Our annual ranking of the people whose courage, smarts and clout are changing the world as we know it
Look at 2023 from just about any angle and a pattern emerges (it’s the economy, stupid). Across Toronto, renters fought to cap rent increases, workers fought for pay hikes, and politicians fought to keep the cost of living from pushing everyone and everything beyond the brink. After a dozen years of right-leaning leadership, voters elected Olivia Chow, an inveterate progressive and Toronto’s first non-white mayor, who has inherited a city in financial shambles. She may be the year’s most prominent big hire, but she’s not the only one: a sports team, a provincial court and a paper of record all got new bosses eager to overhaul the status quo.
Related: Toronto’s 25 Rising Stars of 2023
Some of the most important people of 2023 are familiar—hometown hype man Drake dominated the charts (with a new album) and the conversation (with a diamond pendant that’s truly over the top, even for him), and chef Matty Matheson was everywhere, from The Bear to the Super Bowl to grocery-store shelves. Fresh faces wielded influence too, whether in the pool, the classroom or the movie theatre. But no one else had the paradigm-shifting impact of the person standing in our number-one spot: a giant of artificial intelligence who changed his mind about AI—and now urgently wants to change everyone else’s.
Celebrity doomsayer
Hinton is the chief scientific adviser at Toronto’s Vector Institute, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to research around AI and its responsible development and adoption.
Governor, Bank of Canada
The man steering the economy through the stormClosely monitoring how the Israel-Hamas war and further conflict in the Middle East could affect Canada’s—and the rest of the world’s—economy, from interest rates to gas prices
Mayor
Because she made the most of her first 100 daysOscar-winner Sarah Polley went door-knocking for Chow in advance of the election.
Michal Hay, chief of staff
Amber Morley, deputy mayor, west
Gord Perks, chair, planning and housing
Jennifer McKelvie, deputy mayor, east
Ausma Malik, deputy mayor, south
Mike Colle, deputy mayor, north
Michal Hay, chief of staff
Amber Morley, deputy mayor, west
Gord Perks, chair, planning and housing
Jennifer McKelvie, deputy mayor, east
Ausma Malik, deputy mayor, south
Mike Colle, deputy mayor, north
Michal Hay, chief of staff
Amber Morley, deputy mayor, west
Gord Perks, chair, planning and housing
Jennifer McKelvie, deputy mayor, east
Ausma Malik, deputy mayor, south
Mike Colle, deputy mayor, north
Michal Hay, chief of staff
Amber Morley, deputy mayor, west
Gord Perks, chair, planning and housing
Jennifer McKelvie, deputy mayor, east
Ausma Malik, deputy mayor, south
Mike Colle, deputy mayor, north
Co-founder and chief scientist, OpenAI
For revolutionizing the way we liveTransforming OpenAI from a consumer sensation to a corporate must-have by releasing new developer tools and updates.
Chef, entrepreneur and streaming star
Because the culinary king keeps adding to his empireDeputy prime minister and minister of finance
For making big moves designed to lower the cost of livingFreeland is looking at platforms offering short-term rentals—like Airbnb—in an effort to lower housing costs and increase the supply of long-term rentals across the country.
Political strategist
Pierre Poilievre’s potential ticket to the PMOByrne is the co-founder of the J and M Leadership Network, which seeks to get more women into positions of influence.
Former auditor general of Ontario
For saving the GreenbeltWholesale retirement seems unlikely—Lysyk is weighing her options, from offering advisory services to sitting on boards.
Actor
A proud Ken-adianLiu supports a slew of causes, including Feeding America, UNICEF Canada and the Chinese Canadian Youth Athletic Association Celebrity Classic (an annual star-powered basketball fundraiser held in Toronto).
Premier
Because, despite a gaffe-laden year, his clout is undeniableRolling out Ontario’s “back to basics” education reform over the balance of the school year, with renewed focus on reading, writing and STEM.
CEO, Live Nation Entertainment
The don of Toronto’s live-music scenePlanning is underway for a series of splashy events to celebrate the Budweiser Stage’s 30th anniversary.
Chief planner
The man behind the multiplexLintern will be retiring from his position at the end of this year but intends to remain involved in shaping the city’s future (concrete plans TBD).
President of the Treasury Board
Because she’s in charge of the federal purse stringsWith Trudeau’s low approval numbers, Ottawa insiders are frantically speculating about his replacement, and Anand (alongside Mark Carney and Chrystia Freeland) top the list of next-in-liners.
Darko Rajaković, head coach of the Raptors
Reema Patel, deputy ombudsman (housing)
Katherine Henderson, CEO of Hockey Canada
Michael Tulloch, chief justice of Ontario
Andrew Saunders, CEO of the Globe and Mail
Marit Stiles, leader of the Ontario NDP
Darko Rajaković, head coach of the Raptors
Reema Patel, deputy ombudsman (housing)
Katherine Henderson, CEO of Hockey Canada
Michael Tulloch, chief justice of Ontario
Andrew Saunders, CEO of the Globe and Mail
Marit Stiles, leader of the Ontario NDP
Darko Rajaković, head coach of the Raptors
Reema Patel, deputy ombudsman (housing)
Katherine Henderson, CEO of Hockey Canada
Michael Tulloch, chief justice of Ontario
Andrew Saunders, CEO of the Globe and Mail
Marit Stiles, leader of the Ontario NDP
Darko Rajaković, head coach of the Raptors
Reema Patel, deputy ombudsman (housing)
Katherine Henderson, CEO of Hockey Canada
Michael Tulloch, chief justice of Ontario
Andrew Saunders, CEO of the Globe and Mail
Marit Stiles, leader of the Ontario NDP
Filmmaker and author
Because of her, everyone listened to women talkingFinishing the novel she’s been writing on and off for the past eight years.
Rapper and hometown hype man
Because, for him, even a so-so year is epicDrake has pledged to take a year off making music to focus on his health—but there’s no holding him back from big-upping his city.
CEO, Penguin Random House Canada
For publishing the country’s must-readsCEO, TIFF
For handling strikes and sponsorsBailey and his team are busy preparing for TIFF’s 50th anniversary in 2025.
Tenant activist
Because his rent strike started a movementThreatened with eviction, the tenants are waiting for joint hearings at Ontario’s Landlord and Tenant Board.
National president, Unifor
For standing up for workersUnifor is set to build on its Metro victory and represent 2,800 workers in Loblaw-owned grocery stores in Ontario as well as Newfoundland and Labrador.
Budget chief of the City of Toronto
For being the fiscal czar we need nowInvolving the public in pre-budget consultations via online surveys and submissions, something Carroll has been talking about for years.
Author
Because Meghan and Harry love her booksHer third estival romance, This Summer Will Be Different, comes out in May 2024.
CEO, Dream Unlimited
For rebuilding the smart neighbourhoodDream plans to build 5,000 new—and desperately needed—rental units in urban centres across the country.
Chief nursing officer of Canada
Because if anyone can stop the exodus of nurses, it’s herGary Slaight, the Slaight Family Foundation
Catherine Beck, the estate of H. Thomas and Mary Beck
Carlo Fidani, Orlando Corporation
Sam Ibrahim, Arrow Group of Companies
Francine Rouleau-Barrett and Bob Barrett, Barrett Family Foundation
Gary Slaight, the Slaight Family Foundation
Catherine Beck, the estate of H. Thomas and Mary Beck
Carlo Fidani, Orlando Corporation
Sam Ibrahim, Arrow Group of Companies
Francine Rouleau-Barrett and Bob Barrett, Barrett Family Foundation
Gary Slaight, the Slaight Family Foundation
Catherine Beck, the estate of H. Thomas and Mary Beck
Carlo Fidani, Orlando Corporation
Sam Ibrahim, Arrow Group of Companies
Francine Rouleau-Barrett and Bob Barrett, Barrett Family Foundation
Gary Slaight, the Slaight Family Foundation
Catherine Beck, the estate of H. Thomas and Mary Beck
Carlo Fidani, Orlando Corporation
Sam Ibrahim, Arrow Group of Companies
Francine Rouleau-Barrett and Bob Barrett, Barrett Family Foundation
Co-directors of content, Netflix
For picking what we watchIn honour of late filmmaker Jeff Barnaby, the pair partnered with imagineNATIVE to award five Indigenous creators $25,000 each.
Executive chef, Mimi Chinese and Sunnys Chinese
Because he’s the city’s most exciting young culinary mindA top-secret, eagerly anticipated third project is slated for summer 2024.
Co-founders, Spin Master
Because Canada’s toy giant is on a rollBasketball player
The star behind Canada’s World Cup winIf all goes well, helping to earn Canada its first Olympic medal in basketball since 1936.
CEO, Universal Music Canada
Because he’s taking on AI-generated musicRemedios sits on the boards of the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, Music Canada, and Arts & Crafts (the indie label he co-founded in 2003).
Minister of infrastructure
For presiding over the most controversial files at Queen’s ParkAdvocating for the passage of her Transportation for the Future Act, which proposes more GO stations and would allow the TTC to finally enter into service agreements with neighbouring transit agencies.
Doctor, author, ER wellness director
For working to cure what ails the health care systemFinishing his third book, Doctor, Heal Thyself.
Hedge fund manager and philanthropist
Because he shares the wealthHe’s a passionate foodie online (his Instagram handle is @munchingmoez) and IRL—Kassam is an investor in Janet Zuccarini’s new West Hollywood restaurant, Stella.
Chef and owner of Alo Food Group
For keeping the Michelin judges busyGrowing his takeout business, Aloette Go, which recently launched a second location at Yonge and Eg and will be opening a kiosk next spring in CIBC Square’s food hall.
Lawyer
Canada’s top litigatorA long-time supporter of the United Way, Jilesen is a member of Women’s United, which assists women facing poverty in the GTA.
Marissa West, president of GM Canada
Seetarama Kotagiri, CEO of Magna International
Pierre Boutin, CEO of Volkswagen Group Canada
Cara Clairman, CEO of Plug’n Drive
Marissa West, president of GM Canada
Seetarama Kotagiri, CEO of Magna International
Pierre Boutin, CEO of Volkswagen Group Canada
Cara Clairman, CEO of Plug’n Drive
Marissa West, president of GM Canada
Seetarama Kotagiri, CEO of Magna International
Pierre Boutin, CEO of Volkswagen Group Canada
Cara Clairman, CEO of Plug’n Drive
Marissa West, president of GM Canada
Seetarama Kotagiri, CEO of Magna International
Pierre Boutin, CEO of Volkswagen Group Canada
Cara Clairman, CEO of Plug’n Drive
Singer
Because she rebooted “O Canada”Black’s boosters include Knix founder Joanna Griffiths (her former publicist), Public Enemy’s Chuck D, writer and musician Vivek Shraya, and Drake.
Architect
Because he’s transforming Toronto’s cultural buildingsFounder of DisinfoWatch
For combatting foreign propaganda at homeKolga has turned his laser beam to disinformation around the Israel-Hamas war.
Swimmer
Because she’s obliterating world recordsAlready signed with Australian swimwear brand Funkita, McIntosh became a Lululemon ambassador in August.
Pastor at Revivaltime Tabernacle
For sheltering asylum seekers when no one else wouldCEO, Daily Bread Food Bank
For forcing the government to reckon with food insecurityFormer TD Bank CEO Ed Clark is a mentor and close pal.
Filmmaker
For an Oscar-worthy debutWorking on her next film, a rom-com called Materialists, which has been green-lit by A24.
CEO, Project 8
A champion of women’s soccerCEO, Waabi
Because she’s changing the way trucking is doneAs part of a pilot project with Uber Freight, Waabi trucks will be making commercial deliveries between Dallas and Houston.
Student activist
For upending the TDSB’s Eurocentric English curriculumA first-year student in the Human Rights and Human Diversity program at Wilfrid Laurier, Shafqat wants to become a human-rights lawyer.
Charles Khabouth, Ink Entertainment
Hanif Harji, Scale Hospitality and Iconink
William Cheng, Premier Candle Corporation
Janet Zuccarini, Gusto 54
Andrew Oliver, Oliver and Bonacini Hospitality
Charles Khabouth, Ink Entertainment
Hanif Harji, Scale Hospitality and Iconink
William Cheng, Premier Candle Corporation
Janet Zuccarini, Gusto 54
Andrew Oliver, Oliver and Bonacini Hospitality
Charles Khabouth, Ink Entertainment
Hanif Harji, Scale Hospitality and Iconink
William Cheng, Premier Candle Corporation
Janet Zuccarini, Gusto 54
Andrew Oliver, Oliver and Bonacini Hospitality
Charles Khabouth, Ink Entertainment
Hanif Harji, Scale Hospitality and Iconink
William Cheng, Premier Candle Corporation
Janet Zuccarini, Gusto 54
Andrew Oliver, Oliver and Bonacini Hospitality
Model and entrepreneur
For breaking down beauty standardsJournalist
For taking on Donald TrumpStoynoff ghostwrites bestselling memoirs, including Captive, by the mother of a victim of the sex cult NXIVM.
Filmmaker
For sticking it to Putin and snagging an OscarPeter O’Brian, film producer and spouse of Liberal MP Carolyn Bennett, is a mentor; Jim Carrey is a fan.
Actor and activist
Because Marvel and Marty can’t resist herThis month, the recently minted Canadian Walk of Famer appears in Marvel’s new Indigenous-centred miniseries, Echo, alongside fellow Torontonian Devery Jacobs.
Filmmaker
For scrambling the teen sex-comedy formulaFilmmaker
For creating an indie hit out of RIM’s rise and fallJohnson had an epistolary friendship with J. D. Salinger until the author’s death, and he communicates daily with Calvin and Hobbes creator Bill Watterson.
Entrepreneur and philanthropist
An advocate for culture and communityk.d. lang sang at his wedding, and Alan Cumming and Atom Egoyan wrote the forewords to his book.
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