A better future starts with Canada’s youth. The day before business leaders, economists and government officials meet to review Canada’s second report card on progress towards a better future, youth from coast to coast will gather to give their input on what a better Canada means to them.
Aligned with Telfer’s Vision for a Better Canada, this national youth forum brings together post-secondary students, undergraduate students and recent graduate students from across Canada. You are invited to join an in-person bilingual dialogue on what factors and strategies will help shape a better Canada. Telfer is working with national youth partner AIESEC Canada to bring together student leaders from over 25 universities for this event.
The Telfer School of Management at the University of Ottawa is committed to building a better Canada, and is the Research Partner for the Coalition for a Better Future. On March 18, Telfer will convene a national youth dialogue in conjunction with the imminent launch of the Coalition’s latest Scorecard on Canada's Progress. This second annual Better Canada Youth Forum will connect business leaders with post-secondary student leaders from across Canada (25+ universities and other institutes) to discuss how to continue building a better Canada and a better future.
Discussions will evaluate key metrics that determine Canada’s success and how youth can shape their own future and build a better Canada. Dialogue will centre on six themes and three central goals: winning globally, living better, and growing sustainably.
Schedule:
• 9:45 a.m. to 10 a.m. Registration
• 10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.: Welcome and Pulse check
• 10:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.: Panel on Canada’s Way Forward - Q&A
• 11:00 a.m. to 12 p.m.: Facilitated Student Dialogue on Shaping Our Future
• 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.: Lunch and networking session
Panel:
Ms. McLellan served four terms as the Liberal MP for Edmonton Centre, during which time she was deputy prime minister of Canada and minister of public safety and emergency preparedness, minister of health, minister of justice and attorney general of Canada, and minister of natural resources.
Ms. McLellan is co-chair of the Coalition for a Better Future, a diverse group of over 130 organizations focusing on sustainable, inclusive economic growth.
Ms. McLellan served as a senior strategic advisor to Bennett Jones in its Edmonton office from July 2006 until 2024.
In July 2009, Ms. McLellan was appointed an officer of the Order of Canada and in October 2013, she received the Alberta Order of Excellence.
From 1980 to 1992, Ms. McLellan was a professor in the University of Alberta’s Faculty of Law, where she served as both associate dean (1985–1987) and acting dean (1991–1992). She holds a Bachelor of Arts and a law degree from Dalhousie University and a Master of Laws from King’s College, University of London.
Prior to her current role with CIBC Capital Markets, the Honourable Lisa Raitt was the president and CEO of the Toronto Port Authority. She was elected to the House of Commons in 2008 and went on to hold three senior cabinet portfolios: minister of natural resources, minister of labour and minister of transport. Most recently, she was the deputy leader of the Official Opposition and the Conservative Party of Canada.
Ms. Raitt holds a Bachelor of Science from St. Francis Xavier University and a master’s in chemistry from the University of Guelph. She received an LLB from Osgoode Hall Law School and was called to the Ontario bar in 1998. In 2020, she was named a Woodrow Wilson Center Global Fellow of the Canada Institute.
Robert leads the policy team and the Council’s work on economic and fiscal policy. He has written extensively on innovation and industrial policy. Robert brings more than 10 years of experience in providing policy advice to government, including in roles as Policy and Budget Director to Canada’s Finance Minister and as Advisor to Prime Ministers Paul Martin and Justin Trudeau. Prior to joining the Council, he spent two years at BlackBerry as Senior Global Director, Public Policy. Robert also spent nearly a decade in academia as Associate Director of the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs at the University of Ottawa and as Visiting Public Policy Scholar at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington, D.C. He continues to serve as a Fellow at the University of Toronto’s Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy and at the Public Policy Forum.
Justine Hendricks is President and Chief Executive Officer at FCC. She comes to FCC after 17 years with Export Development Canada (EDC) and seven years with Royal Bank of Canada (RBC). She is an impactful strategist whose diverse experience includes delivering financial services on the front line, leading successful organizational transformations, evolving risk management capabilities, spearheading the development of innovative financial products, and developing and executing corporate strategies. Much of her career has been focused on lending to and supporting Canadian businesses across critical export sectors, including agriculture and agri-food.
Samar is a 23 year old change maker who works in transformative leadership and strategy coaching. She is currently the President of AIESEC Canada, which is the part of the largest youth run, non-profit, leadership development movement in the world. With a BA in Political Science, Samar seeks to understand and navigate the untapped potential of youth leadership by equipping young people with the skillsets required to challenge them through practical learning opportunities.
Head of Corporate Relations for Shell Canada, and a respected energy executive with deep public affairs, government and communications expertise, Bob offers strategic insight and leadership to the management of complex domestic and global issues, relationships, and public policies. A former senior adviser to the Rt. Hon. Stephen Harper – as well as several federal Cabinet ministers spanning the energy, environment, international trade and Indigenous portfolios – he brings unique clarity to some of the most challenging issues of our times.
Prior to his work in government, Bob worked as an editorialist and award-winning political and investigative journalist with newspapers in Ontario and New Brunswick. He and his wife Tara have two awesome boys and now live in the beautiful Foothills of Alberta northwest of Calgary, where they operate Canada’s only certified animal welfare approved sheep fibre farm.
This event is organized in partnership with:
This event is funded in part by support from Farm Credit Canada
Register
Unfortunately, the RSVP deadline has passed for this event, and you will not be able to register.
