NWT Chamber releases program for 2009 AGM in Fort Smith
The Board of Directors of the NWT Chamber of Commerce is pleased to release the program of events for its 2009 Annual General Meeting in Fort Smith March 30-31.
“We’ve got a great slate of speakers thus far and are very excited things are coming together so well for our meetings,” said NWT Chamber President Ann Marie Tout. “We hope that as many of our members as possible as well as interested business people from the community join us for our session in Fort Smith.”
“All of us here at Aurora College are extremely excited to be involved with the NWT Chamber and its 2009 Annual General Meeting,” said Maurice Evans, President of Aurora College. “As the foremost educational institution in the NWT, we are responsible for equipping the workforce of tomorrow. It is important for us to partner with the business community where possible to help ensure our graduates leave school with the skills that are in demand with Northern employers.”
Day 1 – Monday, March 30
9-11:30 a.m. – Delegate registration and check-in at the Pelican Rapids Inn and Trade Show/Career Fair exhibitor set up at Aurora College
11:30 a.m.-4 p.m. – Opening Trade Show/Career Fair and networking session
Location: Foyer at Aurora College
Sponsor: NorthwesTel
Speakers: NWT Commissioner Tony Whitford, Fort Smith Mayor Peter Martselos, Aurora College President Maurice Evans and Industry, Tourism and Investment Minister Bob McLeod (keynote speaker)
Activities: Lunch will be served for delegates, exhibitors and invited guests; Aurora College will also offer guided tours to delegates wishing to explore the Thebacha Campus’ recently revamped trades wing; and this event is open to the college community starting at noon.
2:30-4 p.m. – Bear pit session with MP Dennis Bevington
Location: Foyer at Aurora College
4 p.m. – Trade Show/Career Fair teardown
This marks the end of Monday’s AGM-related program so that delegates will be free to participate in a community feast celebrating Governor of the Bank of Canada Mark Carney and his return to Fort Smith.
Location: the Métis Hall
Day 2 – Tuesday, March 31
8:30-9:30 a.m. – Breakfast with Finance Minister Michael Miltenberger
Sponsored: Enbridge Pipelines (NW) Inc.
Location: Blue Room at the Pelican Rapids Inn
9:30-10:30 a.m. – Delegate presentations
Location: Blue Room at the Pelican Rapids Inn
Delegates can expect to hear from several speakers including:
- Martin Landry on plans to barge super-sized structures into Alberta’s oil patch via the NWT and the expected benefits for Fort Smith
- Stu Russell on the potential benefits of airship transportation for businesses and communities in Canada’s North
10:45 a.m.-12:15 p.m. – Annual General Meeting of the NWT Chamber of Commerce
Location: Blue Room at the Pelican Rapids Inn
Note to delegates: A formal agenda for the meeting will be circulated to all NWT Chamber members no later than March 16.
12:30 p.m.-1:45 p.m. – Luncheon with the Premier and Governor of the Bank of Canada Mark Carney
Sponsor: Northwest Territories Power Corporation
Location: Northern Life Museum
Speakers: After a few words from Mark Carney, NWT Premier Floyd Roland will deliver the keynote address
2-3 p.m. – GNWT Energy Priorities
Location: Blue Room at the Pelican Rapids Inn
Speaker: Deputy Minister of the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment Peter Vician will provide delegates with an overview of current Energy Priorities Initiatives, including the proposed $60 million commitment the GNWT Minister of Finance outlined in his budget speech. Other topics will include an update on the public discussion process related to the recently-released GNWT Discussion Paper, A Review of Electricity Regulation, Rates and Subsidy Programs (Electricity Review), and how the much discussed ATCO Proposal to merge with the Northwest Territories Power Corporation (NTPC) and a separate NTPC Review fit into this Electricity Review process. The Deputy Minister will also field questions from the floor on current energy issues in the NWT.
3:30-5 p.m. – First meeting of the next Board of Directors of the NWT Chamber of Commerce
Location: Aurora Room at the Pelican Rapids Inn
6:15 p.m. – President’s Banquet at the Fort Smith Curling Club
Sponsor: Northern Transportation Company Ltd.
Speaker: yet to be confirmed
Activities: Presentation of the NWT Chamber of Commerce 2009 Business and Business Person of the Year Awards
Note to delegates: This portion of our program will be closed to minors as there will be a cash bar open to delegates during the banquet.
“It’s going to be a full two days for delegates in Fort Smith,” said Tout. “This schedule may of course change slightly as we get closer to the event, but we’re certain it’s going to be an informative and entertaining event – we hope to see you there.”
In association with the network of community Chambers of Commerce in Fort Simpson, Behchoko, Norman Wells, Fort Smith, Hay River and Yellowknife as well as the Northern Aboriginal Business Association, the NWT Chamber of Commerce represents the interests of more than 865 members. For more than 35 years, it has been the only pan-territorial voice of businesses across all sectors of the Northern economy.
