Empire Club of Canada

What Empire Club of Canada does

The Empire Club of Canada is a Toronto-based non-profit thought leadership forum established in 1903 that operates as Canada's longest-running speakers' platform. It produces approximately 40 events per season (September through June), including in-person luncheons, evening events, and virtual livestreamed daytime events featuring prominent Canadian and international leaders. The organization maintains a digital archive of 3,500 speeches distributed as the digitized "Red Book" library to universities, consulates, and libraries globally. Its technology stack is modest: a website-based event registration and membership management system (integrated with Stripe for payments), livestreaming infrastructure for virtual events, and a Watch & Listen on-demand video and podcast platform — all standard digital event tooling without disclosed AI/ML components.

The club operates a four-stream revenue model: (1) tiered annual membership subscriptions (Individual $125+, Corporate $500+ for up to four seats, Student $50+) with selective admission; (2) individual event ticket sales with member discounts of at least 10%; (3) corporate sponsorships across multiple tiers (Lead Season, VIP Reception, Event, Student Leadership Donor) with 100+ sponsor organizations in the 2025-2026 season; and (4) philanthropic donations routed through the affiliated Empire Club Foundation. Customer segments span business and policy leaders (primary), emerging student leaders (primary, via the Foundation), corporate sponsors (secondary), and the general public attending virtual or in-person events. The Empire Club Foundation operates as a distinct but related entity managing student scholarships, the Hal Jackman Future Nation Builder Awards Program funded by the Jackman Family, and the digital speech archive.

Operationally, the organization is lean, with approximately 6 staff members led by the first CEO in its history (Kent Emerson, appointed June 2024). It is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors appointed annually and holds PIPEDA compliance certification for data protection. Recent strategic priorities include professionalization of leadership, expansion of the foundation's youth leadership mandate, launch of new event formats (e.g., the inaugural Golf Tournament in June 2026), and ecosystem partnerships with TMX Group and the Council of Ontario Universities. The organization is privately held and does not publicly disclose revenue figures.

Name

Empire Club of Canada

Legal name

Empire Club of Canada

Website

https://empireclubofcanada.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1903

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Empire Club of Canada is a Toronto-based non-profit thought leadership forum established in 1903 that produces approximately 40 speaker events annually for Canadian business, policy, and civic leaders, funded through tiered memberships, event tickets, and 100+ corporate sponsors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Affairs Forum

NAICS

Business Associations (813910), Professional Organizations (813920), Convention and Trade Show Organizers (561920), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Executive Summits & Invitation-Only Forums (MPAGAGAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Association & Society Conference Management (Nonprofit, Professional Bodies) (THAHACAA), Gala Dinners & Fundraising Events (Nonprofit/CSR) (MPAGAHAE)

Keywords

• Thought leadership forum
• Speakers forum
• Membership organization
• Event programming
• Public discourse

Headquarters

HQ city

Toronto

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Sponsorships: Corporate sponsorships across multiple tiers (Lead Season Sponsors, VIP Reception Season Sponsors, Event Sponsors, Student Leadership Donor Sponsors) provide funding and support for events and the Empire Club Foundation. The club maintains a broad base of 100+ sponsor organizations.
2. Membership Fees: Annual membership fees across three tiers: Individual ($125+), Corporate ($500+), and Student ($50+). Membership provides early event access, discounted tickets, curated insights, and networking benefits.
3. Event Ticket Sales: In-person event tickets for luncheon and evening events, with member pricing offering a minimum of 10% off. Individual golfer tickets ($350 + HST), foursomes ($1,200 + HST), and lunch tickets ($200 + HST) are offered for the inaugural golf tournament.
4. Philanthropic Donations to Empire Club Foundation: The Empire Club Foundation receives philanthropic gifts (e.g., the Jackman Family gift launching the Hal Jackman Future Nation Builder Awards Program) and donations to support student leadership, scholarships, and mentorship programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Empire Club of Canada operates a non-profit speakers' forum producing approximately 40 thought-leadership events per season (September through June) that convene prominent Canadian and international leaders to address business, politics, education, trade, and policy issues. It monetizes access through tiered memberships (Individual, Corporate, Student), individual event tickets, corporate sponsorships, and philanthropic donations to its affiliated Empire Club Foundation, while distributing content via an on-demand video/audio library and live virtual webcasts.

Product overview

The Empire Club of Canada is a non-profit thought leadership forum established in 1903 that serves as Canada's leading platform for public discourse. The organization operates a core speakers' forum producing approximately 40 events annually from September through June, featuring keynotes and panel discussions with prominent Canadian and international leaders. The portfolio includes the Nation Builder Award program celebrating impactful Canadians, a tiered Membership Program (Individual, Corporate, Student) offering early event access and networking benefits, a Watch & Listen multimedia platform with video and podcast recordings of past events, and Empire Club Insights providing takeaways from discussions. The affiliated Empire Club Foundation supports student leadership development through scholarships and mentorship. The organization does not offer a technology product; all offerings are thought leadership, event-based, and community-focused services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Empire Club Membership Program
• Empire Club Speakers Forum / Event Programming
• Nation Builder Award Ceremony
• Inaugural Empire Club Golf Tournament
• Watch & Listen Platform
• Empire Club Foundation
• Hal Jackman Future Nation Builder Awards Program

Quantifiable outcome

• The Empire Club has hosted 3,500 prominent Canadian and international leaders since 1903.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, lead season sponsor, vip reception season sponsor and media partner.

• Empire Club FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 March 2026The Empire Club Foundation is the philanthropic arm of the Empire Club of Canada, responsible for the Hal Jackman Future Nation Builder Awards Program, student scholarships and mentorship, and maintaining the digital library of past speeches.
• TMX GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 November 2025The Empire Club Foundation entered into a new partnership with TMX Group, with David Clarke (Head of Government Affairs, TMX Group) closing the market to celebrate the partnership focused on youth and educational opportunities. The partnership aims to engage underrepresented youth and prepare them for civic leadership.
• Bruce Powerlead season sponsorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 September 2025Lead Season Sponsor for the 2025-2026 season, providing financial and promotional support for the club's events and programs.
• Hydro Onelead season sponsorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 September 2025Lead Season Sponsor for the 2025-2026 season.
• National Bank of Canadalead season sponsorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 September 2025Lead Season Sponsor for the 2025-2026 season.
• EllisDonvip reception season sponsorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 September 2025VIP Reception Season Sponsor for the 2025-2026 season.
• McKinsey & Companyvip reception season sponsorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 September 2025VIP Reception Season Sponsor for the 2025-2026 season.
• ORBA (Ontario Road Builders' Association)vip reception season sponsorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 September 2025VIP Reception Season Sponsor for the 2025-2026 season.
• Waste Connections of Canadavip reception season sponsorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 September 2025VIP Reception Season Sponsor for the 2025-2026 season.
• Toronto Starmedia partnerGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 September 2025Media Partner for the 2025-2026 season, providing media coverage and audience reach for Empire Club events.
• Council of Ontario Universities (COU)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2025The Empire Club of Canada hosted the launch of the COU AI Task Force Report on May 29, 2026, featuring university presidents and AI ecosystem leaders. The COU AI Task Force report addresses how Ontario can prepare students for an AI-driven workforce and build Canadian-based AI infrastructure.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Business Council of Canada: CEO-led organization of Canadian business leaders that convenes leaders on policy and economic issues. Comparable on convening senior executives for dialogue, but operates more as advocacy body than speakers' forum.
• Toronto Region Board of Trade: One of the largest business chambers in Canada, hosting policy forums, speaker events, and advocacy. Comparable audience (Toronto business leaders) and event programming, but with broader mandate including trade policy and member advocacy.

Regional players

• Council of Canadian Academies: Canadian non-profit that produces expert assessments on public policy issues. Comparable on thought-leadership mandate and Canadian leadership audience, though focused on commissioned expert reports rather than speaker events.

Direct peers

• Economic Club of Chicago: Members-based speakers' forum hosting heads of state, CEOs, and policy leaders. Comparable on luncheon/evening event format, corporate sponsorship structure, and curated membership access.
• Public Policy Forum (Canada): Canadian non-profit dedicated to improving public policy through dialogue among leaders. Closely comparable on thought-leadership programming, multi-stakeholder audience, and event-driven model.
• The Commonwealth Club of California: World's oldest and largest public affairs forum, hosting prominent speakers across politics, business, and culture. Closely comparable on event-driven thought leadership model, membership program, and content archive approach.
• Canadian Club of Toronto: Toronto-based speakers' forum with a similarly long history of hosting prominent Canadian and international leaders. Direct comparable on mission (public discourse), model (membership + events), and audience (Canadian business/policy leaders).
• Economic Club of New York: Invitation-based speakers' forum for senior executives, featuring high-profile global leaders. Closely aligned on membership selectivity, sponsor model, and speaker-driven programming cadence.

Emerging players

• The Halifax Club: Historic Canadian private members' club with speaker programming and networking events. Partial overlap on membership-club model and Canadian leadership audience, though regional (Atlantic Canada) and more amenity-driven.
• The National Club (Toronto): Long-established Toronto private members' club with dining, events, and networking. Comparable on membership exclusivity and Toronto anchor, but broader club amenities rather than speakers' forum focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Empire_Club
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC5JFCSvSLCrYdxSf2B1rKBQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/empireclubofcanada
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/empire-club-of-canada
• Instagraminstagram.com/empire_club

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Empire Club of Canada