Presenting Dignitaries

Steve Clark is the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.

He was first elected as the MPP for Leeds-Grenville in 2010 and was re-elected in 2011 and 2014. In 2018 and 2022, he was re-elected as the MPP for the newly renamed riding of Leeds-Grenville-Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes.

Steve gained attention across Canada in 1982 when — at the age of 22 and just out of university — he was elected Mayor of Brockville. He served three terms as mayor and, during his tenure, was also president of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario.

Prior to his election as Leeds-Grenville MPP, Steve was Chief Administrative Officer for the Township of Leeds and the Thousand Islands.

A proponent of education and physical fitness, Steve also helped raise $1.3 million for the Thousand Islands Secondary School Track Facility, one of the largest fundraising accomplishments for a public educational institution to date in this region.

Steve has been a community volunteer for more than 40 years. The many groups and committees he has served with include the Rotary Club of the 1000 Islands, St. Lawrence Lodge, the Brockville Braves hockey club, and the Brockville and Area YMCA.

Steve is married to Deanna. Together they are the proud parents of a blended family with five children and five grandchildren.

The Honourable Victor Fedeli is a lifelong entrepreneur, successful businessperson, author, and philanthropist, and serves the Ford government as Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade.

His business experience led his firm Fedeli Corporation to be ranked 34th in the Top 50 Best Places to Work in Canada in 1989. It also served him well, when he was elected to two terms as Mayor of North Bay from 2003 to 2010. As Mayor, Vic focused on fiscal prudence and economic development, restoring hope and restoring solvency to North Bay.
In 2011 Vic was elected to the Ontario Legislature and is now serving his fourth term as MPP for Nipissing. In 2018 the PC Caucus unanimously elected him to serve as Interim Leader of the Official Opposition.

Vic served ten terms on the Board of the North Bay and District Chamber of Commerce, served as Director with Global Vision, and has served on many agencies, boards, and commissions, often as Chair.

He is married to local humor writer Patty and is always seen in one of his trademark yellow ties.

(Note this address will be provided via Video Remarks)

Represents the riding of Markham-Thornhill

The Honourable Mary Ng was first elected as the Member of Parliament for Markham—Thornhill in 2017. She has previously served as Minister of International Trade, Export Promotion, Small Business and Economic Development and as Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade.

Minister Ng is a devoted community leader who has always believed in the power of public service. She has 20 years of experience in the areas of education, women’s leadership, job creation, and entrepreneurship.

Minister Ng immigrated to Canada from Hong Kong with her family, and grew up learning about the struggle and eventual success that many new immigrants experience in Canada.

Her years working for the Ontario Public Service, Ryerson University, and the Ontario Ministry of Education led to her being recognized as one of Canada’s top-performing public sector leaders. She later served as Director of Appointments for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

(invited)

Hamilton West—Ancaster—Dundas

The Honourable Filomena Tassi was first elected as Member of Parliament for the riding of Hamilton West—Ancaster—Dundas in 2015. She has previously served as Minister of Public Services and Procurement, Minister of Labour, and Minister of Seniors.

Born and raised in Hamilton, Minister Tassi has been the voice of change for families in the city through a lifetime of commitment to her community.
Minister Tassi obtained a Bachelor of Laws from Western University, and also holds a Master of Religious Education from the University of St. Michael’s College at the University of Toronto.

Minister Tassi practised law for six years before leaving to raise her family. She later became a high school chaplain for the Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board. As chaplaincy leader, she helped establish the D.R.E.A.M.S. (Dominican Republic Education and Medical Support) program, which has enabled thousands of students to live and work with the materially poor in the Dominican Republic.

Driven by her profound sense of civic duty, Minister Tassi has been highly involved in her community. She is a past board member of both St. Joseph’s Hospital and the Catholic Youth Organization, and has volunteered her time with other local initiatives and organizations. Minister Tassi served as a Catholic school board trustee, and was the recipient of the 2010 Brian J. Halferty Award, presented by the Catholic School Chaplains of Ontario for exemplary service.

Minister Tassi, her husband, and two children live in the Hamilton West—Ancaster—Dundas riding.

(Note this address will be provided via Video Remarks)

Warden Peter Emon was born and raised in the Ottawa Valley. Peter went to Calabogie Elementary School, attended Renfrew Collegiate Institute and graduated from University of Windsor with a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work. Peter is very active in his community as the Reeve of the Town of Renfrew. Previously Peter was the Mayor of Greater Madawaska Township. For over two decades Peter has served his communities with a focus on people, and economic development. Peter is a member of the Development & Property Committee, and the Community Services Committee. Peter is committed to continuing to promote Renfrew County as the best place to live, work and play.

Roger Haley is currently serving his fifth term as the Mayor of the Township of Front of Yonge having been first elected in 2006. (Front of Yonge Township is situated along the St. Lawrence River just west of Brockville). Prior to that, Roger had sat on the Township council for 4 years. Roger also served as Warden for the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville from 2020-2022.

To fill in some spare time, Roger is the Chairperson for the Board of Directors of the Eastern Ontario Leadership Council and also the Chairperson for the Board of Directors for the Lanark, Leeds and Grenville Addictions and Mental Health Agency. Prior to that, Roger served as the Chair of the Board of Directors for Lanark, Leeds and Grenville Community Primary Health Care – Seniors’ Services.

Roger retired from his “real” job in 2015 after 27 years as a provincial negotiator for the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU).

Jeff Leal was born and raised in Peterborough and is proud of his hometown Peterborough roots. He has always taken pride in representing the residents and the interests of the community that he lives and works in.

Jeff is a Kenner Collegiate and Trent University graduate and a graduate of the University of Windsor.

He served his constituents and the riding of Peterborough as Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) for 15 years from 2003 to 2018. He was proud to serve as Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and Minister of Small Business.

During this tenure working provincially, Jeff worked collaboratively to proudly deliver public infrastructure for the Peterborough community including funding for the GO Transit Bus, Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) and Cancer Centre, the Kawartha Trade and Technology Centre, the 407 Extension to Highway 115/35, Peterborough Airport expansion, Trent Science Complex, the Canadian Canoe Museum, the Arena and Aquatics Complex, Hospice Peterborough, the OPP Forensics Unit, Kaawaate East City Public School and Mons Jamot French Public School.

Prior to entering provincial politics, Jeff, who now lives in Ashburnham Ward, served as Otonabee Ward Councilor from 1985 to 2003. He was Second Deputy Mayor from 1993 to 2003.
An avid community volunteer, Jeff has remained actively involved on various committees across the city, including Chair of the Board of Employment, Planning and Counseling, as Vice Chair of St. Joseph’s at Fleming Long-Term Care Home, and serving on the Strategic Planning Committee for the Kawartha Golf and Country Club.

Jeff is a proud Associate Member of Branch 52, Royal Canadian Legion and a member of the Hastings and Prince Edward Regimental Association.

Family is everything to Jeff; his wife, Karan, and children, Braden and Shanae, have been instrumental in helping him serve in public life.

A senior government executive with 28 years of public service, Ms. Wilshaw is currently Chief Trade Commissioner and Assistant Deputy Minister at Global Affairs Canada. She leads a global team that helps Canadian businesses explore international markets, find
new customers and partners, problem solve and promote growth through exports. (www.tradecommissioner.gc.ca).

Sara also leads work across global trade support services including export finance, foreign investment, recruitment of international students and responsible business conduct.

Prior to this, Sara served as Director of Operations, Foreign and Defence Policy Secretariat at the Privy Council Office. In this role she provided strategic analysis on matters concerning Canada-U.S. relations, Latin America, trade, climate change, human rights and the United Nations.

Sara’s experience on Canada-U.S. relations also includes as Director General for North America at Global Affairs Canada during the renegotiation of NAFTA, and as Canada’s Consul General in Dallas. She has also served abroad as Minister Commercial at the High Commission of Canada in India, at Canada’s Permanent Mission to the World Trade Organization in Geneva, and at the Embassy of Canada in Japan.

Ms. Wilshaw is a graduate of York University’s International Relations and Economics program. She is married and has two children.