HomeMy WebLinkAboutBusiness & Ind - 1997-11-19BIAC\1997-11-19
BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY ADVISORY COMMITTEE
MINUTES
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 1997
PRESENT:
Carl Zehi' (Chah'), l,inda Kieswetter, Councillors Tom Galloway and Berry
Vrbanovic, John Bingeman, John Tibbits, Mike Hisco~ Atso Saarkoppel,
Denise Strong, John Hoffman, Dan Beach, John Gazzola, Valerie Gibaut
and Jane Jantzi
RECORDER: Sandy Curzon
CANADA'S TECHNOLOGY TRIANGLE
~Vh'. Rick Thompson, Dh'ector of Development for Canada's Technology Triangle distributed
a 'Da'aft' overview of C.T.T.'s vision, mission and role as it relates to the present and future.
~Vh'. Thompson felt that it was his role to give the existing vision a clearer definition and act
as a link between the CT~ Start-Up Board and Stemqng Committee. ~Vh'. Thompson has spent
the last ~ years in sales and marketing and since his appointment to C.T.T. he has been
working closely with the Economic Development Officers of the four municipalities and a
Regional representative.
The 1998 Workplan is currently underway - a new look for promotional material, website
design, updating the existing manufacturers dh'ectory, and establishing a science and
technology dh'ectory are some of the item~ A task force has been established to cla~4fy and
define CT~ for the future, affiliate members include CT~AN, Region, and Education
representative~ Functions that will be removed from the municipal offices, which have been
operating CT~ for the past 10 years, has yet to be determined.
IVh'. Thompson left the meeting
TEAM CANADA
Carl Zehr handed the 'chairmanship' of Committee over to John Bingeman, Vice Chairman
to adch'ess the recommendation from the Finance and Administ~'ation Committee as it relates
to an invitation the Mayors office has received regarding an upcoming Team Canada t~qp to
Latin America~ Committee was inlbrmed that Kitchener was one of twelve municipalities
invited along with business, education and government agencies Committee was asked to
review the invitation and comment on the benefit of Kitchener being represented by its
Mayor and also to what the City would be gaining by attending. The following k a summary
of the points made:
raises the perspective of the Mayor internationally
raises profile of those invited ie. municipalities, colleges, universities, businesses, etc.
benefits will be noticed in the long term
no short term benefits
area of interest needs to be identified
CIq' could represent the enth'e area - perhaps by our Mayor
international relationship building exercise both internally and externally
pohticians should stay 'home'
businesses should go internationally
business can represent theh' community
businesses and institutions have something to sell to generate profi~ municipalities only sell
themselves
k it necessary to have pohticians on the t~qp - what k theh' role
contact Anch'ew Telegdi and/or Karen Redman to see who else has been invited
reality k that in some part of the world politicians make a dilTerence
raising profile of CIq' (including Region) can be done on the plane
send our Mayor on behalf of CiW
deputize someone who k ah'eady going
should there be a pohtical presence
should we take action on this issue
need to have a purpose/goal (identify area of interest)
make it and future t~qps part of a long term st~'ategic international initiative
need an articulated st~'ategy that CIq' can agree on
no one on CIq' that can represent the enth'e area
BUSINESS
AND INDUSTRY ADVISORY COMMITTEE - MINUTES
November 19, 1997
3. M]~ES OF SEPTEMBER 10, 1997
a) Minutes of September 10, 1997 were approved and adopte&
b) Business a~qsing from minutes
John Tibbits inlbrmed Committee that Conestoga College will be hosting Skills
Canada for the next four years~ In 1999, Kitchener will be in competition with
Toronto to host the National Skills Championships, which will be an 8-9 day event.
Da'. Tibbits asked Committee to make a recommendation on behalf of the College in
support of their efforts in obtaining the ~qghts to host the 1999 event. It was decided
that John Gazzola will follow-up with John Tibbit~
4. CAUCUS ITEM
Committee was asked by a local company to assist them in obtaining vacant property that
would allow them in meeting their expansion plan~ The owner of the land in question has
been given an extension to build until July 1998 and therefore the City cannot take any
action at this time. Once the extension has expired, Committee did agree that no further
extension be granted to the present owner.
Meeting adjourned at l:05pm
Next Meeting:
Wednesday, January 14, 1998
11:00 am - 1:00 pm
Council Caucus Room, ~nd Floor
City of Kitchener, City Hall
BUSINESS
AND INDUSTRY ADVISORY COMMITTEE - MINUTES
3
November 19, 1997