City of Kitchener and Downtown BIA Panel

A workshop exploring how events can drive economic growth, foster inclusivity, and create vibrant public spaces. Featuring insights from the Mayor, BIA Director and City events staff. This session highlights collaboration as the key to a thriving community.

Outcomes:

1. Partnership opportunities with local businesses and their employees

2. Relationship building strategies with BIAs and Chambers of Commerce

3.  Ideas to expand your event's promotional reach via the business community

BIO:

Mayor Berry Vrbanovic was elected in 2014 as the 68th Mayor of the City of Kitchener since its founding as the Village of Berlin in 1854. As Mayor, he also sits as a member of the council of the Regional Municipality of Waterloo. Prior to being elected Mayor, he served as a City Councillor from 1994-2014.

Born in Zagreb, Croatia, Mayor Vrbanovic moved to Canada as a young child. He is a graduate of the Waterloo Catholic District School Board, Wilfrid Laurier University and the Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative. Coming from an immigrant family himself, he understands the challenges and issues facing the thousands of Canadians who have made Kitchener their new home.

Mayor Vrbanovic also currently serves as Co-President of United Cities and Local Governments and serves on Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) committees and its Big Cities Mayors’ Caucus, as well as with the Association of Municipalities of Ontario Big City Mayors. He is President Emeritus of FCM (2011-12) and is a former member of the FCM Green Municipal Fund Council.

A workshop exploring how events can drive economic growth, foster inclusivity, and create vibrant public spaces. Featuring insights from the Mayor, BIA Director and City events staff. This session highlights collaboration as the key to a thriving community.

Outcomes:

1. Partnership opportunities with local businesses and their employees

2. Relationship building strategies with BIAs and Chambers of Commerce

3.  Ideas to expand your event's promotional reach via the business community

BIO:

Coming Soon

A workshop exploring how events can drive economic growth, foster inclusivity, and create vibrant public spaces. Featuring insights from the Mayor, BIA Director and City events staff. This session highlights collaboration as the key to a thriving community.

Outcomes:

1. Partnership opportunities with local businesses and their employees

2. Relationship building strategies with BIAs and Chambers of Commerce

3.  Ideas to expand your event's promotional reach via the business community

BIO:

Coming soon

A workshop exploring how events can drive economic growth, foster inclusivity, and create vibrant public spaces. Featuring insights from the Mayor, BIA Director and City events staff. This session highlights collaboration as the key to a thriving community.

Outcomes:

1. Partnership opportunities with local businesses and their employees

2. Relationship building strategies with BIAs and Chambers of Commerce

3.  Ideas to expand your event's promotional reach via the business community

BIO:

Coming soon