2014 CED Annual Report
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working together right here. 2013 annual Calgary Economic Development report 1 Annual Report 2013 table of contents 1 4 10 Letter from the About Calgary Sector CEO & Chairman Economic 6 overview of the Board Development & initiatives 3 2013 Letter from Accomplishments the Mayor at a glance 30 32 34 52 Action Calgary Economic Financial Looking & Community overview Statements ahead to Partnerships 2014 Calgary Economic Development 2 Annual Report 2013 Letter from the President & CEO and Chairman of the Board This past year, Calgary made headlines both spoke about the opportunities and the vibrant in Canada and around the world. Stories energy that makes Calgary a great place to discussed the energy literacy of Canadians, live, work and make a life. While the trip was continued uncertainties about market access, cut short by June’s flood, that community spirit and June’s devastating floods. Calgarians that the Mayor spoke of played out in spades showed how, in the face of tragedy, our as Calgarians worked together in the days community spirit is strong and enviable. following the flood. In spite of these issues, Calgary continues While 4,000 businesses closed immediately to lead the country in economic and after the floods, thousands of Calgarians employment growth with real GDP worked together on the cleanout of homes growth outperforming all of Canada’s and businesses affected by the water. largest metropolitan areas at 3.7 per cent. Our team, in partnership with the Calgary Employment continues to be a hot spot with Chamber and Business Recovery Taskforce, Calgary’s economy generating over 24,000 worked with ATB Financial, the Calgary Hotel jobs in 2013, accounting for 10.8 per cent of Association, the Government of Alberta, and the total job growth in Canada. And despite media partners, including the Calgary Herald, rapid population growth – 47,500 new Pattison Outdoor and CTV, to develop a people are now calling Calgary home – the $1.4 million campaign that ran for six months unemployment rate remained steady at inviting Calgarians to visit, eat, drink and shop 4.8 per cent for the year. in flood affected areas. As Calgary Economic Development celebrated This past year also saw the culmination of our tenth year of operations, we continue years of work to advocate for a purpose- to look for opportunities to support smart built film studio in Calgary with funding growth for business and community by finding announcements arriving early in 2014. opportunities for purposeful diversification The WORKshift program was able to secure across our city in the transportation and additional private sector funding which logistics, real estate, the creative industries, enabled us to share this Calgary born program and energy sectors. with other Canadian cities as Halifax and Ottawa both launched their programs last fall. Workforce and labour attraction and retention continue to be at the core for companies Looking ahead, 2014 promises to be an F. Bruce Graham across all sectors. We welcomed Ministers exciting year for Calgary as we mark the President & CEO Chris Alexander and Jason Kenney along 100 year anniversary of oil in Alberta. The year with 200 delegates representing the private is already shaping up to be a strong one even sector, industry associations and provincial as questions of market access continue. governments from across the country On behalf of the Board and staff, we extend to discuss issues around intra-provincial our thanks to Mayor Nenshi and the member migration, labour attraction and worker of Calgary City Council for their continued Wilfred A. Gobert retention in the coming years. support of our efforts. We look forward to Chairman of the Board The Calgary. Be Part of Energy. national collaborating with our Action Calgary partners, marketing campaign continued to be a strong promotional partners, advisory committees platform and call to action for people and and all Calgarians as we continue to serve businesses to thrive in Calgary. While on tour our community as a conduit, connector and in Ottawa and Toronto with Mayor Nenshi, he catalyst for growing and promoting Calgary. Calgary Economic Development 1 Annual Report 2013 Letter from the Mayor Last summer, as I watched the businesses and Calgary is certainly in an enviable position citizens of our city come together after the compared with other cities both in Canada June floods, I saw the Calgary that I had always and globally, but the need to balance known, but that doesn’t often show itself in a thriving community with shared prosperity such a big way. It’s a city where volunteers for all our citizens continues. Calgary show up at a house to spend the day cleaning Economic Development has been leading the out the mud soaked basement of someone review and refresh of the 10 year Economic they don’t even know; where young children Development Strategy for our city. Through set up lemonade stands and canvas their in depth consultation with the community, neighbours to raise money for families who this process re-affirmed the direction of the have lost their home; where businesses went business community, the City of Calgary, out of their way to make life easier for those in non-profits, and the civic partners. The need. We rallied together because that is what Economic Development Strategy for Calgary Calgarians do. will act as a guide for better collaboration, Yet, this is only part of the reason that Calgary so as to ensure that our economic success continues to be ranked one of the best places continues to be grounded in both our sense to live in Canada and the world. It’s part of of community and our commitment to shared a story that continues to be told by Calgary prosperity and sustainable development. Economic Development. In their Calgary. Many cities might have had difficulty Be Part of the Energy. campaign, Calgary recovering from a natural disaster the size of Economic Development works with businesses the 2013 floods. Not Calgary. If anything, our to attract and retain the people our city will future is brighter than ever. We will continue need in the coming years to meet the growing to adapt to the changing world around us and demand for talent. the challenges of a rapidly growing city. In 2013, I had the opportunity to travel with Calgary Economic Development to Eastern Canada as part of the Calgary. Be Part of the Energy. Campaign. I spoke with business and student audiences about what makes Calgary a great place to make a living and make a life. And while I was telling these stories about Naheed Nenshi Calgary, our community was reacting to the Mayor, City of Calgary flood and bringing these stories to life. Calgary Economic Development 2 Annual Report 2013 What we do Business Retention Business and Expansion government Attraction partnership Research Investment & Analysis Economic Attraction Development Marketing & Events Communications & Missions Programs Sector & Initiatives Development Sustainable & Renewable Energy Film, Television & Creative Workforce for Promoting Calgary Industries all sectors Calgary Film Centre Action Calgary Transportation Real Manufacturing Partnership & Logistics Estate & Productivity Program Financial Global Services Energy Business Centre Calgary Economic Development 3 Annual Report 2013 We advance opportunities for smart Calgary growth Economic to achieve Development’s individual, Mission business and community potential for the Calgary Region. Calgary Economic Development 4 Annual Report 2013 We are opportunity-makers, helping to spark and fuel the growth that has made Calgary an economic powerhouse. We nurture prospects and potential. We harness possibilities. And we support individual and business prosperity. We are connectors, linking business people with change-makers: investors, advisors, industry leaders, partners and employees. We introduce companies to new locations, markets and customers. And help new Calgarians meet mentors and employers – and find their place in our workforce, and in our community. We are storytellers, charged with the happy responsibility of getting to know Our Calgary, and sending its good news well beyond the city limits. We are a wealth of information. It’s our business to figure out what makes Calgary work. And it’s our job to share facts and resources freely with everyone Story who wonders why or how or how much. We are Calgary’s opportunity-makers. As conduits, connectors, catalysts and Calgary storytellers, we help shape and share Calgary’s story. Like the city we serve, we’re collaborative, entrepreneurial, innovative, social, Economic creative and global. And we’re proud to be part of the energy. Development Calgary Economic Development is a not-for-profit corporation funded by the City of Calgary, private sector, community partners and other orders of is a conduit, government. Managed by an independent Board of Directors, Calgary Economic Development operates in accordance with the key objectives set out in the 10-year connector, Economic Development Strategy for Calgary. catalyst and storyteller. Our people Board: Staff: Wilf Gobert (Outgoing Chair) Luke Azevedo Fern Lockwood Leontine Atkins Robyn Bews Lulu Mazula Duncan Au Jennifer Bottriell Brain McClure Eric Axford Kate Bowering Gillian McCormack Don Campbell Lisa Corcoran Mary Moran Bill Chomik Lissa Craig Alecia Peters Councillor Peter Demong Tom Dixon June Reid Tom Hodson Court Ellingson Jeanette Sutherland Brett Ironside Katie Findlay Carol Thiessen Hannes Kovac Kristy Frandle Susan Thompson Patricia McLeod Dusko