MEDIA ADVISORY

PNWER Contact: Kelsey Larson

(206) 443-7723

July 14, 2014

MAJOR ECONOMIC SUMMIT TO BE HELD IN WHISTLER JULY 20 – 24

WHISTLER – More than 500 leaders in government, business and academia from both the northwest United States and Western Canada will gather at the 24th Annual Pacific NorthWest Economic Region (PNWER) Summit, July 20 – 24 in Whistler, British Columbia.

Ambassador Gary Doer, the new U.S. Ambassador to Canada Bruce Heyman, GE Canada CEO Elyse Allen, and Montana Governor Steve Bullock are among the over 150 speakers who will address the delegates from around the region during the four-day Summit.

Opportunities for discussion and recommended joint actions at the Summit will include: an overview of natural gas export opportunities from B.C., Alaska and Oregon; transportation challenges of market access, issues of rail safety, greening the supply chain, oil spill preparedness across our shared coasts, ocean policy, energy efficiency, invasive species, agriculture, innovation, forestry, workforce training, tourism, water policy, arctic issues, and a Columbia River Treaty Symposium.

The Summit will be an unparalleled opportunity for government and community leaders from the 10 states, provinces, and territories PNWER represents to discuss issues of importance to the region. The economies of Pacific Northwest states and Western Canada are closely tied to one another due to proximity and shared resources.

ABOUT THE PNWER SUMMIT

Held in alternating member jurisdictions each year, the annual PNWER summit draws hundreds of key business leaders, legislators and community leaders from PNWER’s 10 states, provinces and territories in the Pacific Northwest. At the summit, participants meet in “working groups” to develop action items on policy issues in the following categories: agriculture, Arctic caucus, cross-border livestock health, border issues, disaster resilience, energy, environment, health care, innovation, invasive species, sustainable development, trade and economic development, transportation, tourism, water policy and workforce development. For a preliminary agenda, go to http://www.pnwer.org/2014summit.html

ABOUT PNWER

The Pacific NorthWest Economic Region (PNWER) is a public/private non-profit created by statute in 1991. Member jurisdictions include Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Montana and Washington, and the Canadian provinces and territories of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, the Northwest Territories and Yukon. PNWER's mission is to increase the economic well-being and quality of life for all citizens of the region; identify and promote "models of success;" and serve as a conduit to exchange information.

Media Accreditation Forms can be found here.