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

Carley Fortune, David Schwartz and Bonnie Lysyk were also among the attendees of the exclusive bash at Canopy by Hilton Toronto Yorkville

By Toronto Life| Photography by George Pimentel
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Toronto mayor Olivia Chow stands next to AI pioneer Geoffrey Hinton

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 flanked by Toronto Life's publisher, Jason Maghanoy, and editor-in-chief, Malcolm Johnston

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.

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Cameron Bailey of TIFF stands next to mayor Olivia Chow

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

Former auditor general Bonnie Lysyk and a guest

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

Carley Fortune, in a gold dress

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

David Schwartz of Mimi Chinese and Sunny's Chinese, with his fiance

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

Maureen Chapman and her daughter, holding a copy of Toronto Life magazine

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

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Minister of Infrastructure Kinga Surma and Neil Hetherington of the Daily Bread Food Bank

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

Cameron Bailey stands beside Councillor Ausma Malik

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

Olivia Chow stands with her inner circle of city councillors

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 at Toronto Life's Most Influentials party

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

Chloe Brown and a guest at the Rising Stars event

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

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PR guru Karen Gruson flanked by restaurant kings Charles Khabouth and Danny Soberano

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

The three co-founders of therapy app Mind-Easy

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.

Brooks Barnett with co-workers from Amazon

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

Architect Siamak Hariri and Tony Gagliano, the CEO of SJC, take a selfie

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

Nakissa Koomalsingh, holding a copy of Toronto Life

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

Universal Music Canada president Jeffrey Remedios and gallerist Lucia Remedios

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

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

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

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

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

FASHION editor-in-chief Bernadette Morra

FASHION editor-in-chief Bernadette Morra.

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

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.

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

Sue Kuruvilla and Beth Lockley of Penguin Random House Canada.

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

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

Reetu Gupta of the Gupta Group

Reetu Gupta of the Gupta Group.

Jacob Martin, World Class Canada Bartender of the Year, with a guest

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

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

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

Michele Romanow, the CEO of Clearbanc

Michele Romanow, a co-founder of Clearco.

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Tara Woodbury, of Netflix Canada, with a guest

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

Monique Jilesen, managing partner at Lenczner Slaght, with a friend

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

Shinan Govani, Jen Kirsch and a guest

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

Chef Dider LeRoy

Chef Didier LeRoy.

Natasha Koifman of NKPR and music journalist and artist Eric Hendrikx

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

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Lisa Gibson, global communications head, Microsoft, and a guest

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

Thank you to our sponsors
A list of sponsors for Toronto Life's Most Influentials event

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