Are sustainability and growth competing objectives? Not at the 2009 Ontario Economic Summit.

This is just one theme being explored during the “Go Green and Prosper” session at the Summit, happening November 2-4, 2009 at Niagara-on-the-Lake.  Highlighting the session will be a joint presentation from Gerald Butts, President & CEO of World Wildlife Fund Canada and Galen G. Weston, Executive Chairman, Loblaw Companies Limited.  Earlier this year, Loblaw made a commitment to source 100% sustainable seafood by 2013.  The company has also announced an ambitious clean technology project for its Cambridge distribution facility that “could potentially reduce the environmental impacts of the transportation and storage of perishable goods”.

Ziya Tong, co-host of the popular Daily Planet on the Discovery Channel will facilitate a question and answer session and moderate a separate panel exploring alternative energy and conservation themes. The panel will feature Ken Field, Chairman of Greenfield Ethanol Inc. , Laura Formusa, President and CEO of Hydro One and Paul Rak, President of VeriForm, an innovative metal fabicator with green thinking at the core of its business strategy.

Sustainability and prosperity will also be themes covered in our “Big Impact Infrastructure” session.  The Summit is pleased to welcome Bill Smith, Senior Vice-President, Siemens Canada Limited to the panel. Siemens recently completed a study on behalf of the United States Conference of Mayors with some very interesting findings regarding municipal infrastructure budgets, climate change technologies and economic opportunity. The Metropolitan Infrastructure Sustainability Study can be found at the Siemens website: http://w1.siemens.com/entry/cc/en/sustainablecities.htm

A limited number of spaces to participate at the Summit still remain for interested senior leaders from business, government, labour and academic sectors.  Not-for-profit entities are also welcome to inquire about participation.  Learn more here.

OES welcomes three new speakers to our agenda!

Thought leaders (listed below) from each of these organizations will be joining us at the 6th Annual Summit.

Big Impact Infrastructure

Fausto Natarelli – Director, Ministry of Transportation
Bringing knowledge from the Windsor Border Initiatives Implementation Group

A Knowledge Driven, Creative Economy: Our Pathway to Prosperity

Dr. Diana Pliura – President, ALBRY Inc. & Entrepreneur In Residence, The Health Technology Exchange (HSX)
HSX supports the growth of a dynamic, prosperous Ontario medical and assistive technologies industry sector.

Sara Diamond – President, Ontario College of Art and Design
OCAD is Canada’s “University of the Imagination”

Check out the preliminary agenda to find out more!

OES welcomes three new speakers to our agenda!

Thought leaders (listed below) from each of these organizations will be joining us at the 6th Annual Summit.

• Llyod McCoomb – President, Greater Toronto Airports Authority
• Ken Field – Chairman & Founder, Greenfield Ethanol
• Paul Rak – President, VeriGreen Inc.

Check out the preliminary agenda to find out more!

The first Ontario Visionary award recipient will be named at the 2009 Ontario Economic Summit at a celebratory dinner on November 2, 2009. The Ontario Visionaries initiative is designed to establish a distinguished society of the province’s seminal achievers – Ontarians whose contributions to business, politics, labour and the social fabric of Ontario, have served to advance the province’s economy for the benefit of all who live, work and invest here.

An initiative of the Ontario Chamber of  Commerce, Ontario Visionaries will annually pay tribute to one extraordinary inductee who exhibits integrity, collaboration and leadership. The inaugural inductee is the Hon. William G. Davis, the 18th Premier of Ontario.

During his political career, William G. Davis had a major impact on the province’s economy through pivotal decisions on issues including education, infrastructure, healthcare, trade and taxation. Haroon Siddiqui wrote a fitting opinion piece in the Toronto Star earlier this week that outlines Mr. Davis’ legacy. Bill Davis and the art of humane politics

OES delegates will celebrate along with current and past leaders of provincial and national politics at the Grand Hall, Fallsview Casino Resort that evening and others who share a common respect for the great accomplishments of the former Premier and a vision of a strong and vibrant Ontario.

Paul Rowan co-founder and VP Design joins the 6^th annual OES to talk about the creative economy.

Paul is a natural addition to our panel – known as the “heart and soul” of Umbra, Paul leads a design team of 30 bright, creative minds, challenging the team to constantly think outside the box. Paul’s efforts result in new designs being developed each day for every room in our homes.  

With Paul’s participation, this panel is sure to help you discover how to inject a little more creativity into your business environment.

Check out the rest of the preliminary program agenda.

Picture by: eyeline_Imagery