On March 21, 2026, entrepreneurs, business leaders, financial experts, technology professionals, and community leaders came together at Sheridan College’s Hazel McCallion Campus in Mississauga for the ACBN Legacy Symposium 2026.
Centered around the theme “Building Wealth by Leveraging A.I.,” the full-day symposium explored how entrepreneurs can harness artificial intelligence, strengthen their financial readiness, build valuable connections, and position their businesses for sustainable growth.
From inspiring keynote presentations and practical breakout sessions to meaningful networking and conversations around access to capital, the symposium brought together expertise, ideas, and opportunities designed to help entrepreneurs prepare for the future of business.
Exploring the Role of AI in Business Growth
Artificial intelligence is rapidly changing how businesses operate, market themselves, make decisions, and serve their customers.
Throughout the symposium, speakers and industry experts explored practical ways entrepreneurs can incorporate AI into their businesses—not simply as a new technology, but as a tool for improving productivity and creating opportunities for growth.
Sessions examined areas including AI strategy, marketing, automation, productivity, innovation, and the future of work, giving attendees the opportunity to consider how emerging technologies can support their own organizations.
Interactive breakout sessions focused specifically on Marketing & AI and Automation & Productivity, helping translate larger conversations about artificial intelligence into practical business applications.
Connecting Funding, Financial Readiness, and Growth
Building a successful business requires more than a strong idea. Entrepreneurs also need the financial knowledge, resources, and preparation necessary to access capital and scale sustainably.
Funding and financial readiness were therefore important parts of this year’s symposium.
Experts from the banking, finance, fintech, entrepreneurship, and economic development sectors shared insights into strengthening loan readiness, accessing capital, improving business planning, and preparing companies for expansion.
These conversations reinforced an important part of building long-term wealth: creating businesses with the financial foundations needed to grow.
Insights From Business and Community Leaders
The 2026 symposium brought together an accomplished group of speakers with expertise spanning technology, artificial intelligence, finance, entrepreneurship, workforce development, marketing, and community economic development.
Keynote speakers Andrew Bromfield, President and Chief Technology Officer of Formative Innovations Inc., and Edwina McKennon, AI Global Strategist and founder of FuturIQ Inc., brought perspectives on technology, innovation, business strategy, and the opportunities AI is creating for entrepreneurs.
They were joined by featured speakers:
Craig Wellington, CEO of the Black Opportunity Fund
Tiffany Callender, co-founder of the Federation of African Canadian Economics
Jean Barrett, Manager of the Community Microfinance Program at Alterna Savings
Haplin Milgrom-Hills, entrepreneur and technology implementation coach
Mark Patterson, Executive Director of Magnet at Toronto Metropolitan University
Olusegun Adebiyi, FCA, CPA, CEO of PaySprint Inc. and Country Senior Partner at OACO Professional Services Corp
Fatiha Senhaji, Vice President of Inclusive Entrepreneurship at the Business Development Bank of Canada
Dorothy Vernon-Brown, founder of AKB² Small Business Marketing
Leonard Dalipi, Program Manager for the RISE Program at Sheridan EDGE
Allison Williams, community advocate, coach, and social impact entrepreneur
Ainsworth Slowly, Founder and Creative Director of CrueTV Digital Media Network
Together, the speakers brought perspectives from across Canada’s entrepreneurial ecosystem and highlighted the connections between technology, access to capital, skills development, community, and economic opportunity.
Creating Opportunities Through Connection
While education was a major part of the symposium, so was connection.
Structured networking brought entrepreneurs together with business leaders, experts, investors, service providers, and fellow founders, creating opportunities to exchange ideas and develop new relationships.
Networking facilitators from organizations and businesses including Detailing Knights, Mango Innovation, Fifth & Park, HR Concepts, FitnanceIQ Services, Black Canadian Creators, and Lanterna Black Innovation Hub helped attendees connect throughout the event.
The symposium was hosted by Ryan Knight of Detailing Knights and Chris-Beth Cowie of Empowered 4x.
Entrepreneurs Taking the Stage
Entrepreneurs also had opportunities to showcase what they were building.
The symposium featured a live pitch competition, giving business owners a platform to present their ideas in front of an engaged audience and connect with potential partners and decision-makers.
The vendor market provided another space for entrepreneurs to showcase their products and services, meet potential customers, and increase their visibility within the business community.
Together with the symposium’s networking sessions, these activities helped transform the event from a day of learning into a space for creating new business relationships and opportunities.
Conversations About Leadership, Wealth, and Legacy
The day culminated in broader conversations about leadership, economic empowerment, wealth creation, and the role technology can play in building stronger businesses.
An executive fireside chat and audience Q&A gave attendees an opportunity to hear directly from experienced leaders while exploring what it means to build businesses that can create lasting economic impact.
That focus on legacy remains at the heart of the ACBN Legacy Symposium.
Technology continues to evolve, but the goal extends beyond adopting the latest tools. It is about giving entrepreneurs the knowledge, connections, resources, and strategies they need to build stronger businesses and create sustainable opportunities for themselves and their communities.
Thank You to the ACBN Community
The ACBN Legacy Symposium 2026 was made possible by the speakers, facilitators, sponsors, vendors, partners, volunteers, and attendees who contributed their knowledge, energy, and experience throughout the day.
Thank you to everyone who joined us in Mississauga and helped make this year’s symposium a meaningful day of connection, insight, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
We look forward to continuing these conversations—and welcoming the community back for the ACBN Legacy Symposium 2027.
