Globalization, technological progress and a new demographic of workers are creating a profound impact on labour markets. There is an increasing demand for STEM, financial literary, technological fluency and soft skills. How can we manage this transition?
Join Canadian Club Toronto on February 12 when The Honourable Stephen Lecce discusses what these changes mean to him, and how the Ontario government is setting up today’s students for the jobs of tomorrow.
Minister Lecce will be joined in conversation by Adrienne Batra, Editor-in-Chief of the Toronto Sun.
The Honourable Stephen Lecce
Minister of Education
Stephen Lecce is the Minister of Education for the Province of Ontario and the Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) for King-Vaughan. As Minister, Stephen is fighting for student success and is working to build an education system that is equipped to support our next generation. It is his mission to ensure that students are given every opportunity to develop the transferable skills needed to lead productive lives and secure good jobs. Stephen stands for an inclusive and equitable system of education and believes that our future as a province and as a country, depends on unlocking the potential of all youth.
Stephen’s experience in politics began in his home town of Vaughan where he was involved with the 1999 election of the late MPP Al Palladini. Since then, he has served as the Chief Spokesperson for former Prime Minister, Stephen Harper, as Deputy Government House Leader, the Parliamentary Assistant to the Ministry of Infrastructure and the Parliamentary Assistant to the Premier.
Stephen is a community leader, who has devoted over half his life to public service. He continues to give back and support his local community as MPP, and as the former First Vice President of the National Congress of Italian Canadians, an active member of the Vaughan Chamber of Commerce and former Youth Education Chair of Vaughan’s Royal Canadian Legion (Mackenzie Branch 414).
Stephen lives in Vaughan, where he grew up, and remains active in his community.
Adrienne Batra
Editor-in-Chief, Toronto Sun
Director, Canadian Club Toronto
Adrienne Batra was born and raised in Saskatchewan. She has an undergraduate degree in political science and a Masters in Public Administration. Ms. Batra worked at the Saskatchewan Legislature as a researcher with the opposition caucus office. She then moved on to be the Manitoba Director for the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, Canada’s largest taxpayer advocacy group. In 2010, Ms. Batra was the Director of Communications for the Rob Ford for Mayor campaign, and moved on to serve in the Office of the Mayor as Ford’s Press Secretary.
Upon leaving City Hall, she became the Comment Editor and columnist for the Toronto Sun and political commentator on Newstalk 1010. Ms. Batra hosted her own TV show on Sun News Network, focused on political, social and economic issues. In June of 2015, Ms. Batra was appointed as the Editor in Chief of the Toronto Sun and 24Hrs Toronto. She has appeared on Fox Business News, CNN and BBC and is a frequent contributor on Global News, CBC National, CP24, AM 640 and CTV News Channel. Ms. Batra also served in the Canadian Armed Forces, obtaining the rank of Lieutenant, and was nominated for a YWCA Woman of Distinction award. In 2013 she was awarded with a Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal and serves on the Board of Governors for the National Newspaper Awards and the Canadian Journalism Foundation.
