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2023 Better Together EDCO Pre-conference Presentation: Economic Developer's Council of Ontario - Early Childhood Education & Economic Development
Better Together hosts a pre-conference workshop and panel discussion at The Winter 2023 Economic Developers Council of Ontario Conference & Tradeshow.
Project Summary
When: February 2023
Where: Ontario Trade and Investment Centre, Toronto
Presented by: Dr. Emis Akbari, Tonya Millsap, Lauren Rooyakkers, Rachel Crane and Michelle Schurter
In February 2023, Better Together hosted a pre-conference workshop at EDCO 2023 on the care economy with a specific focus on childcare. The team spent 2 days having conversations and building awareness for the important role early learning and childcare plays in economic development.
Workshop Description
"Who Cares about Economic Development?
Presented by: Dr. Emis Akbari, Tonya Millsap, Lauren Rooyakkers, Rachel Crane and Michelle Schurter
In this pre-conference session, “Who Cares about Economic Development?” Better Together hosted a lunch and learn session that emphasized the vital role of the care economy in economic development.
Traditional economic development has focused on investment attraction, workforce development, BREI, tourism, and main street. This session highlighted the potential for a crucial shift in economic development efforts—community and social infrastructure as key to attracting and retaining talent.
This lunch and learn underscored the importance of the care economy, particularly child care, in shaping competitive and resilient communities. Discussions explored how championing child care as critical infrastructure strengthens workforce participation and local economies. Attendees gained insight into initiatives across Ontario aimed at repositioning care as a foundational pillar of economic development. The session drove home a powerful message: without robust care infrastructure, traditional economic development efforts such as land use, business retention, and labor force growth cannot thrive.
