ASTTBC’s 57th Annual AGM & Conference a Success!

The importance of technology professionals to the BC economy, employment trends, and accessibility were the main topics of discussion at this year’s AGM in Surrey.  ASTTBC Council and staff were pleased to welcome more than 200 members and stakeholders to the Sheraton Guildford Hotel and even more participants via webinar for this informative day.

The event theme, Technology Professionals in Demand, showcased the vital impact Technology Professionals have on building a vibrant BC economy and stressed the growing demand for qualified techs as a result of demographic and economic trends.

The day began with Linda Reimer, MLA for Port Moody-Coquitlam, representing the provincial government and introducing video greetings from government leaders. Linda was elected MLA for Port Moody-Coquitlam in 2013, and currently serves as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development for Communities.

Video greetings from Premier Christy Clark and Hon. Andrew Wilkinson, Minister of Advanced Education and Minister responsible for the ASTT Act, acknowledged the important contributions ASTTBC members provide to BC’s economy.

View Premier Christy Clark video: https://youtu.be/GzwTfoF6X8I

View Hon. Andrew Wilkinson video: https://youtu.be/xF7CDY1gnqM

Marvin Hunt, MLA for Surrey–Panorama, also spoke before the Business Session. Marvin was elected to the Legislature in 2013 and first elected to Surrey City Council in 1988.

Delegates also enjoyed remarks by George Heyman, who was elected as the MLA for Vancouver-Fairview in 2013.  George serves as Opposition Spokesperson for Environment, Green Economy and Technology.

The Business Session shared highlights of ASTTBC’s initiatives for 2015 and the coming year, and announced the ASTTBC Council for 2016-2017. 

After the Business Session, ASTTBC members with 25, 40 and 50-year certificates were recognized and honoured for their continuous years of membership in ASTTBC.

The morning Panel Discussion, Technology Professionals – BC’s Advantage, offered insights on labour market conditions in BC, in particular, sectors related to technology professionals. The panel of experts explored human resource strategies to recruit and develop the workforce. The panel included the following:

Eulala Mills – President, Level Headed Thinking

Charles Joyner, AScT, PhD – Registrar, ASTTBC

Alan Bostakian – Manager, Professional Development, Partner Programming and Accreditation, Human Resources Management Association.

MLA Kathy Corrigan brought greetings during the luncheon. Kathy was elected MLA for Burnaby-Deer Lake in 2009 and serves as Official Opposition Spokesperson for Advanced Education.

The Hon. Stephanie Cadieux, Minister of Children and Family Development and MLA for Surrey-Cloverdale, spoke during the afternoon session. Stephanie was elected MLA for Surrey-Panorama in 2009 and MLA for Surrey-Cloverdale in 2013. She serves as vice-chair of the Cabinet Committee on Secure Tomorrow, and also sits on the Treasury Board, and the Cabinet Working Group on Core Review.

Stephanie spoke about Accessibility 2024, a government-wide 10-year action plan that identifies what citizens can do to reduce barriers and create more accessible, inclusive communities. Since its launch in June 2014, government, business and the disability community have worked together on the range of activities identified in Accessibility 2024.

Stephanie also provided a special introduction for Guest Speaker Randy Lewis. http://nogwog.com/the-author-2

Randy Lewis is an American businessman, a disability employment advocate, and an author. As the Senior Vice President of Walgreens, the largest drugstore chain in America, Randy pioneered a program in its distribution centers that resulted in 10 per cent of its workforce consisting of people with disabilities. The result was higher levels of employee engagement, productivity and safety, and lower absenteeism and turnover in the company.

Randy’s moving presentation, No Greatness without Goodness, explored his journey of parenting a child with autism and what it takes to lead with courage in order to change people’s lives for the better.

 

View the ASTTBC 2016 AGM & Conference photo album:  https://goo.gl/photos/JJhrmkz9oGpNzCc78

 

ASTTBC extends recognition and appreciation to our AGM 2016 Event Partners and Sponsors for helping to make the AGM & Conference so successful.

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2016 Event Partners & Sponsors…