BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//ChamberMaster//Event Calendar 2.0//EN METHOD:PUBLISH X-PUBLISHED-TTL:P3D REFRESH-INTERVAL:P3D CALSCALE:GREGORIAN BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART:20260226T150000Z DTEND:20260226T230000Z X-MICROSOFT-CDO-ALLDAYEVENT:FALSE SUMMARY:BUSINESS LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE: LEADING THE CHARGE DESCRIPTION:ABOUT BLC\n\n\n\nThe Airdrie Regional Chamber of Commerce is excited to host our region's second annual Business Leadership Conference!\n\nThe Business Leadership Conference is designed to empower professionals and entrepreneurs by providing insights\, strategies and inspiration to drive growth\, innovation & success. Through expert speakers\, engaging sessions\, and meaningful networking opportunities\, the conference fosters leadership development and strengthens the business community!\n\n\n\nThis year's theme\, Leading the Charge\, is all about empowering business leaders\, building effective teams\, planning for what's next\, and growing with confidence.\n\n \nOur format includes informative workshops led by business experts\, a fireside chat with Darcy Forbes and Pat Cashion of Vitreous Glass\, and a keynote address from Joel Cowley\, Chief Executive Officer of The Calgary Stampede. Join us for an engaging look at the history\, culture\, and community spirit that built the Calgary Stampede\, along with the bold developments that are transforming Stampede Park today. From agricultural roots to world-class venues and year-round programming\, see how the Stampede has evolved to welcome the world\, while staying true to its Western roots and giving back to the Southern Alberta community.\n\n \n\n\n \n\n KEYNOTE Speaker\n \n\n\n \n \n \n Joel Cowley\, an accomplished leader and passionate advocate for agriculture and Western heritage\, serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the Calgary Stampede\, one of the world's largest and most iconic outdoor events. With a rich history in agriculture and event management\, Cowley brings invaluable expertise and a forward-thinking vision to the Stampede organization.\n\n \n \n \n\n\n\n\nJoel Cowley\, CEO of the Calgary Stampede: Honouring Tradition. Shaping Tomorrow.\n\nWith decades of leadership experience and a passion for community-building\, Joel brings a powerful perspective on how one of the world's most iconic events continues to evolve while honouring its 142-year legacy. In this dynamic and engaging session\, Joel will share insights into:\n\nHonouring a Legacy:\n\nExplore how the Calgary Stampede's deep agricultural roots and century-long traditions continue to shape its identity and its impact on southern Alberta.\n\n\n\nAdapting for the Future:\n\nDiscover how the Stampede is evolving to meet the expectations of an ever-changing audience through innovative programming\, world-class venues\, and year-round experiences.\n\n\n\nBuilding Community & Global Reach:\n\nLearn how the Stampede strengthens community connections while expanding its influence from a local celebration to a globally recognized cultural destination.\n\nThis keynote is more than a look behind the scenes\, it's an opportunity to learn from the leader guiding one of Canada's most storied institutions into its next chapter. Whether you're a business leader\, community builder\, or passionate advocate for innovation\, Joel's perspective will inspire new ways to honour your roots while boldly embracing growth and transformation.\n\n \n\n \n\n FIRESIDE Chat\n \n\n\n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n From Origin Story to Succession: Building a Business that Lasts\n\n Join us for an engaging fireside chat featuring Pat Cashion and Darcy Forbes\, two leaders whose shared journey at Vitreous Glass offers rare\, real-world insight into entrepreneurship\, leadership transition\, and succession planning.\n\n \n\n Attendees will hear Pat's origin story\, from chartered accountant and management consultant\, to transforming a struggling concept into Vitreous Glass\, a profitable Airdrie-based operation that has thrived for nearly three decades. \n\n \n\n The conversation will then turn to Darcy's leadership journey\, from starting in the maintenance department to becoming Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. Darcy will share practical insights on succession planning from the perspective of the next-generation leader: earning trust\, building capability\, navigating transitions\, and balancing operational excellence with long-term vision.\n\n Together\, Pat and Darcy will explore what successful succession really looks like: not a single moment\, but a deliberate process rooted in culture\, learning\, and shared accountability. \n \n \n \n\n \n\n\n WORKSHOP Leaders\n\n\n\nYour choice of two workshops to attend!\n\nWorkshop 1 Options:\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n Option A: \n\n Understanding and Preventing Burnout\n\n Managing a business in today's fast-paced environment can be challenging\, and burnout can impact both leaders and their teams. This issue affects us on both personal and professional levels. This session will provide a focused introduction to understanding burnout and recognizing its early signs before it escalates. Participants will learn how burnout affects leadership effectiveness and the workplace\, and practical\, actionable steps that leaders can take immediately to support their own resilience and well-being\, as well as that of their teams.\n\n \n\n Key Topics:\n\n \n Recognizing burnout in leaders and teams\n Understanding the impact on decision-making\, productivity\, and the workplace\n Practical strategies for prevention and early intervention\n Quick\, effective self-care approaches for leaders\n Ways leaders can support a healthy\, sustainable workplace\n \n \n \n \n\n\n OR\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n Option B: \n\n Shifting the Leadership Paradigm: The Power and Possibility of Influence\n\n Leadership is not a skill\, a set of inspiring words\, or a great speech. It is more fundamental\, more basic\, and more permanent than that. It is a way of being\, and it is not reserved only for those who carry titles or sit in the corner office. This session will challenge participants to focus on influence rather than impression\, celebrate character over credentials\, and embrace the importance of communicating to connect by engaging with people in a way that makes them feel valued and appreciated.\n\n \n\n Be prepared to let go of traditional paradigms of leadership\, to question what it truly means to lead\, and to consider the great possibility that lies within each of us. Who you are matters more than what you do. This program is about empowering yourself and those around you\, creating opportunities for greatness\, and leading from wherever you are\, no matter your title or position. Concepts will be explored in the context of current literature and illustrated through stories.\n \n \n \n\n\n \n\nWorkshop 2 Options:\n\n\n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n Option A: Wellness That Works: Investing in Corporate Wellness Programs\n\n Workshop Description:\n\n In today's competitive business landscape\, investing in employee wellness isn't just a perk\, it's a performance strategy. In this results-driven session\, Jay Raymundo shares how organizations of all sizes can implement practical\, scalable wellness programs that deliver measurable ROI.\n\n Drawing from over a decade of experience with leading companies in transportation\, retail\, and manufacturing\, Jay will explore how corporate wellness can:\n\n \n Boost productivity and morale\n Reduce absenteeism\, sick days\, and health-related costs\n Improve employee retention and engagement\n Enhance workplace culture and presenteeism\n Strengthen your brand as an employer of choice\n \n\n Whether you're a business owner\, HR leader\, or team manager\, this workshop will equip you with actionable tools to build a healthier\, more resilient workforce\, and a stronger bottom line.\n\n Walk away with: A blueprint for launching or enhancing your wellness program\, real-world case studies and success metrics\, and strategies to align wellness with business goals.\n \n \n \n\n\n OR\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n Option B: Stop Being So Damned Canadian - Embracing Respectful\, Direct Communication\n\n Based on his acclaimed book "Stop Being So Damned Canadian"\, author and business strategist gregT explores how our national habit of politeness and indirect communication can quietly hold us back in business and in life. In this engaging and often humorous presentation\, gregT reveals how a culture of "nice" can sometimes get in the way of honesty\, leadership\, and meaningful connection.\n\n \n\n Through stories\, insights\, and practical examples\, he shows how embracing direct\, respectful communication can strengthen relationships\, build trust\, and drive better results\, without sacrificing the kindness that defines us as Canadians. Attendees will walk away inspired\, entertained\, and equipped with tools to communicate with clarity and confidence in every part of their lives.\n \n \n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nFOOD\n\nBreakfast\, lunch and refreshments will be provided for attendees.\n\n \n\n\n\n\n \n\nATTENDEE Swag Bag\n\n\n\n\nAll attendees will receive an attendee gift bag. \n\nAre you a business that would like to contribute to the gift bag? \n\nIf yes\, this is a great way to market your business! We require up to 130 items (valued over $5 each) to be included in the bag. Items need to be received by Friday\, February 20th\, 2026.\n\nEmail dana@airdriechamber.ab.ca for further information. \n\n\n\n\n\n2025 Business Leadership Conference Photos\n\n\n\n\n CONFERENCE Sponsor\n\nInterested in sponsoring this event? Click the button below for more information.\n\n \n\n \n\n\n THANK YOU Sponsors\n\n \n\n \n\nPRESENTING\n\n(One Available)\n\n \n\n\n \n \n \n BREAKFAST\n \n \n LUNCH\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n\n \n\nVISIONARY\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n\n\n \n\n MEDIA\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n\n\n\n\n\nINNOVATOR \n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n\n\n\nCOLLABORATOR\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n\n\n\n\nPRINTING\n\n\n\nThank you to all our swag bag and prize donors! X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:


\n
\n \;ABOUT \;BLC

\n\n


\nThe Airdrie Regional Chamber \;of Commerce is excited to host our \;region'\;s second annual \;Business Leadership Conference!

\n\n
The Business Leadership Conference is designed to empower professionals and entrepreneurs by providing insights\, strategies and inspiration to drive growth\, innovation &\; success. Through expert speakers\, engaging sessions\, and meaningful networking opportunities\, the conference fosters leadership development and strengthens the business community!
\n
\nThis year'\;s theme\, Leading the Charge\, is all about empowering business leaders\, building effective teams\, planning for what&rsquo\;s next\, and growing with confidence.
\n \;\n
Our format includes informative workshops led by business experts\, a fireside chat with Darcy Forbes and Pat Cashion of Vitreous Glass\, and a keynote address from \;Joel Cowley\, Chief Executive Officer of The Calgary Stampede. Join us for an engaging look at the history\, culture\, and community spirit that built the Calgary Stampede\, along with the bold developments that are transforming Stampede Park today. From agricultural roots to world-class venues and year-round programming\, see how the Stampede has evolved to welcome the world\, while staying true to its Western roots and giving back to the Southern Alberta community.\n\n
 \; \n\n
\n \n\n

 \;KEYNOTE \;Speaker

\n \n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n
Joel Cowley\, an accomplished leader and passionate advocate for agriculture and Western heritage\, serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the Calgary Stampede\, one of the world'\;s largest and most iconic outdoor events. With a rich history in agriculture and event management\, Cowley brings invaluable expertise and a forward-thinking vision to the Stampede organization.
\n  \;
\n\n


\nJoel Cowley\, CEO of the Calgary Stampede: Honouring Tradition. Shaping Tomorrow.

\n\n

With decades of leadership experience and a passion for community-building\, Joel brings a powerful perspective on how one of the world'\;s most iconic events continues to evolve while honouring its 142-year legacy. \;In this dynamic and engaging session\, Joel will share insights into:

\n\n

Honouring a Legacy:
\nExplore how the Calgary Stampede'\;s deep agricultural roots and century-long traditions continue to shape its identity and its impact on southern Alberta.
\n
\nAdapting for the Future:
\nDiscover how the Stampede is evolving to meet the expectations of an ever-changing audience through innovative programming\, world-class venues\, and year-round experiences.
\n
\nBuilding Community &\; Global Reach:
\nLearn how the Stampede strengthens community connections while expanding its influence from a local celebration to a globally recognized cultural destination.

\n\n

This keynote is more than a look behind the scenes\, \;it'\;s an opportunity to learn from the leader guiding one of Canada'\;s most storied institutions into its next chapter. Whether you'\;re a business leader\, community builder\, or passionate advocate for innovation\, Joel'\;s perspective will inspire new ways to honour your roots while boldly embracing growth and transformation.
\n \;

\n\n
\n\n

 \;FIRESIDE \;Chat

\n \;\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n
\n


\n

\n 		\n

From Origin Story to Succession: Building a Business that Lasts

\n\n
Join us for an engaging fireside chat featuring \;Pat Cashion \;and \;Darcy Forbes\, two leaders whose shared journey at Vitreous Glass offers rare\, real-world insight into entrepreneurship\, leadership transition\, and succession planning.
\n  \;
\n\n
Attendees will hear \;Pat'\;s origin story\, \;from chartered accountant and management consultant\, to transforming a struggling concept into Vitreous Glass\, a profitable Airdrie-based operation that has thrived for nearly three decades. \;
\n
\n The conversation will then turn to Darcy'\;s leadership journey\, \;from starting in the maintenance department to becoming Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. Darcy will share practical insights on succession planning from the perspective of the next-generation leader: earning trust\, building capability\, navigating transitions\, and balancing operational excellence with long-term vision.
\n\n

Together\, Pat and Darcy will explore what successful succession really looks like: not \;a single moment\, but \;a deliberate process rooted in culture\, learning\, and shared accountability. \;

\n
\n \;\n\n
\n

 \;WORKSHOP \;Leaders

\n\n


\nYour choice of two workshops to attend!

\n\n

Workshop 1 Options:

\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n
\n

\n 		\n

Option A: \;

\n\n

Understanding and Preventing Burnout

\n\n

Managing a business in today'\;s fast-paced environment can be challenging\, and burnout can impact both leaders and their teams. This issue affects us on both personal and professional levels. This session will provide a focused introduction to understanding burnout and recognizing its early signs before it escalates. Participants will learn how burnout affects leadership effectiveness and the workplace\, and \;practical\, actionable steps that leaders can take immediately to support their own resilience and well-being\, as well as that of their teams.
\n
\n Key Topics:

\n\n
    \n
  • Recognizing burnout in leaders and teams
    • \n
  • Understanding the impact on decision-making\, productivity\, and the workplace
    • \n
  • Practical strategies for prevention and early intervention
    • \n
  • Quick\, effective self-care approaches for leaders
    • \n
  • Ways leaders can support a healthy\, sustainable workplace
    • \n
\n
\n\n

 \;  \; \; \; \; \;OR

\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n
\n

\n 		\n

Option B: \;

\n\n

Shifting the Leadership Paradigm: The Power and Possibility of Influence

\n\n

Leadership is not a skill\, a set of inspiring words\, or a great speech. It is more fundamental\, more basic\, and more permanent than that. It is a way of being\, and it is not reserved only for those who carry titles or sit in the corner office. This session will challenge participants to focus on influence rather than impression\, celebrate character over credentials\, and embrace the importance of communicating to connect by engaging with people in a way that makes them feel valued and appreciated.
\n
\n Be prepared to let go of traditional paradigms of leadership\, to question what it truly means to lead\, and to consider the great possibility that lies within each of us. Who you are matters more than what you do. This program is about empowering yourself and those around you\, creating opportunities for greatness\, and leading from wherever you are\, no matter your title or position. Concepts will be explored in the context of current literature and illustrated through stories.

\n
\n\n

 \;

\n\n

Workshop 2 Options:

\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n
\n

\n\n

 \;

\n 		\n

Option A: \;Wellness That Works: Investing in Corporate Wellness Programs

\n\n

Workshop Description:
\n In today'\;s competitive business landscape\, investing in employee wellness isn'\;t just a perk\, it'\;s a performance strategy. In this results-driven session\, Jay Raymundo shares how organizations of all sizes can implement practical\, scalable wellness programs that deliver measurable ROI.
\n Drawing from over a decade of experience with leading companies in transportation\, retail\, and manufacturing\, Jay will explore how corporate wellness can:

\n\n
    \n
  • Boost productivity and morale
    • \n
  • Reduce absenteeism\, sick days\, and health-related costs
    • \n
  • Improve employee retention and engagement
    • \n
  • Enhance workplace culture and presenteeism
    • \n
  • Strengthen your brand as an employer of choice
    • \n
\n\n
Whether you'\;re a business owner\, HR leader\, or team manager\, this workshop will equip you with actionable tools to build a healthier\, more resilient workforce\, and a stronger bottom line.
\n\n
Walk away with: \;A blueprint for launching or enhancing your wellness program\, \;real-world case studies and success metrics\, and \;strategies to align wellness with business goals.
\n
\n\n

 \;  \;  \;  \;OR

\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n
\n

\n 		\n

Option B: \;Stop Being So Damned Canadian - Embracing Respectful\, Direct Communication

\n\n

Based on his acclaimed book "\;Stop Being So Damned Canadian"\;\, author and business strategist \;gregT \;explores how our national habit of politeness and indirect communication can quietly hold us back in business and in life. In this engaging and often humorous presentation\, gregT reveals how a culture of "\;nice"\; \;can sometimes get in the way of honesty\, leadership\, and meaningful connection.
\n
\n Through stories\, insights\, and practical examples\, he shows how embracing direct\, respectful communication can strengthen relationships\, build trust\, and drive better results\, \;without sacrificing the kindness that defines us as Canadians. Attendees will walk away inspired\, entertained\, and equipped with tools to communicate with clarity and confidence in every part of their lives.

\n
\n\n

\n
\n\n
\n
\n
\n\n

FOOD

\n\n

Breakfast\, lunch and refreshments will be provided for attendees.
\n \;

\n\n
\n


\n \;
\nATTENDEE \;Swag Bag

\n\n
\n


\nAll attendees will receive \;an attendee gift bag. \;
\nAre you a business that would like to contribute to the gift bag? \;
\nIf yes\, this is a great way to market your business! \;We require up to 130 items (valued over $5 each) to be included in the \;bag. \;Items need to be received by Friday\, February 20th\, 2026.
\nEmail dana@airdriechamber.ab.ca \;for further information. \;
\n
\n
\n2025 Business Leadership Conference Photos

\n\n
\n
\n\n

 \; \;CONFERENCE \;Sponsor
\nInterested in sponsoring this event? \;Click the button below for more information.
\n

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 \;

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 \;THANK YOU \;Sponsors

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PRESENTING

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(One Available)
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BREAKFAST

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LUNCH

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VISIONARY

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 \;MEDIA

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\nINNOVATOR

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\nCOLLABORATOR

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\nPRINTING
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Thank you to all our swag bag and prize donors!

\n
\n LOCATION:CONFERENCE Location Century Downs Racetrack & Casino Homestretch Room 260 Century Downs Dr. Rocky View\, AB UID:e.1948.3215 SEQUENCE:3 DTSTAMP:20260413T153000Z URL:https://www.airdriechamber.ab.ca/events/details/business-leadership-conference-leading-the-charge-3215 END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR