3/20/2026
Business Investment & Attraction (BIA) ls a Core Course with the EDA Institute
During this in-person session you will;
- Understand the role of economic development and the importance of implementing a BI&A strategy.
- Assess community investment readiness, leverage competitive advantages, and build capacity.
- Develop a comprehensive BI&A strategy, conduct market research, and select appropriate marketing tools.
- Cultivate relationships with investors and entrepreneurs, identify investment projects, and establish protocols.
Trainer: Trevor Lewington
Tea, Coffee and Lunch will be served
Location: Reynolds Museum 6426-40th Ave., Wetaskiwin
Please note that the deadline to register is Thursday March 5, 2026.
Location: Reynolds Museum
6426 - 40th Avenue
Wetaskiwin, AB
Online Registration has closed for this event
3/26/2026
All EDA members are invited to attend however, only Full members in good standing are eligible to vote at the AGM.
At the AGM we will be electing our 2026-27 Board of Directors.
All documents required in advance are available on our website, under the members-only section.
The event is open to EDA members only and members must be signed in wih their EDA user email and password to register.
Location: Zoom
4/14/2026
Coming to the conference early?
Kick off your conference experience at our exclusive pre-conference mixer! Connect with new and familiar faces over drinks and delicious snacks.
Our annual Kickstart in Kananaskis will be held at Woody's Pub & Patio at the conference site. To attend, you must register in advance, and conference registration is required before registering for this event.
Enjoy tasty snacks and a complimentary beverage (wine, beer, highball, or soft drinks) as you mingle.
Cancellation policy: Refunds will be issued less $25 cancel fee prior to April 3. No refunds after that.
Dress: casual
Location: Woody's Pub & Patio
1 Centennial Drive
Kananaskis, AB
Registration ends on 4/9/2026
There are currently 70 spots remaining out of 105
4/15/2026 - 4/17/2026
EDA Xperience 2026 Leaders' Summit and Conference attracts over 400 local, national, and international experts in economic development, along with elected officials from across Alberta to discuss provincial developments, explore ways to advance the economy, and offer mutual support.
EDA Members must be signed in with their EDA user email and password to access the exclusive EDA member discount.
When registering please ensure the email used matches the delegate who is attending - this is critical to avoid confusion.
Delegates will gain insights into Alberta’s sector opportunities, receive updates on economic trends and best practices, and enjoy inspiring keynotes, engaging workshops, and interactive networking opportunities.
Cancellation policy: Refunds will be issued less $50 cancel fee prior to April 3. No refunds after that.
Location: Pomeroy Mountain Lodge
1 Centennial Drive
Kananaskis, AB
The event is now SOLD OUT.
However, if you wish to add your name to the waitlist, we will contact you if an opening becomes available.
We take people off the waitlist in the order they sign up, so we encourage you to sign up as soon as possible.
EDA
4/27/2026
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 the process, together.
This event is by invitation only. Registration is free and includes coffee and lunch.
To access the event registration code contact Benita Smit - bsmit@albertacf.com.
Location: Best Western High Road Inn
300 52nd Street
Edson, AB
Registration ends on 4/17/2026
There are currently 29 spots remaining out of 30
9/24/2026
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.
Location: Broadmoor Golf Course
2100 Oak Street
Sherwood Park, AB
There are currently 141 spots remaining out of 144
10/22/2026
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.
Location: Matrix Hotel
10640 100 Avenue NW
Edmonton , AB