Calgary Innovate Council

 Erin Chrusch, Leader of Business & Local Economy for The City of Calgary, is being recognized with the Innovate Challenge award for her outstanding leadership in making Calgary a more innovative and entrepreneur friendly city.
Through initiatives such as the City’s Support Local efforts, digital adoption programming for small businesses, and partnerships that turn Calgary into a testbed for new ideas, she has helped create a more streamlined, responsive
environment where local businesses can start, grow, and compete in a rapidly changing economy.
Under Erin’s guidance, the Business and Local Economy team has worked collaboratively with community and ecosystem partners to reduce barriers, modernize how the City serves entrepreneurs, and open new opportunities for experimentation and growth. By championing innovation inside City Hall while building strong external partnerships, Erin exemplifies the kind of cross-sector, community scale leadership that the Innovate Challenge is designed to celebrate: visible change, shared benefit, and a clear “before and after” story for Calgary’s business community.