Event

From Ambition to Action

Across Canada, leaders in government, industry, and Indigenous communities are facing a common challenge: how to move beyond inertia and deliver the large-scale projects our economy, people, and future depend on. Whether it’s building more housing, unlocking our energy potential, or transforming how we trade and move goods, the imperative is clear—Canada must get big things done.

Ambition alone won’t deliver results. In a country marked by regulatory delays, fractured jurisdictions, capital constraints, and risk aversion—execution is everything. Now is the time to learn from those who’ve broken through the gridlock and chart a path for what comes next.

On June 10, 2025, join Canada 2020 in Ottawa for “From Ambition to Action: Getting Big Things Done”, a one-day summit dedicated to the practical realities of delivering transformational projects in Canada.  This event will bring together top-level doers—developers, policymakers, Indigenous leaders, and industry builders—from housing and infrastructure to energy, Indigenous economic partnerships, and trade. They will share real-world lessons, tackle barriers, and forge actionable strategies for national-scale progress.

This is not a summit for theorizing—it’s for decision-makers focused on action.

From Ambition to Action: Getting Big Things Done

Tuesday, June 10, 2025
Fairmont Château Laurier
Ottawa, ON

General Admission: $360
Full Table (8 Tickets): $2,735

Register now

Featured Participants

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    Nancy Southern

    Chair & CEO, ATCO Ltd.

    Biography
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    Mike Moffatt

    Founding Director, Missing Middle Initiative

    Biography
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    Ana Bailão

    Head of Affordable Housing and Public Affairs, Dream Unlimited

    Biography
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    Sam Watts

    CEO, Welcome Hall Mission

    Biography
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    Mark Sutcliffe

    Mayor of Ottawa

    Biography
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    Carole Saab

    CEO, Federation of Canadian Municipalities

    Biography
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    Martin Imbleau

    CEO, ALTO

    Biography
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    Mark Cameron

    Cerulean Global Advisory

    Biography
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    Terence Hubbard

    President, Impact Assessment Agency of Canada

    Biography
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    Byng Giraud

    President, Sedgwick Strategies

    Biography
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    Stephen Crozier

    Vice President, Sustainability, Wyloo

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    Valerie Helbronner

    Partner, Torys LLP

    Biography
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    Michael D. Penner

    Advisory Partner and Chairman, Partners Group; Former Chairman of the Board, Hydro Quebec

    Biography
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    Dakota Kochie

    Director of Government and External Relations, Nuclear Waste Management Organization

    Biography
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    Elizabeth Wademan

    President & CEO, Canada Development Investment Corporation

    Biography
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    Tiara Folkes

    Manager, Indigenous Relations Public Policy, TC Energy

    Biography
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    Stacey McDonald

    Independent Director, Board of Directors, Birchcliff Energy

    Biography
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    Steve Robins

    Head of Strategy, Canadian Infrastructure Bank

    Biography
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    The Hon. Christy Clarke

    former Premier of British Columbia (2011-2017)

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    Martha Hall Findlay

    Director of the School of Public Policy, University of Calgary, and Palmer Chair in Public Policy

    Biography
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    Hillary Thatcher

    Managing Director, Indigenous and Northern Investments, Canadian Infrastructure Bank

    Biography
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    Robert Johnston

    Senior Director of Research, Center on Global Energy Policy, Columbia University

    Biography

Summit Featured Partner

  • Nuclear Waste Management Organization

Summit Partner

  • CN

Presenting Partner: Pre-Summit Dinner

  • Amazon

Summit Session Partner

  • Seaspan Shipyards
  • TORYS LLP
Event

A post-pandemic policy agenda for rural and smaller Canadian communities

The twin transitions taking place across societies – towards net-zero and digital – will be at the heart of community economic development in Canada over the next decade. Smaller and remote communities face unique challenges across this country, and now, a whole host of unique new opportunities.

 Canada 2020 is thrilled to be launching a significant new research report authored by Matthew Mendelsohn on the economic future of Canada’s rural and smaller communities, after a one year project of research and convening to learn from local and global experience, with support from TELUS. 

Join us on Thursday, December 1 for the launch of this new research, and hear from Canada’s Minister of Rural Economic Development the Hon. Gudie Hutchings, Canada 2020 Senior Fellow Matthew Mendelsohn, Shorefast Founder & CEO Zita Cobb, Chief Kelly LaRocca of the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation, Bradford West Gwillimbury Councillor Jonathan Scott, and Smart Prosperity Senior Director Mike Moffatt on a practical agenda for how policy and programs can be designed with all communities in mind.

 Register now.

Can’t join us in-person? Watch the Livestream here

The future of rural Canada and supporting community economies

12:00 PM – 2:00 PM  –  Thursday, December 1, 2022

Canada 2020 Studio – 3rd Floor, 35 O’Connor Street, Ottawa

Ottawa, Ontario

Light lunch refreshments provided at 12 noon, program begins at 12:15 PM

 Join us by registering here.

Speakers

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    The Hon. Gudie Hutchings

    Canada’s Minister of Rural Economic Development

    Biography
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    Zita Cobb

    Shorefast Founder & CEO

    Biography
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    Matthew Mendelsohn

    Canada 2020 Senior Fellow

    Biography
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    Jonathan Scott

    Bradford West Gwillimbury Councillor

    Biography
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    Mike Moffatt

    Founding Director, Missing Middle Initiative

    Biography
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    Chief Kelly LaRocca

    Chief of the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation

    Biography

Presenting Partner

  • Telus