Innovation. Inspiration. Exploration.

Join us on June 14, 2023, at Platform Innovation Centre to connect with Calgary's innovation leaders at Avenue's annual Innovation Event followed by a networking hour!

Schedule

*Please check back for more information.

1:00 P.M. Registration

Join us for tea, coffee and pastries sponsored by Chartered Professional Accountants Alberta. Visit the registration and membership table to learn more about Avenue’s A-List+ Membership and its exclusive benefits.

 

2:00 P.M. Welcome Remarks and Land Acknowledgement

Welcome remarks by Avenue and land acknowledgement by Cheryle Chagnon-Greyeyes.

Cheryle Chagnon-Greyeyes is a proud Nehiyaw Esquao (Cree Woman), a member of Muskeg Lake Cree Nation, Treaty 6, Saskatchewan; and Métis. Her ceremonially gifted Cree name translates to “Healing Woman Who Walks Far.” She has resided in Calgary, Treaty 7, Alberta, since 1993. Cheryle has been an Indigenous activist within Calgary and area for the past two decades, speaking, marching, singing and drumming for women; MMIWG2S/Sisters in Spirit/Justice for Jackie Crazybull; Indigenous justice; championing the environment and equality; and speaking up for those who cannot.

 

2:30 P.M. Women in Tech and Leadership Panel

Whether you’re navigating a career in the tech space, or looking to transition into one, this panel, specifically designed for women and gender-nonconforming folks, will cover topics you’re looking to know more about, such as education or training, pathways to careers and mentorship opportunities, how to find information on salaries and negotiating tips, diversity in tech, building a supportive community and more.

Panelists: April Hicke, co-founder and Chief Growth Officer, Toast; Renee Matsalla, co-founder, Tacit Edge Product Leadership; Neetu Sidhu, Head of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Moneris and Board member, Chic Geek.

Moderator: Alanna Wellwood, Head of Learning Innovation, Strathcona-Tweedsmuir School.

 

3:15 P.M. Executive Leadership Through Psychedelics

This year, Alberta became the first province to regulate the use of psychedelic drugs for people in therapy. But psychedelics have been used by humans in various ways, for hundreds of years. What makes them innovative now? In this presentation, Ken Cameron, founder and “Facilitator of Thinking Differently” of Corporate Culture Shift, presents a compelling case for how psychedelic-executive leadership training allows innovators, creators and entrepreneurs to expand the upper limits of their potential to create workplace cultures that are inclusive and equitable, to forge authentic engagement with their employees and to be models of emotional intelligence for their peers.

Presenter: Ken Cameron, founder, Corporate Culture Shift.

 

3:45-4:00 P.M. Break

 

4:00 P.M. What is an Energy Transition, Anyway?

We are in the midst of a changing energy paradigm. The forces of policy, technology and geopolitics are changing the way that society sources its joules of energy, flows them through infrastructure and puts them to useful work. Using historical examples, current circumstances and an innovative mapping platform, Peter Tertzakian discusses how to think about navigating our energy past, present and future.

Presenter: Peter Tertzakian, founder, Energyphile project and author of The Investor Visit, and Other Stories: Disruption, Denial, and Transition in the Energy Business.

 

4:30 P.M. Disrupting Disruption: How to Restart Startup Culture

How do we define a successful startup culture? From language that focuses on breaking or disrupting ideas to structures that cast entrepreneurs as singular visionaries asking strangers for millions of dollars on a stage, there are many commonly held stereotypes that define the narrative of startup culture. But are these stereotypes accurate? In this panel discussion, our speakers discuss why starting a new venture isn't actually a one-size-fits-all journey and how we can change the narrative of startup culture to incorporate diverse ideas and ventures for the future.

Panelists: Peter Fenwick, director of Scale-Up and Growth Programs, Mount Royal University Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship; Bobbie Racette, Founder & CEO, Virtual Gurus and askBetty; Jefferson Roc, founder, EIMHE, and Director for Partnerships and Alliances, Groupe3737; and Amber Rowden, co-founder, YYC Queer Innovation Meetups and Community Storyteller, Rainforest Alberta.

 

5:15 P.M. Venture Capital in Alberta 

Thin Air Labs is a venture capital firm creating human value by helping early-stage startups scale globally. In this keynote presentation with Leah Sarich, head of story, Thin Air Labs, James Lochrie, co-founder and managing partner, Thin Air Labs, discusses ecosystem trends and the future of the Alberta innovation ecosystem, the rise of "soonicorns" in Calgary and why Thin Air Labs Fund 1 is focused specifically on investing in early-stage, entrepreneur-led innovation and technology ventures located in the prairies.

Presenter

James Lochrie likes to cook up new things. He is an entrepreneur, investor and volunteer. James is a Co-founder and the Managing Partner at Thin Air Labs, Canada’s leading investment firm focused on early-stage startups creating massive human impact. James is also the Co-founder of the global fintech startup Wave Financial Inc. which H&R Block acquired for over half a billion dollars. James is passionate about volunteering his time to support the development of the innovation community in Alberta. He supports entrepreneurs with Creative Destruction Lab - Rockies, the UCeed Health Fund at the University of Calgary and other organizations. With his team of unlike minds, James is #BuildingWhatsNext for Calgary and beyond.

Moderator: Leah Sarich, Head of Story, Thin Air Labs.

 

6:00 P.M. Food of the Future

The prairies continue to be a central source of food in Canada and agri-food innovations continue to be vital to this region. But food is changing fast and organizations like the Canadian Food Innovation Network (CFIN), a new industry-led hub, are leading the way in accelerating innovation and sustainability across Canada’s food ecosystem. In this Q&A with Hubba Khatoon, Regional Innovation Director, Prairies, Avenue special projects editor, Tsering Asha, finds out more about the key trends and questions we should ask regarding the future of our food.

Speaker: Hubba Khatoon, Regional Innovation Director, Canadian Food Innovation Network (CFIN), Prairies Canada.