With just under two weeks until its commencement, seating for the 2015 National Aboriginal Business Opportunities Conference (NABOC) is now sold out.
Organized by the 2G Group, the annual conference has become the most popular business networking event in Northern B.C. This year, the three-day event will be the largest to date.
“We’re very pleased it has become a big success in Prince Rupert,” said Geoff Greenwell, 2G Group CEO, noting 450 delegates representing 218 organizations will be in attendance.
“This is the most diverse conference to date. We have people coming from as far away as Australia, China, Japan and all over Europe, [along with delegates] from the United States and Canada.”
Greenwell said based on calculations by 2G, the 2015 conference will create an economic spin-off of $750,000 for Prince Rupert businesses.
On the evening of April 28, Keller Canada and McElhanney will host a welcoming reception at the Crest Hotel, with Prince Rupert Mayor Lee Brain, Lax Kw’alaams Mayor Garry Reece and Chief Harold Leighton of Metlakatla giving welcoming addresses.
On April 29, the second day of the conference, delegates will gather at the Lester Centre of the Arts to hear Chief Roger William of the Tsilhqot’in First Nation speak about the Supreme Court of Canada’s landmark decision on Aboriginal title rights and what it means for companies wanting to do business in Tsilhqot’in territory.
Later that day there will be a session on LNG, with representatives from six companies proposing projects in the region providing updates, as well as a session from regional First Nations on some of the business initiatives currently being worked on.
Furthermore, Prince Rupert Port Authority CEO Don Krusel will speak about meeting the goals of the “2020 Vision” on April 29.
The final day of the conference will be dedicated to networking, with delegates being encouraged to arrange meetings with each other at the Jim Ciccone Civic Centre or attend workshops hosted at North Coast Convention Centre.
“All the delegates will get to spend the day meeting with each other and talking about business opportunities,” explained Greenwell.
There will also be a charity golf tournament taking place on April 30, which is open to the public, and a harbour tour showcasing sites where LNG projects are being proposed.
Wrapping up the 2015 NABOC, there will be a banquet dinner taking place at the convention centre at 6 p.m., followed by live entertainment from First Nation musician George Leach and First Nation comedian Ryan McMahon at the Lester Centre at 9 p.m.
Members of the general public can purchase tickets for the performance at Cook’s Jewellers and the Lester Centre box office.
As per usual, a trade show will run alongside the three-day conference, consisting of more than 80 exhibitors setting up at the civic centre.