Empire Club of Canada

The Empire Club of Canada Presents: Financial Services Revolution Global Launch: How Blockchain Is Transforming Money, Markets and Banking The global launch of Alex Tapscott's Financial Services Revolution, a compilation of research into blockchain technology's impact on money, markets and banking. Tapscott is the book's editor and contributor, and co-author of the best-selling Blockchain Revolution. Together with a panel of experts, Mr. Tapscott introduced some of the key findings of the book, including insights on tokenization, global payments, and Facebook's recent foray into the world of cryptocurrencies. Moderator: Alex Tapscott, Co-founder of The Blockchain Research Institute & Co-author of Blockchain Revolution Panelists: Cole Diamond, CEO, Coinsquare Fatema Pirone, Senior Director, Enterprise Innovation, CIBC Richard Carleton, CEO, Canadian Securities Exchange *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: Annette Verschuren, Chair and Chief Executive Officer of NRStor Inc., On How Energy Storage Makes Electricity More Affordable. Annette Verschuren is Chair and Chief Executive Officer of NRStor Inc., an energy-storage project development company. She has a passionate belief in the urgent need for innovative leadership in Canada’s business sector. Since Annette founded NRStor in 2012, the company has become a world leader in developing and operating the world’s most innovative energy storage portfolio, which includes batteries, flywheels and compressed air energy storage (CAES). NRStor has also deployed one of the largest portfolios of behind-the-meter lithium ion battery energy storage for industrial and residential applications in Canada, including Tesla Powerwalls. NRStor is also developing renewable Micro Grid projects in partnership with Indigenous and remote communities across Canada, where energy storage is the key to materially reducing reliance on diesel power and creating lasting health and economic benefits for the communities. Ms. Verschuren was president of The Home Depot Canada from 1996 to 2011. In that time, she oversaw the growth of the company’s Canadian operations from 19 to 179 stores, and increased revenue from $600 million to $6 billion. She currently sits on the corporate boards of Liberty Mutual, CNRL, Air Canada and Saputo and also serves on the board of the CAMH Foundation and Chairs the MaRS Discovery District Board. Ms. Verschuren is the Chancellor of Cape Breton University. Annette Verschuren was recently appointed to Chair Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC), a foundation created by the government of Canada to support Canadian companies with the potential to become world leaders in their efforts to develop and demonstrate new environmental technologies that address climate change, clean air, clean water and clean soil. Ms. Verschuren wrote the book Bet On Me, about succeeding in business and in life. She champions volunteerism and was named to the Order of Canada for her contributions to the retail industry and corporate social responsibility. Annette Verschuren was inducted into the Canadian Business Hall of Fame on June 19, 2019. Speaker: Annette Verschuren, Chair and Chief Executive Officer of NRStor Inc. *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: The Honourable Monte McNaughton, Minister of Labour, Training and Skills Development On Breaking The Stigma Around Skilled Trades Monte McNaughton was the MPP for Lambton-Kent-Middlesex and Minister of Labour, Training and Skills Development. Monte grew up in Southwestern Ontario, attending school in Glencoe and later graduating from Westervelt Business College in London. While growing up, he worked in his family’s small business, the local Home Hardware. At the age of twenty Monte was elected as municipal councillor in his hometown of Newbury, and was re-elected to two further terms before retiring from that office.  From 2009 to 2010 he served as President of the Strathroy and District Chamber of Commerce, and he served on the board of Four Counties General Hospital Foundation. Monte was first elected to the legislature in 2011 where he continued his advocacy for his local community. In June 2018, he became Minister of Infrastructure, where he opened historic streams of infrastructure funding, expanded natural gas supply into rural Ontario and tabled a plan to bring high-speed internet to underserved communities across the province. He also announced an investment to renovate the aging Massey Hall, Canada’s most renowned concert hall. In June 2019 Monte McNaughton was appointed Minister of Labour. He immediately set upon a provincial listening tour, meeting with more than 150 labour leaders in less than four months. He quickly established worker safety as a top priority while also shepherding in WSIB rate reductions, freezing non-profit rate increases, and introducing a new program that will reward Ontario’s safest employers. In October 2019, his portfolio was expanded to include Training and Skills Development. Speaker: The Honourable Monte McNaughton, Minister of Labour, Training and Skills Development *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: To be Premier: The Empire Club of Canada Invites Ontario Liberal Leadership Candidates to Debate The Empire Club of Canada has a rich history of being the chosen forum for government and political leaders to convey their visions. In that spirit, The Empire Club of Canada brought together all the Ontario Liberal Party candidates for a special evening on January 15th to answer one important question: Why should you be Premier? The debate was framed around this fundamental question on which any provincial leadership campaign turns. Each candidate was asked to make their case why of all the people on the stage, they most deserve the chance to be Premier. Next, they were asked to defend their case before the Empire audience and by extension all Ontarians. This was a rare public opportunity for our audience to hear all of the candidates on one stage, positioning themselves as the next leader of the Ontario Liberal Party and, if they are so chosen, Premier of Ontario. Moderators: Don Guy, Strategist, Pollara Insights Karman Wong, Journalist, Strategist Panelists: Michael Coteau   Steven Del Duca Kate Graham Brenda Hollingsworth Mitzie Hunter Alvin Tedjo *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: Anil Arora, Chief Statistician of Canada On Big data; Deeper Insights: Why Statistics Canada's Drive To Lead The Knowledge Revolution Will Matter To You. In today’s changing world, responsible data use and evidence driven decision making are driving economic activity and social innovation. Hear the Chief Statistician of Canada, Anil Arora, outline how your world class statistical agency is modernizing in order to better serve your information needs and provide a data foundation for a stronger and more prosperous Canada. Leaders and analysts from businesses, governments and not for profits will benefit from understanding Statistics Canada’s roadmap and by knowing how trusted data are essential to Canada's future wellbeing and your bottom line. Speaker: Anil Arora, Chief Statistician of Canada *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 2020: Making Money in Volatile Markets The Empire Club of Canada welcomed David Wolf, David Rosenberg & Nick Barisheff for the 2020 Annual Investment Outlook, to discuss ‘Making Money in Volatile Markets’. Panelists: David Wolf, Portfolio Manager, Fidelity Investments David Rosenberg, Chief Economist & Strategist, Rosenberg Research and Associates Nick Barisheff, President & Chief Executive Officer, BMG Group *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: Nation Builder of the Year Award: The Toronto Raptors In 2019, the Empire Club of Canada launched the Nation Builder of the Year Award. The inaugural award was be presented to the Toronto Raptors on December 13th, 2019. Award Presented to: Masai Ujiri, President of the Toronto Raptors & Alternate NBA Governor Speakers:  Nav Bhatia, Toronto Raptor’s Superfan Nav Bhatia John Tory, Mayor of Toronto Kayla Grey, Anchor & Reporter for TSN’s SPORTSCENTRE *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: Stephen S. Poloz, Governor of the Bank of Canada In his final speech of the year, Bank of Canada Governor Stephen S. Poloz will discussed some of the global forces affecting the Canadian economy and the outlook for 2020. Speaker: Stephen S. Poloz, Governor of the Bank of Canada *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: The Honourable Maurizio Bevilacqua P.C., Mayor, City of Vaughan On Purpose-Driven Leadership Honourable Maurizio Bevilacqua, Mayor of Vaughan, addressed The Empire Club of Canada and discussed purpose-driven leadership. After 30 years of public service that have taken him from Parliament to the cabinet table to City Hall, he has witnessed failures and successes in government. Mayor Bevilacqua understands that elected officials must lead with purpose rooted in hope, optimism and determination. With a clear mission, he continued to bring about the ultimate urban transformation. Under his leadership, Vaughan had an economic growth rate of four per cent, which had created more than 60,000 new jobs and remained the only municipality outside of Toronto to be linked by the subway. Mayor Bevilacqua was also instrumental in bringing the city’s and York Region’s first post-secondary institution – Niagara University. Philanthropy has long shaped Mayor Bevilacqua’s service to others. He chaired the $250-million Ultimate Campaign to build Canada’s first smart hospital, and through the efforts and events of his Spirit of Generosity commitment, more than $70 million had been raised to help over 200 worthy causes. Never subscribing to populist politics and opportunism, his focus and success were attributed to doing what is best for the citizens he represents. Speaker: The Honourable Maurizio Bevilacqua P.C., Mayor, City of Vaughan *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: Blake Hutcheson In Conversation With Bruce Flatt On Real Estate and the Global Investment Landscape: The State Of The Industry And Where It Will Go From Here Toronto is one of the fastest growing cities in North America and has become an international development hub. No-one knows this better than Bruce Flatt, CEO, Brookfield Asset Management and Blake Hutcheson, President and Chief Pension Officer, OMERS and former CEO of Oxford Properties. These captains of the real estate and investment industry globally come to the podium of the Empire Club on November 28th to engage in a rare fireside chat on where the industry stands today and how it will continue to have a major impact on the economies of Canada, the United States and globally. Will real property continue to play such a prominent role in this city’s and country’s economy and is the present model sustainable going forward?  Where else in the world do the best opportunities exist?  What asset classes other than real estate are the best buy today?  Where is the iconic Brookfield platform focused and what does the future look like for this global powerhouse?  Will OMERS reflect upon, mimic, or refute the Brookfield global approach? This is a must attend event for any financial analyst, economist, real property professional or global investor who wants to better understand how leaders within these world class platforms make decisions and what the future has in store for two of Canada’s most impressive investment platforms. Speakers:   Bruce Flatt, Chief Executive Officer, Brookfield Asset Management Blake Hutcheson, President and Chief Pension Officer, OMERS *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.*