Annual Policy Priority-Setting Session

Breakfast, Registration & Open Networking

Start your day with a delectable breakfast and connect with other attendees.

Welcoming Remarks: Roselle Martino, SVP, Policy, TRBOT

Opening Remarks: Kevin Teslyk, EVP & COO of Canadian Banking, Scotiabank & Chair of TRBOT Policy & Advocacy Committee

Kevin Teslyk, Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer of Canadian Banking, Scotiabank, and Chair of the Board’s Policy & Advocacy Committee, who will share insights and set context for the Board's work in championing a competitive business environment in our region.

Keynote Address & Fireside Chat with Mayor Olivia Chow

Olivia Chow is the 66th Mayor of Toronto and the first woman of Asian descent elected to the office. Her story reflects that of so many Torontonians who immigrate here to build a new life and make an impact on our city.

Born in Hong Kong in 1957, Mayor Olivia Chow immigrated to Toronto with her parents at the age of 13, and lived with her family in the St. James Town neighbourhood. She graduated from OCAD and pursued a varied career as a sculptor, college professor, ESL teacher and a counsellor for new immigrants. She found her passion for community organising as a young woman rallying support for, and later working with, the Vietnamese Boat People who at the time were seeking refuge from their war-torn country in search of a better life in Canada.

Pursuing her newfound passion for public service, Olivia was first elected as a TDSB trustee 1985 where she served for six years. In 1991, Olivia became the first Asian-born woman elected as a Metro Toronto Councillor, where she created lasting programs that have helped hundreds of thousands of families in Toronto each year. Programs like free dental care for children in poverty and the school breakfast and lunch program that helps kids focus on their teachers, not their hunger. She was re-elected to city council five times, serving with distinction for 14 years. While at City Hall, she served as Chair of the Community Services Committee and Vice Chair of the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) as well as serving on the budget committee for a decade.

In 2006, Olivia was elected as the Member of Parliament for Trinity—Spadina. Her Early Learning and Child Care bill laid the legislative foundation for a universal, high quality, affordable and non-profit national childcare program. Her bill on a National Public Transit Strategy was widely celebrated by mayors and municipalities from coast to coast.

In 2015, Mayor Olivia Chow joined Toronto Metropolitan University as a Distinguished Visiting Professor where her work focuses on community engagement and leadership development. As a founder of the Institute for Change Leaders, Olivia and her team have taught thousands the valuable skills of community and political organising.

Throughout her career, Olivia has been driven by the belief that we are always stronger together.

Remarks: Giles Gherson, President & CEO, TRBOT

Hear from TRBOT's CEO, Giles Gherson, speak to our new approach to catalyze a vibrant, globally competitive Toronto region. 

Live Podcast Recording: Sit in on a live recording of The Herle Burly with host David Herle in conversation with Jean-Francois Perrault, SVP and Chief Economist, Scotiabank, as they discuss lagging productivity levels and the future of the Toronto region.

Host: David Herle, Owner, The Gandalf Group, and Host of the Curse of Politics and The Herle Burly podcasts

As a founder and partner in The Gandalf Group, David Herle provides clients with probing public opinion research and data-driven communications strategies. David has been around Liberal politics for a long time, starting as a kid in Saskatchewan organizing ridings for provincial leader Ralph Goodale in the early 80’s to working on campaigns with Paul Martin and Kathleen Wynne among others. He commented on politics for ten years on CBC’s The National. He is known for strategic thinking, blunt talk, lifelong passions (Liberal Party, Riders, Habs, Hawkins Cheezies, Lemon Hart rum, and black licorice), and occasionally saying something he wished he could take back.

Guest: Jean-Francois Perrault, SVP and Chief Economist, Scotiabank

Jean-François Perrault joined Scotiabank in 2015 as Senior Vice-President and Chief Economist. He leads a team of Economists to support Scotiabank’s domestic and international business lines and clients from retail to capital markets, providing Scotiabank's senior executives, business lines and customers with perspectives, insights and forecasts on economic, financial market and policy developments.   

Prior to joining Scotiabank, Jean-François held prominent roles with the federal government, the Bank of Canada, the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.

Closing Remarks: Kevin Teslyk, EVP & COO of Canadian Banking, Scotiabank & Chair of TRBOT Policy & Advocacy Committee

Kevin Teslyk, Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer of Canadian Banking, Scotiabank, and Chair of the Board’s Policy & Advocacy Committee, who will share insights and set context for the Board's work in championing a competitive business environment in our region.