2011-04-21 Warden Tom Bain 4th Annual Warden's Luncheon speech

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Page 3 • Manufacturing and CAD -CAM borne out of the auto industry has been adapted to manufacture perfectly fitting dental crowns, bridges and implants; • The input of workers can radically improve assembly line efficiency; • Collaboration across an international border can more comprehensively train students, retain and attract investment and provide better patient health care outcomes; • Agricultural yields can be increased exponentially in high-tech greenhouses; • We conduct internationally recognized research into just about any subject you can think of, and then some; The Top 7 site visit has mobilized us, energized us, motivated us and instilled as sense of pride among us in way not seen of late. By looking inward at who we are and what we do, we have come to realize that we, as a community, are world class in so many ways. We are, without a doubt, worthy of Number 1. This visit has created a legacy for us — albeit without the infrastructure that normally remains behind, like an athletes residence turned into affordable housing. A buzz has been created throughout Essex County and Windsor and momentum is building. We have the people and we have the tools — I have absolutely no doubt Esex County and Windsor will shortly become an economic powerhouse on the global stage. During the course of our site visits, Robert Bell remarked on Tuesday night he was struck by the number of times he heard people say "I didn't know we did that here" or "That was pretty incredible and to think we are doing it with all local people" or "We need to tell more people our story". One piece of advice Robert left with us was, communicate, communicate , communicate Don't be shy about telling others what we can accomplish and to stop being so Canadian — don't ever apologize for making sure others are aware of Windsor Essex. Robert couldn't resist passing along a story about Canadians — he asked if you were in a room full of people, how do you pick out the Canadian? Go around the room stepping on everyone's toes as you go. The one that apologizes is the Canadian. Mayor Francis and I concur - it is incumbent upon all of us to change the conversation. No longet can we allow the question to be "Why Windsor or Essex County?" we must be prepared to turn the question around to be "Why not Windsor or Essex County?". As we rebound, and make no mistake, we will rebound, the exciting thing about the future is that nobody knows precisely where it will take us or how its developments will change our lives. One key area in particular we have recognized this is with respect to economic development. The County, in partnership with the City, has guided the rebirth and re-emergence of the Windsor Essex Economic Development Corporation by making sure it has a proper budget, a strong Board and a strong staff. So what is happening at WEEDC? Why don't we look to others to tell us: