Three B.C. cabinet ministers will be among the pundits speaking at a large event coming to Maple Ridge on May 22.
The event called "Momentum: Economic Growth and Success Expo" will be held at Thomas Haney Secondary, and is presented by the City of Maple Ridge, the Ridge Meadows Chamber of Commerce, and School District 42.
Michael Morris, the business and community liaison for the WorkBC centre in Maple Ridge, said the event will feature two panel discussions, including a 5 p.m. panel conversation with the ministers called the Power of Three. Education and Childcare Minister Lisa Beare; Minister of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation Diane Gibson; and Minister of Finance Brenda Bailey are the panellists.
There will also be a 4 p.m. panel discussion called "Forging the Future" that will feature Maple Ridge Mayor Dan Ruimy, Pitt Meadows Mayor Nicole MacDonald, and leaders from Fraser Health, Coast Mountain Bus and Scotiabank.
The event will also feature a jobs, education and resource fair with more than 40 tables for the general public, and another jobs fair exclusively for students in Grades 10 to 12. There will be 12 employers looking for students to hire, said Morris.
The City of Maple Ridge's business resource hub will be there, and the event will feature a transitions fair to connect SD42 students with diverse abilities to community resources.
"This will be a fantastic event that will address topics such as B.C.'s response to tariffs and trade wars, changing labour market, fears of a recession, latest on the economy, [and] where to find resources and supports," said Morris.
The student expo will feature a number of employers from the ironworkers union to BC Hydro, and post-secondary institutions from BCIT to Vancouver Aviation College.
The public session will feature almost 20 employers including the school district, Ellis Don, and Fraser Health. Morris said they will present employment opportunities ranging from immediate jobs with Canadian Tire to career opportunities with the RCMP.
"We have a strong mix of employers," said Morris.
The Business Resource Hub, hosted by the City of Maple Ridge, invites entrepreneurs to "bring your questions, and leave with answers." Economic development agencies, financial institutions, service providers, and suppliers will be there to connect with.
Morris expects there to be a lot of talk about the economy, tariffs, and uncertainty created by U.S. policies in the panels.
"We want people to leave this event feeling a little more motivated, and a little more secure," said Morris. "As Canadians, it's about pride, and we're going to see people come together and not depend so much on the U.S."
