Join fellow alumni and industry leaders for Candid conversations with today’s trendsetters and trend breakers, held every fall and winter.
Thursday, February 26, 2026
5 – 7 p.m.
Feigel Conference Centre, Room 11-204
Allard Hall, MacEwan University
11110 – 104 Avenue, Edmonton
As an alum, your $10 registration fee ($15 for two) includes:
- Refreshments and hors d’oeuvres (cash bar)
- A complimentary alumni gift
- Complimentary underground parking
All registration proceeds support the MacEwan Means Business campaign, inspiring future learners and leaders.
Register by Thursday, February 19, 2026
Note: This event is for MacEwan alumni only.
Meet our featured guest
Darci Walker is the President of The Brick, Canada’s largest retailer of furniture, appliances, electronics and mattresses, as well as the Brick Commercial / Midnorthern Appliance Division, the largest distribution of commercial and luxury appliances in Canada. She is accountable for over 200 locations in Canada from coast to coast to coast with over 5,000 team members.
Throughout her career, Darci has been a strong supporter of giving back to the communities The Brick is involved in, including Homes for Heroes, Wounded Warriors and Tree Canada. She is especially proud of the long-standing relationship she has nurtured with the Children’s Miracle Network for more than a decade.
Darci currently sits on the Board of Trustees for the Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation and was the 2025 Committee Chairperson for the “Tee Up for Tots” charity golf tournament, a key fundraising initiative for the Stollery.
Past featured guests
Dale Wishewan is a born leader with a proven track record in high-level sports and business. He has cultivated his love for sports and people over the years into many successful partnerships. He is the Founder and CEO of Booster Juice, a 470-store retail chain that he started in 1999 when he saw a need for healthy alternatives in the Quick Service Restaurant market. Growing the company from zero to 50 stores in Canada is still a Canadian franchise record.
His current business portfolio is diverse, including turnaround businesses, start-ups and sports ownership. The current sports ownership is with the Vegas Golden Knights, Henderson Silver Knights, AFC Bournemouth, FC Lorient, Hibernian FC, and the Edmonton Riverhawks.
Dale has been recognized for his entrepreneurial skills as Foodservice and Hospitality’s Entrepreneur of the Year in 2005; Ernst & Young’s Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year for the Prairie Region in 2005, a Canada’s Top 40 under 40 Entrepreneur in 2004, MacEwan University School of Business Allard Chair in 2013, and Ernst & Young’s Prairie Entrepreneur of the Year in 2013.
During his 11 years with ATB, Dave Mowat led a transformation that resulted in unprecedented growth and positioned ATB as both a community leader for financial services and a top employer in Canada. He also helped to establish Four Directions, an ATB branch that supports people experiencing homelessness, along with the Branch for Arts and Culture at ATB.
Dave’s impact on the province extends far beyond banking. He was named Canada’s #1 CEO by Glassdoor and Business Person of the Year by Alberta Venture. An extraordinary community builder, Dave continues to contribute his expertise to organizations, including the Citadel Theatre, the Edmonton Oilers Community Foundation and the Alberta Arts Awards Foundation.
Nicole Bourque-Bouchier is a transformative leader and the CEO of Bouchier, a prominent Indigenous-led company renowned for excellence in quality, safety and community impact. Bouchier provides infrastructure and support services to the resource sector and has grown to employ over 1,000 staff members, with 37 per cent self-identifying as Indigenous. The company stands as a beacon for diversity and inclusion in Canada.
Under Nicole’s stewardship, Bouchier has made significant contributions to community development through substantial support for educational facilities, youth programs and cultural preservation projects. She also champions women’s leadership with initiatives like the Female Empowerment Initiative, fostering growth and mentorship for female employees.
Nicole’s impact extends beyond her role at Bouchier; she is a respected advocate for Indigenous rights. Her business acumen has been recognized with numerous accolades, including the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Medal and RBC Canadian Women of Excellence CEO of the Year.
Naseem Bashir, P.Eng., ICD.D, is the executive chair of Originus Ltd., which includes operating companies Williams Engineering Canada Ltd., Umbra Engineering Ltd. and DB Technologies LP. He currently serves as a director of Aquatera Utilities Inc., Claystone Waste Ltd. and Prairie Sky Gondola Company. He was the founding board chair of Edmonton Unlimited, a past chair of the Edmonton International Airport Board and a past director of Cougar Drilling Solutions.
Naseem has served on the Stollery Children’s Hospital Board of Trustees and is a past Edmonton Oilers Community Foundation director. In 2012, he received the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal and was recognized as one of NAIT’s Top 50 Alumni in 50 years. He has a degree in electrical engineering from the University of Alberta and an honorary Bachelor of Technology Degree from NAIT.
Teresa Spinelli, president of the Italian Centre Shop, developed considerable experience growing up in the family business. Becoming president in 2001, Spinelli began expanding the company operations from a small business to a large company with five stores, over 600 staff and $100 million in sales in 2022. Spinelli has extensive involvement within the community and has won many awards, including the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal for Community and Involvement and Contributions to Canada, as well as Canada’s Top 100 Women Entrepreneurs and People’s Choice Awards for Business Woman of the Year.