Economic developers going above and beyond in Newfoundland and Labrador recognized with Awards of Excellence

For Immediate Release
May 16, 2025

St. John’s – Last night the Economic Developers Association of Newfoundland and Labrador (EDANL) and its partner North Atlantic recognized the winners of the province’s Economic Development Awards of Excellence.

“Economic developers are busy folks; the work that we do can be slow and incremental and sometimes we don’t take enough time to recognize our successes,” said EDANL President Kieran Hanley. “But there are truly some magnificent things happening in our province that people need to be aware of.”

“Newfoundland and Labrador’s Economic Development Awards of Excellence provide an opportunity to recognize those that are making a difference,” said Hanley, “and tonight we are here to celebrate a group of individuals and organizations who have accomplished great things for Newfoundland and Labrador this past year.”

Winners of the awards include:

Best Marketing Project – City of Mount Pearl
Best Community Project – St. Anthony Basin Resources Inc. (SABRI)
Best Sector Project – Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Co-Operatives
Best Regional Project – Advantage St. John’s
Economic Developer of the Year – Wanda Chislett
President’s Award – Gordon Slade

Information on each of the awards winners and their accomplishments is found below.

About EDANL

The Economic Developers Association of Newfoundland and Labrador (EDANL) is a not-for-profit association that focuses on the training and professional development of Newfoundland and Labrador’s economic developers.

Best Marketing Project

City of Mount Pearl

This award recognizes a marketing initiative aimed at attracting, retaining, and/or fostering economic development in Newfoundland and Labrador. It rewards communities or organizations for using marketing and communications to make a positive social or economic contribution at the local, regional, or provincial level.

The winner of this year’s Marketing award is the City of Mount Pearl for its “Come to Life” project.

Jeremy Schwartz (Manager of Economic Development and Housing) and Brian Power (Marketing and Economic Development Officer) receiving the award on behalf of the City of Mount Pearl.

The city’s strategic plan placed a priority on the development and redevelopment of public and private key areas to support new housing development, create a destination throughout the city centre, and provide more amenities and offerings to residents and newcomers. With resident attraction and immigration rank high on the provincial priority list, this provided an opening for Mount Pearl to promote its quality of life, community amenities, and strategic location where all are welcomed to explore opportunities where they can “Come To Life.” The city’s “Come To Life” campaign is focused on delivering on that value proposition, and attracting new residents, investors, and businesses to the city.

The Come To Life campaign has already made a significant impact with some tangible results delivered: Over 10 new Housing Development Applications received totaling over 250 units; 6 development permits issued for 161 new housing units; 48 business occupancy permits issued in 2024; over 25 inquires for housing development projects in 2024; over 30 inquires for business opportunities in 2024; plus many many eyes on the municipality via its social media and marketing campaigns.

This being the first year Mount Pearl has seen a significant rise in its population – with a projected growth of 8% by 2027 – it is clear that the campaign has had quite the impact and has been an initiative to be proud of.

Best Community Project

St. Anthony Basin Resources Inc. (SABRI)

This award recognizes a project that has had a major economic development impact in a community. It rewards such things as strategic planning, business retention and expansion, placemaking, tourism, social enterprise, etc. within a municipality or community.

The winner of this year’s Community Project award is St. Anthony Basin Resources Inc. SABRI is being recognize for two related but distinct efforts – SABRI Farms and SABRI Transit.

Jeremy Schwartz (EDANL Vice-President) presenting SABRI’s award to Wayne Noel (Chairperson).

SABRI Farms is a hydroponic facility located in St. Anthony, NL. With a goal to provide fresh, leafy greens at a consistent price year-round for the Great Northern Peninsula region, operations began in December 2024 with consistent weekly harvests starting in January 2025. The facility has the ability to grow over 5,000lbs of produce a year!

SABRI Transit was created in June 2024 thanks to initial funding from Government of Newfoundland and Labrador and the Northpine Foundation to establish rural Newfoundland and Labrador’s only fixed route public transit service. SABRI Transit operates a fixed-route public transit service that is fully accessible, Monday to Friday in the region.

These projects have had a significant impact on the area, in addition to the jobs that they are creating. SABRI Farms grows and provides a high quality product is encouraging healthier eating in the region. Meanwhile, the region is now served with accessible and affordable public transportation options. More than 1,800 rides were taken in the first 7 months of service.

Founded in 1997 on Newfoundland’s north coast to administer an allocation of Northern Shrimp, St. Anthony Basin Resources Inc. (SABRI) has become an engine for innovative economic development for the Great Northern Peninsula and is a deserving winner of EDANL’s Community Project Award.

Best Sector Project

Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Co-Operatives

This award recognizes a sector-based project that has had a major economic development impact within Newfoundland and Labrador. Sectors can be primary, secondary, tertiary, or quaternary (i.e., industrial, commercial, community services, social, etc.).

This winner of year’s Best Sector Project award is the Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Co-Operatives for its Co-Operative Incubator Pilot Program.

Jeremy Schwartz (EDANL Vice-President) presenting NLFC’s award to Kristen Murray (Co-operative Development Officer).

The Co-operative Incubator Pilot Program supported groups in the Northeast Avalon Region of Newfoundland & Labrador interested in starting new co-operative enterprises to go from idea to incorporation in a robust 6-month long program. The program included a schedule of Trainings and Workshops, Mentoring Teams, Coworking and Peer Support Opportunities, as well as Access to Funding.

The purpose of the pilot program was twofold: (1) to support groups interested in creating new co-operatives by taking them through their journey of idea validation to legal incorporation, and (2) to enhance broader education, training, and awareness of the co-operative model and sector.

And the project had a significant impact. Over the course of its life, 20 expert facilitators delivered 14 workshops through the program’s core training schedule. 158 people were engaged through the project. All of this resulted in 4 brand new co-operatives being incorporated, with $20,000 being invested into them. Co-ops that exist because of the incubator include: The Newfoundland and Labrador Composting Co-operative; New Assurance Co-operative; Killick Coast North Seniors Co-operative; and the Women’s Fishing & Cultural Cooperative.

Less than a dozen co-operative incubators exist in the world. We should be proud that one was piloted right here in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Regional Project Award

Advantage St. John’s

This award recognizes a project that has had a major economic development impact in a region. It rewards projects that included multiple partners and demonstrate the power and effectiveness of cooperation, coordination, and collaboration between stakeholders beyond the confines of a single municipality or community.

This winner of this year’s Best Regional Project award is Advantage St. John’s.

Kieran Hanley (EDANL President) presenting Advantage St. John’s its award to Brian Peach (Director of Economic Growth), Jennifer Button (Director of Corporate Services), and Allison Crawford (Marketing and Communications Manager).

On April 19th, 2023 the Mayors of the Town of CBS, Town of Paradise, and City of St. John’s signed a letter of intent to establish Advantage St. Johns – an independent Regional Economic Development Agency that will align resources and collectively elevate economic development opportunities to build a strong and more resilient community within the region.

While that in and of itself was a key milestone, the intention became reality in July of 2024 as the entity hired its first CEO. Soon, with new organization and governance structures designed, a world-class Board of Directors was recruited with a team of high-performing staff.

While communities have distinct administrative boundaries, the economy operates regionally. The key innovation of founding Advantage St. John’s has been the vision, commitment, and support of the three municipalities in recognizing that they are stronger together and advancing economic development collaboratively benefits them all.

Its staff are off to the races with its 2025-27 strategic plan, the core element of which is the development of a comprehensive regional economic plan in partnership and collaboration with all the economic development stakeholders in the capital region.

Taking years for the groundwork to be laid, with elected officials and municipal staff needing to be kept onside, the realization of Advantage St. John’s was no small feat. And now something exists which has a strong foundation which will accrue significant benefits for the region for many years to come.

Economic Developer of the Year

Wanda Chislett

This award recognizes an Economic Development practitioner in Newfoundland and Labrador. It rewards excellence in the field of economic development.

This year’s Economic Developer of the Year is Wanda Chislett, Business Development Officer with CBDC Trinity Conception.

Jeremy Schwartz (EDANL Vice-President) presenting Wanda Chislett (Business Development Officer with CBDC Trinity Conception) with her award.

Wanda has had a distinguished 45-year career in economic development, beginning with a role as EDO with the Upper Trinity South Regional Development Association in 1979. Her work in economic development landed her a role with the CBDC where she has now been with the organization for 33 years. CBDC Trinity Conception is regarded as being one of the busiest CBDCs and Wanda has written more community business loans than perhaps anyone else in the province.

Wanda is known for her unwavering commitment, positive attitude, and deep appreciation for community building. Respected by clients, board members, and colleagues alike, Wanda has been described by her peers as being resilient – consistently bringing energy and enthusiasm to her role—no matter what comes her way.

This past fiscal year alone Wanda processed 25 funding applications and was instrumental in disbursing $2.8 million in funding within her region. It was an excellent year for CBDC Trinity Conception and Wanda was pivotal to that success.

During her career, Wanda has worked with countless communities, organizations, businesses and individuals to support the economic development ecosystem, one client at a time. She is committed to ongoing professional development. She is truly a champion for economic development and specifically rural economic development in the province.

President’s Award

Gordon Slade

This prestigious award recognizes the excellence, dedication, and impact of an economic development professional’s contribution to the community and the practice over the course of their career.

The winner of this year’s President’s Award is Gordon Slade.

Gordon Slade being presented his award by North Atlantic CEO Ted Lomond

Hailing from North Harbour in Placentia Bay, Gordon Slade has long been a leader in the sustainable economic development of Newfoundland and Labrador. After an early career in fisheries conservation, in 1975, he was appointed the provincial Deputy Minister of Fisheries. In 1982, he was appointed the Federal Economic Development Coordinator, Newfoundland Region and in 1987 he became Vice-President, Newfoundland Division, for ACOA.

Since then, the list of Gordon’s contributions to our province’s economic wellbeing has been nothing short of prolific:

He served as the Co-Chair of the $300 million dollar (CAD) Canada-Newfoundland Offshore Development Fund.

He established The Battle Harbour Historic Trust to protect the history and culture of the salt-fishing village of Battle Harbour which is today a National Historic Site, visited by tourists across the world.

He was appointed to the joint roles of Executive Director of the International Centre and Executive Director of the Opportunity Fund at Memorial University where he helped to secure over $60 million in philanthropic and sponsorship funding for the university.

Gordon played a key role in the growth of the cruise ship industry in the province and has volunteered his time and expertise to a variety of different organizations including Hospitality Newfoundland and Labrador, the Viking Tourism Association, the preservation and restoration of Port Union, chairing advisory committees for the Ryan Premises National Historic Site at Bonavista, and the Red Bay National Historic Site (now a UNESCO World Heritage Site).

Mr. Slade had also been actively involved with the Shorefast Foundation on Fogo Island and helped develop key partnerships with governments, academia and local residents to preserve local traditions and knowledge while developing an innovative model of sustainable development and growth of coastal communities.

For his work, Gordon has been recognized with the Order of Canada, the Royal Canadian Geographical Society’s Gold Medal, an Honorary Doctorate Degree from Memorial University, the Order of Newfoundland and Labrador, among other awards.