The TC Energy Centre in Île-des-Chênes will play host to the first annual Edge Business Expo from February 21–22.
Night one will kick off with a business mixer, providing a unique opportunity for business owners and managers to meet and network in a casual setting.
As a way to showcase the centre and all its amenities, the general public is also welcome to attend this no-cost event.
Attendees will be treated to the magic of Evan Morgan and his sleight-of-hand. A variety of delicious eats will be available at the food truck fair located inside the building.
The second day will offer a full lineup, from morning to late afternoon, including seminars, workshops, a trade show, and keynote speakers. Most notable will be Wade Miller, president and CEO of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, who is scheduled to speak over the lunch break.
Miller is also the co-founder and CEO of Pinnacle Staffing, Manitoba’s largest recruitment firm and has been responsible for co-founding a variety of new businesses in Manitoba including Elite Sports Injury and Elite Performance.
His business savvy has earned him recognition as one of Canada’s Top 40 Under 40. Miller was also a prairie finalist for Ernst and Young’s Entrepreneur Award.
Eight business-centric seminars will spread out over the morning and afternoon, led by experts in a variety of fields, including an IT professional who will speak about cyber attacks and a social media expert who will cover all aspects of maximizing one’s online platforms for optimal business growth.
The day will close with a financial round table hosted by a panel of business financial specialists who’ll be discussing strategies for boosting profitability and growth.
Ritchot mayor Chris Ewen will join attendees at the two-day event, there as a local entrepreneur but also as a council member who is passionate about bringing new business to the RM.
“We are very commercial- and industrial-driven,” Ewen says. “We have a great blend of residential to commercial [business], and I think if we can showcase that it will [open doors] for new businesses that are thinking of coming out to the south side of Winnipeg.”
But it’s not just about bringing in new business, he adds. He also hopes that the expo will encourage collaborations between business owners from surrounding municipalities who are happy to stay right where they are.
“We want to show businesses… that [rural] municipalities want to work with them,” Ewen says. “We want to engage and offer opportunities. We want to do whatever we can to keep businesses going in the southeast region.”
While the RM of Ritchot is a major contributor to the event, Ewen adds that the Ritchot Community Development Corporation (CDC) is the real muscle and backbone behind it.
In the end, Ewen is hopeful that the event as a whole will draw in several hundreds of people and help strengthen the region’s business community.
