Greater Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce takes the Saskatoon story on the road to Calgary.

Each year, the Greater Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce produces Business Showcase to provide an opportunity for Saskatoon businesses to establish new contacts and strengthen established relationships.

Like all events of this nature, these projects need to constantly reinvent themselves or they risk becoming irrelevant as the needs of the market evolve.

Following the 2005 Showcase exhibitors were asked about initiatives they would like developed to tell their business stories to new audiences and in new and exciting ways. One of the participants at the meeting asked, "Why don't we take the show to Calgary?"

To project director Jim Zaiachkowski that became the challenge. How do you take the Business Showcase concept, which had been operating successfully in Saskatoon for over 15 years, on the road and to a new audience?

Zaiachkowski began with research and uncovered some amazing opportunities. Firstly, with over 300,000 people from Saskatchewan living in Calgary there were lots of potential business contacts that were at least familiar with Saskatoon, but might not be fully up to date regarding the recent developments in Saskatoon.

Secondly, there were lots of Saskatoon businesses doing business in Calgary and they were anxious to do even more. The next piece in the puzzle was the fact that there are over 10,000 graduates from the University of Saskatchewan living in Calgary so this was an audience that might be curious about the Saskatoon of the 21st century. From this data and the chamber's previous files, Zaiachkowski then built out a plan that included: what stories to tell; how to tell them; who to invite; who to host; where to hold the event; which speakers would tell the stories and on, and on ...

There are five themes developed for Saskatoon Business Showcase: Great place to work and live; Great place to invest; Great Place to visit and play water sports; Great business people to work with; and Great place for learning and discovery.

The 2006 Business Showcase will be held at the Executive Royal Inn, in Calgary, Alberta October 25 and 26, 2006. Over 30 businesses will be showing off their talents to the Calgary business community. The Greater Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce and the University of Saskatchewan will be hosting an alumnae reception one evening and the Chamber and the Industry and Resources Department of the Province of Saskatchewan will be hosting another business reception. The two other major sponsors of the event are Numa Technologies Corporation and Saskatchewan Business Magazine.

Dr. Murray McLaughlin, director of business development at the Canadian Light Source, will talk about the opportunities for research and discovery available in Saskatoon including the opportunities surrounding Canada's only synchrotron right in Saskatoon.

A second luncheon will feature Alan Cruickshank, vice-president Union Securities Ltd. Alan will introduce the Calgary audience to Canada's mining capital--Saskatoon, and tell them about world-leading opportunities in potash, uranium, diamonds, rare earth deposits, and of course oil and gas.

There will also be several daytime presenters explaining to attendees everything from: "Why a rare earth find in Canada will improve the world's environment in the 21st century" to "How Saskatoon's next generation of business leaders have set the course for Saskatoon's next 100 years."

Surrounding communities are getting in on the act too. As gateways to waterfront that Albertans can only dream of, North Battleford and Prince Albert will explain to Calgarians how summer should be spent--at the beach ... with your kids! Kindersley will tell registrants how rural business opportunities can be both profitable and fun.

Coming to Canada's hottest economy and telling people why Saskatoon is a good option is bold, but Saskatoon frequently ranks near the top of economic performance indicators for cities across Canada.

Saskatoon offers something special--a place where a person can make their community a better place and offers the timesavings to allow residents and investors to make that contribution.

Saskatoon does have an exciting future ahead and 30 of Saskatoon's leading businesses are spending their time, their money and their efforts to tell that story.

That's attitude fit for the 21st century.