By Nick Stewart
The future of health services isn’t just about medicine and medical technologies, it’s also about economic development for communities all across Northern Ontario, which is just one of the ideas set to be discussed at the upcoming national conference for the Economic Developers’ Association of Canada (EDAC).
Set to take place in Thunder Bay’s Valhalla Inn from September 23-26, the conference will feature a number of speakers, including Michael Power, vice-president of Regional Cancer and Diagnostic Services at the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC).
“We’re now at a point in time where Siemens and General Electric and others aren’t necessarily looking to cluster in the New Yorks’ and the Bostons’,” says Power. “They’re actually looking to the economic development opportunities that are afforded by moving some of their research and design potential into communities like Thunder Bay.”
Power is acutely aware of the importance of leveraging health services as a means of spurring economic growth.
“It’s a surprise to some when I say we’re the largest employer in northwestern Ontario with 3,000 employees and credentialed positions, and our annual budget is $250 million,” says Power. “If we’re not the heart of the community from an economic development point of view, we’re clearly one of the big players.”
About 400 people from across Canada and across a variety of sectors are expected to attend the conference, along with federal post officers from around the world.
EDAC executive director Penny Gardiner says the conference is set to offer a packed schedule for attendees, who will be able to participate in the annual general meeting, and visit up to 25 exhibitors, including FedNor, the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation, the Business Development Bank of Canada and the Globe and Mail to name a few.
Northern Ontario School of Medicine’s Director of Technology Kevin Pashuk and former Winnipeg mayor Glen Murray are two of the 20 scheduled speakers .
