Thank you for making the 2nd Toronto Economic Forum and the THI Canada Fundraiser a huge success!

On Monday, October 23rd, the Omni King Edward Hotel in Toronto hosted the second Toronto Economic Forum, organized by the Delphi Economic Forum in partnership with The Hellenic Initiative Canada. We were honoured to welcome prominent figures from the realms of politics and business from both Greece and Canada. This platform facilitated insightful discussions on bilateral relations between the two nations, delving into areas of profound interest over recent years, including start-ups and incubators, mining, critical materials, public safety and emergency responses.

The Forum brought together distinguished guests such as Minister Champagne (Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, Canada), Minister Papathanasis (Alternate Minister of Finance, Hellenic Republic), Konstantina Athanasiadou Ambassador Plenipotentiary & Extraordinary of Greece to Canada, Karine Asselin, Canadian Ambassador to Greece and High Commissioner to Cyprus George Ioannides, George Pirie (Minister of Mines), Julie Dabrusin, (Parliamentary Secretary, Minister of Natural Resources & Minister of Environment & Climate Change)  among many others. It also brought together business industry leaders such as George Burns (CEO of Eldorado Gold, Canada), George Paspalas (CEO & Director, MAG Silver), Sophia Kounenaki-Efraimoglou, (President, Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry), Marinos Giannopoulos (CEO, Enterprise Greece), Andrea Richardson (Director Strategic Projects, DMZ Incubator), Peter Polydor (President of Ergo Holdings and Ergo Capital) to name but a few.

Discussions emphasized the importance of sharing best practices and cultural exchanges between our two nations, spanning fields like aviation, emergency preparedness (with insights from Nick Leontidis, CEO of Civil Aviation Training Solutions), the film industry (discussed under the guidance of Steve Mirkopoulos, former founder and CEO of Cinespace Studios), and academic research. The Forum concluded with an enlightening panel on innovations in civil societies and the diaspora's vital role in fostering economic development.
Following the Toronto Economic Forum, The Hellenic Initiative Canada hosted a fundraiser dedicated in the memory of the great philanthropist Mariana V. Vardinoyanni. This dinner was a perfect conclusion to a day filled with thought-provoking discussions, providing an atmosphere of positivity and collaboration that allowed participants and attendees to interact in the most inspiring way.

Highlight of the evening was the fireside chat between George Soleas, President of the LCBO and journalist Vassy Kapelos. Mr. Soleas graced us with invaluable insights from his industry, offering a glimpse into its recent developments and graciously sharing his recommendations for Greek wine producers to propel Greek wine into the ranks of international greatness.

Our heartfelt gratitude extends to the Delphi Economic Forum for bringing the forum to Toronto once again and making it even bigger this time around. We'd also like to express our deepest appreciation to the THI Canada Dinner Planning Committee, and most importantly, to the incredible individuals who volunteered their time and efforts. Your unwavering passion and dedication to our mission serve as a constant source of inspiration, and we are truly humbled by your contributions.

The THI Canada Silent Auction ends on October 31st - there is still time to bid!

‍