AMC is pleased to announce a new panel discussion in its lineup for GRIT: AMC’s 2025 Convention and Trade Show. Our Municipal panel, facilitated by Myrna Grahn, Executive Director, Canadian Association of Agri-Retailers, will explore how economic development offices support AMC members through site selection, workforce development, and expansion. Attendees will gain insights on how to work effectively with local governments to grow their businesses. Panellists from Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta will share strategies and services that foster industry-municipality collaboration.

Register for GRIT: AMC’s 2025 Convention and Trade Show to participate in this engaging presentation.

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About the Facilitator

Myrna Grahn

Myrna brings a visionary approach to connecting the right people to have the collaborative and disruptive conversations that provide solutions to accomplish the priorities that impact everyone allowing them to move forward.

Myrna's journey in the agricultural industry spans over three decades, marked by a commitment to excellence and innovation. Prior to joining CAAR, Myrna spent eight years with the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences at the University of Manitoba in several key roles as the Managing Director of the Manitoba Industry – Academia Partnership, Assistant Operations Manager of the Glenlea Research Station managing the Farm and Food Discovery Centre and teaching communications and essential skills in the School of Agriculture.

Previously, Myrna worked for the Province of Manitoba for 17 years as a 4-H & Youth Specialist, Business Development Specialist, Value Chain Specialist, Innovation and Adaptation Specialist and Functional Food Specialist with Manitoba Agriculture. After graduating from the University of Manitoba, she started her career in the dairy processing sector with DairyWorld Foods, now Saputo!

Myrna brings her full value of knowledge and experiences to every interaction, collaboration and presentation and is passionate about making a difference in the lives of others.

In her leisure time, Myrna loves to play golf and get creative making quilts. She has two children and will forever be a Dance mom, and a Hockey mom. She has added a new name to her titles as she is now a GiGi to her two adorable grandchildren.

About the Panellists

Brad Koopmans

Brad Koopmans is the Manager of Land and Economic Development for Red Deer County. With over 30 years of combined experience in municipal government, law enforcement, and business operations, Brad is a seasoned professional dedicated to enhancing community development. Prior to his current role, Brad has held various positions in municipal government, including Chief of Staff, Land Manager, and Tax Assessor. A graduate of UBC and Red Deer College, Brad is also a longtime hockey coach and serves on the Board of Directors for several non-profit organizations.

Craig Hemingway

Craig Hemingway was not raised on a farm, but did grow up farm-adjacent (aka a “town kid”) in Holdfast, SK. Craig worked in media for over 20 years before joining the City of Moose Jaw as the Manager of Communications, which allowed him to play a role in launching Moose Jaw’s new brand as Canada’s Most Notorious City. Craig is now the Director of Strategic Growth for the City, and he’s passionate about promoting Moose Jaw as a place where you can get more house for less money, get anywhere in 5-15 minutes and get available industrial land, among other things. In short, in Moose Jaw you can Get A Life.

Margot Cathcart

Margot Cathcart grew up in rural Manitoba, graduated from Brandon University, and after living in Japan and Winnipeg, returned to Brandon with her husband to raise their two sons. Describing herself as a “builder,” she has been involved from the ground up in product, business, and industry development.

Her private sector experiences span television, news media, information management, technology, agriculture, food, and financial services. Over the course of her career, she has held numerous private sector management roles.

Prior to joining RMED, she held senior management positions with Manitoba Agriculture and Resource Development, developing province-wide economic development programming and re-engineering operations to enhance knowledge management and operational efficiencies.

In addition to her public and private sector experiences, Margot is a Certified Executive Coach and Working Genius Facilitator.

Patricia MacQuarrie

Patricia MacQuarrie is a Canadian municipal government professional, economic development leader, and author. She currently serves as the General Manager of Community Development for the City of Camrose, where she drives economic growth and strategic community initiatives. Her passion for her community has helped the City see record levels of investment growth coming out of the pandemic.

Prior to this, she served eight years as a Councillor with the City of Wetaskiwin, contributing to local governance and strategic development, during which time she served on the board of the Central Alberta Economic Partnership (CAEP) and held the position of Chair. Her leadership in municipal governance and economic development has focused on fostering business-friendly environments, reducing development red tape, and supporting local industries.

Beyond her public service, MacQuarrie is the author of Deadly Canadian Women: The Stories Behind the Crimes of Canada's Most Notorious Women (2008), has had work published in The Globe and Mail and with CBC, and holds an academic publication credit for Assessing Automation in Rural Communities: An Economic Impact Assessment (2021), which was a localized assessment of how rural businesses view the scale, nature, and impacts of automation in partnership with the University of Alberta Augustana campus in Camrose. She holds a BA in Criminology and an MBA in Community Economic Development.