(External) Sault Ste. Marie Regional Event

Day One: June 15th, 2025

7:00 PM – 9:00 PM – Sunset Cruise Networking Boat Cruise

The City of Sault Ste. Marie is pleased to host EDCO Regional Seminar delegates on a sunset networking cruise aboard the Miss Marie Lock Tour Boat. Enjoy a two-hour cruise along the scenic St. Marys River, taking in downtown views of both Canadian and U.S. Sault Ste. Marie while relaxing on one of the region's most iconic waterways.

The evening before the seminar, connect with fellow delegates over light appetizers and a complimentary beverage (cash bar available). Set against a historic trade corridor linking Lake Superior to the Great Lakes, this unique experience brings the seminar's themes of infrastructure, connectivity, and regional opportunity to life.

Day 2: June 16th, 2025

8:30 AM – 9:00 AM – Registration and Networking

9:00 AM – 9:20 AM – Welcome and Opening Remarks

• Welcome from the City of Sault Ste. Marie
• EDCO Welcome

9:20 AM – 10:10 AM – Plenary: Marine Connectivity & the Great Lakes Advantage

Guest Speaker: HOPA Ports

• Unlocking port potential in the Great Lakes system
• Marine infrastructure as a catalyst for regional growth
• Integrating ports into rail and road networks to improve market access

10:10 AM – 10:30 AM – Coffee and Networking Break

10:30 AM – 11:15 AM – Plenary: Rail Connectivity & Northern Supply Chains

Guest Speaker: Watco

• The role of shortline rail in connecting people, resources, and markets
• Cost reduction, reliability, and competitiveness for Northern industries
• Rail as a strategic asset for rural and resource-based economies

11:15 AM – 12:00 PM – Panel Discussion: Multimodal Infrastructure as an Economic Enabler

• Aligning infrastructure investment with economic outcomes
• Overcoming geographic and scale challenges in the North
• Public-private collaboration models

12:00 PM – 1:00 PM – Lunch and Networking

1:00 PM – 1:45 PM – Sector Spotlight: From Core Industries to Community Impact

A facilitated conversation featuring:

• Agri-Food: lowering operating costs and improving market access
• Tourism SSM & Downtown Revitalization:
  • How increased industrial and business activity drives tourism, culture, and service-sector growth
  • The relationship between economic activity, vibrancy, and quality of life

1:45 PM – 2:00 PM – Coffee and Networking Break

2:00 PM – 3:15 PM – Guided Experiential Session: Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre – Curator-Led Tour

• Historical role of aviation in opening Northern Ontario
• Movement of people and resources as the foundation of economic development
• Linking historic gateways to today's multimodal opportunities

3:15 PM – 3:30 PM – Closing Reflections