20TH ANNIVERSARY GALA

Celebrating 20 years!

HALTON, ON – On November 17th, 2009 the Halton Industry Education Council (HIEC) celebrated 20 years of partnership, innovation and mentorship at the Burlington Convention Centre with keynote speaker Richard Florida. In attendance, along with the HIEC Board of Directors and staff, were the Hon. Kathleen Wynne, Minister of Education, Halton Regional Chair Gary Carr, His Worship Cam Jackson from the City of Burlington and His Worship Gord Krantz from the Town of Milton – among many other councillors, school board trustees and partners from industry and education.

The evening began with a bang, as the M.M. Robinson High School Drumline escorted in the head table and the HIEC Board of Directors. The student participation did not end there – throughout the evening the nearly 500 guests in attendance heard testimonials from past cooperative education students, enjoyed floral centerpieces created by Robert Bateman High School Floral Design students and heard live music by students from Burlington Central High School and a graduate from Notre Dame High School.

HIEC Board Chair Mike Carberry was in fact the inaugural Chair of the HIEC Board of Directors who, along with the Halton Catholic, Halton District School BoardSheridan College, the four Chambers of Commerce, local industry and education came together on November 17, 1989 to form an Industry Education Council in Halton. For over two decades, HIEC has brought business and education together with the determined vision of fostering partnerships between industry and education – a relationship encouraged by the night’s keynote speaker, Richard Florida.

Thought leader Richard Florida, author of the global best seller Who’s Your City? and Director of the Martin Prosperity Institute, Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto took to the stage later in the evening and spoke about how it is important for communities to embrace education and industry, and nurture the creativity in each and every one of us. He also made reference to Canadian regions, like Halton, which are becoming the power-houses in this country.

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