SOUTHERN INTERIOR REGIONAL ECONOMIC SUMMIT
2025 Agenda
Draft
Program Details
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Mon Nov 3, 2025
Schedule of Events (draft)
- 2:00 – 7:00 p.m. – Registration Open
- 4:00 – 5:00 p.m. – Welcome Remarks
Acacia Pangilinan, Executive Director, Kamloops & District Chamber of Commerce & Merritt & District Chamber of Commerce
Tammy Verigin-Burk, Executive Director, Castlegar & District Chamber of Commerce
Opening Keynote
State of the Southern Interior Region Economy
What are the foundational pillars of our economy here in the Southern Interior? In order to understand opportunities in the future, we must first understand the rich and diverse economies of our regional districts and communities. This presentation will examine the make-up of the economy, how this has changed over the last three Census periods, and how we are positioned going forward in an uncertain and fast-changing economic landscape.
Mike Stolte, President, Centre for Innovative & Entrepreneurial Leadership
Laurel Douglas, CEO, ETSI-BC - 5:00 – 5:15 p.m. – Farm to Fork Zest Food Hub
- 5:15 – 7:00 p.m. – Farm to Fork Reception featuring Salmon Arm & area local food & drink producers sponsored by Community Futures BC
- 7:00 p.m. onwards – Dinner/evening on your own
Tues Nov 4, 2025
Schedule of Events (draft)
- 7:00 – 4:00 p.m. – Registration Open
- 7:00 – 8:00 a.m. – Breakfast + Networking + Tradeshow
- 8:00 – 8:45 a.m. – Official Welcome
- 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. – Economic Outlook Keynote
Navigating the Trade War: Collaborating for Economic Success
A timely big-picture look at the economy—starting with U.S. and Canadian trends before zooming in on British Columbia and the Southern Interior. Explore what key indicators like labour markets, inflation, housing, and population shifts really mean for our region. We’ll also highlight major projects and local factors shaping the future. This session offers clear insights to help businesses, communities, and leaders navigate today’s challenges and tomorrow’s opportunities.
Alan Chow, Business Economist, Central 1 Credit Union
Eloho Ennah, Economic Analyst, Central 1 Credit Union - 10:00 – 10:30 a.m. – Break + Networking + Tradeshow
- 10:30 – 12:00 – Forging Ahead Together: Lessons in Collaborative Economic Development in the Southern Interior
Highlighting collaborative economic development, showcasing how governments, Indigenous communities, businesses, and non-profits partner to achieve shared goals. Featuring examples from across the region, we’ll examine how collaboration addresses challenges, leverages unique assets, and delivers tangible community benefits.
Moderator:
Paul Wiest, Project Consultant, ETSI-BC
Panelists:
Kelley Glazer, Executive Director, Destination Osoyoos
Charles Cornell, Manager, Community Futures Okanagan
Krista Mallory, Manager, Central Okanagan Economic Development Commission
Pete Bourke, Executive Director, Columbia Valley Chamber of Commerce
Leigha Horsfield, Executive Director, Community Futures North Okanagan
Kent Fawcett, Co-Executive Director, Kamloops Food Policy Council - 12:00 – 12:45 p.m. Lunch + Networking + Tradeshow
- 12:45 – 1:35 p.m. – Cutting Through the Noise: An Unbiased Look at Economic Development Data Tools
Where are you getting your economic and demographic data from? It’s more critical than ever to find and use good, timely data to make informed decisions with our limited resources. Where can we get good data? How much will it cost? How can we organize it so that it makes sense to local governments, businesses and potential investors? This workshop will introduce you to several valuable economic development tools and approaches, looking at the pros and cons of each.
Mike Stolte, President, Centre for Innovative & Entrepreneurial Leadership - 1:35 – 2:45 p.m. – Moving Forward: The Role of Transportation in Regional Economic Success
Transportation is a foundational element of economic development — shaping how people, goods, and services move through and beyond a region. This session brings together panelists from across sectors to explore how transportation strategies can foster stronger, more connected, and more competitive regional economies.
Moderator: Myles Bruns, Ministry of Jobs and Economic Growth
Panelists:
Steve Sirett, Executive Director Southern Interior, BC Ministry of Transportation and Transit
Phil McIntyre-Paul, Shuswap Trails Alliance
Damian Couture, CAO, Village of Cache Creek
Joanne Sweeting, Executive Director, Tourism Golden
Rebecca Richards, Grow & Connect Food Supply Chain Initiative - 2:45 – 3:15 p.m. Break + Networking + Tradeshow
- 3:15 – 4:45 p.m. – Pathways to Indigenous Economic Prosperity: Building Partnerships for Shared Success
Indigenous communities across the Southern Interior are advancing innovative projects that strengthen local economies, create opportunities, and foster resilience. This panel highlights Indigenous leaders who will share success stories, lessons learned, and strategies for collaboration.
Moderator: Dale M. Jackson, Executive Director, Economic Development, Skw’lax te Secwépemcúl̓ecw (Little Shuswap Lake Band)
Panelists:
Paul Donald, Simpcw First Nation, DKP Consulting
Grahame Go, CEO, Splatsin Development Corporation
Rhys Laug, Director of Facilities & Capital Projects – Quaaout Lodge & Talking Rock Resort (Skwlāx te Secwepemcúl̓ecw)
George Casimir, General Manager, CFDC of CIFN - 4:45 – 5:15 p.m. – Tradeshow + Networking
- 5:15 – 6:30 p.m. – Time on your own
- 6:30 – 10:30 p.m. – Banquet + Live Music
Weds Nov 5, 2025
Schedule of Events (draft)
- 7:00 – 10:30 a.m. – Registration Open
- 7:30 – 8:30 a.m. – Breakfast + Roundtable Solutions Cafe
- 8:30 – 8:45 a.m. – Morning Remarks
- 8:40 – 9:55 a.m. – What Makes Business Retention and Expansion (BRE) Work: Lessons, Models & Real Success Stories
This session will showcase proven BRE strategies across communities and sectors, share replicable frameworks, and inspire collaboration. Attendees will gain practical tools, real-world examples, and valuable contacts to strengthen and sustain BRE programs, driving economic success in the Southern Interior and beyond.
Moderator:
Dale Wheeldon, CEO, BC Economic Development Association
Tammy Verigin-Burk, Executive Director, Castlegar & District Chamber of Commerce
Kate Watson, Executive Director, Salmon Arm Economic Development Society - 9:55 – 10:20 a.m. Break + Networking + Tradeshow
- 10:20 – 11:30 a.m. – The True Value of Tourism: Beyond the Visitor
Tourism drives growth and resilience in the southern interior. This session examines its role in economic diversification, featuring a local case study and panel on aligning messaging, data, and storytelling to amplify regional appeal and support smart growth.
Case Study:
Nic Zdunich, Destination Development Manager, Tourism Kamloops
Lisa White, Director, Community Development + Engagement, Tourism Kamloops
Moderator: Ellen Walker-Matthews, Chief Executive Officer, Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association
Panelists:
Jennifer Horsnell, Senior Director, Destination Development, Destination Canada
Erica Hummel, Director, Destination Development & Stewardship, Destination BC
Cassandra Zerebeski, Director of Policy, TIABC
Jamie Bourne, Thompson Okanagan Indigenous Tourism Specialist, Indigenous Tourism BC - 11:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. – Closing Keynote
Making Sense of the Canada-U.S. Relationship
Tariffs on, tariffs off, tariffs paused…The pace of change in U.S. policy can make it hard to keep up. What do these shifts mean for Canada and the future of our relationship with the U.S.? This session will provide insights into the problems the U.S. is trying to solve and how Canada can take control of its own destiny. Come armed with your questions as we make sense of shifting geopolitics and what comes next.
Gitane De Silva, Founder and Principal, GDStrategic - 12:15 – 1:00 p.m. – Closing Panel
Navigating the New Economic Landscape
Economic development practitioners play a crucial role in supporting local businesses, but the current global trade environment, with its shifting policies and escalating tariffs, presents a complex set of challenges. This panel will move beyond the headlines to hear from local entrepreneurs who are successfully navigating this volatility. We will explore real-world strategies for mitigating risks, building resilience in a volatile economic landscape, practical steps businesses are taking to respond and key supporting roles for economic development practitioners.
Moderator: Laurel Douglas, CEO, ETSI-BC
Panelists:
Gitane De Silva, Founder and Principal, GDStrategic
Mike Miltimore, Founder, Riversong Guitars
Greg Kyllo, Business Leader and Entrepreneur - 1:00 – 1:10 p.m. – Closing Remarks
- 1:10 p.m. – Summit Concludes
Outcomes & Takeaways
- New cross-sector relationships & shared action plans
- Policy-ready tools tailored to Southern Interior BC
- Inspiring models from across the region
- A stronger regional voice in economic development policy