On May 4, 2021 Rainforest Alberta Calgary hosted our first virtual Summit. As of 2021, Calgary's ecosystem-our Rainforest- is growing rampantly. Inspired by this growth and a fireside chat with Rainforest Co-Author Greg Horowitt, earlier in the year, the summit focused on rerooting the community in the social contract. 2021 also provided many firsts for the summit in Calgary. Being that the event was virtual, it wasn't bounded by space and everyone was welcome to attend.
If you missed or want to revisit the Rainforest Summit, you can see the full report and highlights here!
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We are inspired by all of the amazing people in the community. We want to share the stories of those who have been nominated as a Rainforest Role Model. ADAM LUDGATE Adam Ludgate brings a spirit of collaboration, storytelling and connection to the Rainforest Alberta community. As one of the Rainforest Alberta Podcast hosts, Adam is the most listened to host, moved out of his comfort zone, and interviewed some big names in the ecosystem. He saw a need in the community and believed in the LIBI podcast's vision, and continues to come through with new episodes when the community needs a host. Thank you for being an inspiring and supportive member of the #RainforestAB community! JADE ALBERTS Jade Alberts truly exemplifies what it means to give back to the community. He is always sharing his experiences and knowledge freely in helping entrepreneurs start their journey. His #Podcast show Telling it like it is highlights leaders and provides insights to aspiring entrepreneurs. He's always willing to lend a hand, spread the message of exciting things happening in the community, and sharing his deep knowledge and advice without asking for anything in return. Thank you for being such an inspiring and positive member of the #RainforestAB community. TOM PEPEVNAK Tom Pepevnak has offered his legal, business and strategic guidance to dozens of entrepreneurs and start-ups. He brings positive energy, a willingness to support others, and a lifetime of experience that he shares at #LWOL and with the community. Thank you for being a positive and friendly member of the #RainforestAB community! PETER LAFONTAINE Peter Lafontaine brings passion and generosity to the #RainforestAB community. He's always leading by example, gives back endlessly and shares his knowledge with everyone he meets. He's always there to lend a hand, provide inspirational insight, and inspires others to give back. He also volunteers his time influencing the provincial leaders to promote our High Tech industry, is an active member of Data for Good and is a geek too. Thank you for being a passionate and inspirational member of the community for 4 years. Is there someone in the community who has inspired you? We want to hear their stories. Nominate them as a Rainforest Role Model!
Without a doubt, 2020 challenged us and yet brought to light the value technology plays out in our lives. More than ever, a sense of community and a spirit of collaboration has reverberated among us. 2020 started strong with bold initiatives for Rainforest and the Calgary ecosystem. There were projects up to the height of the Calgary tower to execute on: ecosystem mapping, a collaborative volunteer program, a teen tech showcase with the Library, Cheers to the Grassroots version two, visits to large tech companies for the summer tour, and that was just the first half of 2020! Well, you know what happened as well as we do. And yet, here we are, connecting weekly. Averaging 40 people per week online, consistently, and we couldn’t be more proud. The pandemic meant we teamed up with Edmonton to offer LWOL (Lunch Without Lunch) to a broader audience with combined efforts. The online format did not allow for the same serendipitous connections as in person events but we managed to bring value in other ways. Panel speakers, month long topics, and the summer tour continued to offer new musings about how, as a community, we can continue to improve the innovation economy in Alberta. Rainforest Calgary teamed up with Startup Calgary to offer Power Hour in conjunction with StartUp Pitches and Drinks online. This was a great way to expand our reach into the community. As StartUp Calgary moves under the Platform umbrella, programming and events are being updated to reflect the needs of the community. The goal for 2020 was to partner with other meetups as well. This may be realized into 2021 as many groups have successfully moved back online. Steven left the Rainforest team to pursue full-time work with the Leftovers Foundation in early April. Brigitte was hired at the end of August to breathe new life into Rainforest and continue the work of responding to the community into 2021. Kourtney announced her departure for the end of 2020 (though she is likely going to hang around a few hours a week supporting for a couple months into 2021). The community manager roles will always ebb and flow and this is part of how we can continue to ensure Rainforest stays relevant and not stuck in an outdated model of behaviour (also thanks covid for shaking that up). 2020 provided an opportunity for us to reflect as a community and measure ourselves. We put out three reports. Despite the challenges of 2020, the scorecard measurement went up from 629 to 686 and made big gains in the Culture and Leadership pillar. This is a testament to the continued efforts of the entire community committing to the values of the social contract and wanting to raise the bar in Calgary. The LIBI Podcast continued with weekly releases throughout 2020 with guests and hosts from across the province. The podcast continues to showcase innovators, dreamers, and amazing ecosystem builders. January 12, 2021 will be the 100th podcast episode! Highlights from 2020
Nine entrepreneurs worked through the LIBI Fund Program, getting training to help them validate their startup. They participated in Startup 101 and Customer 101 & 201 from StartUp Calgary, Marketing or Sales Kickstarter from 321 Growth Academy, received $200 in credits from Good Lawyer, and three expert sessions from Nicerr. The entrepreneurs will be presenting at LWOL session in January on their takeaways from the program. Thanks to every who supported the entrepreneurs in their early states.
All the best,
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As we continue to connect the innovation community through collaboration and trust, a Marketing Coordinator is being brought on to help tell our stories and move our work forward. Please refer to this link for job description and application details. |
It has been an immense pleasure and learning experience to have been Co-Community Manager with Rainforest Alberta for two years. It’s also incredibly difficult to be leaving without being able to say goodbye in person. The community took a chance on me, the tech un-savvy, who as Mackenzie liked to joke, thought full stack referred to pancakes. I am still learning and believe I will never really stop as technology continues to disrupt us. |
I am so fortunate to have found amazing people to call mentors, friends, and role-models through this community. I have met talented, smart, kind, and determined people. I’ve been challenged, and you’ve let me challenge you too. I couldn’t ask for a better role to help me realize the potential and capacity I have to champion a bright and bold future for Calgary.
I’m stepping away at the end of 2020 to focus on a new goal, the ambitious one of being elected for Calgary City Council. Rainforest and the community has taught me to approach this challenge with an open mind, use data, be innovative, use more data, pivot when needed, and to use more data. Rainforest has shown me that the collective is better when the sum of its parts move together, openly, with trust, with room for everybody at the table, and with curiosity to know more.
I want to call out a few people who have made the last few years extra special.
To Mackenzie who brought this ignorant lady into the fold, and to Brigitte who took the hard blow of me leaving just weeks into starting - both of you are fierce advocates for change and I so appreciate what you both have taught me. To Steven in the middle of it all, who made me laugh yet kept me accountable to action. Aaron in Edmonton, thank you for working with me and being one of the most dedicated people I have ever met to supporting innovation in Alberta. Al has been a shining light of consistency and tenacity, who has been an arm to lean on from the beginning as both an educator and friend. Jim has been a constant source of inspiration and has modelled an abundance mindset to me. His outlook and optimism is continually a guiding light. Brad is the very foundation of trust. I have always felt capable and encouraged from his permissive leadership along his open-minded, willing, and inclusive approach. Those of you who come to LWOL weekly, laugh at my absurd topics, have gone with the flow of trying new formats, and who are all the while building community and companies, thank you.
Outside of the core Rainforest group I’ve found peers and friends through the Calgary Innovation Coalition - at Platform, Startup Calgary, SAIT, and beyond. I want to take all of you on this next step with me, building a smart, resilient, and innovative city.
I’m stepping away at the end of 2020 to focus on a new goal, the ambitious one of being elected for Calgary City Council. Rainforest and the community has taught me to approach this challenge with an open mind, use data, be innovative, use more data, pivot when needed, and to use more data. Rainforest has shown me that the collective is better when the sum of its parts move together, openly, with trust, with room for everybody at the table, and with curiosity to know more.
I want to call out a few people who have made the last few years extra special.
To Mackenzie who brought this ignorant lady into the fold, and to Brigitte who took the hard blow of me leaving just weeks into starting - both of you are fierce advocates for change and I so appreciate what you both have taught me. To Steven in the middle of it all, who made me laugh yet kept me accountable to action. Aaron in Edmonton, thank you for working with me and being one of the most dedicated people I have ever met to supporting innovation in Alberta. Al has been a shining light of consistency and tenacity, who has been an arm to lean on from the beginning as both an educator and friend. Jim has been a constant source of inspiration and has modelled an abundance mindset to me. His outlook and optimism is continually a guiding light. Brad is the very foundation of trust. I have always felt capable and encouraged from his permissive leadership along his open-minded, willing, and inclusive approach. Those of you who come to LWOL weekly, laugh at my absurd topics, have gone with the flow of trying new formats, and who are all the while building community and companies, thank you.
Outside of the core Rainforest group I’ve found peers and friends through the Calgary Innovation Coalition - at Platform, Startup Calgary, SAIT, and beyond. I want to take all of you on this next step with me, building a smart, resilient, and innovative city.
This is the point when the orchestra would start playing to get me off the stage. To the community - thank you. You are the heart and hustle of the innovation ecosystem. Continue to build each other up, extend a hand, and practice the social contract daily. Wishing all of you the best and more! |
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