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 |
| 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. |
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. |
| 11:30AM | Workplace Champions: Strategies That Delivered 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. |
| 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. |
| 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
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.
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.