Affordable housing, Partnership, Advocacy

Building simple, decent, and affordable housing, Stewart Hardacre, President and CEO of Habitat for Humanity Canada, discusses how they empower change and break the cycle of poverty. Defining the housing need in Canada, he traces the application and selection process as well as the Habitat for Humanity Canada funding. As they offer a ‘hand up’ to hundreds of Canadians across the country, Stewart Hardacre explains how the real magic is what happens after the ‘Habitat’ experience.

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Green House Gas, Emissions, Reductions

“Small groups of dedicated people are the ones who make huge amounts of change,” says Andre Mech, Principal at Mech and Associates. Discussing emissions, carbon credits, and offsets, he explores greenhouse gas measurement and explains how it’s done. As Andre Mech breaks down the complex terminology, he explains the existing systems, the growth of the industry, and the role that government plays. Siting facts and figures, he discusses the Kyoto Treaty – the impact and the disappointment – while encouraging our own due diligence.

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Migration, Naturalization, Immigration

What do new Canadians need? How do they find the resources they require? What organizations are available to help? Mark Haan, Executive Director of the Canadian National Migration and Naturalization Association, answers these questions and more. Defining his organizational role in the grand scheme of things he talks about newcomer obstacles and challenges. He reveals how to fill the gaps between the mother culture and the adopted one while advising on pitfalls that can be avoided. Touching on language, translation and interpreters, Mar Haan reveals the niches and functions and needs of related industries.

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Art, Community, Learning

From the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO), CEO, Matthew Teitelbaum joins us as he discusses curating and collecting. Revealing community responsibilities of the AGO, he defines the role of curator and what lead him to the AGO. Matthew Teitelbaum shares the challenges and inspiration of the AGO Transformation process and how it came about. Gaining first-hand insight into the newest addition of the AGO, The Weston Family Learning Centre, Matthew Teitelbaum discusses it’s integration into the AGO.

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Redevelopment, Sustainability, Innovation

With 2000 acres of redevelopment, Waterfrontoronto leads the way in revitalization. John Campbell, President and CEO of Waterfrontoronto, talks about the balance between commercial, residential, and public use – and staying true to the vision. “We crafted a plan with public input in mind,” says Campbell as he goes through the various waterfront sections under current and future development. Looking at the urban plans that have been completed and are yet to come, he reviews the current state and how he plans to bring people back to the waterfront by building a community instead of developing real estate.

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Fast food, Retail, Marketing

“We cook with a conscience.” Denise Meehan, founder and owner of Lick’s Homeburgers, shares the defining inspiration behind this Canadian institution. Maintaining the ‘homemade’ taste unique to Lick’s, she discusses the reach into grocery retail, controlling the supply chain, and protecting the integrity of quality. Denise Meehan recounts how the Natureburger her investment in beef pasteurization has paid off by providing food that fills a growing demand for healthy and safe options. Maintaining the mantra that Lick’s serves good food that is good for you, the Lick’s experience hasn’t changed much over the years. Maintaining an eye on food quality and service, Denise Meehan talks about staying ahead of industry trends and what’s next for Lick’s Homeburgers.

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Destination Marketing

“Waterfronts can be a very powerful catalyst for change in a community.” Executive Director of Discover Saint John, Ross Jefferson, discusses city character and destination marketing. With waterfront cities acting as a ‘gateway’, he shares the connection between economic development and tourism, and how the public/private partnership model of Discover Saint John is a benefit to all involved. Ross Jefferson reveals the biggest challenges and biggest opportunities he faces in destination marketing, and how he approaches each head on. Learn where the dollars come from. Learn what the tough questions are. And learn how Saint John is quickly becoming a top tier destination.

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Design, Print, Campaigns

“Communication is always the key.” Kim O’Connell, General Manager for Artistic Minds Inc (AMi), and print production dynamo, talks about the inner workings of an internal print agency and how they support some of the biggest fast food agencies in North America – KFC, Taco Bell, and Pizza Hut. In the print industry for 35 years, Kim O’Connell shares thoughts on direct mailing, coupons, trade printers and outsourcing. She offers insight into the age-old debate of traditional marketing versus social media and how AMi, a non-profit agency, stays competitive.
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Urban Architect and Designer

“Without the urban design, you cannot create the architecture.” Discussing the balance of community and urban development is Cliff Korman, Senior Partner, Architect and Planner of Kirkor Architects & Planners. Running through the thousands of considerations in an architectural project, Cliff Korman uses two of his recent projects as examples: the Bell TIFF Lightbox and the Hull Centre. This award-winning architect shares his thoughts on ‘smart growth’ and urban intensification with examples of enhancements benefiting community needs. Cliff Korman reveals the steps in building a collaborative planning process.

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Creativity, Innovation, Solutions

“There is no problem that is not solvable.” Min Basadur, founder of Basadur Applied Creativity, discusses innovative thinking. Defining ‘complexity’, Min Basadur discusses inventing the process of problem solving. Comparing innovative thinking to analytical thinking, he summarizes the industry of thought. Using actual case examples, he introduces his famous ‘Simplexity’ while defining some of the skills and tools needed to use the process. If there’s a problem to solve, learn how to get the right people in the room, and learn how to get the right process to solve it. And learn how Min Basadur helps people make complex problems simple.

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