Annual Dinner 2026: Dare to Lead

Toronto Talks is where the region's most influential voices take the stage, tackling the big issues and bold opportunities shaping the Toronto region’s future. From game-changing innovation to the next wave of economic growth, these conversations go beyond the headlines: sparking ideas, challenging perspectives, and setting the tone for what comes next.

Raymond Chun, TD Bank Group

Raymond Chun was appointed Group President and Chief Executive Officer of TD Bank Group on February 1, 2025. With more than 30 years of banking experience, he has held senior leadership roles across the Bank, including Chief Operating Officer, Group Head of Canadian Personal Banking, President and CEO of TD Insurance, President of TD Direct Investing, and Group Head of Wealth Management and TD Insurance. He began his career at TD as a management associate in 1992 and has led initiatives spanning customer experience, distribution, and data and analytics. As CEO, Ray is focused on advancing TD’s strategic transformation and delivering long-term value for customers, clients, and shareholders.

Laurie May & Noah Segal, Elevation Pictures

Co-Founders and Co-Presidents of Elevation Pictures, Laurie May and Noah Segal have built Canada’s leading independent film company since launching at TIFF 2013. Known for acclaimed releases like The Imitation Game, Moonlight, Everything Everywhere All At Once, Brother, and BlackBerry, Elevation has become a powerhouse in both distribution and production, with recent projects including Anora, The Brutalist, Infinity Pool, and Lilith Fair: Building a Mystery. Featured among Hollywood Reporter’s Top 25 Canadian Entertainment Dealmakers and Toronto Life’s 50 Most Influential People, May and Segal continue to shape the future of film and elevate Canadian storytelling worldwide.

The Honourable Doug Ford, Premier of Ontario

Doug Ford is the Premier of Ontario and MPP for Etobicoke–North, first elected in 2018. A lifelong community leader and successful businessman, he previously served as a Toronto City Councillor from 2010 to 2014, where he helped deliver significant savings for taxpayers as Vice-Chair of the Budget Committee. Doug has also served on the boards of Build Toronto and the Canadian National Exhibition, and as a member of both the Civic Appointments and Government Management Committees.

Cohere: A Toronto-Built Global Leader

Each year, at our much-anticipated Annual Dinner, Dare to Lead, presented by Odgers, the Toronto Region Board of Trade honours a member of our region’s vibrant business community who has built an inspirational legacy.  This year, at our 136th Annual Dinner, we are proud to recognize Cohere as the recipient of the 2025 Toronto Region Builder Award, presented by CPA Ontario.  

Founded in Toronto, Cohere has quickly become a global force in artificial intelligence. While many AI companies focus on consumer applications, Cohere has carved a distinct path: building secure, privacy-first AI solutions for businesses and public institutions. Their models power essential tools such as search, translation, knowledge retrieval, and summarization — capabilities transforming operations across finance, healthcare, government, and advanced manufacturing. Read more here.