State of the City

Date: Monday, June 16
Location: Liuna Station
Time: 11:30 a.m. –  1:30 p.m.

The State of the City, presented by Hamilton Community Enterprises (formerly the City Manager’s Breakfast) provides business leaders and the community with insights from senior city officials on operational progress, essential services, and infrastructure. The event fosters collaboration, strengthening partnerships that drive growth & enhance Hamilton’s quality of life.

Speakers announced!

Hear from four senior municipal leaders as they share bold strategies and practical insights on building a more competitive, inclusive, and resilient Hamilton. From revitalizing the urban core to addressing the housing crisis, each panellist will explore a key pillar of the city’s growth agenda and how the business community can help drive lasting impact.

Marnie Cluckie | City Manager

Leadership, Integration & Hamilton’s Long-Term Edge
Marnie will connect the dots across departments, showing how coordinated civic leadership can bring housing, tourism, and economic development strategies together under a shared vision. She’ll offer a candid look at how Hamilton can stay competitive despite fiscal pressures, and issue a call to action for business leaders ready to help shape the city’s future.

Lisa Abbott | Director, Tourism and Culture

Reimagining Tourism as an Economic Catalyst
Lisa will offer a forward-looking vision of Hamilton’s tourism economy

and how Hamilton is strategically balancing the attraction of major events with long-term destination marketing and brand-building. She will speak about how innovation and experience development are key priorities, sharing new initiatives to diversify the visitor offering and reflect the city’s cultural richness. A Nighttime Economy Study is also underway to unlock the potential of Hamilton’s after-hours scene and support local business activity.

Justin Lewis | Director, Housing Secretariat

Building Housing Solutions Across the Spectrum
With housing pressures intensifying across all income levels, Justin will examine the biggest roadblocks to new development and what it will take to overcome them. He’ll dive into the importance of ‘missing middle’ housing to support economic growth and workforce stability, while sharing how the City is measuring long-term success in delivering housing that meets the needs of Hamiltonians.

Norm Schleehahn | Director, Economic Development

Revitalizing Hamilton’s Core: Investment, Innovation & Resilience
Norm will explore how the Downtown Revitalization Plan can spark renewed momentum in the heart of the city, amid changing retail patterns and rising commercial vacancies. He’ll outline opportunities for commercial conversions, tools to attract investment in key sectors like tech and advanced manufacturing, and ways the private sector can play a critical role in shaping a vibrant, business-friendly downtown.

For sponsorship inquiries, please contact Katie Stiel (k.stiel@hamiltonchamber.ca).