Inside Toronto Life’s Most Influential party, with Olivia Chow, Geoffrey Hinton, Cameron Bailey and more

On Thursday, November 16, Toronto Life hosted its annual celebration of the city’s most influential people at Canopy by Hilton Toronto Yorkville Hotel. Artificial intelligence pioneer Geoffrey Hinton, Mayor Olivia Chow and TIFF CEO Cameron Bailey joined other powerhouses from politics, tech, media, sports, culture and real estate.

The night began with a cocktail hour to celebrate the 25 up-and-comers who earned spots on our inaugural Rising Stars list. These high achievers sipped on drinks provided by World Class Canada and snacked on canapés from Canopy. Next, Reetu Gupta of the Gupta Group introduced an intimate fireside chat between Toronto Life editor-in-chief Malcolm Johnston and Hinton—No. 1 on our list of the 50 most influential Torontonians of 2023.

The party moved upstairs to the Dia Restaurant and Lounge, where guests enjoyed refreshments from World Class Canada, Tanqueray No. 10 Gin, Seedlip Non-Alcoholic Spirits, Steam Whistle Brewing, Beau’s Brewery and Pelee Island Winery. After speeches from Johnston and Toronto Life publisher Jason Maghanoy, Hinton spoke to the crowd about his world-shaping work and the uncertain future of AI. Finally, DJ Jonathan Daniels kept everyone dancing until the evening wrapped.

Here’s a closer look at how the night unfolded.

Geoffrey Hinton, the godfather of AI and this year’s No. 1 most influential Torontonian, flanked by Toronto Life publisher Jason Maghanoy and editor-in-chief Malcolm Johnston.

Cameron Bailey, the CEO of TIFF and this year’s No. 17, with Mayor Olivia Chow, No. 3.

Bonnie Lysyk (left), the former auditor general of Ontario and the author of the damning Greenbelt report, was this year’s No. 8.

Bestselling romance author Carley Fortune, No. 21 on this year’s list.

David Schwartz, who was No. 25 by virtue of his two buzzy restaurants (Mimi Chinese and Sunnys Chinese), with his fiancée, Lee-Tal Hatuka.

Leigh Chapman (right), who earned the No. 23 spot for her work as the chief nursing officer of Canada, with Jenalle Los.

Minister of Infrastructure Kinga Surma, No. 29, and Neil Hetherington of the Daily Bread Food Bank, No. 39.

Cameron Bailey, No. 17, flanked by his wife, Carolynne Bailey (left), and Ausma Malik, deputy mayor and councillor for Spadina-Fort York.

From left to right, Ausma Malik, Olivia Chow, Shelley Carroll (No. 20 for her work as Toronto’s new budget chief) and Amber Morley, deputy mayor and city councillor for Etobicoke-Lakeshore.

Spencer Badu, whose eponymous post-gender streetwear label earned him a spot on the rising stars list.

Policy analyst and former mayoral candidate Chloe Brown, one of Toronto Life’s rising stars, with a guest.

PR guru Karen Gruson flanked by restaurant kings Charles Khabouth (left) and Danny Soberano.

From left to right, Dahlia Ahmed, Akanksha Shelat and Alexandra Assouad made it onto the rising stars list for founding the therapy app Mind-Easy.

Rising star Brooks Barnett (centre left), the manager of economic development policy at Amazon, flanked by some of his co-workers.

Architect Siamak Hariri (left) and Tony Gagliano, the CEO of SJC, take a selfie.

Nakissa Koomalsingh, the founder of HoopQueens and one of this year’s rising stars.

Rising star Stephen Mensah, the executive director of the Toronto Youth Cabinet, and Chelsea Boadu.

Andrew Saunders, president and CEO of the Globe and Mail, and Juliet Saunders.

Jeanine Brito, whose eerie surrealist portraiture earned her a spot on the rising stars list.

Dorian Who, the designer of an eponymous slow fashion brand, is one of this year’s rising stars.

Universal Music Canada president Jeffrey Remedios, this year’s No. 28, and gallerist Lucia Remedios.

Mallory Greene, the CEO and co-founder of Eirene Cremations, was chosen as one of Toronto Life’s rising stars.

Opera singer Charlotte Siegel (right), one of this year’s rising stars, with a guest.

FASHION editor-in-chief Bernadette Morra.

Phil De Luna’s work as the chief carbon scientist and head of engineering at Deep Sky earned him a place on Toronto Life’s rising stars list. He’s pictured here with Danielle O’Brien.

Sue Kuruvilla and Beth Lockley of Penguin Random House Canada.

Nicolas Krantz, president and CEO of Corby Spirit and Wine, and Meena Hans, vice-president at EcoVadis.

Reetu Gupta of the Gupta Group.

Jacob Martin, World Class Canada’s bartender of the year, with a guest.

Lola Kassim, the director and general manager of Uber Eats Canada.

Michele Romanow, a co-founder of Clearco.

Tara Woodbury, the director of content at Netflix Canada and No. 24, with a guest.

Monique Jilesen, managing partner at Lenczner Slaght and No. 33, with a friend.

Toronto Star columnist Shinan Govani (middle) and InStyle columnist Jen Kirsch (right) with a friend.

Chef Didier LeRoy.

Natasha Koifman of NKPR with music journalist and artist Eric Hendrikx.

Lisa Gibson, the global communications head at Microsoft, with a friend.

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