TOCW's Official Kick-Off: True North Rising | The Canadian Competitive Advantage

​Toronto Climate Week and the Lawson Climate Institute at the University of Toronto present True North Rising, the anchor flagship event that is designed to set the tone for the days to follow. Under the theme Canada’s Competitive Advantage, this full-day gathering convenes senior leaders across government, finance, industry, and civil society to align around shared priorities for Canada’s climate-driven economic leadership.

​The program will feature keynote addresses and cross-sector panels examining how climate policy, trade, capital deployment, innovation, and infrastructure strategy are shaping Canada’s next era of growth. With an intentionally curated audience of approximately 200 senior decision-makers and influential media representatives, the kickoff event serves as a strategic platform for pivotal discussions to take place, that will influence the investable vision for Canada’s future.

​TOCW's Official Kick-Off: True North Rising | The Canadian Competitive Advantage Agenda

​8:30 - 9:00
Breakfast & Networking

​9:00 - 10:30
Opening 

• ​Introductions & Housekeeping with MCs Darren Clifford, Founder & Managing Director, Adapt [us] Capital & Michelle Li, Founder, clever carbon & Women and Climate

• ​Traditional Opening (TBA)

• ​Welcome & Acknowledgements by Becky Park-Romanovsky, Founder, Toronto Climate Week

• ​Keynote Presentation (TBA)

• ​Fireside Chat with Interviewer (TBA) and Interviewee (TBA)

• ​Opening Remarks (TBA)

• ​Special Announcement by the City of Toronto

• ​Opening Remarks by Joannah Lawson, Co-founder, The Lawson Family Foundation

​10:30 - 10:50
Networking Break

​10:50 - 12:20

• ​Keynote Presentation (TBA)

• ​Fireside Chat with Interviewer (TBA) and Interviewee (TBA)

• ​Keynote Presentation featuring Leah Cowen, Vice-President, Research and Innovation, and Strategic Initiatives at the University of Toronto

• ​Panel discussion on Resources, Infrastructure, and Built Environment:

  • ​Join RBC for a compelling discussion on creating climate-resilient communities, featuring local leaders who are advancing resiliency across three sectors: The Bentway on the built environment, Evergreen on climate-ready schools, and Toronto & Region Conservation Authority on climate-ready homes. Moderated by Theresa Do, RBC’s Director of Climate Strategy for Personal Banking, this panel showcases the power of collaborative action in creating a revitalized, climate-ready Toronto.

  • ​Moderator: Theresa Do, Director of Climate Strategy for Personal Banking, RBC

  • ​Panelists:

    • ​Jennifer Taves, Senior Manager, Sustainable Communities, Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA)

    • ​Jennifer Angel, CEO, Evergreen

    • ​Ilana Altman, CEO, The Bentway

​12:20 - 1:10 
Lunch Break

​1:10 - 2:30

• ​Audience Activation (TBA)

• ​Keynote Presentation featuring Brian Burke, veteran National Hockey League executive, Lawyer, Broadcaster, and Philanthropist

• ​Fireside Chat on Nature 

  • ​Interviewer (TBA) and Interviewee (TBA)

• ​Panel discussion on Sustainable Finance & Investment 

  • ​Moderator (TBA)

  • ​Panelists:

    • ​Jan Mahrt-Smith, Associate Professor of Finance, Rotman School of Management, School of the Environment, University of Toronto

    • ​TBA

​2:30 - 2:50
Networking Break

​2:50 - 4:35

• ​Panel discussion n Decarbonization

  • ​Moderator (TBA)

  • ​Panelists:

    • ​Sanders Lazier, Founder, Carbonhound

    • ​Lindsay Hampson, Founder, ThisRock

    • ​TBA

• ​Panel discussion on Climate Change and the Future of the City:

  • ​This session explores how climate mitigation is most effective when it emerges as a co-benefit of broader city-building goals — including neighbourhood improvement, walkable communities, business growth, affordable housing, and local employment generation. Rather than treating climate action as a standalone objective, the discussion will examine how it can be embedded within practical urban priorities.

  • ​Moderator (TBA)

  • ​Panelists from Corporate Knights (TBA)

• ​Panel discussion: Does Climate Need a Rebrand?

  • ​Moderator: Jocelyn Butler, CEO, Orchestra Marketing

  • ​Panelists: 

    • ​Jason Agar, Founder, Pomelo Studio Inc.

    • ​Sarah Robertson, Vice-President, Public Affairs, Environics Research

    • ​Matt DiPaolo, Senior Vice-President, Marketing & Innovation, BIMM

​4:35 - 5:00
Closing with MCs Darren Clifford & Michelle Li

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​More details to come.

​Registrations will be accepted on a rolling basis.

​I understand when I attend an event I enter an area where photography, audio, and video recording may occur. By entering the event premises, I consent to such recording media and its release, publication, exhibition or reproduction.