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The Canadian Council for Public-Private Partnerships (CCPPP) P3 conference will look a little different this year.

The 31st annual conference will take place Nov. 13 and 14 at the Sheraton Centre Hotel Toronto.

In response to feedback received from conference-goers, organizers are providing more networking opportunities this year, a greater variety of session formats, more in-depth discussions on issues of note, a more dynamic and engaging CCPPP National Awards for Innovation and Excellence in P3s as well as more variety in reception offerings, states the CCPPP website.

“Hand-in-hand with the continuing evolution of the Canadian P3 infrastructure sector, we also need to innovate and evolve to promote excellence, attract new companies and governments to the sector and grow the Canadian pipeline of projects. So, you’ll notice some differences this year as we modernize and try new things, all while being able to deliver the benefits the conference is known for,” states Lisa Mitchell, CCPPP president and CEO. “Most importantly, we will again create an environment where we can challenge each other to think differently and to harness innovative thinking on how best to adapt the P3 model and deliver the infrastructure and services that are so important to Canadians. Let’s continue to have those fierce, friendly, and productive conversations.”

This year’s conference features two days of discussions and workshops and focuses on creating new opportunities for the leaders, experts and policy-makers in the field, as well as exploring challenges and opportunities and investigating new approaches. It will also foster the creation of connections, relationships and partnerships. The Innovations Marketplace and International Café will also return this year.

The conference will kick off Monday, Nov. 13 with Sean Fraser, Canada’s minister of housing, infrastructure and communities.

Sessions for the day include Bridging the Divide: New Thinking to Resuscitate the Canadian P3 Market and Awakening Giant: How the U.S. is Transforming its Infrastructure and What that Means for Canada, plus breakout sessions. The morning will also include a tribute to David Thom, president of IBI Group, who served as a member of the CCPPP board of directors of since 2016. He died on Oct. 13 in Vancouver at the age of 73. On Tuesday, the program includes Lessons from Across the Pond: Behaviours, Relationships, Disputes & Solutions in UK PFIs; Wanted — Good Partners: How are P3s Changing to Enhance Collaboration?; and the P3 National Awards Gala Luncheon.

“We are so fortunate to have so much experience and expertise amongst our membership,” said Mitchell. “People who grasp the importance of getting back to the fundamentals of what we do and how we do it and putting the magical third P – ‘partnership’ – back at the forefront of the model.”

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