His supporting roles in Selma, The Book of Negroes and The L.A. Complex earned him a spot in the TIFF Rising Stars program (Tatiana Maslany is an alumna). His starring role in Race, the biopic about Olympian Jesse Owens, will mark his breakout.
(Image: courtesy of Creative Commons)
The Digital Sage
Ryan Merkley, 37
The CEO of online-copyright company Creative Commons is a former advisor to David Miller, ex-COO of Mozilla Foundation and an authority on open government. The White House summoned him on three occasions to advise on open data, education and research.
(Image: Getty Images)
The Pop Prodigy
Alessia Cara, 19
The Brampton singer ended 2015 with a Jimmy Fallon performance under her belt, an onstage appearance with Taylor Swift, a single that reached number three on the Billboard R&B charts, and both a debut EP and full-length album on Def Jam Recordings.
(Image: courtesy of Partisans)
The Design Mastermind
Alex Josephson, 32
Through Partisans, the promising young architecture firm he co-founded in 2011, Josephson has helped revitalize Union Station; Toronto’s most stunning restaurant, Bar Raval; and the award-winning Grotto Sauna in Georgian Bay.
(Image: Erin Leydon)
The Tech Titan
Michele Romanow, 30
The e-commerce phenom has founded four companies: Buytopia, SnapSaves (which was bought by Groupon), a caviar distributor and an eco-friendly coffee shop. This year, she joined the cast of Dragons’ Den, where she’ll mentor and fund like-minded entrepreneurs.
![](http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https://torontolife.com/city/toronto-most-influential-2015-the-ascendants/&title=The most influential up-and-comers of 2015&picture=https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/the-ascendants-toronto-most-influential-2000x1200.jpg&description=[caption id="attachment_359761" align="aligncenter" width="2000"] (Image: Getty Images)[/caption]
The Future Oscar Fave
Stephan James, 21
His supporting roles in Selma, The Book of Negroes and The L.A. Complex earned him a spot in the TIFF Rising Stars program (Tatiana Maslany is an alumna). His starring role in Race, the biopic about Olympian Jesse Owens, will mark his breakout.
[caption id="attachment_359760" align="aligncenter" width="2000"] (Image: courtesy of Creative Commons)[/caption]
The Digital Sage
Ryan Merkley, 37
The CEO of online-copyright company Creative Commons is a former advisor to David Miller, ex-COO of Mozilla Foundation and an authority on open government. The White House summoned him on three occasions to advise on open data, education and research.
[caption id="attachment_359757" align="aligncenter" width="2000"] (Image: Getty Images)[/caption]
The Pop Prodigy
Alessia Cara, 19
The Brampton singer ended 2015 with a Jimmy Fallon performance under her belt, an onstage appearance with Taylor Swift, a single that reached number three on the Billboard R&B charts, and both a debut EP and full-length album on Def Jam Recordings.
[caption id="attachment_359758" align="aligncenter" width="2000"] (Image: courtesy of Partisans)[/caption]
The Design Mastermind
Alex Josephson, 32
Through Partisans, the promising young architecture firm he co-founded in 2011, Josephson has helped revitalize Union Station; Toronto’s most stunning restaurant, Bar Raval; and the award-winning Grotto Sauna in Georgian Bay.
[caption id="attachment_359759" align="aligncenter" width="2000"] (Image: Erin Leydon)[/caption]
The Tech Titan
Michele Romanow, 30
The e-commerce phenom has founded four companies: Buytopia, SnapSaves (which was bought by Groupon), a caviar distributor and an eco-friendly coffee shop. This year, she joined the cast of Dragons’ Den, where she’ll mentor and fund like-minded entrepreneurs.
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