Cobourg honoured with Award of Excellence from Economic Developers Council of Ontario

Daniel Van Kampen, Cobourg's Manager of Economic Development, with the Economic Developers Council of Ontario award for Workforce Development and Talent Attraction in the Rural category. Photo courtesy of the Town of Cobourg.

Cecilia Nasmith

Cobourg

The innovation of Cobourg's Economic Development Department and Venture 13 partners has been recognized with an award of excellence.

The Town of Cobourg is pleased to announce an Award of Excellence for its Economic Development Department from the Economic Developers Council of Ontario for Workforce Development and Talent Attraction in the Rural category.

This organization annually recognizes and celebrates excellence in the field of economic development across the province at its President's Dinner, held this year on Feb. 6 at Toronto's Westin Harbour Castle.

Cobourg's Economic Development Department and Venture 13 partners launched several workforce programs in 2024, focused on youth and the young population, including the Skilled Trades Career Day, Policetech Accelerator Pitch competition – Youth Edition, Skilled Trades Bootcamp and youth STEM camps – all of which were featured in the department's submission.

“I'm deeply honoured to accept this award of excellence on behalf of the Town of Cobourg,” Manager of Economic Development Daniel Van Kampen said in the announcement.

“It's a testament to the hard work and dedication of the economic development team and partners at the Venture 13 Innovation and Entrepreneurship Centre. The town's directors and council are very supportive, and have helped to foster an environment of creativity where ideas can be explored and tested.”

In June 2023, council approved its first Economic Development and Venture 13 Strategy and Action Plan, which the economic development team is implementing through to 2028.