February 2017 – OCS DELIVERS “ROCKSTAR” LINE-UP FOR 2017 OUTLOOK CONFERENCE!


OCS DELIVERS “ROCKSTAR” LINE-UP FOR 2017 OUTLOOK CONFERENCE!

Two of the largest general contractors in Canada will be part of the Ontario Construction Secretariat’s 17th Annual State of the Industry and Outlook Conference to be held March 9th in Toronto.  John Beck, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Aecon Group and Chris Gower, Chief Operating Officer, Buildings Group at PCL Construction have agreed to participate in a new addition to the traditional program line-up – a luncheon panel featuring general contractors who will discuss “Challenges and Opportunities in Ontario’s Construction Industry”.

The Luncheon Panel will bring “down the curtain” on the 2017 Conference, but not before many other big names take to the stage and podium.  With all the talk about infrastructure, we have assemble a who’s who panel of infrastructure experts.  Ehren Cory, who is responsible for Project Delivery with Infrastructure Ontario and OCS CEO, Sean Strickland will kick-off the infrastructure dialogue.  This will be followed by a focused panel discussion on “Building the Infrastructure Projects that will Transform Ontario’s Economy”.  Panelists include: Jeff Lehman, the Mayor of Barrie and Chair of Ontario’s Large Urban Mayors’ Caucus of Ontario (LUMCO) and Lou Serafini Jr., President and Chief Executive Officer for Fengate, Jeff Moore from Infrastructure Canada, and Chris Giannekos who leads the development and oversight of Ontario’s infrastructure plan and its associated $160 billion infrastructure investments.

“Infrastructure projects have the potential to transform Ontario’s economy”, says Sean Strickland, Chief Executive Officer for the Ontario Construction Secretariat.  “Through this Conference, we want to create a dialogue about the ‘big’ projects, how they can be built and how they will be financed.”

The panel will be moderated by Janet Ecker, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Toronto Financial Services Alliance.  Ecker most notably spent 9 years in provincial government beginning in 1995 and serving as Ministers of Community and Social Services, Education and Finance as well as Government House Leader under Premiers Mike Harris and Ernie Eves.

“As a former Finance Minister of Ontario, I am very aware of the critical role played by the construction industry in the province’s economy.  With governments at all levels now focusing on rebuilding the country’s infrastructure, the industry needs to ensure that its voice is heard in the ongoing policy discussions.  I look forward to hearing your views at the conference.”

Star presenters often mean larger crowd, which in turn require a larger venue.  That is why this year’s conference has been moved to a new venue – the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.  The Ontario Construction Secretariat (OCS) is pleased to announce the move, made to accommodate increasing attendance in past years.  In fact, the Conference aims to draw upwards of 300 construction industry representatives for the half day of information, discussion and networking.

The conference kicks off with an economic keynote address from Dawn Desjardins, Vice President & Deputy Chief Economist at RBC. Dawn is frequently interviewed by media from across North America to provide insight on the economy and is sure to unravel current economic conditions and the potential risks associated with the Trump presidency.

Not to be missed will be the presentation of results from the Secretariat’s annual contractor survey.  The Secretariat’s Director of Research, Katherine Jacobs will speak to how contractors from all regions of the Province feel about their respective business outlooks for the coming year and other topics including the effect of the new Trump administration on the construction industry.

The Confidence Indicator has been a mainstay of the Conference over the years.  Explaining the longevity and success of the Conference, Jacobs says it is what attendees want.

“It speaks to a need.  The industry wants to have that understanding of what’s going on in the economy, how it is affecting the industry, where the opportunities are and what the areas of concern are.”

 

This is a must attend event for those in the industry who want to hear where the construction industry is headed in 2017 and beyond..

 


2017 CONFERENCE SCHEDULE

7:30 am Networking Breakfast


8:30 am Opening WelcomeJoe Keyes, President, OCS Board of Directors


8:45 am Greetings from the Provincial Government – Hon. Kevin Flynn, Minister of Labour


9:00 am Ontario’s Economy – What to Expect in 2017Dawn Desjardins, Vice President & Deputy Chief Economist at RBC


10:00 am Ontario’s Construction IndustryKatherine Jacobs, Director of Reseach, Ontario Construction Secretariat


11:00 am Dialogue with Infrastructure OntarioEhren Cory, Divisional President, Project Delivery, Infrastructure Ontario & Sean Strickland, Chief Executive Officer, Ontario Construction Secretariat


11:20 am Building the Infrastructure Projects that will Transform Ontario’s Economy
Janet Ecker, President & CEO, Toronto Financial Services Alliance (MODERATOR)
Chris Giannekos, Mayor, City of Barrie and Chair, Ontario’s Big City Mayors’ Caucus
Jeff Lehman, Mayor, City of Barrie and Chair, Ontario’s Big City Mayors’ Caucus
Jeff Moore, Assistant Deputy Minister, Infrastructure Canada
Lou Serafini Jr., President and Chief Executive Officer, Fengate


11:45 pm Closing RemarksSean W. Strickland, Chief Executive Officer, Ontario Construction Secretariat


12:00 pm Reception & Lunch


1:00 pm Luncheon Panel – “The Generals – Challenges and Opportunities in Ontario’s Construction Industry”
John Beck, President & Chief Executive Officer, Aecon
Chris Gower, Chief Operating Officer, Buildings, PCL Construction
Sean Strickland, Chief Executive Officer, Ontario Construction Secretariat


 

This is an event you won’t want to miss. Please register today.


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FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:

Fred Lehmann
Communications Coordinator,
fredl@iciconstruction.com

Ontario Construction Secretariat (OCS)
180 Attwell Drive, Suite 360, Toronto, ON M9W 6A9
P 416.620.5210 ext. 222
F 416.620.5310[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]