Evan Bray Show – Interview

ICED Rural is Canada’s only conference focused on rural innovation. This year, the spotlight is on two game-changers for rural communities—energy and education. To hear the full interview, go here (jump down to time stamp 11:45 am): https://www.ckom.com/2025/09/22/the-evan-bray-show-monday-sept-22/

Indigenous leaders reflect on efforts to create economic growth

Two Indigenous leaders from opposite areas of the province discussed their respective efforts to attract new business during the Innovation Conference for Economic Development (ICED) in Rural Areas in Estevan. To read the full story, go here: https://www.sasktoday.ca/southeast/estevan-mercury/indigenous-leaders-reflect-on-efforts-to-create-economic-growth-11284457

Indigenous beading app wins $10K at rural innovation pitch in Estevan

Jill Ruep, creator of what she says is the first Indigenous-led beading app in North America, has won a rural pitch contest in Estevan, securing $13,000 in funding and support to grow her culturally inspired tech business. To read the full article, please go here: https://www.sasktoday.ca/southeast/estevan-mercury/photos-indigenous-beading-app-wins-10k-at-rural-innovation-pitch-in-estevan-11259095

Energy the dominant theme of Estevan innovation conference

Two days of information and discussions about innovation and technology have wrapped up in Estevan. The Innovation Conference for Economic Development (ICED) in Rural Areas was held Sept. 23 and 24 at Affinity Place. The energy sector was the focus, with this year’s theme of Energy and Education, but other topics were also discussed. To read the full article, click …

Decisions that impact rural communities too often made far from the front lines Saskatchewan tech hub executive director

In Estevan, Sask., innovation doesn’t look like venture capitalists in glass towers or engineers in Silicon Valley campuses. It looks like farmers fixing machinery in the middle of harvest, or local youth building a three-foot robot in a community tech hub. To read the full article: https://www.ruralprosperity.ca/the-rural-roundup/decisions-that-impact-rural-communities-too-often-made-far-from-the-front-lines-saskatchewan-tech-hub-executive-director

Kevin Chung

Kevin Chung is the Executive Director of Innovation Investments and Programs at Innovation Saskatchewan, a provincial government agency responsible for supporting R&D and growing the technology sector. At the agency, Kevin is responsible for various programs and investments that promote industry-driven R&D, including the Saskatchewan Advantage Innovation Fund, the Agtech Growth Fund, and the government’s $15 million investment in an …

Albert Derocher

Albert Derocher was born and raised on the Flying Dust First Nation.  Albert has worked for his community for the last 34 years.  His experience entails working with various Business Organizations, Levels of Government, Non Profits and Indigenous Institutions.  For the majority of years he has worked for Indigenous People both provincially, regionally and locally.  He has worked for Federation …

Milton Tootoosis

Milton was raised on the Poundmaker Indian Reserve #114 near the Battleford’s in his ancestral Treaty Six Unceded Territory. Tootoosis joined the Saskatoon Regional Economic Development Authority (SREDA) team in 2021 to help develop and advance strategies in response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action #92. Milton has built his career advocating for inclusion policy of Indigenous …

Chief Jonathan Pasap

Jonathan Pasap is the elected Chief of White Bear First Nations, a role he assumed in June of 2023. In addition to his responsibilities as Chief, he serves on the SIGA board of directors and The First Nations University of Canada board of governors. Chief Pasap brings a wealth of experience to his leadership roles, having previously served as the …

Dr. Arthur Situm

Dr. Arthur Situm is the Canada Research Chair (CRC) Tier 2 in Small Modular Reactor Safety (SMR) Safety and Licensing and a professor in the Energy Systems Engineering program at the University of Regina. He serves as head of the SMR Fuel Corrosion Lab (SMR-FCL), overseeing around 2 million dollars of research funding focused on radioactive waste management, development of …