05/15/2025
What an incredible launch for the Canadian Retail Collective Conference!
This conference marked the beginning of something important. The Canadian Retail Collective is a new initiative that unites top retail researchers and industry leaders to foster collaboration, share insights, and tackle the real-world challenges facing the Canadian retail sector. This collaboration is helping to bridge the gap between academic research and practical retail innovation and knowledge mobilization.
Thank you to our keynote speakers and to all of the outstanding retail executives and academic researchers who delivered thought-provoking insights during our panels and keynotes. From AI/technology to the future of marketing and human capital, the conversations were rich and forward-thinking.
Special thanks to our founding team, Ramesh Venkat David Sobey Retailing Centre (Saint Mary’s University), Jenna Jacobson Retail Leadership Institute (Toronto Metropolitan University), John Pracejus Centre for Cities and Communities (University of Alberta), Yu Ma McGill Institute of Marketing, and Ethan Pancer David Sobey Retailing Centre (SMU), for bringing this initiative to life.
The David Sobey Retailing Centre would also like to thank our Advisory Council members, Diane Brisebois, Doug Stephens, Joe Jackman and Julia Knox for your support and participation in this year’s inaugural conference.
We’re already planning for a bigger and even more impactful event next year. Hope to see you there!
📸 Swipe through to see some great moments from the event
🌐 Learn more at retailcollective.ca