators. And also, we got the opportunity to really connect with those people and make some good connections."
More said he wanted people to hear about the Energy City for the first time, and learn more about Estevan and come to this "neat community of innovators in rural Canada."
"That definitely happened," said More.
People came from as far away as the U.K. for the convention.
As for his long-term goal of creating more jobs in Estevan – whether they come from outside the city or from within the community by inspiring local people – that won't be determined for a while. But he hopes those who came to the city will leave saying Estevan is open for business.
Aaron Pilkington, a Republican in the Arkansas House of Representatives, suggested Estevan could become a sister community with his hometown of Clarksville, Ark. The U.S. Centre for Rural Innovation has a network of rural communities in the U.S. that More has been working and talking with, because he believes Estevan has more in common with rural communities in many U.S. states than some big Canadian cities.
"There's so much of what we can work with together and learn information from," said More.
He was also pleased to see members of the provincial and federal government present, as More has been lobbying both levels of government. They were able to hear what the TechHub has been offering for solutions to the challenges facing the Estevan area. He was also pleased to hear from other rural communities who have succeeded when facing similar situations.
"Whether they're an organization representing a group of individual rural communities, or actual individual rural communities, they're all saying the same things, and that being that our younger generation wants to do technology and computer jobs. They [believe] they have to leave our community to get the education to get the training, and then they think there's nothing there once they leave … they think there's nothing back at home for these skill sets," said More.
Some communities have started to solve this problem, More said.
The conference kicked off on Sept. 10 with three presentations. A representative of the Cowessess First Nations discussed how innovative partnerships create meaningful opportunities. Former Estevan resident Andrew Wahba talked about how to address labour gaps through expanding innovation and technology sectors. And there was a presentation on making parts for the supply chain for small modular reactors.
The second day was the busiest. Christian Boyle with the Saskatchewan Indigenous Economic Development Network spoke of positive energy to build community. Ryan Gustafson and Tania Hlohovsky Andrist with the Centre of Sustainable Innovation at the college's Estevan campus spoke of the college's computer science program, the app that was created for networking at the conference and the welcome robot constructed by the students.
It was really rewarding to see the robot working, More said, and the app worked without a hitch. He thought the app created some really good networking connections.
"Hearing from those who were attending, saying 'I've never experienced such a neat connection app or software app,' that was really good," said More.
Up next was More, who spoke of rural innovation for economic development, Jesse Wiebe of Startup TNT reflected on building an investment community, and Greg Gosnell of GenH2 talked about the opportunities for hydrogen in energy.
A highlight of the event was that night, when former Estevan resident Jeff Sandquist returned home to participate in a question-and-answer session with former Saskatchewan radio host John Gormley, titled Big Tech Unplugged. Additional tickets were sold to the public for the dinner.
Thursday's speakers included Pilkington, who discussed how the state has reformed its process to invite new industry and create a pro-business environment. Nick Poels from the Centre on Rural Innovation shared his thoughts on building community innovation. Gwen Machnee spoke on applied research and what it takes. The final speaker was Ednali Fertuck- Zehavi, who talked about turning dreams into reality.
More said the conference would return next year, although it would be just two days instead of three, and planning will begin soon.
SaskToday and the next edition of the Mercury will have further stories on the conference.
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