Transforming Calgary: How innovation is redefining the city’s future with Brad Parry & Terry Rock

Calgary is undergoing a transformation, shifting from its oil-and-gas roots to become a rising hub for innovation and technology. In this interview from the conclusion of Innovation Week YYC, Brad Parry, CEO of Calgary Economic Development, and Terry Rock, CEO of Platform Calgary, share insights into the city’s evolution and what lies ahead.

Brad and Terry discuss how Calgary’s history as an energy leader has fueled its growth in fintech, life sciences, agtech, and quantum computing. “The misconception that people have about our ecosystem is that the traditional energy companies aren’t innovators, and that couldn’t be further from the truth,” Parry explains.

A key moment in Calgary’s journey was the 2018 rejection of its bid for Amazon’s second headquarters. “Amazon came to us, said, ‘Look, we absolutely love you guys. You have great talent. You just have the wrong kind of talent,’” Parry recalls. This feedback prompted Calgary to rethink its approach to talent and workforce development, paving the way for its current momentum.

Despite significant progress, challenges remain. Both leaders highlight the importance of collaboration between startups and large enterprises, as well as the need to change perceptions about Calgary. “For so long, people told the story of Calgary without talking to Calgarians,” Parry points out.

Looking ahead, both Brad and Terry are optimistic about Calgary’s future. “We want to be the innovation capital of this country within six years,” Parry states. Rock underscores the importance of reinvestment from successful entrepreneurs, saying, “We had a couple of amazing exits, and those founders are very generous giving back. That’s going to happen two or three times in the next five years again.”

Join Brad Parry and Terry Rock as they discuss the opportunities, challenges, and bold ambitions that are driving Calgary’s transformation into a leading innovation hub.