The latest industrial revolution and collaborations in the global marketplace will be hot topics at the Leeds Grenville Economic Development Summit on Friday, November 17. This year’s keynote speaker is Pierre Cléroux, Vice President, Research, and Chief Economist with the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC). He will discuss the arrival of the fourth industrial revolution and question whether Canadian entrepreneurs are ready. Mr. Cléroux, who leads a team of experts analyzing economic data, will also unveil the results of a study on how digital technologies are transforming the manufacturing landscape.
“We are looking forward to his address and our full-day of high-calibre speakers,” said Ann Weir, Economic Development Manager with the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville and master of ceremonies for the 9th Annual Summit. The event will be held at the North Grenville Municipal Centre in Kemptville. Ms. Weir will provide an overview of recent economic developments and opportunities in Leeds Grenville.
One of Canada’s largest Foreign Direct Investment Projects is the multi-phase plan of Feihe International Inc. to produce infant formula from cow and goat dairy products in Kingston. The project will be outlined by Carey Bidtnes, Business Development Officer with the Kingston Economic Development Corporation. The $225-million Canadian Project will affect multiple regions and industries across Eastern Ontario.
In a session entitled Responding to Change, Procter & Gamble (P&G) Human Resources Leader Ellen Barton, and City of Brockville Director of Economic Development, Robert Nolan, will discuss how they are working to reduce the impact of the closure of this facility by 2020.
Carrie Manchuk, Site Planning and Co-ordination Manager with the Ministry of Economic Development and Growth’s Ontario Investment Office, will speak on being “investment ready” and what can be done at the local level to help secure new investment projects.
Updates and new developments will be given by Anne Barr, of Nana B’s Bakery in Merrickville, David Leonard of Gananoque’s Cardinal Health and Brian Carré, North Grenville’s CAO. He will provide an update on the Kemptville Campus.
Nominees for this year’s Bill Thake Memorial Award for Economic Development Leadership are: Wendy Banks, of Wendy’s Country/Mobile Market in the Township of Rideau Lakes; Heather Howard, owner of 1000 Islands Duty Free Store on Hill Island and Fox Run Inn By-The-River Retirement Residence in Leeds and the Thousand Islands; and Gerald Tallman, Chairman of Tallman Group in North Grenville. The award will be presented following lunch.
The annual Summit is hosted by the Counties Economic Development Office in partnership with Gord Brown, MP Leeds-Grenville, 1000 Islands and Rideau Lakes, Steve Clark, MPP for Leeds-Grenville, along with the 1000 Islands, Valley Heartland and Grenville Community Futures Development Corporations and the 1000 Islands Region Workforce Development Board.
Register now at www.leedsgrenville.com/summit2017. The deadline to register is Friday, November 10. For more information, email: joanne.poll@uclg.on.ca or phone 613-342-3840 ext. 5362.
