2022 Gala - Pollution Probe

In Canada and around the world, there are many examples of progress being made to tackle issues like climate change, clean energy, transportation decarbonization and plastic pollution. We still have a long way to go, however, on our journey to a net-zero, circular economy and a greener future. In this era of disruption and rapid change, how can Canada position itself to address emerging challenges and leverage opportunities for continual environmental gains?

Our 2022 Gala & Conference will offer participants a chance to reflect on environmental achievements and challenges over the past year and how we can keep environmental issues at the forefront of everyone’s agendas.

We are pleased to announce that our 2022 Sponsorship Opportunities package is now available, check out the link below to find out the many ways you can support and participate in this year’s gala and conference.

Should the event not be able to proceed in 2022, sponsorship are eligible for a refund or can be converted to a charitable donation to Pollution Probe.

Event Gallery

Cynthia Leach

Senior Director of Economic Thought Leadership of RBC

Cynthia is the Assistant Chief Economist, Thought Leadership at RBC. She helps shape the narratives and research agenda around the team’s forward-looking economic and policy analysis, covering topics such as the future of work, innovation, and net-zero transition.

Previously, Cynthia was an executive at Finance Canada, most recently heading a team responsible for housing finance policy. Cynthia holds an M.A. Economics degree from the University of Toronto.

Anita Li

Founder and Editor-in-Chief of the Green Line

Anita Li is a longtime journalist, news entrepreneur, media consultant and educator with over a decade of full-time experience as a multi-platform journalist at outlets across North America. Currently, she is the founder, CEO and editor-in-chief of The Green Line, a local Toronto-based news outlet. Anita is also a journalism instructor at Toronto Metropolitan University, the City University of New York and Centennial College. Her areas of expertise include community-driven journalism, audience engagement, journalism entrepreneurship, consumer revenue business models, newsroom diversity, media ethics and journalism innovation. Anita co-founded Canadian Journalists of Colour in 2018, and is also a member of the board of directors for the Online News Association and LION (Local Independent Online News) Publishers. To keep up with Anita, subscribe to The Other Wave, her journalism innovation newsletter about challenging the status quo in Canadian media

Julius Lindsay

Director of Sustainable Communities of the David Suzuki Foundation and Co-founder, Black Environmentalists Alliance

Julius is currently the Director, Sustainable Communities at the David Suzuki Foundation. He leads the Foundation’s work to accelerate and raise the ambition of climate action in cities across the place now known as Canada. He is also a co-founder of the Black Environmentalist Alliance, an organization that seeks to champion black people in the environmental profession, provide a safe space for peer-to-peer engagement to have real conversations and share experiences, and to advocate for environmental justice for Black Canadians now and in the future. Prior to these two roles, he was the catalyst for and led the development of climate change plans, programs, and policies at two of the biggest cities, Mississauga and Richmond Hill, in Ontario, Canada.

Elizabeth McIsaac

President of Maytree

Elizabeth is the president of Maytree, a private charitable foundation focused on poverty and human rights in Canada. She is a dedicated builder and champion for the non-profit sector, with extensive experience in research, teaching and direct service provision. Elizabeth has a deep history with Maytree; she previously served as the Director of Policy and was the executive director of one of Maytree’s signature ideas: the Toronto Region Immigrant Employment Council (TRIEC). More recently, Elizabeth established and led Mowat NFP (Not-for-Profit Policy) at the Mowat Centre, where she conducted and directed research analyzing the challenges facing the non-profit sector today.

Paul-Emile McNab

VP, Business Development & Membership Experience of Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business

Paul-Emile has been active in the field of Research, Consulting, Fundraising and Business Development for the past fifteen years. In 2007, he completed his honours degree in History, Political Science and Canadian Studies at the University of Toronto. In 2010, he completed his Masters in Environmental Studies at York University, with a focus on Indigenous knowledge and a major research paper titled: The Traditional Rights of Ways on the Walpole Island First Nation.

He has served as a member of the Research Advisory Committee with Canadian Energy Research Institute, the Chair of the National Advisory Committee with ORIGIN Inc. and the current Vice-President of the Board of Directors for Aboriginal Legal Services. He currently resides in Toronto and is an avid follower of sports and business.

A highlight of our annual gala is the Pollution Probe Award, which celebrates the extraordinary achievements of individuals or organizations working toward positive, tangible environmental change. This year, we are delighted to present the Award to Edward Burtynsky!

Edward Burtynsky

Fine Art Photographer

Edward Burtynsky is regarded as one of the world’s most accomplished contemporary photographers. His remarkable photographic depictions of global industrial landscapes represent over 40 years of his dedication to bearing witness to the impact of humans on the planet. Burtynsky’s photographs are included in the collections of over 60 major museums around the world.

Congratulations Edward!