Industry
Industry partnerships have been vital to promoting growth and
innovation in Northlands Park. Many of the Edmonton Agricultural
Society’s (EAS) founding members were directly involved in the business
sector and played multiple roles in the community.
The links between
the EAS and industry have centred on
agricultural activities that the organization has put on and have
increased particularly in the
latter half of the 20th century around dealings for event
production, trade shows, racing, and gaming.
Dating back to 1879,
the Hudson’s Bay Company was one of the first EAS
industry partners. Its representatives were part of the EAS board of
directors, and its company buildings were used to showcase early
agricultural displays. Agricultural linkages led to collaboration with a
variety of entities.
It was not
sufficient to partner with just livestock owners though, as they and
their animals needed transportation to and from fairs, the Edmonton
Exhibition Association (EEA) arranged special fares with the Canadian Pacific Railway and Canadian National Railway. In other
instances of partnership, refrigeration companies extended their services to dairy
events taking place on the exhibition grounds.
Such relationships served both parties. The EEA received resources to
put toward its activities and garnered useful industry input for the
refinement of its events and services. Industry partners in turn
received increased patronage and a role in community service.
Important event production industry players have
liaised with
the EEA on a regular basis as attested to by EEA presence and membership
in the Western Canada Fairs Association, which created industry
standards and guidelines applicable to events such as Klondike Days,
Farmfair International, and the Canadian Finals Rodeo.
A broader sense of industry partnership has come as a result of
showcased countries for the summer exhibitions. Partnerships with
businesses as far as China, Hungary, and Ukraine have taken hold
through delegate visits and invited entrepreneurs.
Looking at Northlands
Park’s industry partnerships it becomes apparent that the private sector has been
clearly interwoven into the fabric of the organization.
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