Robert Reich, Adolfo Carrión, Jr., Wesley Clark, Angel Gurria and Other
Dignitaries to Attend Toronto Conference

Toronto Forum for Global Cities - November 9 and 10, 2009

TORONTO , Oct. 14 /CNW/ - International political leaders, blue-chip business executives and local government and industry officials will be among the over 40 panellists expected to participate in the Toronto Forum for Global Cities, taking place on November 9 and 10, 2009 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. Themed "Restoring Growth: Finance, Energy, Infrastructure, Innovation and Public Safety in a Post-Bailout Era," the third edition of the Forum will be an opportunity for Toronto-area professionals to participate in discussions relating to the major challenges faced by global cities, provinces and countries and how they can contribute to restoring growth in the challenging economic climate.

"The Canadian business community is in a position where it must plan and strategize during an uncertain economic recovery period. Recovery in Canada will depend on the role of cities and their ability to act as a stimulus for growth," says Gil Rémillard, Founding Chairman of the Forum. "Our goal with the 2009 edition of the Toronto Forum for Global Cities is to make a world-class panel accessible to local professionals to tackle these important issues while providing an unparalleled learning and networking experience."

    
    The Forum will bring together leading experts in their respective fields
from Canada and around the world. Confirmed panellists to date include:

    -   Robert Reich, Member of President Obama's Economic Advisory Board and
        former U.S Secretary of Labor
    -   Adolfo Carrión, Jr., Director, White House Office of Urban Affairs
        Policy, and Deputy Assistant to President Obama
    -   Wesley Clark, Former Supreme Allied Commander Europe of NATO and
        Co-Chairman, Growth Energy
    -   Amr Moussa, Secretary General of the Arab League
    -   Angel Gurria, Secretary General, OECD
    -   Compton Bourne, President, Caribbean Development Bank
    -   Perrin Beatty, President and CEO, The Canadian Chamber of Commerce
    -   Fredric S. Berger, Chairman, The Louis Berger Group
    -   Dan Fortin, President, IBM Canada Ltd.
    -   Jean Lemierre, Senior Advisor to the Chairman, BNP Paribas
    -   Thomas Menino, Mayor of Boston
    

Over 1,000 delegates are expected to participate in the Forum. Each day of the event will consist of morning plenary sessions, a luncheon, afternoon plenary sessions, closing remarks and a networking cocktail.

Interested participants can register by visiting http://www.forumforglobalcities.com. The Forum Web site also includes up-to-the minute information about the event's program, speakers and highlights.

Event sponsors include the Government of Ontario, IBM Canada , the City of Toronto , VIA Rail Canada , BNP Paribas, Fraser Milner Casgrain LLP, TD Securities, Toronto Region Research Alliance (TRRA), Scotiabank Group, Ontario Power Authority (OPA), RBC, Canadian Foundation for Economic Education (CFEE), Aecon, the City of Mississauga, Deloitte, Siemens, Invest Toronto , Toronto Hydro Corporation, SNC Lavalin and Macquarie. Media partners are the Financial Post, Business News Network (BNN), Canadian Business magazine and CNW Group.

For further information: Foreign and Canadian journalists may cover the entire proceedings of the event, with the exception of private meetings. However, to attend the Forum, journalists, photographers and media technical staff must obtain prior accreditation by contacting Kristin Gable at [phone] or [email protected].