Burlington Mayor Marianne Meed Ward announced a new initiative being launched from the Mayor’s Office in partnership with Councillor Kelvin Galbraith: the Red Tape Red Carpet Task Force.
The initiative’s goal: identify and eliminate barriers to growth and new business attraction in Burlington so that new and existing businesses can locate here, expand and thrive. Read the platform here.
The Burlington Chamber of Commerce welcomes Lindsay Stevenson as their new Strategic Communications Coordinator. With a background in Global Studies, and post-graduate certificate in International Development, Lindsay is pleased to continue raise awareness for community development opportunities through the Chamber while bringing life to business. She recently served as a Marketing and Communications Intern for the Terry Fox Foundation-Burlington, where she used her educational background and passion for community development to raise awareness for cancer research. She is pleased to continue to be involved within the community, connecting leaders and raising awareness for local initiatives in her new role.
On September 12, the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) released a new report, The Great Mosaic: Reviving Ontario’s Regional Economies. The report outlines how government of all levels can work with industry to unleash the potential of Ontario’s regional economies and reinforce the competitiveness of the province as a whole.
“We are only as strong as our weakest link and our ability to prosper depends on the strength of our different regions. Economic and population growth rates in the Greater Golden Horseshoe and Ottawa have far surpassed those in other areas of the province,” said Rocco Rossi, President and CEO of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce. “Our communities – and the province as a whole – risk falling behind if we do not leverage the rich and diverse competitive advantages of our local economies.”
The Great Mosaic: Reviving Ontario’s Regional Economies examines the opportunities and challenges faced by different communities across the province and offers a framework for thinking about the present and future of Ontario’s regional economies.
“We urge policymakers to take a modern and comprehensive approach to economic development by leveraging the existing competitiveness advantages of Ontario’s regions, and implement deliberate strategies to support long-term growth in communities across the province,” added Rossi.
The OCC’s report makes 17 recommendations to strengthen the well-being of Ontario’s regions. Key takeaways include:
“In the face of technological transformation and globalization, there is no question that Ontario has what it takes to succeed. We are optimistic that the province can successfully navigate the modern economy if we work together to unlock the economic potential of our communities,” says Burlington Chamber President & CEO Carla Y. Nell.
Read the OCC’s report, The Great Mosaic: Reviving Ontario’s Regional Economies here.
Each year the Ontario Economic Report (OER) presents the collective voice of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce’s (OCC) membership through the Business Confidence Survey, the Business Prosperity Index and the Economic Outlook. The report provides a snapshot of the past year and a look at the year ahead.
This year, the OER focuses on building economic opportunity for Ontario and is aimed at shaping and informing future public policy. In 2019, the OCC will be engaging its members, government and other leaders to explore the issues outlined in the OER and develop the necessary solutions to drive forward a stronger Ontario.
The Burlington Chamber Of Commerce is pleased to announce that Carla Y. Nell has been appointed as the organization‘s new President & CEO effective July 22, 2019. Ms. Nell is replacing Keith Hoey who announced his retirement in January.
“Interest in the CEO position was very high; we received almost 100 applications for the role,” said Tom Flannery, Chair of the Chamber’s Board of Directors. “We were fortunate to have several exceptional candidates to select from, but in the end, Carla was uniquely qualified and the unanimous choice of our search committee. I am pleased to welcome her to the Burlington Chamber and am confident she will play a key role in successfully delivering value to our members.”
Ms. Nell brings more than 25 years of senior leadership experience in both the private and public sectors to her new role at the Burlington Chamber. Her wealth of experience, skills and insights will be of significant value to the Chamber community.
Recently, she served as the Vice-President, Municipal and Stakeholder Relations at the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC). Throughout her career she has also gained extensive experience as principal of a professional services consulting firm, has served as a trusted strategic advisor on complex issues to a diverse range of clients, stakeholders and organizations, and was previously a part-time professor at Seneca College in the Faculty of Business. She holds numerous degrees and professional designations and is a sought-after contributor and speaker by associations serving both the private and public sectors with provincial, national and international profile. Carla is a highly regarded thought leader whose commitment to customers and partnerships is a signature of her leadership.
“I am delighted to be taking on this important leadership role with the Burlington Chamber of Commerce,” said Ms. Nell. “I look forward to working with the Board of Directors, the membership and other community partners in this capacity to continue the Chamber’s strong legacy of bringing life to business in Burlington.”
