Search This Site

“I get your e-mails regularly.  I just want to say that even though I do not attend most of the functions you put on, I feel you and your group are doing an admirable job in keeping a pro-active eye on the community.  It’s worth the money….Nice job.”

From a Member of the Canmore Business Registry, May 9, 2006

Build A Better Business Learn at Lunch Series

In 2006, in partnership with Canmore Rotary and Community Futures Business Development Centre West, resumed the former session in new luncheon speaker series format.  Quality speakers with a practical & applicable topic brought in to encourage the development of quality business & management skills. Our latest session, A Revolution in Marketing, saw over 50 attending to hear practical advise for small business owners on simple, yet extremely effective marketing techniques.  In 2006, the Canmore Rotary Club won the award for “Community Partnerships” with this program.

CEDA e-News

Reaching almost 800 subscribers, with a higher-than-average “open rate”, this voluntary electronic newsletter is offered to members of the Canmore Business Registry.  In concise emails, CEDA distributes news necessary for informed business planning and decision making. It may be anything from economic indicators and factors impacting the Bow Valley to event schedules that encourages businesses to participate and/or plan their own promotions.

Tourism Marketing Support

Worked with Tourism Canmore and the Town of Canmore to see changes to the Business Registry that would provide significant increased funding for tourism marketing to the community.  Funding increased from just over $40,000 in 1996 to $135,000 by 2006.  Matched with Tourism Canmore members themselves and Travel Alberta Tourism Destination Regions, Tourism Canmore is able to increase marketing budgets to over $350,000 annually by 2007.

Community funding reluctantly reduced to $125,000 in 2007 due to funding shortfalls.  CEDA will work with Tourism Canmore, government and industry to develop sustainable funding for tourism marketing - an essential component of community economic development in Canmore.

Downtown Canmore Business Revitalization Zone

Provided and supported a forum to bring together a steering committee to investigate and develop a business revitalization zone for downtown businesses.  CEDA’s goal was to see an organization develop  that will serve to strengthen the heart of Canmore as a community in preparation for future growth & commercial development.  Continue to support Downtown Canmore BRZ, providing staff support & communications as the organization establishes itself into the community.

Teresa Mullen
Executive Director

Partners in Economic Development

  Town of Canmore
  Tourism Canmore
  The Biosphere Institute
  BOWDA
  Mountain Arts Foundation
  Canmore Community Housing Corporation
  MD of Bighorn # 8
  Chamber of Commerce

Associate Membership
Canmore Business Registry

Canmore Community Economic Development Strategy

Original community guiding document was led by CEDA, involving CEDA members & community in a long-term strategic action plan.  The document was upgraded in 2004 as part of the Alberta Community Economic Development Certification Program, of which Canmore’s model of community partnership & accountability is used as a model throughout the province.  A further review is planned for 2007, following the 2006 Community Visioning results. 

Canmore Nordic Centre Upgrades 2005

Approval of $16.5 million upgrades influenced by the business case presented in the CEDA Sport Tourism Investment Proposal.

Canmore Youth Technopreneurship Program

CEDA partners with Alberta Innovation & Science & BDCWest to the most successful model for a province-wide Youth Technopreneur Program. 10 progressive applications came forward with a $3500 grand prize awarded to help launch Bow Valley Bio-Diesel in 2005.

Business Registry Review 2006

Based on CEDA review, the Town of Canmore implements changes to the Business License & Registry that would see a more equitable fee system established based on size, relationship to the tourism industry, and location rather than the flat fee established originally. 

1999 Tourism Economic Impact Analysis

In partnership with Tourism Industry operators, developed a model to measure the economic impacts of  tourism in  the region.  The information was used to build a business case to support the upgrades at the Canmore Nordic Centre.  The upgrades were approved and completed in 2005 as part of the hosting of an extremely successful 2005 Centennial World Cup Cross Country, a high-profile international race gathering international media attention and provided competition for what would be Canmore’s upcoming Olympic medalists in Turin, 2006. 

Tourism Economic Policy

Provided a discussion paper to Mayor regarding repatriation of hotel room tax to Canmore. Completed proposal for the Town of Canmore in 2002, assisting in presentation to Provincial Government.  Became part of the discussions for the 2004 change to the Hotel Tax, lowering and changing the tax to a 5% Tourism Marketing levy.  Working with Tourism Canmore to provide a forum for the community to evaluate the effectiveness of a Destination Marketing Fund for Canmore.  Carrying out a review of accommodation development in the Bow Valley since the Olympics. 

Canmore Film Policy

Acted as liaison with Everwood Pilot Television Series production.  Following this experience, researched and gathered information from other communities, and drafted film policy document used as basis for final policy approved by Town Council in 2003.  

Business on the Bow Forum

Launched in 2005, with a Downtown Enhancement session, these monthly business networking sessions focus on engaging the business community into policy development processes.  20 - 40 businesses will participate, depending on the topic. 

Issues covered at the Business on the Bow Forums this year:

q                   Community Visioning (3 Mining-the-Future sessions hosted)

q                   Employee Retention & Attraction Strategies

q                   Perpetually Affordable Housing

q                   Sustainable Business Programs

Bow Valley Economic Outlook, 1999, 2000 and 2001, 2003, 2005

Between 90 and 300 attending. Keynote speakers included David Foote (Boom Bust and Echo), Angus Reid, and Dr. David Suzuki, (The Natural Step).

Build a Better Business Seminars in Canmore, 1998, 1999, 2000 & 2001

Worked with various local operators to strengthen management skills. Private counseling with various operators to see business through to start-up. Ex: Quintech Fire Services.  In 2005, launched a partnership with the Canmore Rotary Club and Community Futures Centre West to run a Learn at Lunch Series, focusing on building and developing skills in the business sector.

Technology Diversification Efforts:

Incubation Program investigated, Environmental Technologies Study, 1999.  Opportunities and individuals with expertise in this area working outside of Canmore is growing however, the cost of land and proximity to institutional research hubs of activity continue to present barriers to expanding this sector in our community.  CEDA remains open to the efforts being made by private sector on a Rocky Mountain Knowledge Institute.

Education Institute Efforts

Established contacts & identified interest from institutions. 2005 Research concurs with previous work completed through Biosphere Institute on the viability issues.  Land costs continue to be barriers to bricks & mortar institutions however, innovative partnership underway with Bow Valley College Community Learning Centre, exploring the advancement of online & distance learning opportunities.

Doing Business in Canmore

Publication 1998-99 1999-2000, 2000-01, 2002, & 2003, 2005.  In 2006, CEDA partnered with Town of Canmore Community Enrichment department to combine into a Canmore Community & Business Resource Book.  In 2007, we will partner further with the Town of Banff to publish a comprehensive Bow Valley Community & Business Resource Book. 

www.canmorebusiness.com CEDA WEB SITE

Event Seeding

CEDA commits seed funding  to local community events that have significant economic impact in the community, are community driven, support further community initiatives, and fit with goals to see Canmore as a centre for excellence in arts, culture, sports & events.  Funding is committed for a period sufficient for the event to be self-sustaining & successful, generally 3 years.  Over the years, CEDA has supported the Vic Lewis Band Festival, artsPeak, and tried to see the cementing of a strong winter festival with the re-emergence of the Alberta International Sled Dog Races.  CEDA led the initiative locally to have the TransRockies finish in Canmore. This led to hundreds of hours of exposure for Canmore on TV and in magazines in Canada, US, and Europe.   In 2006, the TransRockies event was moved to BC, due to back-country conflicts within Alberta Parks.

Improving Product Quality

In partnership with Tourism Canmore, Canmore DoMore Staff Orientation Program, Profiling BEST PRACTICES through communications & activities.

Communications

CEDA e-NEWS increased subscriber coverage to over 800 Business Registry Members, with higher than average “open” rate.  Speaker Series, & Business Registry Annual Report mailed out through BR Licenses.  Annual communications plan to reach internal and external stakeholders.

The Natural Step for a Sustainable Canmore
Led by The Biosphere Institute of the Bow Valley, CEDA provides funding mechanism to achieve almost $300,000 in funding towards project.   Pending the results of completion expected in 2006, CEDA is considering their launch of a Canmore Sustainability Hub by the Biosphere Institute of the Bow Valley  to continue the program into the wider community. 

Sustainable Canmore...Environment, Society, Economy

In partnership with the Biosphere Institute of the Bow Valley, over 500 people attended a full-day sustainability forum focusing on local citizens, with guest speakers Dr. David Suzuki, Dr. Karl-Henrik Robért & Dr. Ted Manning. 

Partnerships:

Tourism Canmore – most successful partnership, whereby TC is able to focus on marketing, a key component of economic development in the Bow Valley, with CEDA leaving that area to the expertise of Tourism Canmore while working themselves on product development, diversification and business retention/expansion.

Future Directions

Focus on Health & Wellness sector as emerging market for growth and diversification

Labour Market Issues:   Target Human Resource Development to address staffing shortages in a regional coordinated & strategic approach.

Business Supports:  Develop leadership within business community, participate & engage business in Housing and Staff Accommodation Issues

… and of course, continue all efforts started that are successful or effective.

Website by www.Kananaskis.com