Bold ambition pairs with tangible initiatives in Calgary’s economic game plan for the future. City leaders, innovators and community changemakers gathered at the annual Uplook Assembly to take stock of progress under Uplook: An Action Plan for Our Economy — the city’s blueprint for building a resilient and opportunity-rich future.
Developed via community engagement and stewarded by Calgary Economic Development, Uplook is designed to make Calgary a place where bright minds and big ideas come together to tackle global challenges and local priorities alike.
Mayor Jyoti Gondek opened the third annual assembly by emphasizing the importance of intentional planning to ensure Calgary's resilience and prosperity.
“Cities that succeed in the years and decades to come will be the ones that make commitments now — commitments to growth as well as equity, commitments to development as well as resilience and commitments to recovery and reinvention,” Gondek said.
“Uplook gives us that roadmap. It's a strategy that's built by our community, and it reflects who we are — imaginative, enterprising and ready to lead.”
Her message served as a powerful reminder of why strategies like Uplook matter, especially during times of uncertainty.
A strategy rooted in values — and results
Brad Parry, President and CEO at Calgary Economic Development, reminded attendees that Uplook isn’t just a strategy — it’s a collaborative approach to city-building.
“Cities today face a lot of noise with economic shifts, global uncertainty and affordability pressures,” he said.
“The temptation is to chase quick wins or the latest trend. Uplook helps us play the long game and stay focused on what really matters — building a strong talent pipeline, vibrant communities, a connected innovation ecosystem and a globally competitive business environment.”
He emphasized that economic development is a team sport — and the results are only possible through collaboration across sectors: “No single organization can do it alone.”
Brad Parry, President & CEO of Calgary Economic Development, speaks at the 2025 Uplook Assembly on May 28, 2025. Photo: Calgary Economic Development.
Kate Koplovich, Director of Strategy at Calgary Economic Development and the event’s emcee, highlighted how Uplook is already shaping a city where innovation and opportunity go hand in hand.
“Today is about celebrating the progress we’ve made and recognizing the shared commitment it takes to keep moving forward,” she said.
“Uplook only works because people across this city believe in it — and keep showing up to turn plans into action.”
Real impact, real initiatives
Across the five drivers of Uplook — talent, livability, business environment, innovation and brand — measurable gains were made in 2024, with new partnerships and programs accelerating diversification and vibrancy in Calgary. The assembly put the spotlight on several transformational initiatives shaping Calgary’s future.
D’Andre Wilson-Ihejirika, Executive Director of TalentED YYC, spoke about the now-concluded pilot program’s role in bridging the gap between education and employment. The initiative created more than 3,200 student work-integrated learning placements, with nearly half involving students of equity-deserving backgrounds.
“This initiative was the first of its kind that we've seen across Canada — possibly across all of Turtle Island, actually,” she said of the pilot program, which ended in March.
“With the amazing success that we saw, we have been having conversations with our provincial government to see how we can expand this great work and continue looking at these different ways of learning outside of the traditional post-secondary system.”
Melissa Tuplin of Calgary Arts Development shared how, through the CreativeCity Guidebook, the organization is bringing year-round cultural programming to communities across the city — and the economic benefits created by the $3.4-billion per year industry (as of 2019, according to the Conference Board of Canada).
“Calgarians who are immersed or engaged in the arts are 125 per cent more likely to feel a sense of pride and belonging in their neighborhood than those who are disconnected from arts and culture,” said Tuplin, the acting CEO and Director, Community Investment and Impact at Calgary Arts Development.
“Arts and culture is simply good business.”
Erin Chrusch from the City of Calgary emphasized the broader benefits of the 5G Discovery Zone — Canada’s first downtown testbed for wireless technologies — for local businesses and innovators.
“The innovation lies not only in what's being tested, the innovation lies in the collaboration itself,” said Chrusch, who gave examples of new technologies that enhance accessibility for Calgarians tested on a municpal scale.
“Never before had a private company come together with the city, with Calgary Economic Development and Platform Calgary, with a common goal. What I find tremendously exciting about that is that now that we know how to do it, we can do it more.”
Jen Lussier of Platform Calgary highlighted the organization’s role in supporting entrepreneurs navigate Calgary’s innovation ecosystem, and the opportunities possible through Calgary’s Innovation Strategy.
Of the 600 tech companies filtering through the organization last year, these startups generated over $200 million in revenue, employing over 7,000 people who earned over $700 million in wages.
“As Calgary’s startup landscape grows, the wages earned are the piece that hits home for me, because it's not just about economic growth. That’s meals on tables, that’s mortgages, that’s university degrees – it's incredible impact for the community,” said Lussier.
(Left to right) Kate Koplovich, Director of Strategy, Calgary Economic DevelopmentJill Dewes, Partner and Chief Growth Officer, Daughter Creative; Kai Fahrion, Co-CEO of Zeno Renewables; Erin Chrusch, Leader, Business & Local Economy, City of Calgary; Nima Najand, Senior Director of Innovation Hubs, Innovate Calgary. Photo: Calgary Economic Development
Turning strategy into action
A highlight of the day was a panel discussion moderated by Jill Dewes, Partner and Chief Growth Officer at Daughter Creative, featuring Chrusch; Kai Fahrion, Co-CEO of Zeno Renewables; and Nima Najand, Senior Director of Innovation Hubs at Innovate Calgary.
The group explored how Uplook is being implemented in their day-to-day work — from industry-post-secondary partnerships and inclusive talent retention to emerging tech and sector growth.
To close out the morning, each panelist shared what gives them optimism for Calgary’s future.
“Community and collaboration. Calgary has small town vibes, but we're a big city,” said Fahrion, whose Zeno Renewables welcomed more than 20 students for work opportunities through TalentED.
“I think we've grown into something that we should be proud of on the world stage. And I think that starts with collaboration of industries, of businesses, of programs like TalentED — just everybody showing up for that collaboration.”
“My kids,” said Crusch. “I have teenagers and an eight-year-old. The fact that I can be confident that whatever it is they want to do with their life, they can do it here — I think that's something very special.”
Najand pointed to the city’s “potential” as its greatest asset.
“Within our 1.7 million people, we have so much opportunity, so much potential to grow and be something really, really special in Canada and the whole world.
“When we're thinking globally, the resources that are available here to help ideas flourish are plentiful. What we need to do is attract the best minds, attract the best technologies, and make sure that we create an environment that fosters their success and entices them to stay within the city.”
Looking ahead with confidence
As the Assembly concluded, Koplovich encouraged attendees to explore the newly released 2025 Progress Report and use it to share Calgary’s story.
“None of this happened in isolation,” she said. “It happened because of partnerships — across government, industry, education institutions, nonprofits and community. This morning was about celebrating that work and looking ahead to what’s possible.”
Read the full 2025 Uplook Progress Report and learn more about Calgary’s economic action plan, Uplook, here. Curious about economic development and why it matters for Calgary? Dive deeper with Economic Development 101.