50 Most Influential 2012: eight up-and-coming Toronto hot shots ready to take the reins of power

Mitzie Hunter, 41 The recently appointed CEO of CivicAction Alliance is charged with mobilizing civic leaders across the GTA to come up with solutions on transportation, economic development, employment and immigration.

Nicole Winstanley, 39 After a series of huge successes—from editing award-winning author Joseph Boyden to acquiring the rights to the Stieg Larsson trilogy—she’s skyrocketed up the Penguin Canada ranks and was named president in July.

Reza Satchu, 43 The millionaire businessman founded The Next 36, an innovative eight-month mentorship program for promising young entrepreneurs, backed by such prominent execs as Galen Weston, Paul Desmarais and Jimmy Pattison.

Galen G. Weston, 39 The exec chair of Loblaw has made environmental causes his mission while also keeping the family company profitable. Sure to succeed his father as the head of George Weston Ltd.

Jamison Steeve, 39 The former Queen’s Park policy whiz is now the head of the Martin Prosperity Institute. His job: make the think tank a global leader on economic policy and wrangle celebrity academics like Don Tapscott and Richard Florida.

Michael Burns, 41 He’s the president of Thornmark Asset Management, co-founder of True Patriot Love and chair of the board of the Toronto East General Hospital Foundation, charged with overseeing the $60-million capital campaign for its redevelopment.

Gerald Butts, 41 Another highly connected McGuinty acolyte and Liberal policy advisor who recently gave up his job as head of WWF Canada to help run the leadership campaign of his old friend Justin Trudeau.

(Images: Daniel Ehrenworth, Vanessa Heins, Markian Lozowchuk, George Pimentel, Lee Towndrow, Raina and Wilson, BFA, CP Images, Getstock, Getty Images and Reuters)