Empire Club of Canada

Empire Club of Canada
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The Empire Club of Canada is Canada’s go-to forum for conversations that matter. Established in 1903, as a response to Canadian political unrest, the Empire Club of Canada quickly became a leading speakers’ forum. Beginning with speeches to address Canada’s relationships with the British Empire and the United States, the ECC continues to tackle issues that affect the lives of Canadians.

  1. Jun 5

    Building a Modern Army for Canada’s Security and Sovereignty — featuring Lieutenant-General Michael Wright, Commander of the Canadian Army

    At a time of heightened geopolitical tension and with the acknowledgment of diverse threats to our sovereignty and security, Canada is redefining what sovereignty means and how stakeholders can contribute to the defence of our great nation. In alignment with the Government of Canada’s command signal that Canada must defend its own sovereignty on its own terms, the Canadian Army is undergoing a generational modernization to become the Army Canada now needs. In parallel, the Government of Canada’s Defence Industrial Strategy charts a path to a more sovereign, innovation‑driven defence industrial base, with implications for businesses, researchers, and communities across the country. On June 4th, 2026, The Empire Club of Canada welcomed Lieutenant-General Michael Wright, Commander of the Canadian Army for a keynote entitled, Forging the Army Canada Needs: Stakeholder Opportunities to Contribute to the Defence of Canada.  The Commander laid out his vision for a modern Army and how it aligns with the Defence Industrial Strategy (DIS) and broader government priorities to enhance, equip, develop and future-proof the land forces for Canada’s sovereignty. Following the speech, Jody Thomas, Senior Advisor at Counsel Public Affairs moderated a fireside chat that also included Bernie Derible, Ontario’s Agent General ASEAN and Ontario’s Military and Defence Representative and Patrick Kelly, Director General, Defence Investment Agency, on how the private and public sector can collaborate to ensure that Canada forges the Army it needs to meet this inflection point in Canada’s National Defence.

  2. May 31

    Talent, Technology and Trust: Launch of the Council of Ontario Universities’ AI Task Force Report

    Artificial intelligence is advancing at an unprecedented pace—reshaping industries, redefining work, transforming student learning, and accelerating global competition in real time. Jurisdictions that move quickly will lead; those that hesitate risk falling behind. Ontario is at a pivotal moment—and must act decisively. On Friday, May 29, 2026, the Empire Club of Canada convened a thought-provoking panel bringing together leaders from universities, industry, and Canada’s AI ecosystem to examine how Ontario can respond with urgency and turn this moment into sustained economic growth, productivity gains, and global competitiveness—while maintaining public trust. Drawing on the insights of the Council of Ontario Universities’ AI Task Force, this discussion focused on the actions required now to move beyond early-stage adoption toward leadership in the global AI economy. The conversation will examine how Ontario can rapidly prepare students for an AI-driven workforce through accelerated curriculum transformation and AI-enabled learning; build secure, Canadian-based data and computing infrastructure to ensure sovereignty and strategic control; and support industry in scaling AI adoption to drive innovation, investment, intellectual property creation, and productivity across key sectors. The panel featured Vivek Goel, President and Vice-Chancellor, University of Waterloo and Chair of the COU AI Task Force, a leading voice on advancing AI talent and responsible adoption; Shannon Bell, Executive Vice President, Chief Digital Officer and Chief Information, OpenText, with deep expertise in scaling Canadian innovation in highly competitive global markets; and Glenda Crisp, President and CEO of the Vector Institute, at the forefront of Canada’s AI research and talent ecosystem. Together, they brought a cross-sector perspective on what it will take for Ontario to act decisively and compete at speed. The panel was moderated by Vass Bednar, Managing Director, Canadian Shield Institute. Brief remarks were also be delivered by The Honourable Nolan Quinn, Ontario’s Minister of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security; and Karim Bardeesy, Member of Parliament, Taiaiako’n—Parkdale—High Park and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minster of Industry.  This event also served as the official public launch of the Council of Ontario Universities’ AI Task Force report.  Attendees gained early access to its findings and engage directly with leaders shaping Ontario’s response to one of the most consequential technological shifts in decades.

  3. May 22

    What’s Good for the Game? The Future Business of Sport in Canada with Golf Canada CEO Laurence Applebaum

    Golf Canada’s story offers a compelling vision for the future of sport in Canada. With 6 million players, 70 million rounds played annually, and a diversified funding model built on corporate partnerships, major events, and foundation support—underscored by a shift from a “sport of invitation” toward greater accessibility—Golf Canada shows how strategic innovation can drive both growth and resilience. At the same time, many National Sport Organizations are grappling with rising costs, flat government investment, fragmented structures, and heightened expectations around governance, safety, and inclusion—pressures that force difficult choices about how to sustain programs, support athletes, and deliver community value over the long term. On Thursday, May 21st the Empire Club of Canada brought together Golf Canada CEO Laurence Applebaum; Ontario’s Minister of Sport, The Honourable Neil Lumsden and Jacqueline Ryan, CEO, Canadian Olympic Foundation and Chief Brand and Commercial Officer, Canadian Olympic Committee to ask: What’s good for the game?—and what that question reveals about building sport ecosystems that are financially resilient, community‑focused, and aligned with national priorities and public sentiment about Canadian sport in a changing North American landscape. Using golf as a sharp, real‑world case study, NHL Features Reporter for Prime Monday Night Hockey, Christine Simpson moderated the discussion, unpacking the decisions and conditions that have enabled Golf Canada’s success—from evolving its business model to leveraging emerging technologies and shifting consumer behaviours to redefine how people engage with the sport. Attendees left with concrete, transferable insights that leaders across Canadian sport can apply as they design sustainable models and navigate the trade‑offs required to move from short‑term survival to sustained performance and long‑term impact for athletes, organizations, and communities alike.

  4. May 20

    Culture as Infrastructure: Toronto’s Next Decade of Live Experiences

    Canada’s visitor and experience economy is breaking records. Toronto alone welcomed more than 28 million visitors last year, generating over $9 billion in spending across hotels, restaurants, venues, attractions, and neighbourhood main streets. At the heart of this growth is the experience economy: live music, major league sport, festivals, immersive events, and the cultural life of the city. Yet even as demand soars, Toronto’s infrastructure and long‑term commercial and cultural strategies—which aim to align infrastructure, policy, and investment with the realities of a modern experience‑driven city—struggle to keep pace. Live Nation’s new Rogers Stadium build and longstanding cultural events like the Juno Awards offer a high‑profile glimpse into evolving approaches and models that work to overcome the challenges and barriers to progress for Toronto’s next decade of live experiences. On Tuesday, May 19th, 2026, the Empire Club of Canada brought together Wayne Zronik, Live Nation, President of Business Operations and Kristy Fletcher, Chief Operating Officer, The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (producer of the Juno Awards) and the Honourable Stan Cho, Ontario’s Minister of Tourism, Culture and Gaming to ask: If live experiences are the new infrastructure of a modern city, what will it take for Toronto to build the stages, streets, stories, and social ecosystems that keep us globally competitive and ensure culture continues to drive both community and commerce? Following special remarks from Wayne Zronik and Minister Cho, Laura deCarufel, Director of Culture and Lifestyle at the Toronto Star and Editor-in-Chief of The Kit, moderated a discussion exploring how Toronto can design the connective tissue—partnerships, talent pipelines, neighbourhood anchors, and social ecosystem—that turns individual events into lasting momentum for communities, small businesses, and the broader visitor economy. Join us for this first event in the Empire Club of Canada’s emerging Experience Economy series as we explore how live experiences function as critical economic, social, and civic infrastructure.

  5. May 14

    EMPIRE NIGHTS: AI at the Helm: The Next Horizon of Strategy, Competition, and Agency

    We are living through what is arguably the largest innovation in human history. Artificial intelligence is no longer just a productivity tool; it is everyday infrastructure. It is embedded in the operating system of business, governance, and daily life. But, what comes next? On May 12, 2026, The Empire Club of Canada hosted renowned U.S.-based AI engineer and educator Harper Carroll alongside technology visionary and Trent University Chancellor Emeritus Don Tapscott to unpack the next phase of the AI revolution and what it means for competitive strategy, global markets, and civic power. The conversation moved beyond generative AI toward something far more transformative: the emerging frontier of agentic AI and the notion of “Identic” AI: highly personalized digital counterparts that can extend our cognitive capacity and learn, decide, and act on our behalf. Together, they explored how emerging AI innovations will reshape business models, customer trust, and citizen agency, and identity. Oriented toward leaders navigating an era of rapid technological change, this conversation explored the strategic, economic, and human implications of the next generation of AI and what they should prioritize to stay ahead of both opportunity and risk. This event also served as the 2026 Tapscott Lopes Business and Society Lecture – a Trent University lecture series focused on the intersection of business, technology, and society, generously supported by Ana Lopes and Don Tapscott.

  6. May 13

    State of the Airport: Positioned to Grow — Toronto Pearson Enters a New Era

    On Tuesday May 12, The Empire Club of Canada hosted the Second Annual State of the Airport featuring President and CEO of Toronto Pearson Deborah Flint.  Deborah’s address reflected on the state of air travel at Canada’s gateway airport, and previewed how the airport is entering its next era that will be defined by change and growth across Pearson’s facilities, customer experiences, commercial enterprises and in partnerships. The Pearson Economic Zone is a powerful engine of growth for the country that is increasingly enabling collaboration with Canadian companies, which will be explored further in a panel discussion that shows how strategic alignment across the Pearson ecosystem can drive growth, competitiveness and long-term national prosperity. Following her keynote speech, Deborah was joined by Alison Nankivell, President and CEO of Export Development Canada in fireside chat moderated by Andrew Willis, Business Columnist at The Globe and Mail.

  7. May 7

    Canada Strong for All: United in Time of Uncertainty — Hon. François‑Philippe Champagne

    Canada confronts a period of global volatility, shifting trade dynamics, and the challenge of sustaining long‑term growth in a rapidly changing world. Navigating these complexities requires clear fiscal leadership, strategic policy choices, and a steady commitment to economic resilience and shared prosperity. One week after the Government of Canada’s Spring Economic Statement, The Empire Club of Canada is pleased to welcome The Honourable François‑Philippe Champagne, Canada’s Minister of Finance and National Revenue, for “Canada Strong for All: United in Time of Uncertainty,” a fireside chat moderated by David Herle, Co-founder, Air Quotes Media, Host of the Curse of Politics and The Herle Burly podcasts and Partner at Rubicon Strategy on May 6, 2026 Minister Champagne will reflected on the government’s fiscal and economic priorities, and what lies ahead for Canadians as the country navigates a complex international and domestic landscape.

  8. Apr 28

    Accelerating a Mining Superpower: Galvanizing the Mining and Critical Minerals Sector for a More Sovereign and Prosperous Canada

    The shifting geopolitical landscape has created new imperatives for Canada’s prosperity — chief among them, effectively leveraging our abundant natural resources for strategic advantage. To compete globally, industry and government must work together to strengthen sectors that differentiate Canada in world markets and drive trade diversification. From gold and iron to critical minerals such as nickel, lithium, and cobalt, our mining sector underpins energy transition strategies and the technologies that define the modern economy. Realizing the potential of our resources requires overcoming persistent challenges: lengthy permitting, steep capital demands, labour shortages, and significant infrastructure gaps. On Monday April 27, join The Empire Club of Canada as Robert Peterman, Chief Commercial Officer Toronto Stock Exchange and Global Capital Formation, TMX Group, moderated a timely discussion between  prominent mining leaders — Tony Makuch, President & CEO of Discovery; Mario Grossi, President & CEO of Technica Mining; and Shastri Ramnath, CEO of Exiro Minerals — for an in-depth discussion on what it will take to position Canada as a global superpower in resource supply and manufacturing, powering defence, EVs, clean energy, and advanced industry — fueling both today’s resilience and tomorrow’s competitive edge.

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About

The Empire Club of Canada is Canada’s go-to forum for conversations that matter. Established in 1903, as a response to Canadian political unrest, the Empire Club of Canada quickly became a leading speakers’ forum. Beginning with speeches to address Canada’s relationships with the British Empire and the United States, the ECC continues to tackle issues that affect the lives of Canadians.

Information

  • Creator
    Empire Club of Canada
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    451
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Empire Club of Canada
  • Show Website
    Empire Club of Canada

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