June 13, 2024 – Christina Birch, founder of the Community Cafe, was named the 2024 Professional of the Year by the Saskatchewan Economic Development Alliance (SEDA) at their annual conference in Saskatoon on June 13, 2024. This prestigious award recognizes Christina’s outstanding dedication and innovative contributions to economic development and community empowerment throughout the province of Saskatchewan.
Currently residing in Redvers, Saskatchewan, Christina has been a driving force for community and economic development throughout southeast Saskatchewan and the province as a whole. Her deep-rooted passion for rural communities has been evident as seen through her dedicated work supporting regions, municipalities, economic development professionals, business associations and entrepreneurs.
The award presentation included an introduction by Affinity Credit Union representative Corina Farbacher: "It is my pleasure to present the Professional of the Year award to an individual whose dedication, expertise, and tireless efforts have made a profound impact on individuals, businesses, communities, and regions throughout the province."
"Based in Redvers, Christina Birch has devoted tremendous efforts and care to build relationships and engage stakeholders at the grassroots level within her own southeast area of the province as well as across Saskatchewan. She has implemented at least five mentorship and collaborative networks to nurture success within small businesses, as well as other community economic development practitioners. This deep commitment to sharing her knowledge is evident by the eleven letters of support that accompanied her nomination, articulating her direct impact on other professionals, communities, and organizations."
"At the provincial level, Christina volunteers her time and expertise serving as Vice-Chairperson of the Saskatchewan Economic Development Alliance and making significant contributions to international activities as a member of the Education, Training, and Curriculum Committee for Business Expansion & Retention International (BREI). Christina's commitment to continuous learning in her field is evident through her attainment of four internationally recognized certifications in recent years."
"Her consistent dedication to drive positive change and foster sustainable growth in Saskatchewan make her one-of-a-kind, a leader in her field. Her unwavering dedication to community economic development coupled with a commitment to collaboration, leadership, mentorship and commitment to lifelong learning make her a worthy recipient of this Leadership Award.”
Christina is looking forward to continuing to support entrepreneurs, non-profit organizations, communities and regions as they work to achieve their business, community and economic development goals. “I am incredibly honoured to have received the 2024 Professional of the Year, said Birch.”
“Community building and economic development is my passion, and receiving recognition in this field means a lot to me. I am so thankful to have the opportunity to work alongside individuals who are striving to build vibrant rural communities each and every day. It is truly inspiring. This award is not just a personal achievement, but a celebration of what can be done through collaboration and a shared vision.”
The Community Cafe, founded by Christina, focuses on supporting municipalities in their community and economic development initiatives, particularly in rural areas. “We work with businesses, communities and regions to identify their needs and create tailored services and solutions to help them achieve their goals. Community and economic development can be overwhelming for some communities, but it doesn’t have to be. That’s where we come in. We really take a solution-based approach, focusing on finding practical solutions for businesses, communities and regions.” said Birch.
Christina’s specializations include business retention and expansion, investment readiness, strategic action planning and community marketing. These services are in addition to a variety of workshops, training and speaking services that are designed to motivate and empower communities through education.
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