Speakers

• 

  The Hon. Gudie Hutchings

  Canada’s Minister of Rural Economic Development

  Biography

  The Hon. Gudie Hutchings

  Born and raised in Corner Brook, Gudie Hutchings is proud to call Newfoundland and Labrador home. With over 30 years of experience as a small business owner in the Atlantic Canadian tourism industry, Gudie’s community ties have made her a strong advocate for rural families and workers. In addition to serving as the Member of Parliament for Long Range Mountains, Gudie was Parliamentary Secretary for Small Business and Tourism, a role in which she engaged with tourism operators and advocates. She also served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Rural Economic Development and helped create a national action plan to end gender-based violence. Gudie has the honour of being a founding member of the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians. In 2021, she was appointed to Cabinet as Canada’s Minister of Rural Economic Development. As minister, she is focused on accelerating high-speed Internet access for all Canadians as well as improving rural housing, transit and work opportunities. When at home in beautiful Corner Brook, she can be found gardening, golfing, fishing or painting in her spare time, often in the company of her dogs Jigger, Dory and Marta.
• 

  Zita Cobb

  Shorefast Founder & CEO

  Biography

  Zita Cobb

  Growing up on Fogo Island, Zita developed a deep belief in the inherent value of place and profound respect for the human ways of knowing that emerge from respectful relationships with nature, culture, and community. She held senior financial roles in the high-tech industry, notably with JDS Fitel, subsequently JDS Uniphase, where she contributed to building the company into one of the most successful high-tech innovators in history. Zita returned home to Fogo Island in the early 2000’s and, along with her brothers Anthony and Alan, founded Shorefast. In 2016, Zita was awarded the Order of Canada. She volunteers her time and energies to the active direction and management of Shorefast and our projects on Fogo Island.
• 

  Matthew Mendelsohn

  Canada 2020 Senior Fellow

  Biography

  Matthew Mendelsohn

  Matthew Mendelsohn, a Senior Fellow at Canada 2020, is a strategic advisor and public policy researcher and entrepreneur. He supports organizations working at the intersection of strategy, policy, implementation and impact. He is a Visiting Professor at Toronto Metropolitan University and a Senior Advisor at the Boston Consulting Group. He has served as a Deputy Minister in the federal and Ontario governments, and was the founding Director of the Mowat Centre at the University of Toronto. Previously, he was a tenured professor in the Department of Political Studies at Queen’s University and has been a board member for organizations that build community well-being, healthy democracy, and economic and social inclusion. He spends his time working on democratic resilience, community economic development, institution-building, and playing any sport that his body can handle. He lives in Toronto with his wife, children, and schnoodle.
• 

  Jonathan Scott

  Bradford West Gwillimbury Councillor

  Biography

  Jonathan Scott

  Jonathan Scott was elected as a Bradford West Gwillimbury Councillor in a December 2020 byelection, serving the older end of town and a portion of the Holland Marsh. He was reelected this past October with over 79% of the vote. Jonathan serves as chair of the Downtown Revitalization Committee, chair of the Fire Services Board, vice-chair of the Public Library Board, on the Economic Development Committee and Anti-Racism Committee, as Council’s liaison to the Helping Hand Food Bank, and was a student trustee on the Simcoe County District School Board. He is also a member of the Ontario Greenbelt Council. He works as a small business owner and consultant working with major corporate and nonprofit clients on three continents. Previously, he was director of communications for the Ontario government caucus and director of public relations at an award-winning advertising agency. Jonathan is a board member of St John’s Presbyterian Church and was awarded the Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury outstanding achievement civic award in 2007. He is an honours graduate of Bradford District High School and the University of Toronto, earned his law degree with honours at Cardiff School of Law and Politics, and a certificate in Canadian law at Queen’s University.
• 

  Mike Moffatt

  Smart Prosperity Senior Director

  Biography

  Mike Moffatt

  Mike is the Founding Director of the PLACE Centre and an Assistant Professor in the Business, Economics, and Public Policy area group at Ivey Business School, Western University. Mike has conducted policy research on the nexus between regional economic development, innovation, housing, and climate policy in previous positions at the Mowat Centre, Lawrence Centre, Canada 2020, and for the federal government where he was Canada’s first-ever Chief Innovation Fellow. Despite spending most of his time in Ottawa, Mike has an encyclopedic knowledge of the history of Middlesex County, particularly Whalen Corners.
• 

  Chief Kelly LaRocca

  Chief of the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation

  Biography

  Chief Kelly LaRocca

  Kelly LaRocca serves as Chief of the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation. She has degrees in Philosophy and Law and studied Aboriginal Law, after practicing as a civil litigation lawyer. Kelly was the Portfolio Chief Representative during the claim negotiations arising from the 1923 Williams Treaties. Upon a Council recommendation, the MSIFN approved the start-up of the Noozhoo Nokiiyan Limited Partnership (NNLP) to manage economic-development opportunities. Kelly is an ex officio Director of the Board for NNLP. She is also an elected Director for the National Lands Advisory Board for First Nations Lands Management and serves as Vice-Chair for the Ogemawahj Tribal Council. She previously served on the Aboriginal Justice Committee for the former Attorney General for Ontario and was a Director of the Baagwating Community Association.