Media Release
Fleet Publications Officially Unveils Winnipeg: City of Opportunity Today at City Hall in the Mayor's Foyer
April 20, 2015: Winnipeg, MB – Local firm Fleet Publications will officially unveil its newest creation, Winnipeg: City of Opportunity, this morning at city hall’s council building at 11:30 a.m. Mayor Brian Bowman will be on hand to deliver congratulatory remarks in the foyer on the second floor, followed by publisher George Derksen. Marina James, president and CEO of Economic Development Winnipeg Inc. (EDW), will join Mayor Bowman and Mr. Derksen in offering a few comments of her own about the book’s significance as a marquis marketing and branding showpiece. EDW provided editorial guidance to Fleet Publications during the book’s initial planning stages.
“The City of Winnipeg thanks EDW and Fleet Publications for producing such an inspirational and artistic piece. Winnipeg: City of Opportunity showcases our vibrant city in the centre of Canada as the home to new economic opportunities and flourishing arts, culture, sports and entertainment scenes,” said Mayor Brian Bowman. “This book will help attract tourism and economic development. It clearly demonstrates that there has never been a better time to live, work, play and invest in Winnipeg.”
Winnipeg: City of Opportunity is a glossy, oversized 144-page stunner printed by another proud Winnipeg-based firm, Kromar Printing Ltd. The book opens with a comprehensive general introduction to the city, while subsequent chapters delve into sector-specific strengths that include agribusiness, aerospace, transportation, life sciences, ICT and manufacturing, for example. Although the book has a deliberate business angle, which also covers complementary development landscapes and educational institutions, this year’s edition also promotes Winnipeg’s arts, culture, recreation and entertainment options with an expanded concentration not present in past volumes.
“We certainly appreciated the need to stay focused on Winnipeg’s multiple investment-related opportunities for our business audience,” said George Derksen of Fleet Publications. “But this time around, we also wanted to do our best to capture Winnipeg’s equally impressive X factor when it comes to quality of life. Winnipeg offers business owners, investors and entrepreneurs an especially compelling mix of career and lifestyle that isn’t found anywhere else in Canada. As Winnipeggers ourselves, Fleet Publications’ personnel couldn’t be more pleased with the result.”
A past recipient of a prized Gutenberg Award, Fleet Publications began producing its Opportunity series of business publications in 1974 and has since created approximately 20 such books showcasing cities and regions from coast to coast. This latest book is the third time the firm has celebrated the city in print, having previously published Winnipeg surveys in 1987 and 2006.
“George and his Fleet Publications’ team have assembled a treasure of a book that adds an essential element to the evolving marketing mix we can use to promote Winnipeg’s unique value proposition,” said Marina James, president and CEO of Economic Development Winnipeg Inc. “This book will grace the halls of Winnipeg’s most prominent businesses, it will be gifted to internationally based executives and investors, and it will occupy pride of place in the homes of civic leaders empowered to make a difference throughout our city. At its heart, Winnipeg is a welcoming community with a stable, diverse and thriving economy, and Winnipeg: City of Opportunity is an integral tool that celebrates one of our greatest strengths: purposeful public-private collaboration that consistently yields exciting investment opportunities while encouraging an ambitious economic development agenda that favours all Winnipeggers.”
Media is invited to attend today’s official book launch. Selected key participants will welcome interviews immediately following the formal proceedings.
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About Economic Development Winnipeg Inc.
Economic Development Winnipeg Inc. (EDW) is the lead economic development agency for Winnipeg. EDW facilitates investment promotion and attraction, capacity building, tourism development, marketing and communications, and the management of market information. By applying competitive intelligence and by fostering relationships with industry leaders, government officials and community stakeholders, potential opportunities and innovation drivers are evaluated to develop key industries and define future economic growth. EDW supports targeted sector, community and social development, and promotes Winnipeg’s diverse economy and high quality of life.
EDW leads global investment attraction, and local business retention and expansion, with its YES! Winnipeg initiative. YES! Winnipeg’s business development team assists in the creation and retention of jobs, identifies opportunities that attract new investment, focuses on expansion and helps local entrepreneurs launch new commercial ventures.
Tourism Winnipeg is the city’s official destination marketing organization tasked with increasing visitation and delivering the best possible visitor experience. A division of Economic Development Winnipeg Inc., Tourism Winnipeg’s mission is to facilitate a healthy, prosperous, responsible and fully integrated tourism industry that enhances Winnipeg’s economic growth through the acquisition of meetings, conventions, sports and events, group travel and leisure tourism.
For more information, please contact:
Croft Petersmeyer
Director, Marketing & Communications
Economic Development Winnipeg Inc.
Phone: 204.954.1961 Cell: 204.898-4866
Email: croft@economicdevelopmentwinnipeg.com
