In Quotes: EDAC conference 2014

The Economic Developers Association of Canada (EDAC) conference wraps today in Calgary.

More than 400 economic development officers gathered at the Westin Hotel downtown as well as various other spots in the city learning more about Alberta's energy sector as well as the economic value and opportunity for jurisdictions nationwide.

The conference included study tours on disaster recovery at the Calgary Stampede, community economic development at Village Brewery and economic development at Canada Olympic Park. CREB®Now sat in on a few sessions at the conference including Innovation and Supply Chain looking at how our energy sector is evolving and what the impact on Canadian communities is form an economic and social perspective.

Here's some of what was said:

Bill Whitelaw, CEO of JuneWarren-Nickle's Energy

"We're not the only place in the globe where Mother Nature and geology have pushed oil to the surface, so when you think about the oil sands and you think about the supply chain opportunities in a Canadian context, they're huge."

Trent Zacharias, local community relations, Cenovus

"No matter if its mining, or safety, in the oil sands we understand that people have concerns about development and whether this resource is being developed in the most responsible way possible."

J.P. Gladu, president and CEO of the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business

"The progressive companies that are out there making investments, like Cenovus, into community development, developing businesses; the ones that are employing aboriginal people, putting training efforts into aboriginal people, the ones that are investing, engaging. Those are the ones that are ultimately going to come ahead."

Tagged: Economy