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Best in business innovation showcased at Winter’s Edge Investment Forum

Feb 20, 2019 | 2:17 PM

Roughly 150 investors and entrepreneurs gathered at the Harvest Centre in Red Deer’s Westerner Park on Wednesday for the Winter’s Edge Investment Forum.

With the best in business innovation on display, organizers say the forum held in conjunction with the Canada Winter Games, featured the strengths of growing businesses from the region and one lucky business persons pitch to win $10,000 courtesy of Canadian Western Bank.

Officials say 14 key business and two keynote speakers were planned to present, with business pitches coming in from nine different industries ranging from oil and gas to retail.

Peter McGee, project manager for the Edge Investment Forum, says events like this are important for the local economy.

“There’s been that talk about diversifying our economy in Alberta, in Red Deer and Central Alberta,” says McGee. “It’s so important for us to do these sorts of things so we can start to achieve that diversification. You’ll see a lot of the pitchers here are not in our traditional industries, not in our traditional oil and gas or energy type sectors, they’re a wide variety from all over.”

Dusty Lavalley from online shipping company Trusted Dispatch, says an event like this can lead to growth and investment opportunities for businesses that take part.

“It’s great, I’m an Alberta born and raised guy, it’s about time we get very active in Alberta dealing with the investment world,” adds LaValley. “There’s no need to go out to Toronto or New York, the (investment) opportunities are in our backyard. We just want to create a lot of excitement around our business model and where we’re going and we just can’t wait to see what’s around the corner for us.”

Chad Verity, co-founder and CEO of Hol Metrics, says it’s important Alberta’s economy diversifies beyond oil and gas.

“We need to have more of those tech companies come out of Red Deer,” declares Verity. “It’s really hard to find developers in Red Deer. Traditionally, we’re finding really good people and training them on how to be developers.”

Organizers say an after-party at The Krossing in downtown Red Deer will include the presentation of the $10,000 best in show prize and remarks from keynote speaker and Olympic medalist Deidra Dionne.