Denis Lavertu, North Battleford's director of business development, is enthusiastic about the meetings and networking opportunities gained for the City at the International Council of Shopping Centers convention in Whistler, B.C.
The event was held Jan. 27 to 29 and was attended by more than 2,200 people. The convention provided an opportunity for Lavertu to market North Battleford to potential investors and decision-makers.
About a hundred booths were set up in a trade show component, and there was also an education component, Lavertu told councillors.
Lavertu updated councillors on the highlights of his trip during Monday's council meeting.
Among the highlights was the presentation and discussion of the retail campaign "Get Me to North Battleford." Lavertu said he served as an ambassador for local property owners and developers, too, with respect to property available in the city. Lavertu also promoted featured site listings including King Street Station and the southeast commercial site near Walmart.
The city also promoted its land sale policy regarding commercial and industrial land commissions, and also created awareness of North Battleford in the commercial retail network of western Canada. Lavertu reported requests for specific information came from over 20 real estate development companies and retailers.
North Battleford was also one of the 10 communities that participated in the "Cities of Canada" pavilion.
He also secured direct one-on-one presentation meetings with ICR Commercial Real Estate, Landmark Cinemas, SmartCentres, Endurance Equities Corp. and Harvard Developments.
"The environment was excellent in that you're talking to people who are really making decisions," said Lavertu. Even the development firms, like Harvard Developments out of Regina, "had their head guys out there."
Lavertu says follow-up is underway and the attend list will be reviewed and proposals put forward to retail representatives. He told councillors he intended to stay in contact with everyone who received information from the city.
In his written report Lavertu noted he also plans to provide more information and facilitate further discussions with Landmark Cinemas following a presentation made to the company president at the conference.
He also intends to facilitate two developers who expressed interest in a site tour of North Battleford.
"That could end up in a potential sale and development of one of our sites," Lavertu said.
Overall, he called it one of the best ICSC conferences he's attended and stressed the value of being able to meet people directly face-to-face as opposed to over the phone.
