Skip to Main Content

Bonnie for Ontario: Vision and Grit

Thursday, April 4, 2024

Watch Now
Listen Now

Grit. Vision. Abundance.

At a time of uncertainty in Ontario – the path to economic abundance for people and businesses in the province requires clear vision and hard work.

Join Bonnie Crombie, leader of Ontario’s Liberals, for a conversation about moving the province forward. Crombie will discuss her bold, ambitious vision for change in Ontario – high-quality healthcare and education, reliable transit, affordable homes and the growing economy to finance it. Ambitious change that will take tenacity, grit and a refusal to accept things as they are.

The Empire Club of Canada is honoured to host Ms. Crombie on April 4th, 2024 following Ontario’s provincial budget in her first major speaking appearance as Ontario’s new Liberal leader. We look forward to having you join us.

headshot of Bonnie Crombie

Bonnie Crombie

Leader, Ontario Liberal Party

Bonnie Crombie is the Leader of Ontario’s Liberals. Prior to her election as Leader, Bonnie was Mayor of Mississauga, Ontario’s third-largest city, where she was known for her visionary leadership to create jobs, build complete communities and celebrate diversity. A mother of three, she holds a BA and an MBA, and worked as a business executive and entrepreneur. She previously served as a Liberal Member of Parliament and as a City Councillor.

headshot of Mike Van Soelen

Mike Van Soelen

Moderator
Director, Empire Club of Canada

As Managing Principal, Navigator Ltd. Mike helps leading organizations reach and engage their most important audiences.

Mike helps lead the Navigator team by providing clients with honest counsel on strategic and crisis communications, public affairs and research. His track record speaks to his unique understanding of how messages properly delivered can facilitate concrete, measurable outcomes.

Before joining Navigator, Mike founded and ran a successful boutique public affairs and communications firm with offices in Toronto and Ottawa that served leading organizations across Canada. Mike sold his firm to Navigator in 2015 and brought his unique insights and results-focused style to the Navigator team.

Prior to running his own company, Mike worked in journalism, communications and government. He began his career in the grassroots of Canadian journalism at two regional daily newspapers, winning several awards for his writing. He moved from journalism to politics, where he served on countless political campaigns. His posts in government have included Chief of Staff to an Ontario Minister and Director of Communications in Ottawa. Mike also worked at one of the country’s largest public relations agencies, supporting clients in the finance, health and technology sectors.

Mike appears regularly as a commentator for media outlets such as Global TV, AM 640, CP24 and Newstalk 1010. He also serves as an executive on the board of the Empire Club of Canada.