I love this time of year!  With AMII’s Upper Bound in Edmonton last week, and Alberta Innovates’ Inventure$ in Calgary next week (May 29-31) – the whole province is enjoying an Alberta Tech Sandwich, and is it ever a meal to be savoured!!  Alberta’s tech powerhouse abilities are being fully demonstrated, as these back-to-back tech conferences are bringing in rapidly growing audiences – to the levels that may have a final count of over 5,000 each!
 
AMII has been building Upper Bound with a festival spirit for years, and came up with an amazing ‘assist’ from the Edmonton Oilers, where the conference’s huge networking event of the week was held as an ICE District party – and the excitement built to a winning crescendo and a game victory.
 
–        The Upper Bound conference not only enjoyed record numbers, they filled the Edmonton Convention Centre in an incredibly innovative fashion. Amii “blew the doors off” all the main conference rooms, joining the central stage and simul-casting 3 streams via “dance party head phones” .. and incorporating networking and demo-stations at the same time. Who says you can’t have it all?  Talk about everything, all at once.. and the fascinating part was that it was quiet, and convenient, and accessible, and optimized.. with outstanding AI content, at all levels from beginner to advanced!  Congrats Cam Linke, Stephanie Enders, and the entire AMII team and partners – for an impressive, inclusive, and inspiring week.
 
While Upper Bound goes deep in AI, Inventure$ goes wide in Tech – with 6 streams and a core focus on providing value to tech entrepreneurs, in so many ways, as well as building-up-our tech sector for tomorrow.  From attracting international investment to Alberta, to readying start-ups for the stage, to best practices on technology and company building, to bringing our workforce of the future in to experience the excitement – this years Inventure$ is gearing up to be an event ‘not to be missed’.
 
–        Take a look at the program – as not only is there strength in advanced technologies, and thought-leaders from far-and-wide, but there is something for everyone.
–        Whether you are a ‘hands-on’ learner, and want to experience AR/VR or the innovation showcases, or someone who enjoys the hallway conversations where you can grab a couple of moments with busy entrepreneurs or sought-after funders – you will be sure to find opportunities galore.
 
So come for the excitement, stay for the people – and let’s enjoy Alberta’s Tech Sandwich together this week.
 
Thanks everyone, and looking forward to seeing you soon – at Inventure$, and beyond,

Gail
Gail J. Powley, P.Eng
President, Technology Alberta