On November 21st, 300 guests gathered inside Yorkville’s Holt Revfrew to toast Toronto Life’s annual list of the city’s 50 most influential people featured in the December 2019 issue. This year’s power list included John Tory, Drake, Stephen Diamond, Alison Gordon, Stephan Jost, among other notable figures. The event supported ComKids, which provides youth with limitless and infinite potential through technology, digital literacy, and life tools.
From athletes to tech giants, the list includes some recurring names as well as, several new additions.
Reigning it at #1 this year is Toronto Rapture’s president, Masai Ujiri. In 2019, he guided the Raptures on their journey to secure an NBA trophy by making some risky moves that obviously paid off. Not only did he deliver some unforgettable moments in sports history, Ujiri also helped redefine Toronto as “the city of winners.”
Ending the list at #50 is internet sensations Cat & Nat. Catherine Belknap and Natalie Telfer, who started out as mommy bloggers, ultimately turned themselves into an overnight global success. With 7 kids between them, the moms recorded YouTube confessionals on topics ranging from parenting mishaps to finding sexy after baby. Their honesty gained attention from followers and turned into regular appearances on the Today show and sold-out tour appearances in Canada and the United States. Their 2019 book, Mom Truths, hit the bestseller list in the spring.
Toronto Life 2019’s Most Influential People list also includes a number of honorable mentions outside of its 50-named individuals including 31 other Torontonians who are making things happen. Included in this category is Toronto-raised fashion designer Aurora James, who is known for her eclectic, sustainably-produced accessories, and 33 year old Satish Kanwar, the GM and VP of Shopify who sold his design firm, Jet Cooper, to Shopify back in 2013, then stayed on and set about establishing a presence in the GTA.
In the Big Builds category, the magazine mentions three skyline-altering developments that are on the horizon in Toronto, including Mizrahi Developments’ The One project located at the intersection of Yonge and Bloor Streets. Led by Mizrahi Developments president and founder, Sam Mizrahi, The One will become the country’s tallest skyscraper, at 309 metres and 85 storeys.
