RC120 SeptOct 2025 - Magazine - Page 54
CLOSING SHOT
SUCCESS-ION!
by Todd Latham
HEN RENEW CANADA was launched in October 2005, infrastructure was a nascent topic. Our roads, water systems, bridges
and hospitals were aging, outdated and unprepared for
climate change, population growth and increased levels of
service. While massive public and private investments have
helped improve the marks on our Infrastructure Report
Cards, we are still catching up on old homework.
And the ‘kids’ who built our infrastructure 20 years ago are now
nearing retirement age, so who’s going to learn the ropes and take
over leadership of project delivery, infrastructure asset management,
operations and maintenance? Employment and Social Development
Canada (ESDC)’s Canadian Occupational Projection System (COPS)
projects that between 2022 and 2031 there will be more than 1.2 million
job openings among skilled trades in Canada, including 600,000 from
retirement. A lot has been discussed on these pages over the years
about skills training, apprenticeships and engaging young professionals
(especially women and new Canadians) to join the trades. That e昀昀ort
continues through federal programs like Youth Employment and
Skills Strategy and provincial programs, such as the Ontario Youth
Apprenticeship Program and those at Skilled Trades BC. And of course,
many of our association and industry group friends are also strong
labour force advocates including WIN, OGCA, LiUNA, CCA, OSWCA,
RCCAO, ICBA and others.
This generational shift also applies to service industries like media.
As I approach my 36th year as a media entrepreneur, I’ve also been
paying it forward, mentoring youth and small business owners,
volunteering with the magazine industry association and sharing
my experience with graduates. At Actual Media, I have increasingly
passed on responsibility of running the company to my fellow
shareholders and executives who lead our business areas. I’ve been
contemplating a succession plan for a while, talking to advisors,
family and recently attending a conference on the topic. Earlier this
year I approached Corinne Lynds, our outstanding VP of Content and
Partnerships, and asked if she was interested in taking the lead—and
I’m happy to announce she said yes! She will transition with me over
the coming months—taking over as President sometime early in 2026.
Congratulations Corinne. I’m sure you and the team will continue to
grow ReNew Canada over the next 20 years.
This is not goodbye. I’m just stepping back from the day-to-day, so I
have time to build new things. I’ll continue to empower others to take
on bigger roles and will encourage the capable and talented people
around me to build their own success. With the industry leadership we
have, I’m super excited for the future of infrastructure and media in
Canada. I’ll see you around!
W
Todd Latham is Actual Media’s
founder, Chief Creative
Officer and President
54—RENEW CANADA –SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2025
RENEWCANADA.NET
