Move from ideas to action, without needing more time, money, or staff.
Rural communities are rich in ideas, relationships, and opportunity, but turning those strengths into tangible economic outcomes can be challenging. Competing priorities, limited capacity, and uncertainty often stall even the best plans.
This hands-on workshop is designed to help communities cut through complexity and focus on what truly matters.
Using Economic Developers Alberta’s Strategic Doing framework, participants will learn how to move from conversation to commitment, identifying realistic priorities, assigning clear roles, and launching achievable actions that build momentum and confidence.
Rather than producing another plan that sits on a shelf, this session focuses on small, practical steps that lead to real progress.
Why attend?
Participants will:
Build a shared understanding of how economic development works in a rural context
Learn how to align people, resources, and ideas around clear priorities
Apply a proven, step-by-step process to answer four critical questions:
What could we do?
What should we do?
What will we do?
What’s our 30/30?
Leave with defined next steps, assigned responsibilities, and a 30-day action check-in
Strengthen local and regional collaboration while staying focused on achievable outcomes
Who should attend?
Elected officials
Municipal staff
Economic development professionals
Community and business leaders
Regional partners and volunteers involved in local development efforts
What makes this workshop different?
This session blends economic development fundamentals with a highly practical action framework. It acknowledges real-world constraints while empowering participants to make progress using the assets, relationships, and capacity they already have.
Great things are done by a series of small things brought together. This workshop shows you how to start, together.
Hosted by: Economic Developers Alberta (EDA) and Community Futures Yellowhead Trainer: Trevor Lewington
This session is free, and morning coffee and lunch will be provided.
Collaboration is key.
Learn how to build, implement, and strengthen economic development strategies that reflect the unique realities of rural and remote communities.
This course helps participants identify local opportunities, assess community strengths and needs, and develop practical strategies that support long-term rural prosperity.
Course Outcomes
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
Understand the unique characteristics, opportunities, and challenges of rural economic development
Assess community needs and assets using practical tools such as asset mapping and gap analysis
Develop rural economic development plans that connect local priorities with clear actions and outcomes
Explore and select effective strategies that align with local capacity and available resources
Strengthen community engagement, partnerships, and collaboration to support local ownership
Support leadership and governance structures that help drive sustainable economic growth in rural communities
Date: April 29, 2026
Time: 9 am to 3 pm
Location: Blackfalds Civic Cultural Centre, 5018 Waghorn St., Blackfalds, AB T0M 0J0
Coffe, Tea and Lunch will be served.
Our strategic partner, the International Economic Development Council (IEDC), has designated the week of May 4-8, 2026 , as Economic Development Week.
We invite you to take part in this North America-wide campaign that consists of activities designed to create awareness of the economic development programs in your communities that enhance your quality of life.
Check www.iedconline.org for updated resources to help you get started on your campaign to increase exposure for the profession and the benefits of economic development.
Economic Development 101 for Local Leaders
Designed for elected officials and community leaders, this course provides a practical, high-level overview of economic development. Gain the knowledge and tools needed to align your mandate, priorities, and projects with your community’s economic realities.
Explore key concepts, proven strategies, and real-world best practices to support informed decision-making and long-term community success.
This is a core course within our EDA Institute and can be used toward both the Community Economic Development Certificate (CED) and EDA’s Professional Economic Developer Designation (PEcD)
Course Outcomes
By the end of this course, you will be able to:
Understand the role of elected officials in driving economic development
Apply strategic planning tools and data to support decision-making
Identify key economic development strategies and target opportunities
Strengthen collaboration, partnerships, and funding approaches
Measure success using relevant KPIs
Support community economic resilience and long-term sustainability
Date: May 22 Time: 9 am to 3 pm Trainer: Mark Morrissey Course Fee: Please note that the Host Communities are subsidizing the cost to bring this training to you for only $125.00pp Host Communities: The County of Northern Lights and Northern Sunrise County
Morning coffee & tea along with lunch will be served. more info...
NWER's 2026 Annual Summit will be held July 19 - 23, 2026 in Edmonton, Alberta at the JW Marriott Edmonton Ice District
Legislators, business leaders, academics, and policymakers from the U.S. and Canada will gather in Edmonton, Alberta for PNWER's 35th Annual Summit from July 19 - 23 to discuss regional economic best practices and trade concerns. It will be an opportunity to engage with our region's key decision makers on both sides of the border. â
PNWER is recognized as the model for regional and bi-national cooperation, providing a platform for collaboration among public, private, academic, and non-profit stakeholders to work together as a region in pursuit of common goals. â
The PNWER Annual Summit is the leading forum where people in the policy world and the business world come together to figure out solutions to regional challenges.
Economic Developers Association of Canada (EDAC) Conferences bring together community leaders, economic development professionals and entrepreneurs from across the country. These professionals attend EDAC Conferences to participate in sessions, network and listen to speakers sharing their innovative ideas and solutions to national and local challenges.
EDAC 2026 will be held in Moncton, New Brunswick at the Delta Hotel Beausejour.
Keeping busy professionals in mind, EDA has re-imagined the format of the EDA Invitational Golf Tournament.
This year’s event features a streamlined 9-hole Texas Scramble experience.
Join us on September 24 at the Broadmoor Golf Course in Sherwood Park, AB.
No golf experience is required! Dinner is included with your registration.
We are pleased to welcome Invest Alberta as our Title Sponsor.
Their business development team will be on hand to network with tournament participants.
The EDA Invitational also offers an excellent opportunity to showcase your organization with sponsorship opportunities. more info...
The purpose of the Annual EDA Ministry Dinner is to bring together EDA members and stakeholders with specific Ministers and senior staff from the Government of Canada and the Government of Alberta, to network, share information about programs and explore potential partnerships.
The dynamic format of the dinner involves rotating table visitations to maximize networking during the meal.
EDA Xperience 2027 Conference attracts more than 400 economic development experts and elected officials from across Alberta, Canada and around the world.
