Partners
University of Lethbridge
The University of Lethbridge is a publicly funded comprehensive academic and research university, founded in the liberal education tradition, located in Lethbridge, AB. The U of L is considered one of Canada’s top-ranked universities and leading research institutions, attracting more than 8700 undergraduate and graduate students from around the world each year.
David Hinger
Economic Development Lethbridge
EDL is an independent, not-for-profit organization representing industries and sectors in the Lethbridge region. Its focus is to strengthen and develop the Lethbridge economy by initiating and facilitating proactive economic strategies and promoting Lethbridge as an excellent place to live, learn, invest, visit, and do business. Tecconnect is an EDL owned and operated centre for entrepreneurship and innovation. It is a space and community that offers training, support, and networking opportunities connecting start-ups with experts.
Renae Barlow
Lethbridge College
Lethbridge College is a publicly funded community college with ongoing enrolment of over 4000 students. Located in Lethbridge, AB, Lethbridge College is a member of the Alberta Rural Development Network, creating models of rural community development through collaboration in research and learning.
Megan Shapka
NRC-IRAP
The National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP) provides advice, connections, and funding to help Canadian small and medium-sized businesses increase their innovation capacity and take ideas to market.
Cal Koskowich
Alberta Innovates
Alberta Innovates is a provincial organization that supports the entire innovation spectrum – from the generation of new ideas through applied testing to commercialization or end-use. They provide funding programs, advice, connections, technical expertise and applied research services to stimulate and grow research and innovation across Alberta.
Lindsay Spadavecchia
Lethbridge Chamber of Commerce
The Lethbridge Chamber is the Voice of Business for Lethbridge and the region. With continued growing members of over 800 businesses, the Chamber pursues advocacy to take advantage of new opportunities for the region, while providing valuable services and resources to the members, and participating at both the provincial and national levels to advance the cause of business Canada-wide.
Cyndi Bester
Piikani Resource Development
Piikani Resource Development is a wholly-owned corporation of the Piikani Nation, an aboriginal organization that represents Piikani Members. PRDL’s purpose is to create economic development opportunities on the Piikani Nation.
Adrienne Crow Shoe
Blood Tribe Economic Development
Blood Tribe Economic Development is a department of Kainai-Blood Tribe Administration, located in Stand Off, AB, and facilitates the development of private, public, and corporate enterprises and initiatives that build a self-sustaining economy for members of the Blood Tribe.
Jesse Bruised Head
Community Futures
Community Futures is the Lethbridge branch of the Community Futures Network of Alberta, a non-profit business loan and business development organization, supporting small business development and rural economic diversification in Alberta.
Troy Grainger
Alberta Southwest Regional Economic Development
Alberta Southwest is an economic development partnership of 16 rural communities representing a population of 35,000. With a Board of Directors comprised of elected officials from each community, Alberta Southwest provides support for local businesses and attracting new enterprise in the region.
Bev Thornton
SouthGrow Regional Initiative
SouthGrow is an economic development alliance of 27 southern Alberta communities (representing over 170,000 people), committed to working together to further develop economic development goals for the region.
Peter Casurella
BIPOC Foundation
As part of the intricate tapestry of Canadian multiculturalism, BIPOC Foundation was established to create significant entrepreneurship opportunities for diverse communities. With federal Economic Development investments announced via Government of Canada News Release and Global News, we work among a network of influential non-profits delivering on mandates to diversify the Western Canadian economy.
Sinmi & Clement Esene
Okotoks Economic Development
Okotoks Economic Development works to enable a business climate that is conducive to business success through leadership, knowledge exchange, referrals, education, research, coaching and providing assistance on various levels for the Town of Okotoks.
Lorie Watson
Rural Women Entrepreneurs in Technology
Rural Women Entrepreneurs in Tech (RWEIT) Program is under the umbrella of the Women Entrepreneurs in STEM Project and is a 1 year program powered by Alberta Innovates to create a pan-provincial program that promotes the building of collaborative partnerships with Regional Innovation Networks (RINs) and other ecosystem service providers to ensure women entrepreneurs have a level playing field of access to the entrepreneurial ecosystem specifically for technology related start-ups. These collaborative efforts will promote innovative technologies that will in turn create wealth in communities by facilitating rapid growth, job creation and scaling. This program will be delivered with an emphasis on supporting women entrepreneurs living in rural/remote areas as well as niche program delivery for under-represented groups including those who identify as Indigenous, BIPOC, newcomer and/or LGBTQ2S.
Suzanne Ebelher
Blackfoot Confederacy Tribal Council
Siksikaitsitapi – Blackfoot Confederacy is a Tribal Council for the Blackfoot Confederacy Nations of Kainai-Blood Tribe, Siksika, Peigan-Piikani and Aamskapi Pikuni. The Siksikaitsitapi – Blackfoot Confederacy has been established to bring the four Nations together to deal with common issues. Formalizing the unification of the Blackfoot Nations will facilitate an integrated and effective approach to implementing initiatives designed for the betterment of the lives of the Siksika (Blackfoot) people. The Declaration of Siksikaitsiitapiwa or Blackfoot Confederacy was signed in Lethbridge on the 25th of May 2000. The Blackfoot Confederacy Tribal Council instated an Entrepreneurship committee in 2022.
