I was honoured to once again sit on the EDCO Conference Committee, collaborating with economic developers from across the province to help shape a meaningful and forward-looking program. This year, the City of Barrie attended to learn and contribute our insights through several speaking opportunities—continuing the commitment to knowledge sharing, partnership building, and advancing innovative economic development practices.
One of the sessions we were proud to help present focused on the evolving landscape of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). In an increasingly interconnected world, attracting investment is not just about visibility—it’s about strategy. Global Gains was an immersive, hands-on experience to equip business development professionals with tools to craft FDI strategies aligned to their region’s unique strengths and growth ambitions, while also planning impactful international delegations that build lasting, results-driven relationships. Representing Invest Barrie, Stephannie Schlichter joined partners from Invest Ottawa and ResearchFDI to share how we’re growing Barrie’s FDI portfolio—particularly our targeted work in Germany, where many local Barrie advanced manufacturers maintain global headquarters. A key takeaway was the importance of focusing on what your region does best and intentionally building relationships around those strengths. We are excited to continue this momentum as we return to Germany and begin expanding our reach into Asia in 2026.
Pictured: Stephannie Schlichter, Director of Invest Barrie; Bruce Takefman, Founder & CEO of ResearchFDI: Jens-Michael Schaal, Vice President of Global Expansion, Invest Ottawa; Sarah Young, Senior Business Innovation & Strategic Partnerships Officer, Invest Barrie
We were also excited to contribute to a session exploring the rapid rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and what it means for municipal service delivery. Significant advancements have moved AI from a future concept into a present-day priority. Rob Emerson, a seasoned leader in project delivery and digital transformation with more than 25 years of experience driving innovation and positive cultural change in the public sector, shared how the City of Barrie has approached its AI journey. With a career dedicated to helping organizations build meaningful relationships with technology, Rob is at the forefront of responsibly advancing digital transformation in Barrie. His presentation highlighted the current state of AI, real-world municipal case studies, and practical pathways for integration—emphasizing that while AI adoption can feel overwhelming, empowering departments to build tailored tools and agents makes meaningful progress both achievable and sustainable.
Pictured: Rob Emerson, Manager of Digital Transformation and User Experience, City of Barrie
The City of Barrie’s Tourism Coordinator, Kristen Eatch, participated in the Ask the Experts interactive roundtable, sharing valuable insights drawn from Barrie’s past EDCO award-winning initiatives, including the Sport Tourism Strategy and the 2024 Airshow. It was inspiring to hear Kristen’s practical guidance to fellow communities on how to determine when to lead versus support local sporting events, and how meaningful collaboration with local airports and our military connections can help attract new visitors and drive tourism growth. Moments like these reinforce the importance of economic developers learning from and supporting one another.
Pictured: Kristen Eatch, Tourism Coordinator, Invest Barrie, speaking about Barrie’s award-winning projects
We were also encouraged by the announcement of Ontario’s new succession program for the Small Business Centre (SBC) network—a key step in supporting business continuity and long-term economic resilience across communities. It was an honour to connect with Associate Minister Tangri to highlight the vital role SBCs play in entrepreneurship, guiding founders from early ideas to sustainable growth. The conversation also offered a meaningful moment to reflect on success stories from the Summer Company and Starter Company Plus programs, reinforcing the lasting impact of investing in the next generation of leaders.
Pictured: Nora Gavarre, Business Development Officer, Invest Barrie; Hon. Nina Tangri, Associate Minister of Small Business Province of Ontario; Sarah Young, Senior Business Innovation & Strategic Partnerships Officer, Invest Barrie; Prerna Sharma, Manager of Economic Development, Town of Collingwood
Invest Barrie’s presence at the 2026 EDCO Conference reflects continued investment in our team, our partnerships, and our community’s future. Conferences like this allow us to expand our knowledge, strengthen provincial and national connections, and bring fresh ideas back to Barrie—where exciting, forward-thinking work is already underway. We are proud of the role our city is playing in shaping the future of economic development, and we can't wait to see what we learn together at the 2027 EDCO Conference.