'Be ambassadors' economic development head tells city councillors

DaynaSpiringrapid-fired volleys of positive stories at councillorson the city's innovation and economic development committee.

Software giant Ubisoft has a presence in Winnipeg. Skip the Dishes has settled its HQ in the city. Large national conferences are coming here.

Spiring, as president and CEOof Economic Development Winnipeg, gave the first of several scheduled updates to the committeeand she came with a message.

"Council has to do a better job about the great things in Winnipeg and not be so negative," Spiringtold councillors.

Spiring acknowledgedissues such as crime are a concern for the city, but says those challenges exist in every city.

In an interview after the meeting,Spiring opened up hercall to everyone in the city.

"I would challenge all Winnipeggers to be better ambassadors and I think our city council is the top of that list, but there are incredible things happening in our city," she said.

Spiringtook the committee through the reasons why Economic Development Winnipeg (EDW) got behind the Whiteout parties during Winnipeg Jet playoff runs.

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The worldwide media focusframed the city in a positive light with a reach Spiring saidshe couldn't match with the entire EDW budget.

And Spiring saidthe message sent by images of throngs of happy people countered othernegative ones. Suddenly phone callsthat were neverreturned in the past started to get a call back.

"This is not a little city in the middle of nowhere with potholes, no tall buildings and mosquitoes," Spiring said.

Stiff competition with other cities

EDWoversees YesWinnipeg and Tourism Winnipeg, and each playa specific rolein promoting the city.

The organizationhas launched a talent hub to scan for skilled people, and has deployed an artificial intelligence program to "articulate the special advantages of Winnipeg."

EDWfaces stiff competition from other cities not only because they are often larger, with greater economic clout, but also because their development agencies have resources and staff far outweighing thoseof Winnipeg's contingent.

It has been a time of some upheaval in Manitoba's promotion and economic development sector as the Progressive Conservative government has sought a more streamlined strategy to boost trade and investment.

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The World Trade Centre agency was tapped by the province to take the lead on trade.

Spiringtold the committeeher organization has to mesh with WTC, the city's CentreVenturedevelopment arm and thefederal government to hammer positive messages about the city and the province.

"We all need to be aligned," she said.

Innovation committee chair John Orlikowadmitted there was work for everyone to be a better ambassador for the city.

"Winnipeggers and I'm to blame sometimes myself get a little down on ourselves. But there are really some amazing things going on here. So we have to balance off some of that, I would call it the 'Winnipeg way,' where we are kind of [saying] 'it could be better,'" Orlikowsaid.