BCA Podcasts

Trailblazer Marc Staniloff joins us on C-Suite Unplugged to share his remarkable journey in the Canadian hotel industry. From a career in real estate to acquiring the development rights for Super 8 in Western Canada, Marc's path is filled with strategic choices and compelling partnerships that have transformed local communities. He offers an honest look into the challenges and triumphs of launchin...

Ginny Roth, a prominent conservative voice and partner at Crestview, joins us to explore the potential future of a Conservative government in Canada. With her deep roots in political organizing and consulting, Ginny offers an insider's perspective on what a government under Pierre Poilievre might prioritize. We unravel the possible consequences a second Trump presidency could have on Canadian cons...

The BCA team dives into many of the leading and lagging economic indicators that tell us a bit about where Alberta's economy stands compared to the summer snapshot. They also dive into some of the political developments both nationally and globally and what they could mean for Alberta and Canada's economic forecast into 2025. There are several positives in Alberta's outlook. The Bank of Canada's i...

Warren Stow , the visionary CEO of GrainsConnect , shares his captivating journey from his roots on a family farm in Graysville, Manitoba, to leading a pivotal player in the grain industry. Hear firsthand about the strategic operations that channel Western Canadian grains and oilseeds to global markets, and how Warren 's agricultural upbringing and diverse career experiences shaped his leadership....

Understand the frustrations behind Bill C-59's controversial greenwashing amendments with insights from Adam Legge, President of the Business Council of Alberta. Can these changes to the Competition Act redefine the landscape for Canadian companies making environmental claims? Discover how the lack of clarity and rushed legislation might stifle innovation and corporate communication, leaving the C...

On this episode, we welcome Ian Burns, CEO of Connect First and Servus Credit Union Limited, who shares his remarkable journey from working at a Costco in high school to leading a major credit union. Ian opens up about his educational background and the unexpected transitions that shaped his career, including a pivotal stint at TELUS. His story is filled with resilience, adaptability, and the impo...

What happens in British Columbia has a  huge impact on Alberta, and a lot is happening in B.C. as the Oct. 19 election approaches. Top B.C. political commentators Allie Blades and Rob Shaw join us for a riveting discussion about the rapidly evolving policy and political landscape and the implications for Alberta.   Our guests provide an in-depth look at the unique dynamics and challenges that have...

What was initially a modest $350 million surplus has now skyrocketed to an impressive $2.9 billion. In a first quarter fiscal update that was far from typical, what drove this sudden surplus and what are some of the challenges that come with it? Join us as we sit down with Alberta's Minister of Finance Nate Horner to dissect Alberta's surprising first quarter fiscal update. We'll discuss the drivi...

Get ready for an eye-opening discussion with Derrick Hynes, President and CEO of FETCO, as we unravel the complexities of the ongoing rail work stoppage in Canada. Derrick brings to the table his profound insights on the challenging landscape of collective bargaining in a post-COVID world and the significant economic risks at stake. He also shares the proactive measures FETCO has recommended to th...

Join us on C-Suite Unplugged as we sit down with Avik Day, President and CEO of Capital Power, for an insightful conversation about his journey to the C-Suite and the dynamic world of power generation. Avik shares his experiences from growing up in Calgary to his career in the global energy business, highlighting roles in capital markets, private equity, and entrepreneurship. He discusses Capital...

Episode Description Join us as we explore the intricate economic landscape of Alberta in mid-summer, where high inflation and interest rates contrast with robust economic growth. Alongside our chief economist, Mike Holden, we unpack the paradox of a thriving economy and rising unemployment rates in major cities like Calgary and Edmonton. Despite the high business optimism and strong private sector...

Alberta's opportunity to contribute to global solutions in agriculture, energy, and health is immense. Seizing this opportunity will take big ideas, lots of collaboration, and a little "can do" attitude. In the special series of The Brief, called Missions & Moonshots, we are talking to top experts, business leaders, innovators, and thought leaders across Alberta and Canada exploring solutions to t...

Knowing what success looks like is a talent in and of itself, one that extends beyond profit margins and dives deep into the mentalities and approaches of strong management teams and high performing companies. And in the world of private equity, it's also an immensely important skillset. On this episode, we speak with Brian Boulanger, Chief Executive Officer at ARC Financial Corp. about his journe...

"The greatest energy in the world is inspired humans." The world has come a long way in terms of its energy sources and the united commitment to a low-carbon future. But how do we define "net zero," and is storing carbon really the right way to be reaching our net zero goals? In this episode, we speak with Jesse Douglas, CEO of Green Impact Partners, about his entrepreneurial spirit, his journey t...

7 of 10 Canadians believe that Canada's immigration system needs to change, with only 28% of Canadians feeling like the current system is working. So where did we go wrong, and what can we do to get back to setting ourselves apart on the global stage? You might know him as Former Premier of Alberta, or as the longest serving federal Minister of Immigration. But on this episode of The Brief, we spe...

Alberta has seen the strongest employment growth of all large provinces, but while resilient, Alberta has not escaped weak expectations globally or nationally. The labour market is softening, unemployment has ticked up, and Albertans are still feeling the impact of inflation and interest rates, with less than half feeling good about their finances. Despite this, Alberta businesses are among the mo...

There are many things in today's world that we take for granted, and one of those things is the consistent, reliable access of electricity to our homes. Albertans have high expectations when it comes to the delivery of power from Alberta's electrical grid, but providing that reliability is no easy task when you service 85% of Albertans. In this episode, we speak with Gary Hart, President & CEO of...

Like many immigrants to Canada, the going was not always easy. But for Amir Shami, President & CEO of Rotaflow Group of Companies, backing down was never going to be an option. Now, years after obtaining his P. Eng in Alberta and returning to school to gain the business prowess he felt he was missing, Amir is a thoughtful Albertan leader looking to contribute to the betterment of this province. In...

With a storied career in Alberta government, we can't think of many people with a more impressive portfolio. From Minister of Agriculture, Advanced Education, Technology, and Finance, to his role as Deputy Premier, all the way to his current role as Partner as P3 Capital Partners, Doug Horner is a through and through Alberta leader who has worked extensively to help make Alberta better. In this ep...

2024. The year that must not be named. The Voldemort of years. After a generation of globalization, peace between major powers, economic integration, and stability, we find ourselves in 2024 in a new political, social, and economic world, and business leaders find themselves thinking about geopolitics more than at any time in recent history. On today's episode, we are taking things global. We're j...

It's not every day that you encounter a person who runs not one, not two, but multiple companies simultaneously, while also wearing many different hats including Chair, Managing Partner and CEO. But for Irfhan Rawji, Co-Founder & Managing Partner of Realize Capital Partners, doing so is simply the only way he knows how to exist. In our first episode of C-Suite Unplugged for 2024, we talk to Irfhan...

Alberta's opportunity to contribute to global solutions in agriculture, energy, and health is immense. Seizing this opportunity will take big ideas, lots of collaboration, and a little "can do" attitude. In the special series of The Brief, called Missions & Moonshots, we are talking to top experts, business leaders, innovators, and thought leaders across Alberta and Canada exploring solutions to t...

Immigration has long been a key part of Canada's ethos. For decades, Canadians have been pro-immigration, citing its benefits for the economy, but also its contributions to the rich tapestry of culture, language, and tradition. However, as Canadians navigate the rising cost of living, housing affordability, and access to public services, many—two-thirds in fact—believe that Canada's targets to wel...

As we enter 2024, Alberta finds itself in a relatively strong position compared to the rest of Canada and is forecasted, once again, to be a leader in economic growth for the nation. This strength is underpinned by Alberta's outperformance in several areas including population growth, renewed vitality in the resources sector, a stronger labour market, and strong residential and capital investment....

Welcome back to a brand new season of The Brief! We hope that you had a wonderful holiday break if you were able to take one. We're excited to be back for another season exploring the big challenges that we, as Albertans, face and sharing the big ideas that make this province the best place to live.   As has become tradition, we're kicking off the season with renowned pollster, Janet Brown, to pee...