Waterfront Symposium: Elevating Experience, Empowering Toronto

Extend your day with a guided tour after the main program. Ticket holders can opt in to one of four concurrent tours. Capacity is limited.

Tour 1: George Brown College — Limberlost Place  - Explore Canada’s first mass timber post-secondary tower and its groundbreaking net-zero carbon design.

Tour 2: Ethos Climbing - Step inside Toronto’s premier bouldering gym for a hands-on introduction to the sport.

Tour 3: Waterfront Toronto — Inner Harbour Boat Tour - Cruise the Inner Harbour and see the waterfront’s transformation, past to future.

Tour 4: Pinnacle SkyTower — One Yonge Street - Visit the 106-storey tower set to be Canada’s tallest and take in panoramic views.

• When: 3:45 – 5:00 PM (immediately after closing remarks)
• Where: Departing from The Quay lobby
• Cost: Included with your ticket (registration required)
• How it works: Pick one tour during checkout. Spots are first-come, first-served.

8:00 – 9:00 am: Registration, Breakfast, and Networking

9:00 – 9:10 am: Welcome Remarks

• Giles Gherson, President and CEO, Toronto Region Board of Trade

9:10 – 9:30 am: Opening Keynote

• RJ Steenstra, President and CEO, PortsToronto

9:30 – 10:15 am: Panel #1 – Toronto’s Working Waterfront

Toronto’s waterfront is the city’s frontier for employment opportunities and business expansion. The waterfront already hosts 60,000 jobs, with an opportunity to add tens of thousands more as a part of its redevelopment.

This session will explore how the waterfront is fast evolving as an employment hub and destination for high-growth industries, creative enterprises, and major employers. We’ll hear from employers about their existing footprint and operations and what can be done to attract more investments and workers to the area.

• Vic Gupta, CEO, CreateTO
• Dr. Gervan Brown, President, George Brown College
• Ana Bailão, Head of Affordable Housing & Public Affairs, Dream

10:15 – 10:55 am: Presentations – Building a Destination: Infrastructure, Access, and Placemaking

In a post-Covid work, placemaking is everything. Connectivity (to, from, and within the Waterfront), experiences, public spaces, are among the key facets that define the waterfront as a destination. 

From modernized ferry services and expanded cycling networks to new transit lines and airport innovations, physical access to the waterfront is rapidly evolving. But access isn’t just about movement, it’s about creating an inclusive, vibrant, and connected city where opportunity is shared and everyone can participate on the waterfront.

This session will spotlight the infrastructure projects and placemaking strategies redefining Toronto’s shoreline. We’ll explore how enhancements to Billy Bishop Airport, the Ontario Line, and active transportation links are improving mobility and driving footfall to the waterfront. We'll also consider bold new ideas like integrating arts, culture, and even e-sports into underused infrastructure to show how design and access together create a more vibrant, inclusive waterfront.

Introductory Remarks:

• Kevin Sullivan, Board Chair, Waterfront Toronto

Panellists:

• George Zegarac, President & CEO, Waterfront Toronto
• Ilana Altman, Co-Executive Director, The Bentway

10:55 – 11:20 am: Networking Break

11:20 am – 12:00 pm: Panel #2: Activating Toronto’s Waterfront: Retail, Entertainment and the Visitor Economy

With over $17 billion in waterfront development underway, the waterfront is poised for a significant transformation to redefine its commercial and recreational landscape. To realize its full potential as an economic engine, it must operate as a year-round destination supporting small and large businesses, attracting residents, and drawing global visitors. This session will explore how strategic retail planning, tourism-driven investments, and bold activations can position the waterfront as both a vibrant local hub and an internationally recognized destination. Panelists will discuss strategies to overcome seasonal challenges, respond to shifting consumer behaviors, and leverage upcoming global moments to strengthen Toronto’s visitor economy and waterfront vitality.

Panel Introduction:

• Tim Kocur, Executive Director, Waterfront BIA

Panellists:

• Alejandro Aquino, Owner, Ethos Rock Climbing
• Eve Wiggins, COO, Nieuport Aviation
• Whitney Bell, Chief Marketing Officer, Toronto Tempo
• Adam Vaughn, Senior Advisor, Therme Canada

Moderator:

• Kelly Jackson, VP, Destination Toronto

12:00 – 12:55 pm: Lunch

12:55 - 1:10 pm: Keynote Address

• Matthew Lister, Partner, Managing Director US, Gehl Architects

1:10 – 1:40 pm: Keynote Address and Fireside Chat with Minister Stan Cho

Ontario has outlined a bold vision for the future of its waterfront, with major investments focused on expanding public space, improving transit access, and unlocking economic opportunities. These initiatives are part of a broader strategy to strengthen the province’s tourism, cultural, and economic infrastructure, supporting job creation, attracting private investment, and enhancing the overall visitor experience. This session will explore how these investments are helping to shape a more vibrant, accessible, and globally competitive waterfront for residents, businesses, and visitors alike.

• The Honourable Stan Cho, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Gaming
• Giles Gherson

1:40 – 2:20 pm: Panel #3: The Future of the Waterfront

• Christopher Glaisek, Chief Planning and Design Officer, Waterfront Toronto

2:20 – 2:30 pm: Closing Remarks

• Giles Gherson

2:30 – 3:30 pm: Networking Cocktail Reception (OR your choice of one of four guided tours)