Polytechnics Canada Annual Conference 2012

Monday, May 7, 2012:

9:00am- 5:00pm: (MEMBERS ONLY)

• Polytechnics Canada Internal Working Goup Meetings

5:30pm- 9:00pm (OPEN TO ALL)

• Welcome Reception for out of town guests at the Holiday Inn Oakville- Centre @ Trafalgar (590 Argus Road)

Tuesday, May 8, 2012: Sheridan College- Theatre

Theme: “Polytechnic Education Works: Talent and Innovation for Employers.”

8:30 a.m. – 4:00 pm (Open to all guests and media)

Participants will be asked to consider the fundamental value polytechnic education and training brings to industry. Specifically, speakers and panellists will identify and discuss the essential contribution our member institutions make to the workforce and workforce development needs of business and industry. The day has been structured to provide the opportunity for participants to:

• Share and learn from best and promising practices;
• Be challenged by industry leaders’ identification of future needs and requirements;
• Collaborate on the means to enhance the contribution polytechnic education and training can make to Canadian business and economic success; and
• Commit to new and better ways to create workforce solutions that make a difference for industry

8:30 – 9:00 a.m.        Registration

                                Coffee & Juice

9:00 – 10:30 a.m.     Welcome: Nobina Robinson, CEO Polytechnics Canada

                               Opening Addresses:

Dr. Jeff Zabudsky, President, Sheridan    

Ian Shugart, Deputy Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development Canada

Opportunity for interactive dialogue after the opening speeches

10:30 – 11:00 a.m.   Networking break

11:00 a.m. – 12 p.m. “Manufacturing Innovation & Talent: Are we going to make it?”

Dr. Rob Atkinson, Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, Washington DC and

Jayson Myers, Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters

Armchair discussion moderated by Bert Van den Berg, Director-Knowledge and Technology Transfer, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada

12 – 2:00 p.m.           BBQ Lunch and Speech

Keynote Speaker: Paul Wells, Senior Columnist, Macleans Magazine
"Life in Harper's Ottawa"

2:00 – 3:30 p.m.        College-Industry Engagement Panel: Experiences and Lessons learned from working together.

Industry Representatives:

• David Santi, Suncor Energy Inc.
• Noel Butler, Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada
• Justin Williams, Williams and White
• Dan Kelly, Canadian Federation of Independent Business

College respondents:

• Dr. Michael Collins,Sheridan
• Dr. Paul Dangerfield, BCIT
• Michael Diamond, Conestoga

Moderated by Jackie Schach, Delta Consulting Group

3:30 – 4:15 p.m.        Closing Address: The Honourable Gary Goodyear,
Minister of State for Science and Technology and Minister responsible for Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario

4:30 – 6:00 p.m.        (Open to all)

Tour of Downtown Oakville:Buses will depart from the Trafalgar Campus and take conference participants to the Oakville Club, where they can wander to nearby Oakville’s Historic Downtown.

6:00 – 9:00 pm          (Open to all)

Closing Dinner at the Oakville Club: Join us for dinner at the historic Oakville Club, 56 Water Street, Oakville

Guest Speaker: Randy Pilon, President and CEO, Virox Technologies and  member of Sheridan's Board of Governors.

Wednesday, May 9, 2012 (OPEN TO ALL)

Sheridan's Applied Research Day:“Partnering with the Community for Economic and Social Development”

Sheridan, Trafalgar Campus, Oakville, Ontario

9:30am - 2:30pm: Main Program-Networking luncheon included.

- Confirmed Speakers include:

Howard Alper, Chair- Science, Technology and Innovation Council Secretariat, Industry Canada