London Hits the Road: Highlights from the OCC AGM in Windsor
London Chamber Hits the Road: Highlights from the OCC AGM in Windsor
By Kristen Duever, COO
At the end of April, I had the pleasure of attending the Ontario Chamber of Commerce Annual General Meeting in Windsor alongside my colleague Andrew Groves, who joined the delegation for the first time. It was a jam-packed few days filled with learning, networking, and some great policy wins for London.
We kicked things off with a tour of the Gordie Howe International Bridge—and wow. Even under construction, the scale is incredible. Once complete, it will be the longest cable-stayed bridge in Canada, connecting Windsor to Detroit and supporting over 9,000 commercial vehicles a day. It’s not just impressive—it’s going to be transformative for trade and economic growth on both sides of the border.
That evening, we leaned into Windsor’s storied past with a Rumrunners-themed host night. With vintage cocktails, jazz music, and a nod to the city’s Prohibition-era smuggling history, it was a fun and festive start to the AGM—networking has never been more spirited!
Friday was all business, with three powerful panel discussions on topics ranging from cross-border trade and CUSMA renewal, to Ontario’s competitiveness, to the future of greenhouse agriculture. There was a lot to digest, but one theme stood out: businesses that act now—whether it’s investing in innovation, building resilience, or shaping policy—will be the ones that thrive in the future.
In the afternoon, Andrew and I attended breakout strategy sessions. I sat in on Membership Acquisition and Retention, where I was excited to see that many chambers are shifting toward smaller, more intimate networking events—very much like our own new Coffee Connections series. I also loved the idea from the Brampton Board of Trade, where the CEO holds weekly open office hours for members—no appointment necessary. It's a simple, powerful way to stay connected with your community.
Andrew joined the session on OCC’s policy and advocacy work, getting a closer look at how chamber policies take shape provincially. It was a great opportunity for him to build relationships and deepen his understanding of our shared advocacy efforts.
Saturday was policy debate day, and we were proud to see both of our submissions pass with strong support. Our Employee Ownership paper in particular sparked a lot of interest—many chambers are starting to think seriously about succession planning, and employee ownership could be a powerful part of that solution. It was great to see London once again contributing ideas that others can build on.
All in all, Windsor was the perfect setting for this year’s AGM: full of energy, insight, and inspiration. We came back with fresh ideas, stronger connections, and a renewed commitment to supporting our members and advancing smart policy for Ontario’s business community.
