2025 Annual General Meeting and Convention

The Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Convention represents one of the most significant opportunities for business leaders from across the province to come together to network with peers, debate policy issues important to the Ontario business community, and shape our advocacy agenda for the year ahead.

The 2025 AGM and Convention, hosted by the Windsor-Essex, Amherstburg, and Leamington District Chambers of Commerce took place on April 24-26, 2025, in Windsor, Ontario. The 2025 theme, “Bridges, Not Barriers: Building Connected Communities and Economies,” highlighted the power of collaboration in driving economic growth, emerging stronger from adversity, and securing our future competitiveness.

This year’s AGM was attended by 148 registrants, representing more than 60 Chambers of Commerce and Boards of Trade across Ontario.

Host Chambers from left to right: Wendy Parsons, General Manager, Leamington District Chamber of Commerce, Ryan Donally, President and Chief Executive Officer, Windsor Essex Chamber of Commerce and Anne Creery, General Manager, Amherstburg Chamber of Commerce

Cusma, Commerce and Competitiveness: What’s Next for Ontario SMEs Panel. Left to right: Luke Polcyn, Senior Executive, Development and Economic Transformation, City of Detroit, Mayor’s Office, Leo Novakovic, Director, Automotive Industry Financing, Desjardins Ontario Credit Union and Ryan Donally, President and Chief Executive Officer, Windsor Essex Chamber of Commerce.

Ontario’s Competitive Edge: Actions Today for Success Tomorrow Panel. Left to right: Sueling Ching, President and Chief Executive Officer, Ottawa Board of Trade, Jamie Doolittle, Regional Head, Business Banking, BMO, Jaipaul Massey-Singh, Chief Executive Officer, Brampton Board of Trade and Helen Quirke, Vice-President of Supply Chain and Business Development, CN.

Powering Ontario’s Food Supply Chain: Natural Gas and The Future of Greenhouse Agriculture Panel. Left to right: Andrew Peralta, Senior Advisor, Large Industrial Accounts, Enbridge, Diane Malenfant, Chair, Leamington District Chamber of Commerce, General Manager, Community Futures Essex County and Rob Petro, Coordinator, Energy, Infrastructure and Environment, Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers.

OCC’s President and Chief Executive Officer, Daniel Tisch, presented the 2025-2028 Strategic Plan.

Chair’s Reception, Dinner and Award Presentation, brought to you by Hydro One.

Vasudha Seth, Vice-President, Strategy, ArcelorMittal Dofasco and Past-Chair, Ontario Chamber of Commerce receives the Past Chair’s Gavel.

Accredited Chambers of Commerce and Boards of Trade in attendance at the 2025 AGM and Convention.

Joel Wiebe, Vice-President, Government Relations and Communications, Peterborough and the Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce received the James Gordon Carnegie Memorial Award. The award was presented by Brenda Whitehead, Chief Executive Officer, Port Hope and District Chamber of Commerce.

Brenda Whitehead, Chief Executive Officer, Port Hope and District Chamber of Commerce accepted the Outstanding Advocacy Campaign Award on behalf of the St. Thomas and District Chamber of Commerce. The award was presented by Musaab Choudhry, Manager, Large Customer Accounts, Hydro One.

Doug Harkness from the Dufferin Board of Trade received the Richard Dolphin Community Service Award. The award was presented by Julie Martini, Vice-President, Public Affairs, Ontario Chamber of Commerce.

It was a memorable night for the Dufferin Board of Trade, as they were also recognized with the Chair’s Award for Innovative Service. The award was presented by Vasudha Seth, Vice-President, Strategy, ArcelorMittal Dofasco and Past-Chair, Ontario Chamber of Commerce.

The recipient of the Chair’s Award for Innovative Program was the Greater Oshawa Chamber of Commerce. The award was also presented by Vasudha Seth, Vice-President, Strategy, ArcelorMittal Dofasco and Past-Chair, Ontario Chamber of Commerce.

Charla Robinson, President of the Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce received the Burnie Gillespie Memorial Award. The award was presented by Ali Nasser Virji, Director, Policy, Ontario Chamber of Commerce.

The 2026 Annual General Meeting and Convention is headed to our Nation’s Capital! Sueling Ching, President and Chief Executive Officer, Ottawa Board of Trade took the stage following the announcement.

Ontario Chamber of Commerce Staff in attendance at the Chair’s Reception, Dinner and Award Presentation.

The Ontario Chamber Network gathered on the final day of the AGM and Convention for the annual Policy Resolutions Debate. The debate was moderated by members of the OCC’s Policy Team: Ali Nasser Virji, Director, Policy, Ontario Chamber of Commerce, Simran Singh, Senior Manager, Policy, Ontario Chamber of Commerce, Neeky Dalir, Policy Analyst, Ontario Chamber of Commerce and Bob Delaney, Former Member of Provincial Parliament, Government of Ontario. 

Ontario Chamber of Commerce staff and Bob Delaney, Former Member of Provincial Parliament, Government of Ontario, at the conclusion of the AGM and Convention.

Photo credit: Gordie Howe International Bridge project