EDA Annual Awards of Excellence

** LAST CHANCE TO SUBMIT **

You have TWO DAYS to apply for our Annual Awards of Excellence. 

The deadline: Wednesday March 31, 4:30 pm.

Our Annual Awards of Excellence recognize the province’s best economic development marketing materials, programs, partnerships and professionals that have made significant contributions to the profession. 

Here is what one of the 2020 Award of Excellence winners had to say:  "Winning the EDA Award of Excellence has been a great feather in the cap for Northeast Alberta in the area of Tourism Development. 

As a region striving to develop a tourism economy, this award has aided in the ongoing support of the efforts."

Platinum Partner

Applied Pharmaceutical Innovation (API)

Economic Developers Alberta (EDA) is pleased to welcome Applied Pharmaceutical Innovation (API) our brand new Platinum Partner at EDA Xperience 2021, EDA's Leaders' Summit and Conference.

This new partnership underscores the importance of this event as it brings together, for the first time, the cream of the crop in the Alberta economic development landscape to discuss the opportunities present in the Alberta economy and insights on how to accelerate them.  

Challenges and opportunities for local and regional economies in 2021 are very different than those we have encountered in the past, and EDA Xperience 2021 provides a platform for these important discussions by Alberta political and economic decision makers.   

EDA is pleased to announce we have earned an EDAC Marketing  Canada Award! 

Our entry is the "EDA Economic Recovery and Resiliency Program: Covid-19 Response" in the Recovery Project / Plan category. 

Please be advised there is a phishing email in circulation using the EDA/Invest in Alberta branding. Please do not click on any links. Simply block the sender and delete the email.  The subject of the phishing email is:  "EDA Updated Policy Statement 2021" The content reads in part......  "Greetings,  We hope and trust that you are doing great staying safe and healthy this new year as we anticipate a covid-free, healthy and safe business environment......"  Again, EDA did NOT send this email.

It's a brand new year and with it, EDA has fresh new ideas.

Some of those ideas have been implemented in our EDA Membership program.

New Categories

As you may know, at our April AGM last year, new membership categories were approved to be effective January 2021.

All members are still entitled to the many benefits of membership such as: access to world class events, professional development opportunities and resources, discounted pricing, networking opportunities, and partnership opportunities. 

Individuals can either be a voting or non-voting member. Voting members are eligible to attend the AGM, vote on various issues, serve as an EDA Board Member and apply for our Annual Awards of Excellence.

No Group members are voting members. 

We encourage you to check your current membership category today in order to ensure it is the one you want to be in for 2021.

New Ideas

We have also created the EDA Member Memo. By simply clicking a button on our website, Members are able to share information on innovative programs and services you think would benefit EDA Members. This link will be live 365 days a year allowing you to provide feedback on an ongoing basis. 

We know our Members are on the ground, rolling up their sleeves, practicing economic development, and making a real difference in their communities. As an organization we are eager to capture information that will better equip you with the best tools and resources to help build Alberta's economy once community at a time.

To read more about membership, or to submit your innovative idea, click here.http://www.edaalberta.ca/sys/website/?pageId=68171 

I have thought long and hard about what I wanted to say as 2020 draws to a close.  I didn’t want this message to be just a few nice words and pleasant thoughts.  

As you know, it truly has been an extraordinary year.

For many of us, the year started with great optimism and hope. Then we faced the COVID-19 pandemic. Uncertainty, loss of normalcy, and growing anxiety ensued. Strategic plans had to be shelved; fundraising goals went unmet; trips were cancelled; events went online or were postponed indefinitely; our homes became classrooms, virtual offices and/or global headquarters; and “you are on mute” became the most frequently quoted statement.

Even though I have been training families, businesses and communities in disaster preparedness, response and recovery for a number of years, the pandemic forced me to put this theory into practice as well. My number one goal quickly became navigating EDA successfully through these turbulent COVID waters.

What I know, without a doubt, is that with every crisis comes opportunity. I am proud of the work the EDA board and team has accomplished this year. Our focus has been simple. Keep our members interests core, while increasing the value of what we offer. While it has been challenging, I believe we have re-envisioned how we do things, established new partners, and become more resilient as a result.

To be honest, it has been tough. I’ve said on a number of occasions that I have felt like a pretzel- having to turn, contort and twist continually. We had to reinvent our Annual Conference, Ministry Dinner, Invest in Alberta publication, Leaders’ Summit, CEDTP training and AGM to name a few. I feel tired writing this....

I recognize that everyone is disappointed we have been unable to meet in person, but I believe our economic development family is still very much connected and engaged. The pandemic will pass, and we will find our next normal, hopefully soon. In the interim, we will continue to make lemonade out of lemons.

To all of our devoted partners, board, members, and supporters, thank you for your continued support, encouragement and active engagement this year. Rest assured, I do not take your support for granted and look forward to reconnecting in the New Year.  

I trust you will be able to celebrate with your loved ones (in whatever form that takes) this holiday season, and may you continue to enjoy COVID-free health and success in 2021!

Sincerely,