Post-Event Recap: Toronto 2025

President of ELO Network Rick Goossen engages with the audience from the podium in conference room

 

What a way to officially wrap our ELO Forums 2025 season! The Toronto iteration brought together Christian leaders, entrepreneurs, and changemakers for a powerful day of learning, fellowship, and practical insight.

From opening remarks to the final conversations over coffee, the room buzzed with energy. Attendees moved between thought-provoking sessions, honest conversations, and shared meals — the kind of moments that turn ideas into action and acquaintances into collaborators. Speakers challenged us, encouraged us, and reminded us that leadership shaped by faith has the power to change workplaces, communities, and culture.

 

Highlights & Heartfelt Moments

  • Dynamic sessions that blended strategic insight with faith-driven purpose.
  • Deep peer conversations and new partnerships formed around a common mission.
  • Practical takeaways leaders can implement now to grow organizations with integrity and impact.
  • A warm, celebratory close to a season that carried the spirit of community from Winnipeg to Vancouver and finally Toronto.

The day unfolded with a powerful lineup of voices who each brought a unique lens on leadership, faith, and impact in today’s rapidly shifting landscape.

We began with Kyle Thompson, Founder of Catalyst Resource Group, who offered a behind-the-scenes look at the influence and opportunity of faith-driven media. From national releases to global campaigns, Kyle illustrated how storytelling can shape culture, open doors for ministry, and mobilize communities at scale.

Next, Rick Rusaw, executive at Gloo, invited us into “The Entrepreneurial Adventure of Building the World’s Leading Faith Ecosystem.” His insights on courage, technology, and Kingdom collaboration reminded attendees that innovation is not merely strategic—it’s spiritual. Not to mention on the same day that gloo raised over $70 million in their IPO!

Daniel Whitehead, CEO of Sanctuary Mental Health Ministries, followed with a thoughtful and timely exploration of mental wellness, the church, and the role leaders play in cultivating environments where people can thrive emotionally, relationally, and spiritually.

We then turned to the global stage with Peter Hall, Chief Economist at econosphere Inc., followed by Sophia Kusyk of Redeemer University, who shared a compelling perspective on how to connect and lead generations Z and Alpha. 

Bringing his signature energy and humour, Dale Lutz delivered “All I Really Need to Know in Business I Learned at ELO Conferences,” a crowd favourite that blended practical wisdom with laugh-out-loud stories—proof that leadership lessons sometimes arrive wrapped in joy.

Then, rounding out the day again, was Darin Brock, Partner at TorQuest, on insights into how private equity can benefit a business, and Ron Haik of Nicola Wealth on tax-effective donation planning for business owners.

And we can't miss highlighting a special moment of the day, when ELO proudly presented the Entrepreneurial Leaders Award to Dave Brereton, Executive Chairman of TECSYS and President of Youth for Christ International. Dave’s remarkable career—marked by integrity, innovation, and service—stands as an inspiring example of what faithful leadership can accomplish on a global scale.

 

Voices from the Day

We were humbled by the responses from participants — a few highlights:

“Fantastic quality of speakers, very impressive, the scale of speakers that this event was able to draw. Professionally run with good food and a good venue.”
“Incredibly inspiring! I will be thinking a lot more about how to make more meaningful connections to pursue a passion for supporting people in their careers and callings.”
These reflections say it best: the Forum was more than a series of talks — it was a community renewing its commitment to lead with purpose.

 

Thank You — Sponsors, Speakers & Volunteers

This season wouldn’t have been possible without the generosity of our sponsors, the wisdom of our speakers, and the tireless work of volunteers and staff. Thank you for investing your time, talent, and resources to help build a network of leaders committed to Kingdom impact in the marketplace.

 

What’s Next

While the 2025 Forum season is complete, the work continues. Stay connected with ELO for upcoming webinars, peer advisory opportunities, and the 2026 ELO Oxford Leadership Program. If you missed any sessions or want to revisit highlights, explore our event recaps and resources — and join the conversation as we prepare for what’s next.

Read the Winnipeg recap here and Vancouver recap here, and learn more about our programs and next steps throughout our website.

Thank you to everyone who joined us this year — speakers, attendees, partners, and supporters. We left Toronto encouraged, equipped, and eager to keep leading well. See you in 2026!