Metro Toronto Convention Centre – North Building
In Person
Toronto’s premier networking event returns!
Join members of the vibrant Toronto Region business community, including industry leaders, elected officials, and influential movers-and-shakers as we celebrate the Torontonians who Dare to Lead.
This year's Annual Dinner will honour what has made this gathering a can’t-miss tradition for 134 years - delicious food and drink, our prestigious Toronto Region Builder Award and unparalleled networking. This is where leaders come to forge meaningful new connections and strengthen existing ones.
Agenda
5:00 - 7:00pm: Registration and Networking
- Enjoy a cocktail and network with Toronto business leaders at our Region's biggest networking event of the year.
7:00 - 9:00pm: Event Program
- Dinner presented by Oliver and Bonacini
- 'Toronto Talks'
- Learn about presenters Christian Weedbrook, Claudette McGowan and Michael McCain.
- The Toronto Region Builder Award Presentation
- Learn about our 2024 award winner, Janet Bannister.
9:00 - 10:00pm: Post-Event Reception
Speakers
Janet Bannister - Founder & Managing Partner, Staircase Ventures and Founder, Kijiji.ca
Janet will be honoured with the Board’s Toronto Region Builder Award, presented by CPA Ontario at our 134th Annual Dinner on February 29th, 2024.
Prior to launching Staircase Ventures, Janet was Managing Partner at Real Ventures, one of Canada’s largest and most active early-stage investors. Janet is very active in the Canadian tech ecosystem including being Co-Chair of C100 and on the Boards of Communitech in Waterloo, Vector Institute in Toronto, and Ivey Business School. She is also a mentor at Creative Destruction Lab. In 2004, Janet launched Kijiji.ca and grew it to become one of the most visited websites in Canada.
Read more about Janet's legacy here.
Janet has won numerous awards and recognition including Venture Capital Journal’s 2021 “Women of Influence in Private Markets”, Pitchbooks’ 2021 “Female Founders & Investors to Know”, and American Bankers’ 2019 “Most Influential Women in Payments”.
Janet spent four years at eBay in Silicon Valley where she helped transform eBay from a Collectibles to a mainstream marketplace. She started her career as a Brand Manager at Procter & Gamble and then joined McKinsey & Co. where she was an Engagement Manager. She also founded and built a successful consulting business and was CEO at a venture-backed start-up prior to joining Real Ventures.
Janet was a varsity long-distance runner and Canada’s National Triathlon Champion. She loves to cycle, hike, golf, and spend time with her husband and 17-year old son.
The event will depart from the traditional keynote format, adopting a fast-paced forum featuring brief, insightful, engaging Toronto Talks from three exceptional speakers who Dare to Lead.
-
Christian Weedbrook
CEO of Xanadu
Christian Weedbrook, the founder of Xanadu, a Toronto-based quantum computing company, will take the stage to share Xanadu’s journey—from the Creative Disruption innovator lab at UofT to becoming a computational powerhouse. Xanadu’s groundbreaking work in building photonic quantum computers has positioned them as one of the few teams worldwide to achieve the feat of building a quantum computer capable of outperforming the world’s fastest available classical supercomputers. This feat, known as quantum computational advantage is part of Xanadu’s remarkable progress, which has impressed governments and potential partners but also captured investor imagination, so far raising $250M.
-
Claudette McGowan
CEO, Protexxa and co-founder, Firehood Ltd.
Claudette McGowan is an influential figure in the Canadian innovation ecosystem. As CEO of Protexxa, she leads a mission to make cybersecurity accessible to everyone. McGowan's dedication to driving change is evident. As the founder of the Black Arts & Innovation Expo and Chair of the Coalition of Innovation Leaders Against Racism (CILAR), she has displayed her commitment to creating a healthier and more inclusive tech environment in the Toronto Region. Recognized as one of the Top 50 Most Influential Torontonians by Toronto Life, McGowan has received honors from many of Canada’s top institutions, solidifying her as a beacon of leadership and innovation.
-
Michael McCain
Executive Chairman, Maple Leaf Foods
Michael H. McCain is Executive Chair of Maple Leaf Foods, one of Canada’s flagship food companies, with annual sales in excess of $4.5 billion and a vision to be the most sustainable protein company on earth.
Michael has devoted his career to the food industry, starting at McCain Foods in the late 1970s, where he held a variety of roles, including President and Chief Executive Officer of McCain Foods USA. He joined Maple Leaf Foods in 1995 and became Chief Executive Officer of the company in 1998, a position he held until May 2023. Michael is a practical visionary who has been instrumental in establishing Maple Leaf Foods as a sustainable, purpose-driven company with world-class assets, iconic market-leading brands, and bold ambition.
Janet Bannister - Founder & Managing Partner, Staircase Ventures and Founder, Kijiji.ca
Janet will be honoured with the Board’s Toronto Region Builder Award, presented by CPA Ontario at our 134th Annual Dinner on February 29th, 2024.
Prior to launching Staircase Ventures, Janet was Managing Partner at Real Ventures, one of Canada’s largest and most active early-stage investors. Janet is very active in the Canadian tech ecosystem including being Co-Chair of C100 and on the Boards of Communitech in Waterloo, Vector Institute in Toronto, and Ivey Business School. She is also a mentor at Creative Destruction Lab. In 2004, Janet launched Kijiji.ca and grew it to become one of the most visited websites in Canada.
Read more about Janet's legacy here.
Janet has won numerous awards and recognition including Venture Capital Journal’s 2021 “Women of Influence in Private Markets”, Pitchbooks’ 2021 “Female Founders & Investors to Know”, and American Bankers’ 2019 “Most Influential Women in Payments”.
Janet spent four years at eBay in Silicon Valley where she helped transform eBay from a Collectibles to a mainstream marketplace. She started her career as a Brand Manager at Procter & Gamble and then joined McKinsey & Co. where she was an Engagement Manager. She also founded and built a successful consulting business and was CEO at a venture-backed start-up prior to joining Real Ventures.
Janet was a varsity long-distance runner and Canada’s National Triathlon Champion. She loves to cycle, hike, golf, and spend time with her husband and 17-year old son.
Tickets & Registration
Individual:
- Member: $900
- Non-Member: $1,000
Table of 10:
- Member: $9,000
- Non-Member: $10,000