By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON September 19, 2011 – This Thursday, the Burlington Economic Development Corporation presents its fourth session of a five-part speaker series designed to connect, empower, and facilitate local companies through the changing economic climate, as well as share some insight for future growth. The event is part of the Mayor’s Networking Luncheon Series: Connect – Collaborate – Create 2011.
Gordon Nixon, president of the Royal Bank will be the guest speaker at an Economic Development lunch this Thursday Nixon is a strong advocate for taking advantage of the economic diversity in Canada. Will Burlington hear him?
The keynote speaker is Gordon Nixon President and CEO of Royal Bank of Canada – the country’s largest financial institution for the past decade. He is a recipient of Canada’s Outstanding CEO of the Year Award and the driving force behind RBC’s diversity journey. In 2010, RBC was awarded the prestigious Catalyst Award for its outstanding diversity and inclusion initiatives.
Nixon will share his insights on why diversity matters, the success behind RBC’s activities, how diversity can help spur expansion and innovation and the business imperative that all Canadian companies should embrace to succeed in today’s fast paced, ever evolving international economy.
Nixon was one of the forces behind the MaRs district in Toronto, a location where high tech and bio tech organizations are housed in what used to be the College Street part of the Toronto Hospital. Mayor Rick Goldring’s guest speaker at his Inspire series, Tom Rand, heads up the Cleantech Practice at the MaRS Discovery District. He is Practice Lead, Cleantech and Physical Sciences. This is not small potatoes. Many may not realize that the Economic Development Corporation and the Mayor’s office have worked together to bring some top level speakers who are leading the change that has to take place in this country if we are to experience the growth we want and need.
The Mayor has a clear vision for the city which is to attract new high tech and high paying jobs to the city. It is speakers like Gordon Nixon and Tom Rand who can lead us into this new territory.
Kyle Benham, Executive Director of the Economic Development Corporation worked with local Royal Bank people to get Nixon to the city. As Benham explained it: “We work with our local partners to develop both programs and development opportunities.” That local networking certainly worked for all of us this time.
MaRS was created in 2000 by a group of thirteen visionary individuals, organizations and companies concerned about Canada’s performance in the global innovation economy. It’s mission is to act as a catalyst in helping build Canada’s high-tech industries. Burlington would be well advised to get to know people down there – some of the start- ups that are toiling away at MaRs will experience a breakthrough and be looking for a place to set up their operations. They would love Burlington – we need to make sure they know exactly where we are.
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