April 23, 2026 | Toronto Design Exchange
CMDC’s Annual Media Summit is Canada’s marquee leadership gathering for the media industry bringing together leaders across media, marketing, technology, and business for a day of big ideas, candid conversation, and future-facing insight.
The Age of Intelligence marks a defining shift in leadership - where human judgment and machine intelligence converge to reshape how we grow, compete, communicate, and build trust.
This is a leadership-first forum designed to challenge thinking and help shape what comes next for Canada’s media economy.
Leading in the Age of Intelligence
How today’s leaders make better decisions, set direction, and stay accountable in AI-powered systems.
Trust in the Age of Algorithms
How brands, platforms, and leaders build credibility, influence, and confidence in a world of infinite automation.
Human + Machine
Who’s Really in Charge? – As algorithms move faster than ever, how do leaders balance speed, accountability, and human judgment?
Canada’s Moment
How Canadian talent, culture, creativity, and innovation become true competitive advantages in the age of intelligence..
The experience
Bold Ideas – High-impact keynotes, real conversations, and future-focused sessions.
Real Connections – Network with CMDC Board members and 300+ senior leaders across brands, media, agencies, and tech.
Premium All Day – Gourmet breakfast and lunch, and cocktail networking reception, immersive brand pop-ups, and interactive partner experiences.
YA Social – A high-energy closing reception uniting today’s leaders and tomorrow’s talent.
Who attends
Senior leaders to next generation professionals from media agencies, marketers, publishers, broadcasters, platforms, and tech, plus policymakers and innovators shaping Canada’s media future.
Keynote Speaker
Sarah Baldeo is an AI neuroscientist and bestselling author whose research explores how intelligent systems reshape human judgment and executive decision-making.
Her work centers on one defining question: how do we unlock the 100 trillion synaptic connections of the human brain and upgrade our operating system in the Age of AI?
CMDC Media Leaders Dinner
April 22, 2026 | The Ritz-Carlton, Toronto
The night before the Summit, CMDC hosts its leadership gathering of the year - a high-impact evening for Canada’s media leaders.
Join us for exceptional dining, meaningful connection, and a candid keynote conversation with Rudyard Griffiths, Senior Fellow at the University of Toronto’s Munk School of Global Affairs and Co-Founder & Moderator of the Munk Debates, on geopolitics, leadership, and the forces shaping Canada’s future.
What to expect
Curated room of senior decision-makers from across the industry, including the CMDC Board
Cocktail reception (6:00–7:00 PM) to connect and network
Thoughtful conversation and leadership perspective
A gourmet dinner at The Ritz-Carlton
Tables are limited.
For inquiries, contact medialeaders@cmdc.ca
PARTNER
Thank you to The Trade Desk for supporting the CMDC Media Leaders Dinner.
