2010 Alberta Venture Archives

EXPORT AWARDS
Profiles
For exporters in this province, the economic climate doesn’t get much more hostile than it’s been over the last 12 months

FEATURES
East Meets West
Doing business in China requires more than a passport and a product

INDUSTRY REPORT: CONSTRUCTION
Squeeze Play
New oil sands projects are ready to roll, but the price of labour and supplies will dictate how quickly that happens

FEATURES
The Rules of Attraction
A private-sector user guide for landing juicy government contracts

FEATURES
Innovation In The Spotlight
Alberta’s tech industry is trying to move forward, but a lack of savvy investments may be holding it back

REPORT ON SMALL BUSINESS
Small Business In The Know
Five companies and the winning strategies they use to get ahead

FEATURES
The Wireless Wars
Sky-high wireless bills could be gone with the Wind

INDUSTRY REPORT: ARTS AND CULTURE
Final Cut
Productions are fleeing. Government funding is drying up. Is it curtains for the Alberta film industry?

GREEN FEATURES
Funding Energy Efficiency
Renewable energy projects are receiving an injection of funding

SPECIAL REPORT: ABORIGINAL BUSINESS
Native Opportunity
Economic realities and demographic trends boost the stock of aboriginal employees in Alberta

FEATURE
(Aero) Space: The Final Frontier for Alberta?
Alberta’s aerospace industry took a blow in 2009, but insiders today say it’s gearing up for blast-off

SOCIAL MEDIA 101
Clouds, crowds and Mobile Smart Phones
Ever wanted to understand crowd-sourcing, but were afraid to ask? We’ve got the facts right here, plus more vocab for digital business survival

FEATURE
Breaking The Sound Barrier
Listen carefully. Psyko Audio Labs is poised to break into big markets with new audio technology

INDUSTRY REPORT: AGRI-FOODS
Hunger for Success
Alberta is a land of agri-food opportunities awaiting new entrepreneurs. But do they have what it takes?

FEATURE
The Trouble With Teilhard
This Calgary software design company conquered the world’s tech giants in a patent infringement case, but will investors see the spoils of war?

INDUSTRY REPORT: FORESTRY
Sunrise Industry
Canada’s forest industry has one great, green hope for the future. Here in Alberta, it’s already happening

FEATURE
Saving the Rural Railroad
Grain farmers are making bids to keep old rail lines in business that would otherwise be shut down

SPECIAL REPORT: Saskatchewan
This Boom Goes On
They’re calling it Boom Times in Saskatchewan, and the province’s diversified economy points to sidestepping the bust cycle

FEATURE
The Web Over Hawkwood
A Calgary suburb is about to find out what happens when residents get their broadband Internet for free

MEETING & CONVENTION PLANNING GUIDE
Meetings That Stick
Get the most out of the conferences you attend – both at the event and afterwards

FEATURE
Flouting Disaster
Unexpected events can quickly crush your business plan. How four entrepreneurs running three companies coped with serious setbacks. Two of them survived

SPECIAL REPORT: THE EXECUTIVE EDUCATION GUIDE
For What It’s Worth
In today’s shaky job market, should you keep working or go back to school for an upgrade? A cost-benefit analysis

FEATURE
Leap of Faith
Is Alberta ready for adventure tourism? Darrel Bossert’s zipline company depends on it

SPECIAL REPORT: Corporate Social Responsibility
Return on Endowment
Is “venture philanthropy” an oxymoron or the gift that will keep on giving?

On the Cover: Andrew and Robert Watts photographed by John Gaucher