OMAFRA was pleased to be back at Ontario East Economic Development Municipal Conference (OEMC), the largest annual regional municipal conference east of Toronto from September 14 to 16, 2022 in Cornwall, Ontario.
This event is held annually to deliver dynamic programming to municipal leaders, sharing knowledge and best practices to enhance economic opportunities and successes. The event focused on the economic development trends in eastern Ontario. This was the first in-person conference since 2019, with a focus on: COVID-19 recovery, retention and expansion of communities, and sustainability.
The Importance of “Data for Recovery”: OMAFRA’s Karen Fischer and Serena Viola presented how to use OMAFRA tools (Analyst, BR&E) to support pandemic recovery efforts. You can access the presentation here: Tools to Guide Recovery
Karen Fischer presented with Nour Mazloum (Kingston Economic Development) on “Understanding the difference between diversity and inclusion in a community”. This session focused on the importance of understanding the diversity present in a community, and how creating an environment of inclusion is the next necessary step to ensure a culture of belonging for all in a community. Karen Fischer spoke about a recent project that was undertaken by her team in CED, identifying what communities are currently doing to support a culture of diversity equity and inclusion, what the key obstacles are, and work that CED is doing to support municipalities in their journey. There is a Teeny Tiny Summit coming up on November 30 to explore DEI in communities further.
The conference had a strong focus on the environment, including Electric Vehicles, net-zero housing projects, and sustainable energy sources.
Dean French, Director at Stronach International Inc. presented the closing remarks “Stronach International’s Zero Emission Micro-Mobility Transportation and Organic Regenerative Agri-Business and Small and Medium Enterprise, the Keystone of the Canadian Economy”. French emphasized the importance of pivoting supply chains to meet environmental shifts and demands.
Save the date: September 13-15, 2023 as the tentative dates for OEMC 2023!
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