Registration now open for Shaping Our Future Together

Garry Merkel, CBT board chair, introduces Mike Harcourt, Former Premier of British Columbia who was a keynote speaker at the 2007 Symposium. Attendees gather at the 2007 Symposium which was held in Castlegar.

Registration is now open for the 2010 Columbia Basin Symposium, Shaping Our Future Together: Take Action, Build Partnerships, Strengthen Communities. Hosted by Columbia Basin Trust (CBT), the symposium takes place October 22 - 24, 2010, in Revelstoke. People interested in attending the free event are invited to register online at www.cbt.org/2010symposium, call 1.800.505.8998 or drop into a CBT office as soon as possible, as space is limited.

The event seeks to engage key leaders and residents active in their communities to collectively look toward the future of the Columbia Basin, while also discussing and addressing some of today's key issues.

"An important role for CBT is bringing residents together at events like the symposium to celebrate our accomplishments and help the region work toward solutions to shared challenges," said Garry Merkel, CBT board chair. "It's an opportunity for Basin residents to connect with one another to create momentum in the Basin for further local engagement and action, as well as develop a sense of interconnectedness within the region."

The symposium features keynote speaker David Beurle. Beurle is the founder and managing director of Innovative Leadership, which specializes in helping communities, regions and organizations plan and prepare for the future, and which pioneered the development and application of the Futures Game, a tool to support critical decision making and good leadership.

Guided by Beurle, attendees will explore the key drivers shaping the future of their communities and regions, enabling them to consider what actions they need to start taking today to be prepared to deal with tomorrow's challenges.

The symposium will also include facilitated sessions covering topics like economic development, alternate energy, community engagement and building resilient organizations. These sessions will be supported by expert speakers from both within and outside the Basin, as well as by community champions, tools and best practices.

Attendees will also be able to connect with the CBT board and staff, and learn more about the work CBT is doing in the region. In addition, attendees and the general public are invited to enjoy a Saturday evening of cultural entertainment featuring Basin talent.

More information, including a draft program agenda, is available online at www.cbt.org/2010symposium.