After over 16 years with Airdrie Economic Development, Team Lead Kent Rupert is moving on to accept an exciting new role.  

Rupert has accepted the position of Executive Director with the new Blue Zone Project in Airdrie, which has the goal of making Airdrie the healthiest city in Canada.  His final day with Airdrie Economic Development was August 8th and he moves into his new post effective September 3rd.  

Rupert chuckles when he says, "Over the years, me and my team, our job was sort of the health of the business community and to make sure that it was a healthy and thriving business community.  Now I'm just moving into a role where it's the entire community."

Rupert is excited to move into the new role with Blue Zones which he calls "a disruptor" in the health industry.  "It's looking at health differently," Rupert says.  "It's really looking at the proactive part of health versus the reactive of health.  We have some great partners on board.  We have Blue Cross, we have Alberta Health, the Calgary Foundation and then a number of different supporters within the community."

Rupert says it's difficult to leave economic development but believes the city department is in very capable hands.  "Certainly after 16 years and working with all the businesses, it's going to be a bit of a change," Rupert explains.  "Certainly in my new role I'll still be working with the community but the team there (at economic development), they're so solid and we've done some really good work over the years and I truly believe they'll continue on and just do fantastic work."

Speaking of doing good work, Rupert says there are many highlights as he looks back over his years, but two stand out in particular.  "We've been able to have the freedom with council and senior admin over the years to really push the boundaries.  You look at our SmartStart program that we started six years ago.  That's definitely one.  Now it's being replicated throughout different communities in Alberta and we've been able to put over 100 entrepreneurs through it and the best part is it's been able to create a real solid business community within the business community."

"I think going back to 2011 when we did our first Business Satisfaction Survey.  That's one I'm really proud of," says Rupert.  When I first started we got feedback that the city really never came out and talked to businesses necessarily so now when we went out and talked to them they just really felt appreciated that they can give their opinions, give some feedback and then we can build our programs and services specifically on what those businesses need versus trying to guess."

In the most recent Business Satisfaction Survey, business satisfaction in the city was at close to 89 percent which Rupert says is great as it shows Airdrie's business community is solid and healthy.  

The Blue Zone Project has been adopted in 48 communities and states in the U.S. but Airdrie's will be the first in Canada.  The goal of the project is to support the community and it's citizens to lead healthier lives through things like policy, social interactions, the walkability of the city and healthcare networks. 

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