Guest Speakers

The Oakville Chamber of Commerce is recognized for its outstanding business events throughout Ontario. Much of our visibility comes from the politicians and business leaders who have accepted our invitation to speak.

While it is important for local business people to hear directly from our political leaders—it is equally as important for us to have the opportunity to speak to them and inform them of our business concerns.

On January 23, 2013, we hosted our 2013 RBC Economic Outlook Breakfast with RBC Sr. VP and Chief Economist Craig Wright and Ipsos Reid Sr. VP Ray Kong. View the RBC presentation:

RBC Economic Outlook: Leaning into the Headwinds                                                                     

Our guest speakers have included a number of high profile government officials including: Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Federal Leader of the Opposition Michael Ignatieff, Federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty, US Ambassadors to Canada David Wilkins and David Jacobson, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Canada, Lu Shumin, Premier Dalton McGuinty, Federal NDP Leader Jack Layton, National Green Party Leader Elizabeth May, Opposition Leaders John Tory and Tim Hudak, Auditor General Sheila Fraser, Minister Michael Chong, Minister Jim Prentice, Minister Tony Clement, Minister Greg Sorbara, Minister Steve Peters, Minister David Caplan, Minister Marie Bountrogianni, Minister John Wilkinson, Minister John Milloy, Attorney General Chris Bentley, Minister Lisa Raitt, Minister Peter Kent, MP Terence Young, MPP Kevin Flynn, MPP Ted Chudleigh, Norm Sterling, Norm Miller, Christine Elliott, Deputy Minister David Lindsay,  Halton Regional Chairman Gary Carr and the Mayor of Oakville, Rob Burton.

The Oakville Chamber has also hosted a number of prominent business leaders and celebrities:

General Rick Hillier, former Chief of Defense Staff; Bill Osborne, David Mondragon, presidents of Ford Canada; Pierre Morrissette, founder & CEO of the Weather Network; Dr. Sherry Cooper, executive vice president & global economic strategist, BMO Financial Group; Gord Nixon, president & CEO, RBC;Tom Grifferty, founder and CEO of FCT; John Suk, founder and CEO of Altana Pharma Canada; Craig Wright, senior vice-president and chief economist, RBC; Don Drummond, senior vice-president and chief economist, TD Financial Group; Arlene Dickinson, CEO Venture Communications and Dragons' Den co-star; Jim Treliving, owner, Boston Pizza International Inc. and Dragons' Den co-star; Bruce Croxon, co-founder of Lavalife, entrepreneur and Dragons' Den co-star; James Milway, executive director of the Institute for Prosperity and Competitiveness; Ray Kong, senior vice president, Ipsos and world-renowned Wildlife Artist Robert Bateman.

The Oakville Chamber is an active member of both the Canadian and Ontario Chambers of Commerce.

For Oakville Chamber of Commerce events, please visit our online calendar.

Join the Oakville Chamber of Commerce today.