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“We can literally discuss any issue and nothing is off the table. We take that for granted here,” said Pouliot, who works for the Global Poverty Project and is based in Toronto.

He said the conference brings people with diverse points of view together.

“It’s important to give context to global issues and really bring leaders from a whole bunch of perspectives together. I think it allows a lot of spontaneous connections to be made.”

The event also brings out mentors for the younger generation, such as retired archbishop Desmond Tutu, former UN secretary-general Kofi Annan and ex-president Bill Clinton, who have all spoken at past conferences.

That star power is another part of the conference’s pull, said Mayor Jim Watson.

“That’s going to give us unprecedented international media coverage, which then sells the city, which means we can go out and bid on more of these kinds of conferences that help create the jobs of the future,” Watson said. “This is a really big deal.”

Watson estimates the conference will bring $2 million in economic activity and translate to about 5,000 booked hotel rooms.

The purpose, though, he said, is to inspire the next generation of world leaders.

“They’re going to be talking about some of the world problems that they will be inheriting, and what kind of new world solutions and youth perspective solutions that they can bring to the table.”

Glenn Duncan of Ottawa Tourism was a key organizer of the city’s successful bid.