Tri-City Mayors Globe Trot For Team Waterloo Region

Face-To-Faith Contact Working For Mayors Craig, Halloran, And Zehr

Team Waterloo Region Hits The Road

Perhaps things have come full circle. And maybe there is even a bright side to the global economic slow down. Whatever it is, it seems like there are sparks flying when our local mayors are flying around the globe, meeting government officials and business owners on their own turf while promoting both investment and partnerships with companies in Waterloo Region.

This past week through an event staged by Canada's Technology Triangle, the three Mayors of Kitchener, Waterloo and Cambridge came together for a forum at the Walter Fedy theatre to talk about the benefits of hitting the road in the cause of bringing business back to Waterloo Region.

While cities tend to be competitors when it comes to bringing opportunities home, it seems that Waterloo's Mayor Brenda Halloran, Kitchener's Mayor Carl Zehr, and Cambridge Mayor Doug Craig were able to pitch for the collective of Team Waterloo Region.

CTT's CEO, John G. Jung, opened the forum with his remarks about Canada's Technology Triangle's mandate and why "trust" seems to be the naturally occurring mineral in the "water" in Waterloo Region.

The mayors praised Jung's expertise and abilities to bring people together and to open the doors of opportunity on the global stage.CTT has been, for the most part, an unsung hero for nearly a decade racking up millions of air miles in pursuit of new, meaningful, long-term partnerships.

The three mayors shared their personal accounts of traveling internationally and how effective simply showing up on the doorsteps of foreign businesses helps foster understanding and opportunities here in the region for both investment and trade.

Working together has some huge benefits. Promoting the region doesn't mean that one partner is short changed. A business started in Kitchener, creates job opportunities for the residents living in the other two centres as well as a potential increased tax base should the candidate choose to buy a home in one community, and commute to their job in the other community.

While sending your mayor abroad to boom-up-business seems like a revelation at first, it just makes good sense. Not that ribbon cutting at home isn't important for local morale; it is, however, choosing a mayor who will present well on the international stage will help redefine the candidate selection process at the municipal level.

All three mayors have plans and schedules in the works to continue the trade missions and globe trotting in 2012.

Below: Some of the reasons why Waterloo Region is attractive to foreign partners.

TRUST, DIVERSITY, INNOVATION, COLLABORATIVE, ENTREPRENEURIAL 

View Highlights From The Mayors' Forum: Including comments from MP, Kitchener-Waterloo Peter Braid