OREIG Networking Event October 2024. Topic: Economic Engines of the Okanagan Featuring Greg Hopf and Neil Fassina

About this event:  

Join the Okanagan Real Estate Investment Group for an evening of Networking and Learning about a few of the many Economic Engines of the Okanagan!!

About our Speakers:

Dr. Neil Fassina, President of Okanagan College since April 2021, will be a featured speaker at our upcoming event for real estate investors. A visionary leader, Dr. Fassina was drawn to Okanagan College for its strong reputation in transforming lives and communities, aligning with his own passion for educational excellence.

Holding a PhD in Management from the Rotman School of Business at the University of Toronto, a BSc in Psychology from the University of Calgary, and certifications as a Chartered Professional in Human Resources (CPHR) and Chartered Director (ICD.D), Dr. Fassina brings a wealth of expertise to the role. As an active researcher, he has authored numerous refereed articles and co-authored a Canadian Human Resource Management text. His research delves into critical areas like negotiations, applied decision-making, and how education shapes societies.

Before joining Okanagan College, Dr. Fassina led Athabasca University as President (2016-2021) and held roles including Provost and Vice President Academic at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT), and Dean of the JR Shaw School of Business and School of Hospitality and Culinary Arts. His teaching experience spans prestigious institutions such as the University of Toronto, the University of Calgary, and the University of Manitoba.

At the event, Dr. Fassina will speak on the pivotal role Okanagan College plays in driving the economy of the Okanagan Valley. His insights will highlight how education is a cornerstone for regional growth and prosperity, making this a must-attend session for anyone invested in the future of the Okanagan.

Greg Hopf, an award-winning Dene Indigenous tourism leader, entrepreneur, and youth advocate, will be a featured speaker at our upcoming real estate investment event. With a passion for building vibrant Indigenous communities and promoting reconciliation, Greg shares powerful stories rooted in Indigenous experience and ways of knowing. 

Born and raised in Denendeh (Northwest Territories), Greg grew up immersed in Dene culture, learning traditional values from his Aunt Celine and Uncle Jim Antoine in the small Dene community of Liidlii Kue (Ft. Simpson). His deep connection to the land, animals, and spirits—nurtured through hunting, trapping, and fishing—fuels his work in promoting Indigenous cultural identity and addressing both the opportunities and challenges faced by Indigenous communities.

Greg’s career has taken him from managing a hunting and fishing lodge in the Northwest Territories to shaping Indigenous tourism and sports leadership. As a certified Master Facilitator in Indigenous Cross-Cultural Awareness and Indigenous Racism, Greg developed an Indigenous cultural tourism strategy for the Thompson Okanagan region and led the successful bid to host the International Indigenous Tourism Conference (IITC) in Kelowna in 2019.

Greg is the founder of Moccasin Trails, an award-winning Indigenous tourism company, and Moccasin Trails Consulting, which helps build meaningful partnerships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous organizations. His work focuses on economic and tourism development, and guiding organizations on their Truth and Reconciliation journey by incorporating these principles into their business models.

At this event, Greg will discuss the important role of Indigenous Tourism in contributing to the economic development of the Okanagan Valley. He will provide valuable insights into how education and cultural understan

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