Arrival & Registration
Build Your Summit
Choose the sessions that matter most.
Seven breakout blocks give you room to explore the challenges that matter to your business. Choose one session per block. Return to the main stage before each block for a short briefing, announcements and an introduction to your options.
Lead & Build
Leadership, owner freedom, team strengths,
management and execution.
People & Workplace
Culture, communication, employee development,
benefits and wellness.
Money, Opportunity & Protection
Funding, tax, legal fundamentals,
regional opportunities and business safety.
Plan your choices: Session themes may appear in different rooms throughout the day. Friday’s Emergency Planning session runs for 90 uninterrupted minutes across the first two breakout blocks. Attendees choosing that session remain in Room C during the intervening main-stage reset. Saturday’s final breakout block offers two session choices.
Day One · October 23
Friday
Understand the pressures, challenge assumptions and identify what needs to change.
7:30–8:30 AM
Doors Open
8:30–8:45 AM
Main Stage
Opening Welcome
Welcome to the 2026 St. Paul Business Summit
Presented by the St. Paul & District Chamber of Commerce.
8:45–9:45 AM
Main Stage
Opening Keynote
Retention Strategies for Rural Businesses
Eugene Labant · President, Xtreme Oilfield Technology Ltd.
9:45–10:00 AM
Summit Break
Networking & Trade Show
10:00–10:10 AM
Main Stage
Breakout Briefing
Choose Your First Breakout Session
Regroup, review your options and head to your first session.
10:10–11:10 AM
Breakout One
Room A
Lead & Build
From Technician to Business Owner: Stop Fixing Everything Yourself
James McGonigal
Whitecloud Mechanical & Whitecloud Solutions
Room B
People & Workplace
Workplace Burnout and Mental Health Awareness
Lloyanne Galas
Yaremko-Galas Counselling
Room C
Money, Opportunity & Protection
Emergency Planning for Business
Sgt. Pierre St-Cyr
RCMP
Extended session: 10:10–11:40 AM.
Remain in this room during the 11:10 AM main-stage reset.
This session overlaps the start of Breakout Two.
11:10–11:20 AM
Main Stage
Summit Reset
Refocus and Choose Your Next Session
Share key takeaways and review the next session choices. Emergency Planning attendees remain in Room C.
11:20 AM–12:20 PM
Breakout Two
Room A
People & Workplace
Micro-Credentials and Employee Development
Jason Mestinsek
Portage College
Room B
Money, Opportunity & Protection
Regional Workforce Intelligence and Resources
Serena Sjodin
Government of Alberta
Room C
Extended Session Continues
Emergency Planning for Business
Sgt. Pierre St-Cyr
RCMP
Continuation of the session that began at 10:10 AM.
Finishes at 11:40 AM.
This is not a separate session or a second start time.
12:20–1:10 PM
Official Lunch Sponsor · Oil Sands Alliance
Summit Lunch, Exhibitors & Networking
1:10–1:20 PM
Main Stage
Summit Reset
Bring It Back Together
Regroup after lunch, share key takeaways and choose your next breakout session.
1:20–2:20 PM
Breakout Three
Room A
People & Workplace
Five Generations at Work
Bev Lockett
Room B
People & Workplace
Working Across Cultures: Communication That Builds Understanding
Doris Pondrich
EARVSS
Room C
Money, Opportunity & Protection
CPTED: Designing Safer Businesses and Communities
Celeste Besmiller
RCMP
2:20–2:35 PM
Summit Break
Networking, Exhibitors & Refreshments
2:35–2:45 PM
Main Stage
Summit Reset
Set Up the Final Breakout of Day One
Regroup, refocus and select your final Friday session.
2:45–3:45 PM
Breakout Four
Room A
Money, Opportunity & Protection
Funding & Entrepreneurship: Turning Ideas into Opportunities
Matt Peck
Alberta Innovates
Room B
People & Workplace
Employee Benefits That Work: Supporting Your People & Strengthening Your Business
Shalaine Tuleck
Excalibur Executive Planning
Room C
Money, Opportunity & Protection
Legal Fundamentals for Business
Caeleigh Morrow
Morrow Tchir LLP
3:45–3:55 PM
Transition
Return to the Main Stage
3:55–4:25 PM
Main Stage
90-Day Action Plan · Part One
What Must Change?
Facilitated by James McGonigal · Whitecloud Solutions. Capture the priorities and changes that matter most to your business.
6:00–8:30 PM
VIP Event
Limited VIP Experience
VIP Reception, Dinner & Private Business Conversation
Reception begins at 6:00 PM. Dinner begins at 6:30 PM. VIP admission is required.
Day Two · October 24
Saturday
Turn what you have learned into decisions, commitments and a practical 90-day execution plan.
8:00–8:45 AM
Doors Open
Arrival & Networking
Coffee, Exhibitors & Networking
8:45–9:00 AM
Main Stage
Day Two Welcome & Breakout Briefing
Friday Recap, Saturday Focus and Your First Breakout Choice
9:00–10:00 AM
Breakout Five
Room A
Lead & Build
Working Genius
Troy Seimers
Room B
People & Workplace
Grow Your Own: Developing Employees into Future Leaders
Penny Nilsen
Nilsen Business Coaching & Consulting
Room C
Money, Opportunity & Protection
De-Escalation Training
Sgt. Luke Halvorson
RCMP
10:00–10:15 AM
Summit Break
Networking & Trade Show
10:15–10:25 AM
Main Stage
Summit Reset
Share, Refocus and Choose Your Next Session
Return to the main stage for key takeaways, announcements and the next breakout choices.
10:25–11:25 AM
Breakout Six
Room A
People & Workplace
Workplace Wellness: Building Healthier, Stronger & More Productive Teams
Ty Smereka
Optimal Wellness
Room B
People & Workplace
The Conversations We Avoid: Handling Difficult Workplace Discussions
Jesse McGonigal
Whitecloud Solutions
Room C
Money, Opportunity & Protection
Connecting Our Agrifood Economy
Penny Fox
Connect for Food
11:25–11:35 AM
Transition
Return to the Main Stage
11:35–11:55 AM
Main Stage
Morning Takeaways & Application
Put It to Work: What Will You Do Differently?
Facilitated by James McGonigal. Capture your strongest takeaway, discuss how you would apply it with another attendee and share practical ideas with the room.
11:55 AM–12:00 PM
Transition
Make Your Way to Lunch
12:00–12:50 PM
Lunch Break
Lunch, Exhibitors & Networking
12:50–1:00 PM
Main Stage
Summit Reset
Set Up the Final Breakout Block
Regroup for the afternoon and choose your final breakout session before the regional business panel.
1:00–2:00 PM
Breakout Seven
2:00–2:15 PM
Transition Break
Return to the Main Stage
2:15–3:00 PM
Main Stage
Regional Business Panel
Built Here: Leading and Growing a Business in Our Region
Perspectives from business leaders representing the trades, retail, oilfield and hospitality sectors. Panellists will be announced.
3:00–3:15 PM
Short Break
Prepare Your 90-Day Action Plan
3:15–3:50 PM
Main Stage
90-Day Action Plan · Part Two
What Will You Execute?
Facilitated by James McGonigal · Whitecloud Solutions. Turn your strongest takeaways into specific actions and measurable commitments.
3:50–4:30 PM
Main Stage
90-Day Action Plan · Part Three
Build the Complete Plan
Facilitated by James McGonigal · Whitecloud Solutions. Bring your priorities and actions together with clear owners, deadlines and accountability.
4:30–4:50 PM
Main Stage
Summit Closing
Commitments, Acknowledgements and What Happens Next
Build your plan. Bring your team.
Attend different breakout sessions and bring the lessons back together inside your business.