Economic Development Summit 2023
This event was held on Friday, November 17, 2023, at the Kemptville Municipal Centre.
A day focused on Economic Development and Leadership, this event is in partnership with Michael Barrett, M.P., Hon. Steve Clark, M.P.P., the 1000 Islands, Grenville and Valley Heartland Community Futures Development Corporations and the Eastern Workforce Innovation Board.
Agenda & Speaker announcements
- Keynote Speaker: Honourable David Piccini,
Ontario’s new Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development - Shorelines Casino Thousand Islands and Leclerc Leaders
- Agenda
- Participant List
- Speaker Biographies
- Media Release
#LGEcDevSummit * investleedsgrenville.com/summit2023
Presentation Slides
- The LeClerc Products - slides * video
- Bill Thake Memorial Economic Development Leadership Award
- Shorelines Casino Thousand Islands - slides * video
- Enbridge: Planning our Future Infrastructure - slides * video
- Maple View Landings Redevelopment Project: Preparing for our Aging Community - slides * video
- Keynote: Hon. David Piccini, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development - video
- 1000 Islands and Rideau Canal Waterways: Building an Appetite for Culinary Tourism - video
- Leeds Grenville Economic Development 15th Anniversary Summit Review & What’s Ahead
Bill Thake Memorial Economic Development Leadership Award
Introduced in 2011, this annual award, also called the Warden's Award, recognizes and celebrates a volunteer who has shown outstanding commitment and leadership resulting in the growth and vitality of the Leeds Grenville economy.
This year's nominees were:

- Susan Alford, Township of Rideau Lakes
- Judi Baril, Township of Augusta
- Shelley Mitchell, Municipality of North Grenville
- Terry Wills, Township of Rideau Lakes
- Joe Hudson, Township of Elizabethtown-Kitley
- Thake Award Nominee Bios
Congratulations to award winner:
- Joe Hudson, Township of Elizabethtown-Kitley
- Video * Joe Hudson, tribute video
Thake Award Presentation: From left: Leeds Grenville Warden Nancy Peckford (Mayor of North Grenville) with Burnbrae Farms President Margaret Hudson, Sue Hudson, Director, Communications & Digital Marketing for Burnbrae Farms, and Marlene Thake, widow of Bill Thake. Margaret and Sue Hudson accepted the award on behalf of their father, Joe Hudson, the recipient of this year’s Bill Thake Memorial Award for Economic Development Leadership.