Power Up North Ignites Rural Entrepreneurship in St. Paul

When the doors opened at Portage College in St. Paul on October 7, the energy was unmistakable. You could feel it in the packed parking lot, the hum of conversation in the hallways, and the steady flow of coffee cups—Power Up North 2025 was officially underway.

Hosted this year by Community Futures St. Paul–Smoky Lake, the two-day conference brought together over 125 business owners, employers, and community leaders from across northeastern Alberta for a deep dive into the realities of rural entrepreneurship.

I sat down with Penny Fox, Executive Director of Community Futures St. Paul–Smoky Lake, who has been planning this event for months.

“It feels great,” Fox said, smiling despite the long hours. “We’ve got 125 people here today to learn about entrepreneurship. A lot of the focus this year is on hiring and keeping staff. We can get people in the door—but how do we hang on to them?”

A Rural Conference Built for Rural Realities

Power Up North rotates through Community Futures regions across the Northeast, landing in a new host community every year. The last time St. Paul–Smoky Lake hosted, it was held at Métis Crossing. This year, the spotlight was on Portage College, and it didn’t disappoint.

The sessions were designed for small-town and rural entrepreneurs—covering the challenges of attracting and retaining workers, leadership development, and navigating Alberta’s changing economy. “That’s the reality in our communities,” Fox said. “Finding good people is hard enough. Keeping them? That’s where we’re all looking for ideas.”

The theme—“Entrepreneurship: Wow! What a Journey.”—fit perfectly. Attendees came from a variety of sectors: trades, retail, agriculture, tourism, and non-profits, each looking for that one spark to bring home.

One New Thing

Fox explained the goal simply: “If people leave with one new thing—a contact, a skill, a tool—it’s been worth it.”

It’s easy to see what she means. The conference floor buzzed with introductions and laughter as business owners compared notes, shared challenges, and swapped solutions. That’s what happens when you put 125 motivated people in one space—ideas start connecting.

Homegrown Hospitality

True to its roots, local was the flavour of the week. From subs sourced from four different St. Paul restaurants to the “Brews & Chews” networking night at the Legion, Power Up North walked the talk on supporting community. “We wanted people to taste what St. Paul has to offer,” said Fox. “It’s a simple way to show what local business looks like in action.”

Talking Economics and the Future

The event wrapped with a keynote supper featuring Sid Bhattacharya, Senior Economist with ATB Financial, who spoke about Alberta’s shifting economy—what’s ahead for small business owners, and how to stay resilient when the numbers keep changing.

For those who couldn’t make it, Community Futures is ensuring the conversation doesn’t end here. Select sessions were recorded, and a new HR Toolkit—a binder of speaker insights, recommended tools, and practical hiring resources—is being assembled for regional distribution after Thanksgiving.

Why It Matters

Rural Alberta’s entrepreneurs don’t always have access to big-city networks or corporate training budgets. That’s why events like Power Up North matter. They remind us that innovation doesn’t just live in urban towers—it’s right here in our main streets, farms, and small offices.

As Fox put it, “We’ve got phenomenal people in our smaller communities. Power Up North just gives them a chance to connect.”

And connect they did.