“As far as tech, Canada has a number of things going for it right now. We’re in a really good position to go out to the world and say ‘we’re probably your number one place to come.'”
Thousands gathered at the Collision tech conference in Toronto last week, the first time the global forum has taken place in Canada. The 2020 Network was there to capture the thoughts of entrepreneurs and tech gurus who spoke about where the industry is headed, how the tech sector is working to become more diverse, and how Canada, and specifically Toronto, is attracting innovators. You’ll hear from thought leaders like Toronto Mayor John Tory, the co-founder of Collision Paddy Cosgrave, and more.
We’re pleased to announce that Shopify co-founder and CEO Tobi Lütke will moderate a conversation with President Barack Obama at the Canadian Tire Centre on May 31st.
Tobi Lütke is the founder and CEO of Shopify. In 2004, Tobi began building software to launch an online snowboard store called Snowdevil. It quickly became obvious that the software was more valuable than the snowboards, so Tobi and his founding team launched the Shopify platform in 2006. He has served as CEO since 2008 at the company’s headquarters in Ottawa, Canada.
Tobi is an active advocate for computer literacy and education, and serves as a board member of Canada Learning Code, an organization working to give all Canadians access to digital skills. In 2014, Tobi was named the Globe and Mail’s CEO of the Year. He served as Chair of the Digital Industries Table, an advisory board commissioned by the federal government to provide recommendations on how to turn Canada into a digital leader. The Table’s report was published in September 2018.
“Canadians are proud of their healthcare system and we don’t need polls to tell us that…Yet we are not blind to our system’s fault, and one big fault is the access to prescription medication.”
Hon. Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Minister of Health, joins Alex Paterson in the Canada 2020 studio to discuss the future of Canada’s pharmacare plan just months before the release of the Pharmacare Advisory Council’s final report. The report will include specific recommendations on the program’s design and delivery. Listen to hear Minister Petitpas Taylor take questions from a live studio audience about the scope, shape, and goals of a national pharmacare plan.
Canada 2020 is sponsoring over 1000 Ottawa-area students and young people to attend the event, free of charge. Representatives from the Boys & Girls Club of Ottawa, United Way Centraide Ottawa and the #BeMoreCommUNITY will be in attendance.
From the community:
“I’m very proud that Canada 2020 can make this moment possible for so many Ottawa-area youth, and I’m even more thankful that we found such great partners at the Boys & Girls Club, United Way and the #BeMoreCommUNITY. The energy and excitement that these young people will add to the room will be electric, and a perfect encapsulation of what good can happen when communities work together. Civic action, community building and showing-up as citizens are core to President Obama’s own story, and Canada 2020 is thrilled to help spread that inspirational message to the next generation.”
– Alex Paterson, Executive Director, Canada 2020
“The youth at the Boys and Girls Clubs of Ottawa are so incredibly excited to see Barack Obama in person this month, as they regard him as one of their biggest role models in society today. In fact, many of our clubhouses have a wall of inspiration on which Barack Obama figures prominently.”
– Stephen Beckta, Board Chair of Boys and Girls Clubs of Ottawa
“In Ottawa we are fortunate to have a diverse, vibrant community full of young people with hopes of changing the world. We are so pleased to partner with Canada 2020 to bring these youth to hear from former President Barack Obama – one of the most inspiring leaders of our time. This opportunity will fuel their ability to shape the future of our city – and beyond.”
-Michael Allen, CEO of United Way
“On behalf of the #BeMoreCommUNITY of 3Dreads and a Baldhead, I am excited to be part of the community initiative created to ensure black youth from Ottawa are able to attend President Obama’s speech. “You can be what you see” and this is the generation who can fully claim, they’ve seen it.”
– Adrienne Coddett, Founder and Opportunities Broker of #BeMoreCommUNITY
Media inquiries can be directed to Mira Ahmad at 613.220.9163 or [email protected]
Canada 2020 is Canada’s leading, independent progressive think-tank. Founded in 2006, Canada 2020 has spent over a decade producing original research, hosting events and starting conversations about Canada’s future. Canada 2020’s goal is to build a community of progressive ideas and people that will help shape governments. For more, visit www.canada2020.ca
“We felt that not only did education for First Nations have to be brought up to standard, but that it was important that it be education that they control.”
On the latest Quality Content, Alex Paterson sits down with the founder of The Martin Family Initiative, former prime minister of Canada, Paul Martin, and the organization’s Early Years Program Director, Chloe Ferguson to chat about MFI’s central program pillars, the importance of community involvement and leadership, and how lessons at the grassroots level can be applied to government decision-making.
“I believe that building our nation’s high speed internet is as important as building our roads, and has the power to be as transformational as the national electric grid was in the 19th century. “
Hon. Bernadette Jordan, Minister of Rural Economic Development, joins Alex Paterson in the Canada 2020 studio to discuss the challenges and opportunities of improved connectivity infrastructure across the country. Listen to hear Minister Jordan take questions from the live studio audience about what is being done in rural parts of Canada to improve connectivity, and why it’s so important for the economy.
“We need to not necessarily cast the Caster Semenya story as a human rights issues in line with our much greater consciousness and open thinking about gender differences, we need to think about it as a competitive issue. “
Host Sarah Turnbull is joined by /Thread panelists Shannon Proudfoot of Maclean’s, and David Reevely of the Canadian Press. The three discuss: the ongoing canola crisis in Canada and trade tensions with China, spring flooding relief and municipal infrastructure dilemmas, and the Caster Semenya court ruling and the implications for female athletics.
“People want to know what is being talked about at the kitchen tables in farm houses across Western Canada…it’s this.”
Kelsey Johnson, agriculture reporter at iPolitics joins Sarah Turnbull to talk about the significance of canola production in Canada and why the industry is facing major uncertainties due to a “scientific-based disagreement” with China.
