Thank you for attending the 2026 Workforce Connect Conference!
Stay tuned for resources from this year’s event.
Central Ontario’s leading Workforce Development Conference!
What to Expect?
- Inspiring Speakers: Hear from experts and leaders in the field.
- Presentations: Engaging sessions designed to equip you and your team with the skills to navigate challenges and succeed collaboratively.
- Networking Opportunities: Connect with peers, industry members, and new collaborators.
- Exhibitor Tables: Explore services and programs from leading workforce development organizations.
Why Attend?
- Gain insights into best practices and resources for attracting and retaining talent.
- Build connections with peers, mentors and potential collaborators.
- Support Professional Development by participating in discussions tailored to support professional growth.
- Leave with fresh insights into how to anticipate change and plan for future challenges.
AGENDA
| 8:30AM | Registration and Networking |
| 9:00AM | Opening Remarks County of Simcoe Warden Basil Clarke |
| 9:15AM | Keynote: Navigating Workforce Shifts in a Changing Global Economy Sarah Lewis -Deloitte |
| 10:00AM | Meet the Funders: Strategies for Success Panelists will unpack current priorities, how applications are assessed, and practical ways to align your project’s outcomes, budget, and partnerships with funder expectations. You’ll also hear examples of successful applications—what made them stand out and how teams demonstrated readiness, impact, and value-for-money. A moderated Q&A will help you leave with actionable next steps for strengthening future submissions and relationships. Moderator: Luke Preston Panelists: David Aldersey | Senior Business Advisor, Business Advisory Services Branch, Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade Jim Fitzgerald | General Manager, Orillia and Area CDC Kelly Cosgrove | Regional Development Advisor, Regional Services Branch, Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Gaming Stephen Morris | Economic Development Team Lead, Ministry of Rural Affairs |
10:45AM | Creating Workplace Resilience: Connecting Employers to Resources Explore the workplace resilience support ecosystem. Service providers walk through available programs and resources, eligibility, common use cases, and the fastest pathways to connect employees and employers to help. Moderator: Nancy West Panelists: Avery Cuculick | Project Facilitator, SM Skillforce Cristin O’Sullivan | Disability Awareness Trainer with the Ontario Corporate Training Centre, Ontario Disability Employment Network Deepikaa Gupta | Program Coordinator, Simcoe County Local Immigration Partnership Melissa Small | Employer Engagement Specialist, EmployNext |
| 11:30AM | Workplace Champions: Strategies That Deliver Measurable Results Employers share the strategies they implemented and the quantifiable outcomes they achieved—what worked, what didn’t, and what they’d do differently. Moderator: Cameron Christie Panelists: Gail Gillian | ZF Lifetec Janet Hughes | CHRL, Associate Director, Corporate Services, Crozier Engineering Danielle Belanger | Supervisor Human Resources, F&P Mfg., Inc. Jen Bailey | HR Manager, Community Builders Terry Edmonds | Manager, Human Resources, Casino Rama Resort, Gateway Casinos |
| 12:15PM | Simcoe County Workplace Inclusion Charter – Employer Recognition Awards Celebrate employers leading the way in building welcoming, inclusive workplaces across Simcoe County. The Simcoe County Local Immigration Partnership (LIP) will present Workplace Inclusion Charter Employer Recognition Awards to organizations demonstrating meaningful action to support newcomer inclusion, equitable hiring, and inclusive retention practices. Presenter: Mina Fayez-Bahgat | GM of the County of Simcoe, Community & Social Services |
| 12:30PM | Lunch and Networking |
Workforce Connect 2026
Building Resilience: Tools, Partnerships, and Practical Solutions
🔹 Date: June 18, 2026🔹 Location: Brooklea Golf and Country Club🔹 Time: 9:00AM – 12:30PM
Speakers
Masters of Ceremonies
Ruth Walker-Scott | Senior Economic Development Officer, County of Simcoe
Mat Boiselle | Project Facilitator, SM Skillforce
Sarah Lewis | Global Chief of Staff, Senior Manager, Economic Advisory, Deloitte Canada
Sarah is the Global Chief of Staff for Deloitte’s Economic and Policy Advisory practice, with over 20 years of leadership experience in economic development and higher education. She specializes in economic and workforce development strategic planning, working closely with government and public sector clients to identify, quantify, and accelerate key economic drivers. Sarah has held leadership roles in post-secondary education, including Director of Student Success at Lakehead University, where she and her team delivered inclusive career and co-op programs and led student retention efforts across the student development journey. Sarah also led program development strategy and industry engagement for the launch of the Bow Valley College School of Technology and the expansion of the School of Community Studies in Calgary, Alberta.Sarah holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Waterloo and a Master of Education from the University of Calgary. She is also an active member of the Economic Developers Association of Canada.
Luke Preston | Regional Economic Development and Grants Officer, District Municipality of Muskoka
Luke Preston is a results-driven public sector leader with over two decades of experience across the private and public sectors, focused on advancing economic development, strengthening partnerships, and delivering measurable impact in the communities he serves. He is also a municipal councillor for the Village of Sundridge.
Nancy West | Project Facilitator, SM Skillforce
Nancy has been a Project Facilitator with Simcoe Muskoka Skillforce since January 2024, leading the Adult Literacy and Basic Skills program, now known as Get SET. In this role, she supports 16 Get SET locations across Simcoe County and Muskoka. Prior to joining Skillforce, Nancy spent 24 years with YMCA Employment and Learning Services in Huntsville, where she served as Team Leader for Employment Services and later for the Literacy and Basic Skills program. In both roles, she worked directly with Employers. Nancy is a strong believer in the power of collaboration among community partners, service providers, and employers. She believes that by working together, communities can better support individuals facing barriers, respond to local labour market needs, and build practical solutions that benefit both job seekers and employers.
Cameron Christie | Senior Operations Manager, Sandbox Centre
A seasoned operations leader, Cameron has a proven track record of transforming organizational culture, driving growth, and optimizing complex systems. With expertise in operations management, IT infrastructure transitions, and strategic planning, he consistently delivers results that enhance team performance and organizational success. Known for shaping bold, people-first cultures, Cameron helps businesses align their teams and values to create high-performing workplaces where people are engaged, empowered, and set up to succeed. Previously serving as Chief Operating Officer at Community Builders and Director of Operations at Gerrits Engineering Limited, he has demonstrated a remarkable ability to align mission-driven leadership with tangible outcomes. Under his guidance, organizations have achieved key milestones—reducing absenteeism, driving revenue growth, and strengthening culture all at once. In addition to his professional roles, Cameron has contributed his expertise on multiple boards, shaping strategy, guiding decision-making, and driving meaningful community impact. Combining technical acumen with a deep understanding of people and culture, he fosters inclusive environments where individuals and teams thrive. A lifelong learner in business, leadership, and human systems, Cameron brings thoughtful perspective and practical clarity to every engagement. His leadership philosophy is simple: leave things better than you found them – and have fun doing it.
Take Part in SM Skillforce’s Employer Focus Group & Contribute to Valuable Labour Market Insights
Simcoe Muskoka Skillforce, the local Workforce Development Board and Literacy Network, is inviting local employers to participate in their annual employer research. Your input will contribute to the collection of meaningful data that helps SM SKillforce capture an accurate picture of local workforce trends, challenges, and opportunities.
The insights gathered from these focus groups will be published in SM Skillforce’s annual Local Labour Market Plan—an important resource that supports employers in understanding hiring trends, skills gaps, and workforce dynamics in our region.