Businesses, organizations and industry representatives with ties to northeastern Alberta – and the Lakeland region – were at the 2024 Power Up North conference, which took place from Oct. 8-10 at the Portage College Lac La Biche campus and was presented by Community Futures Lac La Biche.
The northeastern Alberta setting is part of a rotating northern Alberta venue of communities for the regular conference, that has held similar meetings in Athabasca, Grand Prairie, Smoky Lake and Cold Lake over the years.
One of these companies in attendance in Lac La Biche’s show this year was St. Paul-based Travel Lakeland, which had a booth set up during the event. Michelle Wright, the company’s project manager for destination development, said the Power Up North conference helps businesses and entrepreneurs in northeastern Alberta because it places emphasis on the region.
Power Up North, Wright explained, provides a significant learning opportunity for entrepreneurs in the region, but also a way for them to network and see what other businesses are doing.
“It’s a unique product…there really isn’t anybody else in northeastern Alberta that’s focusing on northeast Alberta entrepreneurs in this way,” Wright told Lakeland This Week.
Regardless of which business or industry somebody happens to be in, she added, the conference offers many great services and people on hand who have expertise in areas of finance, coaching, business planning, marketing, branding, economic development and more.
In addition to showcasing local businesses, Wright said, Power Up North also helps entrepreneurs and businesses to expand their enterprises.
“People who have come to this conference have actually expanded their business in between the times we have the conference,” she said.
Noella Somerville, an artisan who lives in the Lac La Biche region , runs a small business called ‘Healing à la Source.’ Her products and services were on display along with other businesses inside the Portage College gymnasium for the three-day expo. Somerville has been to Power Up North a few times in recent years, and enjoys attending the annual conference, especially learning business skills.
“We learn a lot of about how to grow your own business…that’s the main point for me,” she said.
Power Up North, Somerville said, is a great way for businesses and entrepreneurs in the Lakeland region and northeastern Alberta to network and make connections. As this region of the province is somewhat isolated, she continued, by bringing speakers in from other places, business owners are better able to make connections everywhere.
“It’s all about connection,” she said.
Another Lac La Biche-based business that was represented at this year’s Power Up North conference was Window Washing Warriors, which is owned by David Schultz.
Going into the conference, Schultz was hoping to learn some new things that will benefit his enterprise, while at the same time, getting the chance to converse with other business owners and entrepreneurs.
“There’s a benefit in knowing the other businesses in our community…it’s very beneficial for me being a young entrepreneur meeting people who’ve been at the game longer,” he said.
The three-day event also attracted businesses from outside of the region, including the Edmonton-based FRP Productivity, which is owned by Roland Majeau.
After hearing about the conference, Majeau decided to make the drive to Lac La Biche to check it out for the first time and hopefully create some business connections of his own.
Majeau said it’s a good thing to be able to get out to meet others and gather information on business.
“I found in the past, even some things that don’t seem like it’s a natural fit, it really does help to get out, hear what other people are saying, and it’s amazing what’s out there for talent,” he stated.
Alyssa Churchill travelled two-thirds of the province to attend the 2024 Power Up North conference.
Churchill, who works for NG Finances in Lethbridge, said the conference is helpful for entrepreneurs to get some supports so they don’t have to “go at it alone.”
“Entrepreneurship is pretty lonely and daunting, so it’s nice to have somewhere to go where you can collaborate with other people,” she said.
Other travelling presenters included members of the Great West Media organization, the mother-company of the Lakeland This Week and www.lakelandtoday.ca media outlets. Tim Shoults, the vice-president of Great West Media said the conference was a good way to meet other businesses, offer marketing and promotion opportunities, and gather stories from the business community.
Great West Media was also one of the many sponsors of the Power Up North event.
Shoults, who made the trip to the three-day event with members of Great West Media’s digital marketing team, said it was good to see the support from the region to host the event and the opportunities the event can bring to the region’s economic development.