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Innovative growth happening in Orléans

Orléans Economic Symposium to highlight community’s growing innovative business sector

Orleans
Orleans

Orléans is open for your business.

This is the message the Orléans Chamber of Commerce will convey at its second Annual Economic Symposium on Nov. 21. The event is being presented in partnership with the West Ottawa Board of Trade and the Ottawa Chamber of Commerce

As the vice-chair of the Chamber and a proud community leader, Sean Crossan believes that Orléans is Ottawa’s next hotspot to work, live and play.

“There’s lots of different innovative things happening in Orléans, where people are taking their business to new levels or starting new businesses,” says Mr. Crossan. The area’s expanding innovative business sector is what inspired the chamber to select innovation as the theme for this year’s symposium.

Orléans has a highly educated bilingual population. Mr. Crossan attributes this to the proximity to the University of Ottawa and the National Research Council, as many professors and scientists live in Orléans due to the excellent quality of life. He believes that the area will not only continue to grow, but prosper with the Prime Minister of Canada’s announcement, in June 2017, that the second phase of the city’s light-rail line will extend to Trim Road in Orléans by 2022.

“Orléans is in expansion mode.”

“Orléans is in expansion mode,” explains Mr. Crossan.

The Orléans Chamber of Commerce is the fastest growing chamber in the city. After growing by 65 members last year alone there are currently 225 members.

The 2017 Orléans economic symposium will feature eight panelists, five innovative businesses and more than 20 exhibitors from both the public and private sectors. The participants represent established Orléans-based innovative businesses and experts, ranging in specialty areas that include cybersecurity, funding start-up and expansion, leasehold agreements, intellectual property and much more.

Dr. Dipak Roy, Chairman of D-TA Systems Inc. and winner of the Innovation-Oriented Enterprises Award., is the keynote speaker for the event. Closing remarks will be given by David Lametti, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada.

The symposium will feature exhibitors from across the City of Ottawa who will speak to overcoming challenges at different stages of operating, expanding or starting up a business.

“This symposium will address common issues that each and every business across the entire city of Ottawa and the entire country struggle with on an everyday basis and provide advice and solutions from our expert panel answering questions taken directly from the business community,” says Mr. Crossan. “We’re going to have practical solutions from the panelists and from experienced business people who support innovative businesses, encouraging prosperity and growth.”

Confirmed innovative Orléans businesses include OakWood, Rebel Technologies, ING Robotics Aviation, Zodiac Light Waves and Xahive.

More information and updates on the 2017 Orléans economic symposium can be found at http://innovativeorleans.ca

The event is being held in partnership with the Ottawa Chamber of Commerce, the West Ottawa Board of Trade and Heart of Orléans BIA, with representation from the Rockland and Casselman Chambers.

Panelists include:

  • Victoria Lennox, Co-founder and CEO, Startup Canada
  • Layla Darwish, vice-president of business banking, Bank of Montreal
  • Carl Bennett, Partner, Bennett Church Hill Capital Inc.
  • Josée Virgo, Partner, Grandmaitre Virgo Evans Lawyers
  • Cora-lee Ratcliffe, Manager of the Entrepreneurship Centre, Business Development Bank of Canada
  • Scott Ravary, Service delivery manager, Employment Ontario
  • Jim Carty, Senior advisor and Broker, Cresa Leasing
  • Lynn Groulx, Regional manager of the Ontario Investment Office, Ontario Ministry of Economic Development and Growth

    Ticket Information

    Location: Shenkman Arts Centre, 245 Centrum Blvd.
    Date & time: November 21, 2017, 5:30 to 9 p.m.
    Register: www.orleanschamber.ca/pages/economic-symposium1
    For more information: http://innovativeorleans.ca/

    Sponsorships for the event are sold out but there are still a few exhibitor spaces left.

    Chamber Members: $25
    Non-Members: $30
    Students: Free (with valid student ID)
    Package of 5 tickets: $100