St. Clair College Centre for the Arts – Alumni Skyline Ballroom.
We are proud to begin our conference with a Land Acknowledgment by Workforce WindsorEssex and a Welcome from Carrie Ann Peters, Culture & Language Coordinator of Caldwell First Nation. Located at the heart of their ancestral lands around Point Pelee and Pelee Island, Caldwell First Nation has long demonstrated a profound commitment to the air, waters, lands, and resources of the region. Carrie Ann will offer a traditional welcome and share teachings rooted in the principles of harmony, balance, and respect that guide Caldwell’s community and governance.
“How do we prepare students and future employees for the challenge of working with knowledge that doesn’t exist; using practices that don’t exist; in jobs that don’t exist?”
Session Learning Outcomes:
Thank you to our Keynote Sponsor:
Workplace and Immigrant Network of Waterloo Region strives to support immigrants and employers differently – evidence-based, business-oriented, and needs-centred. Find out how we used a customized approach with global talent and employers to create better alignment and outcomes in the local labour market.
How are we meeting the needs of newcomers in rural communities? English language training opportunities can be scarce, Set7 is meeting the needs of newcomers by offering training that is open to all adult learners in the Municipality of North Perth and neighbouring municipalities.
Introducing, Ontario Corporate Training Centre (OCTC), a new project empowering business with the knowledge, resources, and confidence needed to embrace disability inclusive hiring, and foster diverse workplaces.
Break Sponsor:
Generations Y and Z understand their success in the workplace depends on their ability and quality of questions asked. This session emphasizes the importance of active listening and insightful questioning. An interactive demonstration on working with others to solve real business challenges is shared.
A live recording of the Mean Median Moose Podcast! A podcast exploring data about Canada, how to visualize it, and what it all means.
Presented in partnership with:
Enhance your conference experience by attending our exclusive welcome reception! In partnership with Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island, we invite you to the stunning River Room for an evening of delicious appetizers and locally crafted beverages. This is a perfect opportunity to connect and socialize with fellow attendees in a relaxed and enjoyable setting.
Your ticket includes a selection of appetizers, local wine sampling, and a complimentary drink. Don’t miss this chance to build valuable connections and create lasting memories. Tickets are limited, so secure your add-on ticket now and join us for an unforgettable evening!
Breakfast is sponsored by:
Discover how ApprenticeSearch is transforming experiential learning in the skilled trades at both secondary and post-secondary levels. Learn how industry partnerships, mentorship programs, and employer networks are creating new, inclusive pathways to skilled trades careers.
This session highlights the Improving Employability Series, an experiential learning program for international graduate students at the University of Windsor. The series supported 90 students in Engineering and Computer Science to become more employable in Canada.
Leads from three Municipally-led Service System Managers will discuss successes, opportunities and adaptations of implementing Ontario’s new Integrated Employment Services model in their respective catchments within Southwestern Ontario. Panelists will reflect on their own how their own structures best support jobseekers, employers, communities, and the service providers they lead.
Windsor-Essex is a leader in employee workplace innovation, with an Innovation Catalysts program (2018-21) and innovation for Quality of Work (2022-23). This group will share results and describe work in-progress toward integrating employee workplace innovation into the regional innovation ecosystem.
Break Sponsor:
“DISRUPT is an information exchange designed to energize, inform, and empower people in the HR field.”
Five speakers, five minutes each, and slides rotate every 15 seconds. “Teach us something, but make it quick.”
Talk Topics Include:
Video recording generously provided by:
This panel will bring together leading professionals and experts from across the Electric Vehicle (EV) industry to explore the rapidly evolving talent, recruitment, and workforce development needs that are critical to supporting growth in this sector. As EV adoption accelerates and technological advancements continue, panelists will discuss the urgent demand for skilled workers—from engineers and technicians to software developers and production specialists—needed to sustain innovation and manufacturing.
This conversation will offer valuable insights for employers, policymakers, and educators, emphasizing the need for coordinated efforts to future-proof the workforce and ensure Canada remains a global leader in the electric vehicle industry.
Lunch Sponsor:
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