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Louie Di Palma

Vice President, SME Programs at Ontario Chamber of Commerce

Louie Di Palma, Vice President, SME Programs at the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) has spent most of his professional career working to benefit Ontario communities and Canada as a whole. Louie has led the development of multiple far-reaching programs supporting customer service and accessibility in his time as Vice President of SME Programs at the Ontario Chamber of Commerce since joining the organization in 2008.

Over the past decade Louie has worked tirelessly to create and grow the Discover Ability Network program, managed by the Ontario Chamber of Commerce, and funded at different times by the federal and provincial governments. The Discover Ability Network (external link)  has had significant and lasting impacts on bridging the employment gaps faced by job seekers.

The Discover Ability Network is a job-matching platform that connect businesses to job seekers with a disability, supported by a website that hosts tools on disability inclusion. Louie has personally trained hundreds of Ontario businesses on the AODA (Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act) and has co-hosted The Outlook with Lisa and Louie (external link) , to advocate for an inclusive and accessible Ontario. Episodes appeared on Cogeco and the Cogeco YouTube channel.

During his career with the Government of Ontario, Louie held a number of senior management positions in policy, planning and direct operations with several Ministries including the Ministry of the Solicitor General and Correctional Services, the Ministry of Tourism and Recreation and the Ministry of Health Promotion.

In his personal life, Louie has coached soccer for more than 38 years. He has also been deeply involved in his community as an Executive Member for the charitable event Meagan’s Walk (brain research at Sick Kids Hospital).