Wednesday, Oct. 22- Premier Tim Houston
Tim Houston is Nova Scotia’s 30th Premier. Born in Halifax, Tim grew up in a military family, moving across Canada before returning to Nova Scotia for his father’s retirement posting.
After obtaining a Bachelor of Commerce and earning his Chartered Accountant designation, Tim worked internationally before moving back home in 2007 with his wife, Carol, and their children, Paget and Zachary, to be closer to family.
Tim’s passion for this province and its people—and discussions in hockey rinks—sparked his interest in politics. He was first elected to the Nova Scotia House of Assembly as the MLA for Pictou East in 2013 and later became Leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Nova Scotia in 2018.
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Following a successful election campaign centered around “Solutions for Nova Scotians”, particularly in healthcare, Tim was sworn in as Premier on August 31, 2021.
Now in his second term, Tim is delivering on his promise to “Make it Happen,” driving progress and embracing new opportunities to unlock Nova Scotia’s full potential.
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Tim will join our members for a fireside chat on Wednesday, October 22nd to help kick off the 2025 Gathering of the Order of WMI.
Thursday, Oct. 23- Annette Verschuren O.C.
Annette Verschuren is founder, Chair, Chief Executive Officer and principle of NRStor Inc. The company develops and manages energy storage projects.
Prior to this, Ms. Verschuren was president of The Home Depot Canada. She oversaw the growth of the company’s Canadian operations from 19 to 179 stores from 1996-2011 and led its entry into China. Ms. Verschuren was President and co-owner of Michaels of Canada, a chain of arts and crafts stores.
Annette is the Chancellor of Cape Breton University and is on the Board of the Verschuren Centre for Sustainability in Energy and the Environment, (VCSEE). She has received numerous Honourary Doctorates from Canadian universities including her alma mater, St. Francis Xavier University and is a founding member of the Rideau Hall Foundation.
Annette is a Companion of the Canadian Business Hall of Fame. She was named as an Officer to the Order of Canada for her contributions to the retail industry and corporate social responsibility. Her book Bet On Me: Leading and Succeeding in Business and in Life, was published in 2017. Annette will speak with alumni members at the Gathering on Thursday, October 23rd.
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Thursday, Oct. 23- Michael Lee-Chin
Michael Lee-Chin is a globally respected entrepreneur, investor, and philanthropist. Best known for his investment philosophy of “doing well, by doing good,” Michael has built an extraordinary career at the intersection of financial success and meaningful impact.
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Born in Port Antonio, Jamaica, in 1951, Michael emigrated to Canada in the early 1970s to pursue higher education. He earned a civil engineering degree from McMaster University but soon discovered a deep interest in finance and investing. Beginning his career as a financial advisor, he quickly established a reputation for insight, integrity, and results.
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Michael's entrepreneurial breakthrough came with acquiring a small investment firm, AIC Limited, in 1987. Under his leadership, AIC grew from $800,000 in assets under management to more than $15 billion at its peak, positioning it as one of Canada's largest mutual fund companies. He then parlayed this success into founding his privately held investment company, Portland Holdings, which operates across 20 countries and is associated with four unicorn businesses - 2 past and 2 present - all in different sectors.
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Michael is also the founder and owner of Mandeville Private Client Inc, a Canadian investment firm committed to democratizing wealth creation. Mandeville provides individual investors access to private and alternative investments typically reserved for high-net-worth and institutional investors.
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Michael's contributions have earned him numerous honors, including the Order of Canada, the Order of Jamaica, and several honorary doctorates. He continues to inspire a new generation of entrepreneurs and investors through his public speaking, mentorship, and his commitment to developing economic opportunities in underserved regions. His life’s work stands as a testament to the power of leveraging capital not just for personal gain, but for the greater good.
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