Events
Unlocking Canada’s Arctic Potential
Business, government and community partnerships for common success
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December 2-3, 2025 | Invitation Only
Fairmont Château Laurier
Canada’s Arctic is so much more than a remote region — it is a vital cornerstone of our national identity, sovereignty, and future prosperity. With the world looking north, the question is no longer if the Arctic will shape Canada’s economic future, but how.
Across two days, participants will examine what it will take to move from fragmented efforts to a cohesive, inclusive strategy that strengthens northern communities, connects the region to the rest of Canada, and unlocks its economic potential.
Agenda
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All times are in Eastern Time (ET).
Evening of December 2, 2025
Reception at the Fairmont Chateau Laurier.
- 6:00 p.m. – Doors Open
- 6:45 p.m. – Welcome Remarks by Canadian Chamber of Commerce, Arctic360 & Agnico Eagle
- 6:50 p.m. – Remarks by Natan Obed, President – ITK
- 7:00 p.m. – Introduction of fireside chat by Daniel Brock, Partner, Government Relations – Fasken
- 7:05 p.m. – Level-Setting: Understanding Canada’s Arctic Strategy
A candid fireside chat to establish a shared understanding of the opportunities and challenges shaping Canada’s Arctic economic landscape.
Moderator: Sima Sahar Zerehi, CEO – Arctic Opportunites Group
Speakers: Honourable David Akeeagok
- 7:30 p.m. – Networking
December 3, 2025
| 7:30 a.m. | Doors Open and Networking |
| 7:45 a.m. | A Call to Action: How Our One Canadian Economy Needs the Arctic to Succeed A fireside chat emphasizing the necessary collaboration between government and private sector in shaping a unified, forward-looking Arctic economic vision for Canada. Moderator: Candace Laing, President and CEO – Canadian Chamber of Commerce Speaker: François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Finance & National Revenue |
| 8:15 a.m. | Health Break + Breakfast |
| 8:45 a.m. – 9:45 a.m. | Stronger Together: Public-Private Collaboration Driving Northern Security and Prosperity Exploring how coordinated political and industry leadership, combined with dual-use infrastructure, can advance both Canada’s economic and defence objectives in the North. Focus Areas: Dual-use infrastructure (defence, transport, and energy corridors) | Resource development, logistics, and connectivity | Coordinating political and industry leadership Moderator: Hannah Thibedeau, Executive Communications Officer, Global Public Affairs Speakers: Christiane Fox, Deputy Clerk – Privy Council Office John Risley, Founder – Arctic Economic Development Corp (AEDC) General Wayne Eyre (Retired), Former Chief of the Defence Staff Harry Flaherty, President and CEO – Qikiqtaaluk Corporation |
| 9:45 a.m. | Health Break |
| 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. | Asserting Arctic Sovereignty through Strengthened Communities As Canada looks to invest in the Arctic and with investments in Defense, Infrastructure and Mining, how can we learn from the lessons of the past? How do we ensure that Arctic development is done in partnership with Inuit to ensure community benefits? What role can partnerships play in strengthening communities? What investments need to be made in education and training, housing, healthcare and social services to ensure Inuit can share in the benefits from increased Arctic investment? Focus Areas: Housing, healthcare, education, and workforce training | Closing the “infrastructure gap” beyond headline projects (e.g., sewage, broadband, energy systems) | Inuit leadership models and Indigenous economic partnerships Moderator: Matthew Holmes, Chief of Public Policy – Canadian Chamber of Commerce Speakers: Sean Boyd, Chairman – Agnico Eagle Mines Jimi Onalik, President – Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency Kilikvak Kabloona, CEO, Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. (NTI) P.J. Akeeagok, Founder and President – Arctic Strategies Inc. |
| 11:00 a.m. | Health Break |
| 11:00 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. | Our Arctic Allies This session will look at best practices and opportunities for shared collaboration on Arctic economic, trade, and defence issues. Focus Areas: Lessons from Scandinavian, Greenlandic, and Alaskan models | Cross-border cooperation on Arctic security and development | Strengthening Canada’s role in international Arctic partnerships Moderator: Dr. Jessica Shadian, CEO, Arctic360 Speakers: Per Unheim, Head of Public Affairs and Trade, Iceland Embassy Ottawa Senator Dawn Anderson |
| 12:00 p.m. | Closing Remarks |
Co-presented with
Hosted in collaboration with
For more information on how to attend, please reach out to Brian Detchou, Senior Director, Natural Resources, Environment & Sustainability at bdetchou@chamber.ca.
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