While at the recent New Westminster Economic Forum, I caught up with Gary Pooni of Pooni Group. He has a national business on urban planning and communication. He is well-apprised about the economic and demographic urban landscape across Canada and beyond, and where it's going.

Susan Millar – Local Journalism Initiative

He had a lot to say about how business will shift and change over the next decade or so. In fact, many current jobs won't exist, he says. 

He also has a lot of thoughtful words about what New Westminster business can do to deal with the somewhat unstable situation that we are in --- now, in the mid-term and for the next 10 years. 

Some examples include: Putting on events that attract millennials and younger generations, creating incubators for tech and gaming developments, and also attracting those in the emerging medical/tech field would be very important, especially as we have the biggest hospital in BC here.

The bottom line is New Westminster has great potential, if it recognizes and takes advantage of the changing scene and also where people will be spending their money. 

According to his website, the Pooni Group has "been a driving force behind the creation of livable and resilient cities for over 35 years.

Serving Vancouver, Victoria, and Toronto, Pooni Group provides professional urban development and communications management for land developers and municipal projects. With over 35 years of experience and a wide range of ventures across more than 25 Canadian municipalities, Pooni Group has established itself as a leading force in the industry."