Speakers

Jim Hole’s rise to a successful commercial horticultural enterprise is an inspiring story. It all starts with his mom, Lois Hole, former Lieutenant Governor of Alberta, his dad and his extended family selling vegetables as a small family business. His entrepreneurial attitude and the successful planning of his farm and greenhouse operation, hold valuable lessons for business innovation.

Jim and his brother Harry created the world-renowned and award-winning “The Enjoy Centre” in Saint Albert. It boasts a 100-mile diet restaurant, day spa, organic food store, wine store, bakery, deli, convention/conference space, and greenhouses. Jim implemented a self-sufficient eco-system for the facility. This system recycles rainwater and nutrients from the greenhouses to nourish the plants. It also collects renewable energy. Jim implements innovative ideas for his business on a daily basis. He is recognized in Alberta as a leader for growing a business while protecting the environment. He has developed a business model that surpasses all greenhouses in Canada through innovation. It’s now a successful multi-million-dollar enterprise. Jim delivers practical insights on leadership, innovation, farming, future of agriculture, ethical eating, ethical growing, community development, sustainable development, entrepreneurship, sustainability, horticulture, green technology, and philanthropy.

Brad has 12 years of experience as a hydrogeologist and is a practicing member of APEGA. He has worked on projects dealing with a wide array of groundwater related issues, including groundwater licensing, dewatering, aquifer delineation, and various projects determining impacts to groundwater caused by industrial and commercial developments. As a consultant he has completed dozens of reports dealing with groundwater supply for new residential subdivision applications.

Born and raised in Bow Island, Alberta, I grew up on a farm where a strong work ethic and hands-on experience were part of everyday life. My father and grandfather were both tradesmen my father a journeyman plumber, gas fitter, and sheet metal mechanic, and my grandfather a plumber and gas fitter. Their influence sparked my early interest in the trades, and I began working alongside them from a young age.
After graduating, I moved to Medicine Hat to pursue a career in plumbing. I earned my journeyman certification in plumbing and gas fitting from Medicine Hat College. When my father became ill, I took over the family business and expanded it into a full-service construction company, offering plumbing, gas fitting, electrical, and refrigeration services.
Years of physically demanding work eventually led to multiple surgeries, prompting a career shift. After thoughtful discussions with my wife, I accepted a position with a safety codes inspection agency in Southern Alberta. Over the years, I committed to continuous professional development and earned multiple designations, including Building (Level 3), Gas, Plumbing, and Private Sewage Systems making me one of the few inspectors in Alberta with this breadth of certification.
In 2004, I relocated with my family to Grande Prairie to take on a broader inspection role across Northern Alberta. In 2011, I was invited by John Simpson to join the County of Grande Prairie and establish its Safety Codes Inspection Department. Since then, I’ve led the development and growth of the department, and I’m proud of the legacy we’ve built.
As I look ahead, I plan to retire from inspections in the coming years, leaving behind a career rooted in integrity, technical excellence, and service to the community.

Daina’s practice primarily focuses on municipal law and administrative
law.
As Co-Chair of the firm’s Municipal Law Team, she is a trusted advisor for municipalities and related entities. She has appeared before all levels of courts in Alberta and the Supreme Court of
Canada. She regularly appears before and acts as counsel for administrative tribunals, including subdivision and development appeal boards and the Land and Property Rights Tribunal. Daina
also provides advice and guidance to regional governance bodies such as growth management
boards and regional services commissions.
Daina regularly writes and speaks on municipal law issues and has given presentations at a number of municipal association conferences, including Alberta Municipalities, Rural Municipalities of Alberta, the Society of Local Government Managers (SLGM), the Local Government Administration Association and Alberta Municipal Supervisors.

Gwendolyn Stewart-Palmer has been a partner in Shores Jardine LLP since 2007. She has practiced at Shores Jardine LLP since October 2003 after working with the City of Edmonton Law Branch for 12 years. She has been practicing law for over 35 years, focusing in the areas of municipal law, employment/labour law and administrative law.

She provides advice to her municipal clients on all areas which affect municipalities, including bylaw and contract drafting, procedural advice to councils, and providing advice to subdivision and development appeal boards, assessment review boards and other council committees and boards.

She acts for employers, both unionized and non-unionized, and employees, providing general advice, as well as representing client interests at arbitrations. She has conducted several workplace harassment investigations.

She acts for several boards and tribunals providing general advice and advice during the course of hearings. She taught the Constitutional and Administrative law module for the Senior & Executive Managers’ Development Program and the Legal Environment module for the Management Development Program at the University of Alberta School of Business. She has presented at numerous seminars throughout Alberta. She is the author of Planning Law & Practice in Alberta (4th) and was the recipient of the inaugural Canadian Bar Association Municipal Law Award of Excellence in 2023.

Jeneane Grundberg, KC, ICD.D, brings unparalleled experience to her practice in the areas of municipal, planning and administrative law.
With more than 120 reported decisions on multiple aspects of municipal, planning and administrative law at all levels of the Alberta Courts, Jeneane leads legal teams on complex litigation as well as policy and bylaw development. Her work has been recognized as having important precedential value, helping inform future court decisions and municipal actions; she is often a consultant to the provincial government on planning and development matters.
Jeneane takes a strong client-focused approach to her practice, with clients that include municipalities, provincial departments, and subdivision and development appeal boards. “I love to advocate on behalf of my clients. It’s an honour to represent them,” says Jeneane, who has made more than 200 appearances in the Alberta Court of Appeal.