Presentation Title: Building a Rural Tech Hub: From Idea to Impact Description: In this practical, no-fluff session, Gordon More shares how to design, launch, and scale a rural tech hub that actually works in a small community. Drawing from his experience building a rural innovation ecosystem focused on energy, entrepreneurship, and applied research, Gordon walks through the real steps—governance, partnerships, …
The IRPP will lead a discussion on trade diversification as part of its new Global Ambition, Local Prosperity project. The goal will be to understand barriers that rural businesses and entrepreneurs face in exporting to non-U.S. markets or developing local supply chain alternatives to international imports.
Rachel Samson is Vice President of Research at the Institute for Research on Public Policy (IRPP), an independent, national, non-profit organization that generates research and insight to improve public policy in ways that better the lives of Canadians. She leads a team analyzing issues including affordability, skills and training, community transformation, trade diversification, and industrial policy. Previously, she was Clean …
ICED Rural is Canada’s only conference focused on rural innovation. This year, the spotlight is on two game-changers for rural communities—energy and education. To hear the full interview, go here (jump down to time stamp 11:45 am): https://www.ckom.com/2025/09/22/the-evan-bray-show-monday-sept-22/
Two Indigenous leaders from opposite areas of the province discussed their respective efforts to attract new business during the Innovation Conference for Economic Development (ICED) in Rural Areas in Estevan. To read the full story, go here: https://www.sasktoday.ca/southeast/estevan-mercury/indigenous-leaders-reflect-on-efforts-to-create-economic-growth-11284457
Jill Ruep, creator of what she says is the first Indigenous-led beading app in North America, has won a rural pitch contest in Estevan, securing $13,000 in funding and support to grow her culturally inspired tech business. To read the full article, please go here: https://www.sasktoday.ca/southeast/estevan-mercury/photos-indigenous-beading-app-wins-10k-at-rural-innovation-pitch-in-estevan-11259095
Two days of information and discussions about innovation and technology have wrapped up in Estevan. The Innovation Conference for Economic Development (ICED) in Rural Areas was held Sept. 23 and 24 at Affinity Place. The energy sector was the focus, with this year’s theme of Energy and Education, but other topics were also discussed. To read the full article, click …
In Estevan, Sask., innovation doesn’t look like venture capitalists in glass towers or engineers in Silicon Valley campuses. It looks like farmers fixing machinery in the middle of harvest, or local youth building a three-foot robot in a community tech hub. To read the full article: https://www.ruralprosperity.ca/the-rural-roundup/decisions-that-impact-rural-communities-too-often-made-far-from-the-front-lines-saskatchewan-tech-hub-executive-director
Kevin Chung is the Executive Director of Innovation Investments and Programs at Innovation Saskatchewan, a provincial government agency responsible for supporting R&D and growing the technology sector. At the agency, Kevin is responsible for various programs and investments that promote industry-driven R&D, including the Saskatchewan Advantage Innovation Fund, the Agtech Growth Fund, and the government’s $15 million investment in an …
Albert Derocher was born and raised on the Flying Dust First Nation. Albert has worked for his community for the last 34 years. His experience entails working with various Business Organizations, Levels of Government, Non Profits and Indigenous Institutions. For the majority of years he has worked for Indigenous People both provincially, regionally and locally. He has worked for Federation …
