Social Inclusion and Pan Am 2015

I was pleased to emcee “Playing for Keeps”, a dialogue on social inclusion and Pan Am 2015 held today at Liuna Station in Hamilton. Toronto Community Foundation CEO Rahul Bhardwaj kicked it off with a challenge to the diverse audience of stakeholders to ensure Hamilton takes advantage of this historic opportunity to create a legacy of inclusion that lives well beyond a 2 week athletic event. Incoming HCF Board Chair Dr. Gary Warner followed with a compelling description of diversity as one of Hamilton’s most valuable assets in leveraging the investments that will come with hosting the Games. The morning culminated with a provocative keynote address by Dr. Jim Dunn of McMaster who described previous attempts (both successful and spectacularly unsuccessful) to parlay investments in major athletic infrastructure into lasting economic and social benefits with some critical lessons for Hamilton to consider. Thanks are in order to the OntarioTrillium Foundation for funding and facilitating this important community conversation.