Toronto Region Board of Trade

Getting ready to honor our best exporters! The excitement is palpable! At World Trade Centre Toronto and Toronto Region Board of Trade #TheQuay #bestpatio #export

It was a pleasure to recently speak to the Toronto Region Board of Trade (TRBOT) about the work I have the privilege of leading at 369 Global and its related companies such as Computek College, 3 magazine, and others. Our longest operating business, Computek, began more than 30 years ago in the region, specifically #Scarborough and my experiences growing up there continues to inform the work ethic, attitude, and values I aim to bring to all our ventures as we strive to build on our homegrown success. From Tuxedo Court to TRBOT, the "entrepreneur" label sits a little easier today. Muraly Srinarayanathas Giles Gherson

Yesterday, the Toronto Region Board of Trade’s members had the opportunity to speak with Ontario’s Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Paul Calandra, about how to accelerate his top priority of building 1.5 million homes by 2031...while also making sure we have enough space available for our growing population to work. Here's a well-kept secret: one of the GTHA's most precious assets—its manufacturing employment lands—are shrinking rapidly, limiting future growth. The Minister, engaging and forthright, said he is ready to explore ways to better protect employment lands, while continuing to enable zoning conversions for residential development where it makes sense. It's an important signal because industrial-zoned lands in the GTHA have been under relentless assault for decades, weakening the Province's capacity to grow high paying jobs, expand needed economic production, and generate the export revenues to pay for surging imports. The upshot: years of lost manufacturing investment in stark contrast to vigorous expansion in the US. This has left Ontario in the bottom tier of 64 North American states, provinces and territories when it comes to income per capita, a strong measure of relative prosperity. It's a high price to pay. Thankfully the Ford Government has made turning around the Province's manufacturing economy a cornerstone of its 6 years in office—winning big investments in automotive EVs, battery plants and components, steel, aerospace, and food processing. But the "race for space" in the GTHA continues to mean growing scarcity of employment lands (with a vacancy rate of 1%). This is sending land costs skyward compared to neighbouring U.S. states, adding to the challenge of winning new projects. Meanwhile the lack of certainty around whether existing employment lands will be preserved remains a big turn-off for business investment in new or modernized facilities. As it happens, the GTHA is still home to the majority of Ontario's manufacturing, supporting hundreds of thousands of well-paying jobs. But we need more, not less, which is where we're headed. It's time for a Provincial employment lands strategy with clear policy and regulatory guardrails to safeguard the Region's strategically important, high productivity employment zones. A big thanks to Minister Calandra for a hopeful discussion. We're looking forward to continuing the dialogue.

Meet Kumaran Nadesan, Co-founder and Deputy Chairman of 369 Global, featured in our latest "Homegrown Success" series. Kumaran's journey exemplifies the power of diverse experiences: from government policy advisor to entrepreneurial trailblazer, he's leveraging Toronto's multicultural landscape to test global ideas and transform skills training for newcomers, while shaping the future of media. Discover how Kumaran's unique perspectives have profoundly shaped the company’s mission and driving innovation and impact on a global scale. Read the full feature here: https://lnkd.in/gH-Z7yPC 

Calling all young professionals! Looking for a way to elevate your career, expand your network and still enjoy the patio season this August? Join us on August 15th for the YPN Summer Skill-Up & Social. 🍹 Offering the perfect blend of professional development and summer fun, this event will give you access to dynamic breakout sessions led by industry leaders, followed by a sunny evening forging valuable connections on our patio. Don't let this opportunity slip away! Register now and make the most of your summer by investing in your future. https://lnkd.in/ggfzE6vC

Fellow Young Professionals! Join us on August 15th for our Summer Social, hosted by the Young Professionals Network – Toronto Region Board of Trade. Network with fellow professionals at our workshop sessions and enjoy an evening of networking on the patio!    This is your chance to connect, share insights, and build lasting relationships in a vibrant setting. We hope to see you there!    Register Now: https://lnkd.in/g3_mqiNS  #YPN #Networking #SummerSocial #YoungProfessionals #TorontoEvents 

Commuters have reached a breaking point when it comes to congestion in this region. Busy streets are one of the clearest signals of a successful and growing city, but when they become too clogged and too congested, as our poll showed people are reluctant to go to work and increasingly avoiding shopping, attending sporting event and other entertainment. Worse, an astounding number are questioning whether to even continue to call Toronto home.   I appreciated the opportunity to speak with multiple news outlets--terrific hosts and reporters across TV, radio and print, today about why congestion poses significant challenges for business and the long-term health of our economy. Improving the flow of traffic has been a top priority for the Toronto Region Board of Trade and our Congestion Task Force, and it needs to be at the top of the heap for the city. If we don’t have a plan to fix this congestion crisis Toronto will lose out against jurisdictions across North America for business investment and urgently needed skilled and creative workforce. Today was about demonstrating how serious the problem is and why solutions are so urgently needed. Speeding up construction on the Gardiner Expressway’s rehabilitation, 24/7 construction where it is needed, and myriad other solutions must be fast-tracked. Stay tuned for more as the Board continues to drive this conversation and chart a path forward.   Read Christine Dobby's report on our region's businesses are impacted by congestion: https://lnkd.in/ea-NEgFu

We are excited to be talking about regenerative medicine at the Toronto Region Board of Trade on August 20. Keynote Michael May will provide an overview of the state of regenerative medicine in the region, the collaborative efforts needed to realize its full promise and the exciting potential it holds for the future. Please join us to hear from Mitchel Sivilotti and Emily Titus, with Maura Campbell moderating a panel discussion. Register below. Spaces are limited.

"64% of residents are reluctant to travel to work because of traffic congestion, a dismal statistic that’s harming efforts by banks and other large employers to get workers to come to the office more often." Thanks Christine Dobby for speaking with us about the results of our poll with Ipsos in Canada.

We partnered with Ipsos in Canada to poll the region’s residents on the impact of congestion on the economy and their choices. The findings were shocking.   Among the findings:        🚨 86% of respondents believe there is a traffic and congestion crisis in the region.    🚨 85% agree that traffic and congestion negatively impact the economy.     🚨 42% of respondents said they avoid shopping, going out for entertainment or a sporting event.     🚨 31% said they avoid visiting family and friends.    🚨 59% reported reduced productivity at work due to time spent commuting/ congestion.    🚨 53% have contemplated leaving the region.      See more of our findings: https://lnkd.in/gTjX3Tqa       Congestion is eroding our livability, hurting our businesses, and driving people out of our region. These findings drive home the importance of our Congestion Task Force, which is investigating bold solutions to alleviate our congestion woes and transform Toronto's transportation landscape.     Learn more about our Congestion Taskforce: https://lnkd.in/gYheSScA