Collisions YYC

Now that we’re well over 300 days of living in a COVID world, it’s safe to say we could all use a vacation. But will we be ready to return to the crowded airports and fully booked planes once the pandemic is behind us? Rob believes passenger travel won’t be the same and that people will ease into it in small numbers. That’s why the Calgary Airport Authority is preparing now for the traveling world of tomorrow. Join me as Rob talks about the effect COVID-19 and the decline of passenger travel has had on The Calgary Airport Authority and how they are preparing for a radical transformation in travel. 

Olds is a town with just over 9,100 people that’s about 90 km north of Calgary. Life in such a small town might seem ordinary, but Olds is home to one of Alberta’s biggest success stories – ProAll International. For over 50 years, ProAll International have been a global powerhouse in the concrete industry with their mixers being used on worksites around the world. Now in a COVID world, VP of Sales and Marketing Andrew thinks there’s an even greater opportunity to secure new international clients on Zoom calls rather than in boardrooms. Join me as Andrew talks about Proall’s international success out of Olds, their latest innovations that will create more efficiencies on worksites, and what business in the concrete industry might look like post-COVID.

Over the past few years, AI and machine learning have been on the rise, transforming the ways different industries operate like never before. But for Alberta, they are by no means new. We started investing in these technologies nearly 20 years ago before anyone else in the world gave it a thought. As CEO of The Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute (AMII), Cam Linke is leading the innovators and shakers that are pushing boundaries and making good on our investment for a better future. Join me as Cam takes us behind the scenes at AMII and how they're transforming Alberta into a world-leader in AI and machine learning.

Let’s say you’ve misplaced your phone in your home. What’s the first thing you do? That’s easy – have someone call it and follow your ears. Now, let’s say you run a 50,000 sq. ft. warehouse and you’ve misplaced an essential part or item. Finding that can be like finding a needle in a haystack. Enter Richard Simpson and ZeroKey, a hyper-accurate technology that digitizes the 3D location of assets, personnel, and equipment across large industrial environments, down to the millimeter. Join me as Richard takes us through ZeroKey’s evolution, from an Iron Man-esque AR/VR solution to an industry-leading location technology, and how it can help businesses transform the way they operate.

Any Calgary Stampeders fan knows Jon Cornish as a record-breaking, award-winning, legendary Canadian Football Hall of Famer. What they might not know is how his connections with the fans and the community at large turned Calgary into more than just the city he played football in. It made Calgary his true home. So, now that he’s off the field, how is he giving back to the city that welcomed him with open arms? The Calgary Black Chambers, an organization of Black professionals and entrepreneurs that want to make Calgary the best place for Black people to live and work in Canada. Join me as Jon shares the vision for The Calgary Black Chambers, how they celebrate Black success, and the work they are doing to have Black history added to the Alberta curriculum.

Before the pandemic, we would go to the mall, browse around from shop-to-shop, and leave with a bunch of unique items from different retailers. Now, we’re doing all our shopping online and expecting the same result – everything we need all at once. That's an expectation that the supply chain was never designed to fulfill. Enter Scott Gravelle and Attabotics, the world’s first 3D robotic goods-to-person platform that can keep up with modern-day shoppers and their unique ordering habits. Join me as Scott takes us through from the idea to the start-up of Attabotics, his plans to transform supply chain management, and shares his thoughts on how we can keep innovative ideas here in Calgary.

Back when this podcast first began, Judy Fairburn joined me to discuss economic transformation in Calgary and hinted at The 51 Ventures Fund, an investment community for financial feminists. Now, a year and a half later, Judy is back with one of her co-founders Shelley Kuipers for a good old-fashioned update. To sum it up, 2020 did anything but slow them down. After what can only be described as a year of ups-and-down, Judy, Shelley, and The 51 Ventures Fund thrived, even going as far as creating a fund for women-led businesses that’s 90% women-invested. Join me as Judy and Shelley take us through the evolution of The 51, their new fund, and what they have in store for future female entrepreneurs.

As we continue to move forward with our digital transformation, some aren't ready to get out of their comfort zones just yet. For Chris Foster, he thinks it’s about time they do because it pays to be curious. As VP IS & CIO of TC, Chris and his team are pushing the boundaries of innovation with wild curiosity, culture hacks, and even by bending the rules a bit from time to time. Once more Albertans start thinking like Chris, there’s no limit to what we can do. Join me as Chris shares the importance of curiosity, how it can differentiate us from the norm, and why we need to transform our people and culture before our digital landscape.

As we entered lockdown last spring, many retailers had to move their stores online to survive. With no end in sight for the pandemic, what started as a temporary solution is becoming the norm as consumers are accepting the fact that their shopping experiences will now take place online. But for Jim Hill, founder of The Esker Gallery and commercial real estate owner, it’s important that we don’t lose sight of the in-person shopping experience when things go back to normal so that we don't lose the retailers and businesses that give our city its charm. Join me as Jim talks about his role as both a landlord and partner for several Inglewood retailers and where he sees the shopping experience heading post-COVID.

When I say “robot”, many people think of The Terminator or Rosey from the Jetsons. When Savana hears “robot”, she thinks of companions that can help improve our day-to-day lives. That’s the inspiration behind her company Radley Robots, a communications and concierge service via a telepresence robot that keeps people who live on their own safe, connected, and independent. Join me as Savana shares her motivation behind Radley Robots, how her experience in Calgary’s start-up community compares to others and gives us a preview of her first pilot starting this month at Silvera for Seniors.