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by Nicole Graves

Setting Your SITES will take on new meaning this February when Atlantic Canadian entrepreneurs and the people and organizations that support them gather in Charlottetown for ACCED's Symposium 2002 - Skills, Innovation and Technology in Entrepreneurship.

Supported by ACOA and hosted this year by Holland College, Symposium 2002 is the fourth conference presented by ACCED, the Atlantic Colleges Committee for Entrepreneurial Development. It will be held February 15 -16 at the Delta Prince Edward in Charlottetown. The Gala Dinner, which is open to the public, features Guest Speaker Mr. Francis Fox, Q.C., President, Eastern Canada, Rogers AT&T. Guest Speaker at the luncheon is Dr. Bob Richards, Ph.D., Professor, award winning speaker, entrepreneur, writer, radio and television commentator.

"The importance of entrepreneurship in the Atlantic region has grown over the past ten years to become a key part of the economic development plan for all four provinces," commented Debi Forse, Learning Manager of Holland College?s Retail Sales and Marketing program and Co-Chair of Symposium 2002. "The community college system has played a lead role in promoting entrepreneurship training and education."

In 1995, educators and administrators from Atlantic Canada met in St. John?s, Newfoundland to discuss how the post-secondary college systems could work together to create an entrepreneurial culture in all colleges in Atlantic Canada. The following year, ACCED was formed. The not-for-profit organization is designed to enhance the interaction among all college instructors in Atlantic Canada and to position colleges in Atlantic Canada as recognized leaders in entrepreneurial education, practices and culture in order to foster economic growth.

The 300 plus anticipated attendees include instructors, students, staff and administrators from the public and private colleges in Atlantic Canada; university faculty and students interested in entrepreneurship development; secondary teachers who want to enhance their knowledge of entrepreneurship and learn how to network with post-secondary colleagues; regional professionals and government personnel involved with community economic development. The Symposium?s discussion panels, workshops and sessions will be structured to allow agencies and individuals interested in advancing entrepreneurship to participate fully in the sessions and to encourage dialogue between all participants.

Forse stated that this entrepreneurial event provides a great opportunity to learn, share, network and participate with one another. The panels and workshops will include a ?hands-on? approach. A featured event will be the Opportunity Challenge in which participants have a fun opportunity to interact with each other. They will be broken up into smaller groups and be presented with an idea to process in two areas of the marketing mix, production and promotion. The Challenge will culminate in a short promotional presentation on the final day of the Symposium.