The 2026 Economic Summit: Presented by Enbridge Gas
Big Challenges - New Opportunities - Local Leadership
Join us September 24 for an insightful day featuring expert speakers on some of the biggest issues facing our community ahead of the municipal election.
Learn about economic opportunities in AI and critical minerals, learn how some communities are making progress in addressing housing challenges, and explore how educators and employers can work together toward workforce development.
The day will also feature an opportunity to hear from Orillia's Mayoral candidates in a fireside chat, and a chance to meet municipal council candidates.
Please note that the candidate meet-and-greet from 1:40 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. is for Chamber members only. This is a chance for our members to ask candidates about the issues most important to them and their businesses.
Scroll past the agenda below to see full session details and speakers' profiles.
Are you a municipal candidate, or interested in the Councillor Meet-and-Greet? Be sure to scroll to the end of this page for more information about this special opportunity.
Event Date:
Thursday Sep 24, 2026
8:15 AM - 4:00 PM EDT
Location:Â
Hawk Ridge Golf Club
1163 Hawk Ridge Crescent, Severn ON
Admission:
Chamber of Commerce members: $75
Non-members: $95
Candidate table price: $50
Tickets include a light breakfast and buffet lunch!
Full Schedule & Speakers
8:00 a.m. | Municipal Candidate Set-Up
Municipal election candidates participating in the event may set up materials at their designated side tables.
8:30 – 9:15 a.m. | Registration, Networking & Continental Breakfast
Coffee, muffins and an opportunity to connect with business, community and government leaders.
9:15 a.m. | Welcome & Opening Remarks
Presented by Enbridge Gas.
9:30 a.m. | Growing Innovation from the Ground Up – Start Up Orillia
Jordan Rossman & David Caplan
With special guest moderator by Ryan Lay, Manager of Economic Development, City of Orillia.
A look at how entrepreneurship, innovation and new business development are helping shape Orillia's future economy.
Meet the Speakers:
David Caplan is a software engineer, technology entrepreneur and founder of StartUp Orillia, a grassroots community connecting local founders, developers and entrepreneurs. With more than 20 years of experience in technology, David has co-founded several technology ventures, including genomic intelligence platform SolveBio and video discovery platform 5by. Now based in Orillia, David is helping grow the local innovation ecosystem by connecting entrepreneurs, encouraging collaboration and demonstrating how emerging technologies can create new opportunities in our community.
Jordan Rossman is an Orillia entrepreneur, REALTOR® and active member of StartUp Orillia who is exploring how artificial intelligence can turn ideas into practical business solutions. Despite coming from a non-technical background, Jordan has used AI-assisted development to build and launch commercial applications with paying customers. He is also the creator of Why Orillia?, an initiative highlighting local businesses and entrepreneurs, and recently partnered with David Caplan to develop Ori, an AI-powered civic information platform built from thousands of City of Orillia public documents. Jordan brings a unique perspective on how entrepreneurs and small businesses can use emerging AI tools to innovate without traditional technology backgrounds.
9:45 a.m. | Housing Crisis: Homelessness & Safer Communities
Paul Jenkins, CEO, St. Thomas & District Chamber of Commerce
Dale Rowe, Executive Director, The Lighthouse.
A discussion on the social and economic consequences of the housing and homelessness crisis, and approaches communities can consider as they search for solutions.
Meet the Speakers:
Paul Jenkins is the CEO of the St. Thomas & District Chamber of Commerce, representing more than 600 businesses, non-profits and charities across St. Thomas and Elgin County. He is a strong advocate for economic development, business growth and building communities where prosperity is broadly shared.
Paul has also been actively engaged in St. Thomas's response to homelessness, working with community partners and supporting collaborative approaches involving business, social services and police. The Chamber has publicly supported the work of St. Thomas Police Services to address homelessness in the downtown core, reflecting Paul's belief that economic vitality and community well-being need to be addressed together.
Prior to joining the Chamber, Paul served as Executive Director of the St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital Foundation. His experience in business advocacy, community leadership and partnership building brings a valuable perspective on how communities can respond to economic growth while tackling complex social challenges.
Dale Rowe is the Executive Director of The Lighthouse in Orillia, leading an organization that provides emergency shelter, supportive housing, outreach, meals and other supports for people experiencing homelessness.
Dale brings extensive experience in non-profit leadership, community engagement and fundraising, with a strong focus on collaboration and practical solutions to homelessness. Since taking on the role in 2025, she has advocated for approaches that bring together government, social services, businesses and community partners to address housing, homelessness and the complex challenges facing vulnerable residents.
10:10 a.m. | Building Tomorrow's Workforce: Creating the Talent Pipeline
Dr. Mira Ray, Executive Director, Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship and Interim Dean, Engineering and Environmental Technologies
Dr. Linda Rodenburg, Principal of Lakehead Orillia
With special guest moderator Janet Hunter, Co-Founder & CEO, PreCognise Canada.
A discussion about connecting education, skills development and employers to create the workforce our communities will need tomorrow.
Meet the Speakers:
Dr. Mira Ray, PhD, MBA: Dr. Mira Ray brings extensive leadership experience in research and innovation, with a focus on applied research and community engagement at Georgian College. As the Executive Director of Research, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship, Mira is passionate about fostering collaboration across departments to enhance the college's innovation strategy and support regional economic and social development. Since joining Georgian in 2014, Mira has contributed to significant initiatives and her leadership helped position Georgian College among the top 50 Canadian research colleges in 2021. With a Ph.D. from the University of British Columbia and an MBA from Western University, Mira is committed to providing exceptional learning experiences for students while strengthening partnerships with local businesses and community leaders.
Nicole Norris, MDes., PhD(c): Nicole Norris brings more than 20 years of cross-sector experience in design, technology, business, higher education, and social innovation. As Director of Social Innovation at Georgian College, Nicole leads community-based research and innovation initiatives that bring together students, faculty, and community partners to address complex social challenges and advance inclusive regional development. She has secured approximately $1 million in research funding and leads major federally funded projects through NSERC and SSHRC, with a focus on community innovation, belonging, youth transformation, and rural development. Nicole is also a doctoral candidate in Informatics at Halmstad University in Sweden, where her research explores participatory game making as a tool for community-driven strategic planning and systems change. With a Master of Design in Strategic Foresight and Innovation from OCAD University, Nicole brings a design-led, collaborative approach to building partnerships, strengthening community capacity, and translating research into meaningful social impact.
Meet the Moderator:
Janet Hunter is Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of PreCognise Canada, where she leads the company's vision, growth, partnerships, and ecosystem strategy. With more than 20 years of leadership experience spanning higher education, workforce development, healthcare, compliance, and technology-enabled services, Janet has built and scaled partnerships that connect learners, institutions, employers, and governments.
Prior to co-founding PreCognise, Janet served as Vice President, Growth & Partnerships for a national verification platform, helping drive 300% growth in users, expand into new sectors, launch employer-facing products, and secure federal innovation funding. Earlier in her career, she held senior leadership roles at the University of Toronto, leading enrolment, recruitment, registrarial, professional education, and workforce-connected initiatives across multiple faculties.
Known as a strategic connector and systems thinker, Janet brings deep expertise in early-career talent pathways, workforce mobility, employability, and ecosystem development. Her extensive network across Canadian postsecondary education, industry, healthcare, government, and regulatory organizations has been instrumental in establishing PreCognise's institutional partnerships and growth strategy.
Janet believes that stronger verified local pathways between education and employment create greater workforce mobility and opportunity globally, a vision that continues to shape PreCognise's growth and ecosystem strategy.
10:30 a.m. | Building Competitive Communities: Lessons from Barrie & Burlington
Terry Caddo, President & CEO, Burlington Chamber of Commerce
Paul Markle, ACE, President & CEO, Barrie Chamber of Commerce
With special guest moderator Vincent Caron, VP Policy, Ontario Chamber of Commerce
Two Chamber leaders discuss successful approaches to attracting investment, supporting business growth, developing talent and building competitive communities.
Meet the Speakers:
Terry Caddo is an experienced not-for-profit executive with a strong background in business advocacy, tourism, marketing and organizational leadership. Prior to joining the Burlington Chamber, Terry served as Executive Director of Canada Blooms and held senior leadership positions with the Royal Botanical Gardens and Ontario Place. Today, he works closely with business, government and community leaders to strengthen Burlington's business environment.
Paul Markle, ACE is President and CEO of the Barrie Chamber of Commerce and an advocate for business and regional economic growth. With a background in business development, customer service and relationship management, Paul works with businesses, community partners and government leaders to create opportunities and strengthen the regional economy. He also serves on the Board of Chamber Executives of Ontario and holds the Accredited Chamber Executive designation.
Meet the Moderator:
Vincent Caron held positions of increasing responsibility at Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters, a national association representing manufacturers all sizes, in all subsectors across Canada, including most recently as Vice President, Ontario Government Relations and Member Advocacy. In that capacity, he worked with member companies and the Government of Ontario to promote policies that lower costs and increase investment. He made a major impact by securing the implementation and expansion of the Ontario Made Manufacturing Investment Tax Credit, among other measures, in a time of economic disruption. Vincent represented CME on national podiums, in the media and testified at Queen’s Park, while also leading policy committees and regional member engagement to support major reports on the future of Ontario’s workforce.
Prior to his work at CME, Vincent worked in the governments of Ontario and Canada for 15 years. He has worked for six federal ministers in various departments, including Industry Canada and Public Safety Canada, where he had primary responsibility for the implementation of the Canada/U.S. Beyond the Border Action Plan. He was also exposed to international trade issues in the Corporate Affairs department of the LCBO, one of the world’s largest purchasers of beverage alcohol. Originally from Quebec City, Vincent has a master’s degree in public policy from the University of Bristol in England. He is a proud father of two girls.
11:00 – 11:10 a.m. | Break
11:10 a.m. | Artificial Intelligence: Preparing Businesses for the Future
With Barnard Crespi, John Galbraith, and Myles Harrison. Hosted by Georgian College's Nicole Norris, Director of Social Innovation.
How is AI transforming business, employment and economic development—and what should businesses be doing today to prepare for tomorrow?
Meet the Speakers:
Barnard Crespi – Co-Founder & Co-CEO, Datatel
Barnard brings more than 30 years of experience in technology, secure payments and digital transformation. A longtime contributor to the MIT Sloan CIO Symposium, his work focuses on artificial intelligence, emerging technologies and preparing businesses for the rapidly changing future of digital commerce.
John Galbraith – Co-Founder, Evormore
John Galbraith is the co-founder of Evormore, where he helps small and medium businesses build practical AI and data capabilities from the ground up. He challenges the traditional tech narrative by focusing on empowering teams to solve their own problems using accessible tools, open-source platforms, and sovereign infrastructure. John’s work blends real-world business experience with a commitment to long-term resilience, data ownership, and grassroots innovation.
Myles Harrison – Founder & Company Principal, PRAKTIKAI
Myles is a member of the Orillia & District Chamber of Commerce and an experienced data scientist and AI consultant. He creates predictive AI and data-driven software that helps businesses turn information into practical insights and better decisions. His experience includes PwC, Accenture and BrainStation, bringing a practical, business-focused approach to AI and measurable results.
Meet the Moderator:
Nicole Norris, MDes – Director, Social Innovation, Georgian College
Nicole Norris is Director of Social Innovation at Georgian College, where she leads initiatives that bring together students, businesses and community partners to address complex social and economic challenges. A former entrepreneur and graduate of OCAD University’s Master of Design in Strategic Foresight and Innovation program, Nicole specializes in social innovation, systems change and helping communities develop practical approaches to emerging challenges.
Her work includes developing community-based innovation projects and partnerships addressing issues ranging from workforce and economic development to food insecurity, belonging and opportunities for youth facing barriers. At the Economic Summit, Nicole will bring this innovation-focused perspective to the conversation on Artificial Intelligence and how businesses can prepare for the future.
12:00 – 12:30 p.m. | Buffet Lunch
Guests are invited to enjoy lunch and continue networking. Lunch may be enjoyed throughout the following session.
12:30 p.m. | Critical Minerals: A Once-in-a-Generation Economic Opportunity
Featuring Marla Tremblay, Ec.D. – Executive Director, MineConnect
Moderated by Rebecca Heffernan, PhD – Director, Economic Development & Research Support, Lakehead University Orillia
An exploration of Ontario's rapidly expanding critical minerals sector and the opportunities it presents for communities such as Orillia. The session will examine how local businesses, supply chains, workforce development, innovation and transportation infrastructure can position our region to participate in one of Canada's most important emerging economic opportunities.
Ontario's rapidly expanding critical-minerals sector presents significant economic opportunities well beyond the communities where mines are located. Rebecca Heffernan will moderate a conversation with Marla Tremblay exploring how Orillia and the surrounding region can participate in the critical-minerals supply chain through business development, manufacturing, innovation, workforce development, research partnerships and investment attraction.
The discussion will examine how communities like Orillia can position local businesses and institutions to benefit from what could be a once-in-a-generation economic opportunity for Northern and Central Ontario.
Meet the Speaker:
Marla Tremblay is Executive Director of MineConnect, where she has helped grow the organization from just over 100 members to nearly 400 while raising the international profile of Ontario's mining supply and service sector. Her work spans supply-chain development, industry growth, export readiness and creating opportunities for Ontario businesses. She has also led major initiatives including the Northern Ontario Mining Showcase, connecting more than 1,000 SMEs with global buyers and procurement opportunities.
1:00 p.m. | Mayoral Candidates Fireside Conversation
Where Should Orillia Be Headed Economically?
A forward-looking conversation with Orillia's mayoral candidates focused on the local economy, small business, investment, growth and the economic future of our community.
1:30 p.m. | Closing Remarks & Call to Action
The Summit concludes with a look at the day's major themes and what they mean for the future of Orillia and the surrounding region.
Innovation • Housing • Workforce • Competitive Communities • Artificial Intelligence • Critical Minerals
1:40 – 4:00 p.m. | Meet the Candidates
FREE for Orillia & District Chamber of Commerce members.
Following the Economic Summit, Chamber members are invited to stay for an informal opportunity to meet and network with candidates in the 2026 Municipal Election. The purpose of this session is to provide Chamber members with direct access to candidates in a professional, respectful and non-partisan business environment. Â
Municipal candidates may purchase a limited $50 candidate registration, which includes a designated side-table space where they may display campaign information and meet Chamber members before and at breaks, and receive valuable information during the sessions above and include light breakfast and buffet lunch. It would be invaluable for candidates to listen to informed topics from insightful speakers, so all are invited to attend.
All candidates are welcome to participate for free from 1:40 to 4:00 p.m.
Please note: To preserve the member-focused nature of the session, the free afternoon portion is open to current Orillia & District Chamber of Commerce members and registered candidates. Candidates are asked not to bring campaign teams, supporters or other outside participants who are not Chamber members.
Thank you to our sponsors!
