(Edmonton, Alberta, May 2009) –– Themed “Sustaining progress in a transitioning economy,” the Alberta Regional Economic Development Conference is the foremost regional economic development symposium in the province. Donovan Creative was invited to be a silver sponsor of the conference, speaking to delegates on effective marketing and branding in rural and regional settings, as well as sponsoring lunch for keynote speaker and CBC social commentator and editorialist Rex Murphy.
The conference was a great success, drawing over 150 economic development practitioners, business and community leaders, and individuals interested in growing Alberta’s economy.
“There’s a lot of innovative new activity in municipal and regional development and Donovan Creative is excited to be a part of it,” said Michael Donovan, President and Creative Director of Donovan Creative. “Our company has done and continues to do a great deal of work in economic development and regional labour attraction marketing and branding, so when we were invited to be a part of the conference we saw it as an excellent fit. We spoke to delegates about how communities can own a position in the market by thinking about what you have to offer that is uniquely yours, or as something that can be uniquely owned if you only reach out and grab it.
“Positioning a community is all about either saying and doing what others can’t, or saying and doing what others aren’t. This kind of thinking can lead to innovative strategies that will attract new levels of attention and interest that can affect your reputation world-wide. David Beurle spoke about this rural revitalization in an Australian context: how communities there have taken it upon themselves to create their own reality, and how they have taken hold of their future by ‘manufacturing’ their destiny. It’s no different in Alberta – how do we innovate on the levels of message, marketing, public relations, and programs to build positive, lasting awareness around the authentic, forward-looking benefits of our communities? And how do we share those with the world to enhance our economic, social and attraction goals here at home? These are interesting questions, and one’s that are answerable here as much as they are down under.”
For more on the 2009 Regional Economic Development Conference, visit www.aredconference.com
Donovan Creative is a full-service marketing and communications agency offering integrated services in market research, brand development, brand management, public and media relations, advertising, and interactive and web development. For more, visit donovancreative.com.
For more information, contact:
Michael Donovan
President & Creative Director
Donovan Creative Communications
780.428.0411 (Ext. 101)
michael@donovancreative.com
