On Sunday morning, I had the opportunity to sit down with Susan Holdsworth, Edmonton’s WinterCity Coordinator. Despite her busy schedule preparing for the Winter Cities Conference, which starts on Wednesday, Susan took some time to explain what the international conference means to Edmonton and why embracing the winter season is so important.

Susan Holdsworth, WinterCity Coordinator

How it started

The idea for the Winter Cities Shake-Up conference was presented within Edmonton’s WinterCity Strategy, a blueprint for transforming Edmonton into a world-leading winter city. The strategy outlines ten separate goals, within four themes:  “Winter Life”, “Winter Design”, “Winter Economy”, and “Our Winter Story”.  All goals are aimed at transforming the perception of winter in Edmonton and capitalizing on the winter assets the City already has.

From Wednesday, January 28 until Friday, January 30, delegates will have the opportunity to learn about exciting winter initiatives happening in and around Edmonton, hear from world-renowned speakers, and participate in fun activities, including an outdoor market in Churchill Square on Friday afternoon.

Who will be there

Edmonton will be host to delegates from 52 different cities and ten countries. “There are around 360 delegates registered,” explains Susan, “most are from Edmonton, but one delegate is coming all the way from Mongolia!”

Many of the speakers have also travelled a long distance, including:

• Esko Lotvonen, Educational Economist from the University of Turku and Mayor of Rovaniemi, Finland. The City of Rovaniemi has become an incredible example of a winter city economy; marketing themselves as “the Official Hometown of Santa Claus”.
• Einar Bardarson, Director of Visit Reykjavik. Reykjavik, the capital of Iceland and another ‘winter city’, has seen exceptional growth in tourism. According to their official website, the city experienced a 20% increase in the number of visitors between 2012 and 2013.

Why you should attend

WinterCity initiatives, such as this conference, will influence Edmonton’s urban design, the growth of winter business, and overall quality of life. “Being seen as a ‘winter city’ is important because the winter is a core part of our identity as a City,” Susan emphasized. “We need to take advantage of the opportunities a Northern City has to offer.”

To learn more or register, visit the Winter Cities Shake-Up conference website.