Conference in Hamilton, ON, highlights that poverty reduction is everybody’s business
Ending poverty is everyone’s business. Businesses, in particular, have an important role to play when it comes to tackling poverty – by creating jobs, paying a living wage, addressing financial literacy and pay day lending, and building better futures for young people. When communities prosper, everyone prospers – including business. There’s a clear business case for getting involved in such efforts.
From April 4-6, leaders in poverty-reduction from across Canada will meet in Hamilton, ON, for Cities Reducing Poverty: When Business Is Engaged. Business leaders will be joined by community organizers, mayors and municipal staff, representatives from federal and provincial/territorial governments, Indigenous leaders, as well as funders, policy makers, and persons with lived experience of poverty.
Hosted by the City of Hamilton, the Office of Mayor Fred Eisenberger and Vibrant Communities Canada, delegates will share stories of progress and innovation, foster new ideas, deepen collaborative relationships to reduce poverty, discuss the federal government’s efforts to tackle poverty, and understand the fundamental role that business can (and should) play in eliminating poverty.
When: Tuesday, April 4 to Thursday, April 6, 2017
Time:
Tuesday, 8:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, 8:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m.
Thursday, 8:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
Location: Hamilton Convention Centre by Carmen’s, 1 Summers Lane, Hamilton
The conference sessions will be open to the media.
Special media opportunities
Mayor’s Reception at the David Braley Health Sciences Centre, McMaster University
100 Main St W, Hamilton
Date: Tuesday, April 4
Time: 5:45-7:30 p.m.
Keynote by Michael H. McCain, President & CEO, Maple Leaf Foods
Food Security: It’s Time to Act
Date: Tuesday, April 4
Time: 12:00-12:45 p.m.
Neighbourhood Bus Tours
On Wednesday, April 5, from 2:15-5:00 p.m. media can experience some of Hamilton’s poverty reduction efforts in-person by joining the delegates on an interactive bus tour.
More information and details to be confirmed.
In Conversation with Adam Vaughan, Member of Parliament for Spadina - Fort York
Date: Thursday, April 6
Time: 8:50-10:00 a.m.
Steve Buist, Investigative Report with The Hamilton Spectator, will moderate a discussion panel with Adam Vaughan, Member of Parliament for Spadina - Fort York and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development (Housing and Urban Affairs), and three women with lived experience (Penni Eisenhauer, Living Saint John; Hilary Chapple, Poverty Talks – Vibrant Communities Calgary; and Yvonne Maracle, Hamilton Roundtable for Poverty Reduction).
Who will be in attendance
Among others, the following will participate at the conference:
Politicians:
- Senator Art Eggleton, Parliament of Canada
- Adam Vaughan, Member of Parliament for Spadina - Fort York and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development (Housing and Urban Affairs)
- Minister Chris Ballard, Government of Ontario, Ministry of Housing and Minister Responsible for the Poverty Reduction Strategy
- Mayor Fred Eisenberger, Hamilton, ON
- Mayor Rob Burton, Oakville, ON
- Mayor Lisa Helps, City of Victoria, BC
- Mayor Walter Sendzik, St. Catharines, ON
Business leaders:
- Helmi Ansari, CEO & Chief Sustainability and Innovation Officer, GROSCHE International Inc.
- Keanin Loomis, President & CEO, Hamilton Chamber of Commerce
- Michael H. McCain, President & CEO, Maple Leaf Foods
- Josie Rudderham, Co-owner, Cake and Loaf Bakery
Community and sector leaders:
- Alan Broadbent, Chairman and CEO, Avana Capital Corporation; Chairman, Maytree
- Renu Mandhane, Chief Commissioner, Ontario Human Rights Commission
Media contacts:
Amanda Kinnaird, Communications and Media Advisor, Office of Mayor Fred Eisenberger, 905-546-4225 or 905-973-3263, amanda.kinnaird[at]hamilton.ca
Markus Stadelmann-Elder, Director of Communications, Maytree, 416-944-2627 x284 (cell: 416-271-5654), mselder[at]maytree.com
Cities Reducing Poverty: When Business Is Engaged is organized by the City of Hamilton, the Office of Mayor Fred Eisenberger and Vibrant Communities Canada.