Overview - 69th Annual Investment Dinner

CFA Society Toronto’s crown-jewel event, the Annual Investment Dinner is a marquee event that stands as a highlight in Canada’s financial community's calendar each year.

This annual Dinner brings together 1,000+ members and key decision-makers of Canada’s global financial centre for an evening of engaging discussion and thought leadership, networking, and celebration. This Dinner is not just an event; it's a tradition that celebrates the spirit of the investment community and provides a rare opportunity for senior leaders to gather, share insights, and gain inspiration from some of the brightest minds in finance.

This year's 69th Annual Investment Dinner will take place on Thursday September 17, 2026, at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.

Canada has demonstrated its ability to generate world-class ideas, technologies and businesses. The harder challenge has been turning those advantages into globally competitive Canadian companies, sustained productivity growth and economic value that remains in Canada.

Few Canadian business leaders bring Jim Balsillie’s perspective to that challenge. As Chairman and co-CEO of Research In Motion, Mr. Balsillie helped transform a Canadian technology company into a global leader.

Today, through his work as an investor and advocate for Canadian innovation, intellectual property and economic competitiveness, he has become a prominent voice calling for Canada to rethink the policies and economic assumptions that shape how the country competes.

His argument is provocative: the global economy has fundamentally changed, but Canada’s economic playbook has not changed with it.

In this exclusive keynote conversation, Mr. Balsillie will examine why intellectual property, data, artificial intelligence and other intangible assets are increasingly central to economic growth and national competitiveness; why Canada has struggled to capture the full value of its innovation; and what governments, investors and business leaders can do differently to strengthen Canada’s position.

Guiding the conversation will be The Honourable Lisa Raitt, whose career spans senior leadership in both government and business. Her experience at the intersection of public policy, markets and the Canadian economy will provide a unique platform for a candid discussion about the policy choices confronting Canada.

Building and scaling Canadian success: What enabled companies such as BlackBerry to grow into global leaders and whether Canada has the conditions today to produce the next generation of globally successful companies.
Turning Canadian innovation into Canadian prosperity: How Canada’s technology and innovation landscape has evolved and what needs to change from a public-policy and government perspective to create a stronger investment climate.
Capital, investment and scale: What is behind Canada’s recent IPO and transaction drought, how access to capital affects Canadian entrepreneurs and scale-ups, and what the next 24–36 months could bring.

Canada-U.S. competitiveness: How tariffs, CUSMA/USMCA and the evolving relationship with Canada’s largest trading partner could affect Canadian businesses and the economy.
Talent and entrepreneurship: Whether Canada is experiencing a talent drain to the United States, what it means for the country’s startup ecosystem, and what could help strengthen Canadian entrepreneurship.
The economic and market outlook: Mr. Balsillie’s perspective on Canada’s economy, markets and the risks and opportunities investors should be considering over the next 12–24 months.

Gain a different perspective on Canada’s economic future from one of the country’s most influential entrepreneurs and outspoken voices on innovation, economic policy and competitiveness.
Understand how the changing global economy could affect investment decisions, including the growing importance of intellectual property, AI, data, trade policy and economic sovereignty.
Explore what Canada must do to compete more effectively for capital, companies, talent and economic value, and where new opportunities could emerge if the country gets its strategy right.

Hear first-hand perspectives from two leaders whose careers span business and public policy, bringing a uniquely Canadian lens to some of the most consequential economic questions facing the country.
Network with an expected audience of 1,000 investment leaders, decision-makers, institutional investors and key stakeholders from across Canada’s investment and financial industry.
Celebrate excellence across the profession and connect with your peers at CFA Society Toronto’s flagship event of the year.

Ideas. Ownership. Prosperity.

Canada has the ingredients to scale its success on the global stage. Whether those ingredients translate into stronger companies, greater productivity and sustained prosperity will depend on the choices made by governments, businesses, investors and institutions today.

Be part of the conversation about Canada’s competitive future.

Join us at one of Canada’s premier investment industry events for an exceptional evening of insight, connection and forward-looking discussion.

Seats will fill quickly. Register now to secure your place at CFA Society Toronto’s 69th Annual Investment Dinner.

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Metro Toronto Convention Centre, North Building