Empire Club of Canada

The Empire Club of Canada Presents: How Can Canada Build Back Better? The OECD’s Advice As Canadians considered how to build a better economy as the COVID-19 crisis started to recede, their prospects and possibilities were shaped not only by the choices of their own governments and firms but by those of their closest international partners in North America, the Group of Seven and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. No-one was better placed to provide perspective on, and help produce, the pathway to Canada’s post-pandemic prosperity in that key international context than Angel Gurria, Secretary General of the OECD. He joined the Empire Club of Canada to present the results of the OECD’s economic outlook for Canada and its key partners and to report on the OECD’s critical work on transitioning to a jobs-rich digital economy.  He also reflected on how he has led the OECD for 15 years, including during the global financial crisis from 2008-9, and has broadened its work to produce “better policies for better lives” in financial regulation, health, climate change and much else. Speaker: Angel Gurria, OECD Secretary-General *The content presented is free of charge but please note that the Empire Club of Canada retains copyright. Neither the speeches themselves nor any part of their content may be used for any purpose other than personal interest or research without the explicit permission of the Empire Club of Canada.* *Views and Opinions Expressed Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the speakers or panelists are those of the speakers or panelists and do not necessarily reflect or represent the official views and opinions, policy or position held by The Empire Club of Canada.*

The Empire Club of Canada Presents: Vaccine Hesitancy: Convincing Canadians the Importance of Vaccines In this panel discussion, the panelists look at a polling that showed Canadians were losing confidence in vaccines and they discuss ways to combat misinformation and build and maintain public confidence in vaccines. Moderator: William Powers, Writer, Journalist and Technologist Panelists: Angel Chu, Vice Chair, Immunize Canada; Infectious Disease Physician, Department of Medicine, Foothills Medical Centre Dr. Jia Hu, Medical Officer of Health; Chair, 19 To Zero Raj Pannu, CEO & Founder, Emergence Creative Scott Ratzan, Distinguished Lecturer, CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Public Policy *The content presented is free of charge but please note that the Empire Club of Canada retains copyright. Neither the speeches themselves nor any part of their content may be used for any purpose other than personal interest or research without the explicit permission of the Empire Club of Canada.* *Views and Opinions Expressed Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the speakers or panelists are those of the speakers or panelists and do not necessarily reflect or represent the official views and opinions, policy or position held by The Empire Club of Canada.*

The Empire Club of Canada Presents: Black Prosperity: Inspiring the Next Generation of Leaders Over the past year, anti-Black racism protests have elevated systemic issues that remain pervasive in society, serving as a catalyst for important discussions around racism and discrimination in Canada. These discussions have revealed a harsh reality: Black Canadians continue to be significantly underrepresented in leadership positions. This disparity is particularly pronounced in professional fields such as law, public affairs, politics and finance. In order to create lasting change to our society and institutions, a concerted effort is needed to identify and address barriers Black Canadians face in attaining leadership positions in the public and private sectors. Despite countless obstacles and barriers, there are stories of success to celebrate and learn from. The Empire Club is pleased to host a panel discussion that will share the experiences of those who have secured leadership positions in their fields, lessons they have learned along the way and what today’s leaders can do to inspire and empower the next generation of diverse voices. Moderator: Asha Tomlinson, Award-Winning Investigative Journalist, CBC News: Marketplace and CBC News contributor; Co-creator, Co-producer, and host, Being Black in Canada program and Face Racism series Panelists: Zanana Akande, Interim Chair, Black Legal Action Centre Al Ramsay, Associate Vice President, Sales and Strategy and Head LGBTQ2+ &  Black Customer Segments, TD Bank Charlene Theodore, President, Ontario Bar Association; Workplace Lawyer Ray Williams, Managing Director & Vice Chairman, Financial Markets at National Bank Financial *The content presented is free of charge but please note that the Empire Club of Canada retains copyright. Neither the speeches themselves nor any part of their content may be used for any purpose other than personal interest or research without the explicit permission of the Empire Club of Canada.* *Views and Opinions Expressed Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the speakers or panelists are those of the speakers or panelists and do not necessarily reflect or represent the official views and opinions, policy or position held by The Empire Club of Canada.*

The Empire Club of Canada Presents: Celebrating POET Technologies Inc: Making Money in the Global Photonics Industry Speaker: Suresh Venkatesan, Chairman & CEO, POET Technologies *The content presented is free of charge but please note that the Empire Club of Canada retains copyright. Neither the speeches themselves nor any part of their content may be used for any purpose other than personal interest or research without the explicit permission of the Empire Club of Canada.* *Views and Opinions Expressed Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the speakers or panelists are those of the speakers or panelists and do not necessarily reflect or represent the official views and opinions, policy or position held by The Empire Club of Canada.*

The Empire Club of Canada Presents: Systemic Racism, Housing, and the Realities of Black Canadians In Toronto’s lowest-income neighbourhoods, 69% of residents are racialized, while 73% of residents in Toronto’s highest income neighbourhoods are white. The increased attention to systemic racism had revealed to the general public what those in the housing industry have known for years: housing in Toronto and across the GTA is highly racialized. Historically, homeownership has helped Canadians advance in society and work to overcome barriers such as the income and wealth gap. However, for Black Canadians, the lack of access to the housing market has and continues to actively limit opportunities for the Black community now, and in generations to come. It is time to address this inequity, but doing so demands that we re-imagine the future shape of the GTA and seize opportunities to build affordable housing while creating a path to ownership for more black families. Moderator: Ene Underwood, Chief Executive Officer, Habitat for Humanity GTA Panelists/ Speaker: Stephen Diamond, Chief Executive Officer, DiamondCorp Mwarigha, Vice-President, Housing & Homelessness Services Isaac Olowolafe, Founder, Dream Maker Inc.; Board of Directors, Sick Kids Foundation *The content presented is free of charge but please note that the Empire Club of Canada retains copyright. Neither the speeches themselves nor any part of their content may be used for any purpose other than personal interest or research without the explicit permission of the Empire Club of Canada.* *Views and Opinions Expressed Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the speakers or panelists are those of the speakers or panelists and do not necessarily reflect or represent the official views and opinions, policy or position held by The Empire Club of Canada.*

The Empire Club of Canada Presents: Rick Leary – Chief Executive Officer, Toronto Transit Commission with One Year Later: Making the TTC a Diverse and Inclusive Organization In 2020, the TTC took a hard look at many of its anti-racism practices that were in place then – both in how it dealt with its customers as well as the treatment of their own employees from underrepresented groups. Diversity and inclusion had become top priorities for the CEO and the TTC moved to become a leader in the industry on confronting existing issues and making meaningful changes to address them. In December of 2020, the TTC launched a 10 Point Action Plan to attract a more diverse workforce – started with women and then moved to attract others from underrepresented groups. As the TTC created a more diverse and inclusive workforce, the 10 Point Action Plan also served to benefit the TTC’s diverse customer base. Moderator: Leslie Woo, Chief Executive Officer, CivicAction Speaker: Rick Leary, Chief Executive Officer, Toronto Transit Commission *The content presented is free of charge but please note that the Empire Club of Canada retains copyright. Neither the speeches themselves nor any part of their content may be used for any purpose other than personal interest or research without the explicit permission of the Empire Club of Canada.* *Views and Opinions Expressed Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the speakers or panelists are those of the speakers or panelists and do not necessarily reflect or represent the official views and opinions, policy or position held by The Empire Club of Canada.*

The Empire Club of Canada Presents: Mayor of Toronto, John Tory - Ready to Restart: Toronto’s Path Forward Beyond COVID-19 Mayor John Tory speaks about the work Toronto has done to fight the COVID-19 pandemic and the steps it took for 2021. Born and raised in Toronto, Mayor Tory has spent his life giving back to the city he loves, through his tireless work in public, private sector and philanthropic roles. John Tory was first elected in 2014 and re-elected in 2018. Throughout his tenure as Mayor, he has prioritized investments towards affordable housing, transit, poverty reduction and modernizing the government services on which people rely. He has pushed for more investments from other levels of governments and has maintained strong relationships with them to ensure that the needs of Toronto are being met. Under his leadership Toronto has become a world class city that prides itself on being diverse and inclusive while earning its reputation as an undisputed hub for technology and innovation, and film and tv productions. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Mayor had been steadfast in helping Toronto residents and businesses with crucial supports and services to help them get through the challenging times. Whether it was introducing new programs to getting businesses online, helping businesses deliver their products to residents, providing much-needed aid to areas hardest hit by the pandemic, or working with the province to expand testing, the Mayor had worked hard to make sure that Toronto would get through the pandemic stronger than ever. Speaker: John Tory, Mayor of Toronto *The content presented is free of charge but please note that the Empire Club of Canada retains copyright. Neither the speeches themselves nor any part of their content may be used for any purpose other than personal interest or research without the explicit permission of the Empire Club of Canada.* *Views and Opinions Expressed Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the speakers or panelists are those of the speakers or panelists and do not necessarily reflect or represent the official views and opinions, policy or position held by The Empire Club of Canada.*

The Empire Club of Canada Presents: Annual Investment Outlook 2021: Making Money in Volatile Markets Panelists: David Rosenberg, Chief Economist & Strategist, Rosenberg Research Thomas S. Caldwell, C.M., Founder and Chairman, Caldwell Financial Ltd. Pierre Lassonde, C.M., GOQ, Chairman & CEO, Firelight Investments *The content presented is free of charge but please note that the Empire Club of Canada retains copyright. Neither the speeches themselves nor any part of their content may be used for any purpose other than personal interest or research without the explicit permission of the Empire Club of Canada.* *Views and Opinions Expressed Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the speakers or panelists are those of the speakers or panelists and do not necessarily reflect or represent the official views and opinions, policy or position held by The Empire Club of Canada.*

The Empire Club of Canada Presents: Post COVID: Small Business Success Main Street is the backbone of the community. “Small business is the largest employer in the country.” “There is no better security system for a neighbourhood than a thriving small business sector.” These are some of the phrases traditionally used to describe small businesses in Canada. The challenges they face during COVID are unique. How many of them will survive? How many will thrive? What does the Post COVID world hold for this foundation of our society? Moderator: Adrienne Batra, Editor in Chief, Toronto Sun, Radio & TV Panelists: Dan Kelly President, CEO, and Chair, Canadian Federation of Independent Business Alan Liu, Owner, Salad King Restaurant Kristyn Wong-Tam, Councillor Toronto-Centre, Ward 13 *The content presented is free of charge but please note that the Empire Club of Canada retains copyright. Neither the speeches themselves nor any part of their content may be used for any purpose other than personal interest or research without the explicit permission of the Empire Club of Canada.* *Views and Opinions Expressed Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the speakers or panelists are those of the speakers or panelists and do not necessarily reflect or represent the official views and opinions, policy or position held by The Empire Club of Canada.*

The Empire Club of Canada Presents: Rahul Bhardwaj, President and CEO, Institute of Corporate Directors in conversation with Ivey Business Journal Editor, Tom Watson on The Pandemic’s Legacy: Old Habits and New Possibilities The COVID-19 pandemic had posed both an unprecedented governance challenge and ushered in a period of extraordinary experimentation and innovation. It was time for boards to question old habits and imagine new possibilities. Moderator: Tom Watson, Editor, Ivey Business Journal Speaker: Rahul Bhardwaj, ICD.D - President & Chief Executive Officer, Institute of Corporate Directors *The content presented is free of charge but please note that the Empire Club of Canada retains copyright. Neither the speeches themselves nor any part of their content may be used for any purpose other than personal interest or research without the explicit permission of the Empire Club of Canada.* *Views and Opinions Expressed Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the speakers or panelists are those of the speakers or panelists and do not necessarily reflect or represent the official views and opinions, policy or position held by The Empire Club of Canada.*