Sydenham Campus generating steam

Grey County and the Grey Bruce Business Generator Board of Directors are pleased to announce the hiring of Jennifer Christie as manager of program development. Jennifer is joining the Sydenham Campus team on a six-month contract to develop operations and programming for the campus’s accelerator services.

"This is a once-in-lifetime opportunity to work with the business leaders of Grey and Bruce and create a dynamic environment where our new and future business leaders can innovate and thrive. I’m excited to help bring the vision of the Grey Bruce Business Generator to life!" said Ms. Christie.

Jennifer is an influential leader with more than a decade of marketing, communications and project management experience in the private and not-for-profit sectors. Ms. Christie is passionate about connecting leaders from diverse backgrounds to help realize their potential and create meaningful change. She is the founder of the Agricultural Women’s Network (AWN) and a Director of the Agriculture Research Institute of Ontario (ARIO) and Canadian Wildlife Foundation. Jennifer has a Bachelor of Commerce in Agriculture Business from the University of Guelph and MBA from the Ivey School of Business. In 2013, she was recognized as one of the Top 100 Most Powerful Women by the Women’s Executive Network. 

“On behalf of myself and the board of directors, we’re thrilled to welcome Jennifer Christie to the role of Program Development Manager for our exciting new initiative. Ms. Christie is taking the lead in developing our branding package and programing structure as we move towards our official launch,” said Courtney Denard, Chair of the Grey Bruce Business Generator Board of Directors. “Although considerable progress has been made, the project is still in the development phase. There will be more news to come soon that I’m certain the business communities in Grey and Bruce will be eager to hear.”

The Sydenham Campus is being developed in response to local industry concern about skilled workers. In Grey and Bruce counties, growing our skilled labour force will allow our businesses and industries to succeed, grow and help maintain a stable and prosperous regional economy.

“Supporting and growing the regional economy has long been the first priority on Grey County’s strategic plan,” explains Grey County Warden Selwyn Hicks. “The Sydenham Campus will provide a range of services and supports to both businesses and our workforce. We look forward to growing the campus and supporting innovation in Grey.”

The Sydenham Campus was formed when Grey County, the Bluewater District School board, Bruce Grey Catholic District School Board, Georgian College and the City of Owen Sound partnered to apply to the Province for support creating a regional skills training, trades and innovation community hub. In time, the Sydenham Campus will address barriers to rural employment education, offer training, and support entrepreneurs – with interconnected services all under one roof. The campus will be home to an innovation centre with incubator services and will be linked to regional secondary schools.

Renovations at the Sydenham campus are well along and staff are preparing to move into the space shortly. Until the move is complete, entrepreneurial services like the Business Enterprise Centre will continue to be offered from the Grey County Administration Building at 595 9^th Ave. E in Owen Sound.  A formal ribbon cutting and launch event is being planned before the end of this year.

For more information about the Sydenham Campus contact Grey County’s economic development department at ecdev [at] grey.ca or call 1-800-567-4739.

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For media inquiries contact Rob Hatten, communications manager, at rob.hatten [at] grey.ca or call 519-372-0219 ext.1235 or 519-373-1592.