OECM Hosts the 3rd Leadership & Collaboration Invitational Symposium

On February 21-23, 2024, OECM hosted our 3^rd Leadership and Collaboration Symposium at Blue Mountain Inn in Collingwood, Ontario. This event built upon the goals, learnings, and outcomes from our 2022 and 2019 symposiums.

Over two days, more than 175 senior leaders and valued partners from Ontario’s School Boards, Colleges, and Universities, as well as other valued provincial partners from the Health and Municipal sectors had the chance to discuss future opportunities for collaboration while sharing their perspectives on leadership and partnership across sectors.

Event raises $15,000 for The Daily Bread Food Bank

Throughout the event, OECM raised funds for charity. This year, OECM partnered with the Daily Bread Food Bank to raise funds for their critical mission to eliminate food insecurity, and advocate for solutions to end poverty.

A charity raffle was held with all proceeds being donated to the Food Bank. A special thanks to Blue Mountain Resort and Keel Cottrelle LLP, as well as the following OECM supplier partners, who generously donated gifts and prizes:

• Access 2 Networks Inc.
• Akran Marketing
• Bunzl Canada Inc.
• CDW Canada
• Compugen Inc.
• Computacenter Canada Inc.
• Dell Technologies
• Global Unified Solution Services Inc.
• Hollend Furnishings Ltd.
• Mark’s Commercial
• Patrick Cassidy and Associates Inc.
• Sharp Electronics of Canada Ltd.
• Softchoice Canada Inc.
• Staples Professional Inc.
• Swish Maintenance Ltd.

We are proud to have raised $15,000 to support this important cause!

Event collaboration sessions

This year’s event was emceed by Sonia Gallo, OECM’s VP of Communications and Customer Relations. The event agenda included presentations for 6 esteemed guest speakers:

• A Keynote Address by prior Chief of Cowessess First Nation, Cadmus Delorme
• Ontario’s 12^th and 13^th Auditor Generals, Jim McCarter and Bonnie Lysyk
• CEO of Supply Ontario, Jamie Wallace
• President of Bruce Mayhew Consulting, Bruce Mayhew
• Dr. Alec Couros, Director, Centre for Educational Research, University of Regina. Dr Couros was also joined by members of the Vector Institute for a panel session, following his presentation, which was moderated by Field CTO at Dell, James Scott.

Click here to view the above presentations.

OECM-led sessions

Karen Owen, OECM’s Senior Vice President of Strategy and Partnerships, led a two-part collaboration discussion joint session during the event. During the first collaboration discussion joint session, attendees had the opportunity to explore various themes in the area of collaborating across sectors. The second session reviewed the results, and outcomes and suggested next steps generated from the first session.

The 2023 Symposium also included two panel sessions. The first, Sharing the Success of Collaboration, which was moderated by OECM’s President and CEO, John Sabo, along with members of Council of Ontario Universities (COU), Council of Ontario Senior Business Officials (COSBO), and Municipal Finance Officers’ Association (MFOA).

The second session was moderated by Jim Hadjiyianni, OECM’s VP of Supply Management and Business Development and included panelists from Noventa Energy Corp., HP Canada, Reeve Consulting, and ESG Global Advisors.

OECM partnered with ThinkLink Graphics who captured each of the presentations with a visual drawing and graphic illustrations.

Click the link to access the illustrations.

Attendee Feedback

Over 94% of attendees rated the symposium as an opportunity for sectors to network. Quotes from attendees:

“OECM puts collaboration aspirations into action.”

“Great things happen when you bring great people together!”

“Another time well spent learning and conversing about procurement across Ontario. The ability to meet with so many sectors under one roof helps us bond, learn and grow together. We are not in this alone.”

“First class event! Great job creating the conditions for sharing, learning and identifying opportunities for collaboration. Hope to come back!”

“OECM staff have done it again! One of the best events I have attended.”

OECM is grateful for another successful collaboration event and looks forward to future sector collaborations.

See more:

• View the event program to learn more about the Symposium.
• Graphic illustrations can be downloaded here.
• Presentations can be downloaded here.
• Read about OECM’s contributions to the Daily Bread Food Bank, including our Workplace Champion Award.