BUSINESS LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE: LEADING THE CHARGE



 ABOUT BLC


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

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!

This year's theme, Leading the Charge, is all about empowering business leaders, building effective teams, planning for what’s next, and growing with confidence.

 
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.
 

 KEYNOTE Speaker

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.
 


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

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:

Honouring a Legacy:
Explore how the Calgary Stampede's deep agricultural roots and century-long traditions continue to shape its identity and its impact on southern Alberta.


Adapting for the Future:
Discover how the Stampede is evolving to meet the expectations of an ever-changing audience through innovative programming, world-class venues, and year-round experiences.


Building Community & Global Reach:
Learn how the Stampede strengthens community connections while expanding its influence from a local celebration to a globally recognized cultural destination.

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.
 


 FIRESIDE Chat

 


From Origin Story to Succession: Building a Business that Lasts

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.
 
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. 

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.

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. 

 

 WORKSHOP Leaders


Your choice of two workshops to attend!

Workshop 1 Options:

Option A: 

Understanding and Preventing Burnout

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.

Key Topics:

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

       OR

Option B: 

Shifting the Leadership Paradigm: The Power and Possibility of Influence

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.

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.

 

Workshop 2 Options:

 

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

Workshop Description:
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.
Drawing from over a decade of experience with leading companies in transportation, retail, and manufacturing, Jay will explore how corporate wellness can:

  • Boost productivity and morale
  • Reduce absenteeism, sick days, and health-related costs
  • Improve employee retention and engagement
  • Enhance workplace culture and presenteeism
  • Strengthen your brand as an employer of choice
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.
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.

       OR

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

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.

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.


FOOD

Breakfast, lunch and refreshments will be provided for attendees.
 



 
ATTENDEE Swag Bag


All attendees will receive an attendee gift bag. 
Are you a business that would like to contribute to the gift bag? 

If 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.
Email dana@airdriechamber.ab.ca for further information. 



2025 Business Leadership Conference Photos


  CONFERENCE Sponsor
Interested in sponsoring this event? Click the button below for more information.

 


 THANK YOU Sponsors

 

 

PRESENTING

(One Available)
 

BREAKFAST

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VISIONARY

 

 


 


 

 

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PRINTING

Thank you to all our swag bag and prize donors!

TODO

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Date and Time

Thursday Feb 26, 2026
8:00 AM - 4:00 PM MST

 
 CONFERENCE Agenda
 

8:00 am      Breakfast

9:00 am
     Opening Remarks

9:30 am
     
Fireside Chat with Pat Cashion and Darcy Forbes 

10:30 am    Break

10:45 am
   
Workshop 1 (Breakout rooms)

11:30 am
   Break

11:45 am
   
Workshop 2 (Breakout rooms) 

12:30 pm   Lunch

1:30 pm
    Roundtables (Main Room)


2:15 pm     A message from the Chamber

2:30 pm
    
Prize Giveaways

2:45 pm     Keynote Presentation Joel Cowley

3:45 pm     Closing Remarks 
 
4:30 pm     Doors Closed

Location


CONFERENCE Location


Century Downs Racetrack & Casino
Homestretch Room

260 Century Downs Dr. Rocky View, AB

Map of 260 Century Downs Dr, Calgary, AB T4A 0V5
 

Fees/Admission

  
 FEES /Admission


Regular Rates
February 2 - February 23, 2025
Chamber Members:  $160.00

Future Members:  $200.00


Please note: If you have any dietary restrictions, please mention them in the "Comment" section at the time of registration.  

Registration Deadline: Monday, February 23 @ 4:00 pm
Registrations are non refundable.

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