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Early bird rates expire October 9!
Room block expires October 14!
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Who You'll Meet at PNWER's
2015 Winter Meeting
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Hon. Bob McLeod
Premier, Northwest Territories
Minister of Executive
Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Intergovernmental Relations
Minister Responsible for Women
Minister Responsible for New Energy Initiatives
Bob McLeod was elected to the 17th Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories on October 3, 2011. This is Mr. McLeod's second consecutive term representing the constituents of Yellowknife South. Mr. McLeod was born and raised in Fort Providence, Northwest Territories.
Mr. McLeod has over 28 years of service in the public service with both the Governments of the Northwest Territories and Canada in various senior management roles including Deputy Minister, and Secretary to Cabinet during the 15th Legislative Assembly.
In the 16th Legislative Assembly, Mr. McLeod served as Minister of Human Resources, Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment, Minister Responsible for the Public Utilities Board, Lead Minister on New Energy Initiatives as well as Lead Minister for the Mackenzie Valley Gas Pipeline
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Donald K. AlperProfessor Emeritus of Political Science and former Director of the Center for Canadian-American Studies and the Border Policy Research Institute at Western Washington University. Mr. Alper holds a Ph.D. in political science from The University of British Columbia. His research interests focus on Canadian politics and British Columbia-U.S. transboundary issues. He was a founding member of the Pacific Northwest Canadian Studies Consortium and was elected president of the Association for Canadian Studies in the United States (ACSUS) for a two-year term, 1999-2001. Mr. Alper was awarded a Certificate of Merit by the International Council of Canadian Studies in 2007 and the Donner Medal by the Association for Canadian Studies in the United States, also in 2007.
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Brendan Bell
Executive Vice President, Community Affairs and Acting Chief Executive Officer, Dominion Diamond Corporation
Brendan Bell joined the Dominion Diamond Corporation in July 2013. Prior to joining the company, Mr. Bell served eight years in the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly including terms as Minister Responsible for Energy and Mines, Minister Responsible for the Environment and Minister of Justice and Attorney General in the Government of the Northwest Territories.
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 Darrell Beaulieu
Chair of the Northwest Territories Business Development Corporation, President and CEO of Denendeh Investments
Darrell Beaulieu was born and raised in Yellowknife, capital of the Northwest Territories and has served three terms as the Chief of the Yellowknives Dene First Nation, whose traditional territory surrounds the capital area. In 2005, Mr. Beaulieu was 2005 was appointed the Chair of the Northwest Territories Business Development Corporation (BDIC) by the Government of the Northwest Territories.
He was appointed President and CEO of Denendeh Investments Incorporated in 2005. Mr. Beaulieu was the founding President of Deton'Cho Corporation and Deton'Cho Diamonds and has been employed or self-employed in various aspects of mineral exploration in the NWT for many years.
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 Rep. Scott Bedke, Speaker of the House Idaho State House of Representatives Now serving his eighth term, Rep. Scott Bedke is Speaker of the House in the Idaho State House of Representatives. He serves on the following committees: Joint Finance and Appropriations Committee; Revenue & Taxation Committee; Resources & Conservation Committee; Transportation & Defense Committee; Chair Economic Outlook & Revenue Assessment Committee; and the Credit Rating Enhancement Committee. He is the former president of Idaho Cattle Association, the former director of National Cattlemen's Beef Association and a former member of the Oakley City Council. |
 Ken Coates Ken Coates was raised in Whitehorse, Yukon, and has long-standing professional and personal interests in Aboriginal rights, northern development, northern Canadian history, science, technology and society, and Japan Studies. Mr. Coates has written extensively on Aboriginal history, Indigenous-newcomer relations and post-secondary education. His first major work, Best Left as Indians, examined the history of the Yukon through the lens of Aboriginal-European contact. His subsequent work includes The Marshall Decision and Aboriginal Rights in the Maritimes, Land of the Midnight Sun: A History of the Yukon and shortly, a co- authored book called Treaty Peoples: Aboriginal People and the Future of Canada. He has published more than a dozen books with his regular co-author, Dr. W.R. Morrison. |
 Rep. Bob Herron Alaska State House of Representatives, Chair of PNWER Arctic Caucus
Rep. Herron was first elected to the Alaska State House of Representatives in 2008 and Majority Whip in 2015.
Rep. Herron was elected as chair of PNWER's Arctic Caucus at the 2015 PNWER Annual Summit, and has been involved in the Caucus since 2010. The Arctic Caucus, a working group within PNWER, is a partnership of public and private sector members from Alaska, Yukon and the Northwest Territories.
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Sen. Curt McKenzie
Idaho State Senate, PNWER President
Sen. Curt McKenzie is now serving his seventh term on the Idaho State Senate. He is chair of the State Affairs committee and a member of the Local Government and Taxation committee. He chairs the Senate's leadership committee, the State Affairs Committee.
Sen. McKenzie was elected president of the Pacific NorthWest Economic Region in July 2015 and served as a vice president of PNWER from 2014 to 2015. He also serves on various national committees including the National Conference of State Legislatures Nuclear Legislative work group and Council of State Governments-West Energy and Public Lands Committee.
Sen. McKenzie is the founding member of McKenzie Law. He has practiced law for over twenty years since graduating in the top 10% of his law school class from Georgetown University.
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Tim MercerClerk of the Northwest Territories Legislative AssemblyThe Clerk of the Legislative Assembly is the chief procedural advisor to the Speaker and the Members of the Assembly. The position is responsible for a wide range of duties relating to the proceedings and official records of the Assembly and its committees. The Clerk, as Deputy Minister, also has overall responsibility for services provided by the Legislative Assembly, including financial services, personnel and administrative services, research and library services, legislation, Hansard, broadcasting, Sergeant-at-Arms and visitors' services.
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Hon. David Ramsay
Minister of Justice and Industry, Tourism and Investment
Minister Responsible for the Public Utilities Board
Immediate Past President of PNWER
Mr. Ramsay was first elected to the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories in the 2003 Territorial election as the Member representing the riding of Kam Lake, located in Yellowknife.
Mr. Ramsay was re-elected to the 16th Legislative Assembly in 2007 and elected to a third term in 2011 to the 17th Legislative Assembly.
On October 31, 2013, Mr. Ramsay was appointed the Minister of Justice and Attorney General for the Northwest Territories as well as the Minister Responsible for the Public Utilities Board. He remains the Minister responsible for Industry, Tourism and Investment.
Mr. Ramsay served as vice president of Pacific NorthWest Economic Region from 2011-2014, and was elected president July 2014.
Ramsay's prior political experience includes five years as a Yellowknife City Councilor, where he chaired the Corporate Services Committee and was the City Council representative on the Diamond Task Force.
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Colin Robertson
Senior Advisor, Dentons
Colin Robertson is an expert on US-Canada government relations, focusing on policy issues that involve perspectives from both sides of the border. Mr. Robertson was recognized as one of the "Top 80 Influencing Canada Foreign Policy" by The Hill Times Embassy Newspaper in 2012 and 2013. Before joining Dentons he was a Distinguished Senior Fellow at the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs. He is a former president of the National Capital Branch of the Canadian International Council and is currently a Vice President and Senior Research Fellow at the Canadian Defence and Foreign Affairs Institute. A career foreign service officer, Mr. Robertson served at the UN and Canadian Consulate in New York, in Hong Kong, as Consul General in Los Angeles, and the first head of the Advocacy Secretariat at the Canadian Embassy in Washington. He was part of the team that negotiated the Canada-US Free Trade Agreement and the NAFTA. In 2012 Robertson was recognized by the Pacific NorthWest Economic Region with the "Hot Potato Award" for his work in increasing collaboration between the U.S. and Canadian organizations and stakeholders.
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Drue Pearce
Senior policy advisor, Crowell & Moring's Environment & Natural Resources and Government Affairs groups.
Drue Pearce has more than 25 years of experience in government affairs, public relations, natural resources and energy policy and regulation, having served in the Alaska State Legislature, the private sector, and in the Immediate Office of the Secretary at the Department of the Interior and at the Office of the Federal Coordinator for Alaska Natural Gas Transportation Projects. In 2014 Pearce was elected as an associate fellow of the Nautical Institute for her role in the development of Alaska Arctic maritime safety policy. Prior to that, Ms. Pearce served as a senior advisor to both Secretary Gale Norton and Secretary Dirk Kempthorne at the U.S. Department of the Interior, where she dealt primarily with Alaska Affairs.
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 Sean Willy
Director of Corporate Responsibility, Cameco Corporation
Sean Willy has been instrumental in creating and leading one of the world's most progressive aboriginal engagement programs as the Director of Corporate Responsibility for Cameco. His innovative approach to community engagement emphasizes a commitment to a strong and sustainable business model that supports Cameco and the communities near the company's operations.
Most recently, Mr. Willy developed and led the negotiations for Cameco's collaboration agreements with Pinehouse and the English River First Nation in northern Saskatchewan. These agreements codify longstanding relationships and offer the communities greater autonomy and additional opportunity to grow local workforces and businesses.
His work extends globally, engaging Indigenous people in potential uranium development in the United States and Australia as well.
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Keep up with our confirmed speakers at
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| Legislators in attendance |
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Rep. Deborah Boone
State Representative, Oregon Legislative Assembly
Rep. Mike Cuffe
State Representative, Montana Legislative Assembly
Larry Doke
Member of the Legislative Assembly, Government of Saskatchewan
Sen. Lee Heider Senator, Idaho State Senate
Don Toth
Member of the Legislative Assembly, Saskatchewan, former Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan
Sen. Chuck Winder Assistant Majority Leader, Idaho State Senate
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NEW MINING POLICY TOUR AVAILABLE
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- Tour runs 8:00 a.m. to noon, Wednesday, Nov. 18.
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| | The Mining Policy Tour will visit the Giant Mine Remediation Project, a joint project to clean and stabilize the site. |
The City of Yellowknife has a long history of mining since the first discovery of gold in 1928. Gold fueled the NWT economy for some 70 years with the Yellowknife gold mines producing 13.5 million ounces of gold since 1938. In 2014 the total value of minerals and diamonds produced in the NWT was $1.89 billion almost exclusively from diamonds. Yellowknife is the logistical hub for all points north.
This half-day tour will start with breakfast accompanied by an overview of the NWT & Nunavut Mining and Exploration Industry by Tom Hoefer, Executive Director of the NWT & Nunavut Chamber of Mines. Pamela Strand, director of the Mineral Resource Division of the GNWT will be your guide throughout the day.
This will be followed by a surface tour by bus that will highlight both Yellowknife's gold history as well as our active diamond mining industry. Stops will include:
- The NWT Diamond Center, where you will hear about the stories of Diavik, Ekati and the Snap Lake Mine located 300 kilometers north of Yellowknife. See the story told in an interpretive exhibit that showcases the fascinating geology of kimberlite deposits, the technology of mining in the sub-arctic, and the process to turn a rough stone in a beautiful diamond. Visitors to the centre may purchase diamonds that have been mined, cut and polished in the NWT.
- Your bus will then take you to see the Robertson Headframe at the past producing Con Mine, currently closed and undergoing reclamation by Newmont Mining. The NWT Mining Heritage Society will be present to present the facts from our rich mineral history.
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You will then travel to the Giant Mine Remediation Project, a joint project to clean up the surface, stabilize and secure the underground and maintain and monitor the site for the future. Between 1948 and 2004, the Giant Mine was a major economic driver for Yellowknife and the Northwest Territories. When the mine closed, attention focused on the environmental issues left behind, notably 237,000 tonnes of arsenic trioxide stored in underground chambers. The remediation project proposes to leave a new and positive legacy behind: a site that will provide an opportunity for many future uses by the community, as determined by the community. This project is state of the art and innovative. Members of the project team will be present to provide an overview and answer questions.
- Lastly we will take you on an aerial tour of Yellowknife by Twin Otter on skis and take off from the frozen waters of Great Slave Lake.
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| | The tour includes an aerial tour of Yellowknife on a Twin Otter aircraft fixed with skis. |
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Yellowknife: #1 Fastest-growing destination in Canada
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 Yellowknife is the fastest-growing travel destination in Canada, according to a recent study performed by Flight Network and published in the Huffington Post.
Flight Network analyzed booking data over the past two years to find destinations showing the highest increase in bookings.
Other top-10 destinations within PNWER jurisdictions include Prince George, Kamloops and Victoria, British Columbia; Regina, Saskatchewan; and Fort McMurray, Alberta.
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START YOUR NORTHERN ADVENTURE
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PNWER's Winter Meeting will show guests a variety of memorable activities and venues.
Plan a longer stay to explore Yellowknife's local cuisine and cultural experiences, or use it as a jumping-off point for Northern adventures.
On PNWER's Itinerary
Sunday Nov. 15 Tour the Legislative Assembly Building (Legislative Leadership Academy)
See the NWT's unique consensus government in action with a tour from Hon. David Ramsay, Minister of Justice and Industry, Tourism and Investment, and Tim Mercer, Clerk of the Legislative Assembly. Public tours of the building are available for non-legislative guests.
Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre
Learn about the human and natural history of the Northwest Territories at the Pricnce of Wales Horthern Heritage Centre in Yellowknife. The museum holds in trust a large collection of objects that represent the peoples and cultures of the territory and produces exhibitions that tell stories about the land, people and history of the NWT.
Monday Nov. 16
Dog Sledding
Dash through the snowy trails around Grace Lake on an exciting but cozy ride. Meet the dogs, take pictures, and most importantly, have fun! Parkas, boots and mitts will all be provided.
Yellowknife Sights and History Tour
Local experts take guests on a tour of the city and learn how this historical gold-mining town transformed into the diamond capitol it is today. See local art and learn about the history and culture of the people that make this area unique.
Northwest Territories Welcome Reception
Tuesday, Nov. 17 Aurora Village Dinner and Reception
Enjoy dinner, watch for the majestic Northern Lights and mingle with legislators and business leaders at Aurora Village in Yellowknife. The reception will also feature a graduation ceremony for attendees of the Legislative Leadership Academy.
Wednesday, Nov. 18 Mining policy tour See the interactive exhibits at the NWT Diamond Centre, visit the past-producing Con Mine and Giant Mine Remediation site, and experience an exciting aerial tour of Yellowknife.
More to See and Do |
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We will be staying and meeting at The Explorer Hotel. Located on a high point in downtown Yellowknife, the Explorer's spacious guest rooms offer spectacular panoramic views of Niven Lake and Back Bay to the north and Frame Lake and the Legislative Assembly to the south.
Secure your room for the event by calling 1-800-661-0892 and mention you are with PNWER to book within our room block. The room block expires October 14, so please reserve your room before then.
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LEGISLATIVE LEADERSHIP ACADEMY - NOV. 15-16
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The bi-annual Legislative Leadership Academy is designed to improve legislators' knowledge of differences in U.S. and Canadian government systems and assist legislators in developing important relationships with their colleagues in neighboring jurisdictions across the border. The Legislative Leadership Academy will feature in-depth sessions on:
- Structural differences in U.S. and Canadian governmental systems
- Roundtable discussion on campaign, election and leadership processes in states and territories
- Discussion on provicial, territorial, state and federal relations
- "View from the Speaker's Chair," a comparative look at the role of the Speaker of the House and the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly
This event begins on the morning of Sunday, November 15, so please plan to arrive in Yellowknife by Saturday, November 14.
Legislators will learn about the consensus government system of the Northwest Territories and tour the unique Legislative Assembly building
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ECONOMIC LEADERSHIP FORUM - NOV. 16-17
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The Economic Leadership Forum will hold in-depth sessions to explore opportunities and challenges within:
- Arctic Governance
- Aboriginal Development
- Market Access and Arctic Transportation Systems
- Mining
- Energy Development in the North & Net-Zero Buildings in the Pacific Northwest
This event provides an opportunity for local, state, and provincial leaders in both public and private sectors to carry out focused, in-depth discussions on subjects affecting our regional economy. The sessions are being organized and planned with PNWER partner the Government of the Northwest Territories.
Economic Leadership Forum events begin the morning of Monday, November 16. Private-sector members are welcome to join legislators at a hospitality suite reception at The Explorer Hotel at 9 p.m. on Sunday, November 15.
Earlybird pricing for the Winter Meeting is available until October 9. Save up to $100 on registrations and book flights early!
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The Pacific NorthWest Economic Region (PNWER) was created in 1991 by the states of Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Montana, Washington, and the Canadian provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and the Yukon and Northwest Territories.
It is a statutory public/private non-profit dedicated to increasing the economic well-being and quality of life for all citizens of the region, while maintaining and enhancing our natural environment.
Our overarching goals are to: - Coordinate provincial and state policies throughout the region
- Identify and promote "models of success"
- Serve as a conduit to exchange information.
- Promote greater regional collaboration
- Enhance the competitiveness of the region in both domestic and international markets
- Leverage regional influence in Ottawa and Washington D.C.
- Achieve continued economic growth while maintaining the region's natural resources
Our 25th Annual Summit in Big Sky, Montana, brought together more than 530 leaders from the public and private sector to confront the biggest regional challenges to trade, economic growth, industry, employment and the environment. PNWER's 21 working groups develop yearly action items at our Summits to continually advance policy initiatives with public and private stakeholders. |
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Thank you to our early 2015 Winter Meeting Sponsors
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