LSO Road Trip Around the Province

Join the LSO team for our hybrid road trip around the province!

Each session will explore 5 specific ecosystems in Ontario to find out what the Life Sciences sector looks like in their region, what makes their region unique, and what resources are available.

Agenda:

• Monday, September 29 – Brampton – In-Person and Virtual Options Available
• Tuesday, September 30 – Kingston – Virtual Only
• Wednesday, October 1 –  Niagara – In-Person and Virtual Options Available
• Thursday, October 2 – Northern Ontario – Virtual Only
• Friday, October 3 – Ottawa – In-Person and Virtual Options Available

Brampton - Monday, September 29 (In-person & Virtual)

Join us in Brampton for an exciting networking opportunity to explore our thriving life sciences sector. We’re bringing together Brampton’s life sciences ecosystem, industry professionals, decision makers and thinkers over light breakfast, a panel discussion and an ecosystem tour, to learn what makes Brampton a regional hub of life science activity and innovation.

🕣 Time: 8:00 am – 1:20 pm

📍 Location: Brampton City Hall, 2 Wellington Street West, Conservatory followed by City of Brampton tour

Parking:  Free on-site parking with vehicle registration required. The City of Brampton is also conveniently located near the Brampton Innovation District GO Train station (5-minute walk).

Itinerary:

8:00 am – Registration and Networking Breakfast

9:00 am – Land Acknowledgement and Opening Remarks

9:10 am – Panel Discussion and Q&A

Moderator:

• • • Deputy Mayor Harkirat Singh, Co-Chair City of Brampton MedTech Task Force

Panelists:

• • • Ken Spears, Vice President and General Manager, Boston Scientific
    • Heather Strati, Partner, Deloitte
    • Dr Jobin Varughese, Interim Assistant Dean of Primary Care Education for the School of Medicine at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) and Co-Founder Currant Care
    • Veronique Boscart, Chief Scientific Officer, William Osler Health System

10:00 am – Board bus for an exclusive opportunity to tour key players in Brampton’s unique and growing Health & Life Sciences ecosystem.

• • • Peel Memorial Centre for Integrated Health and Wellness
    • Sheridan College
    • Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU)

1:00 pm – Networking Lunch

2:00 pm – End of Tour

Who Should Attend:

• Life science professionals
• Entrepreneurs and international startups
• Companies interested in global expansion
• Researchers and academics
• Investors and venture capitalists
• Industry leaders and policymakers
• Municipal Development Corporations and Chambers of Commerce/Industry Associations

Kingston - Tuesday, September 30 (Virtual Only)

🕣  Time: 9:00 am - 10:00 am

Big things are happening in Kingston’s life sciences scene!

New wet lab space is coming online, and exciting funding programs are launching to support growth and innovation. Learn more about:

• • • Major upgrades to Queen’s University’s core facilities
    • The new Life Sciences Build2Scale program
    • Helix Funding to support life sciences companies

There’s a ton happening in Kingston’s life sciences ecosystem come join us and hear all about it!

Niagara - Wednesday, October 1 (In-person & Virtual)

This isn’t the Niagara you thought you knew! Niagara Economic Development invites you to take a deep dive into Niagara’s cutting-edge ecosystem supporting life sciences. Through networking, presentations, and a panel discussion, learn about the various facilities, programs, research, and commercialization that’s incubating in Niagara.

📍 Location: Brock University, Goodman School of Business Atrium, 1812 Sir Isaac Brock Way, St. Catharines, ON (Lot D Parking)

🕣 8:30 am – 11:00 am (Tours to follow)

Itinerary

8:30 am: Networking Breakfast

• • • Meet with Niagara area researchers, professionals, and startups in the life sciences

9:00 am: Welcome & Presentations

• • • Learn about core life sciences facilities in Niagara (including Brock’s CL3 Containment Facility for Infectious Diseases, the VPMI which houses the largest suite of mass spectrometry equipment in Canada, and wet lab space for startups). Find out about the work happening in Medical & Pharma, Ag-Tech, and Lifespan research in the region. Presenters include:

• • • • • Farzana Crocco, Executive Director, Innovation, Commercialization & Entrepreneurship, Brock University
        • Dr. Jennifer Tsang, Executive Director and Chief Scientist, Niagara Health Knowledge Institute
        • Dr. Ian Potter, President & CEO, Vineland Research & Innovation Centre

10:00 am: Panel Discussion & Q&A

• • • Hear from life sciences businesses and startups in Niagara:
      • • Dr. Yousef Haj-Ahmad, President & CEO, Norgen Biotek
        • Dr. Fiona Hunter, President, Entomogen Inc. and emDx, a division of Entomogen Inc.
        • Akeem Gardner, Founder & CEO, Canurta Therapeutics
        • Paul Goncharow, Founder & CEO, Kactis AI

10:45 am: Networking & Mingling

11:00 am: Depart for optional tours

• • • Option 1: Validation Prototyping & Manufacturing Institute (VPMI)
    • Option 2: Niagara Health Knowledge Institute, Clinical Trials Program

Northern Ontario - Thursday, October 2 (Virtual Only)

🕣Time: 9:00 am - 10:00 am

Tour Northern Ontario’s Genomics Research Hub at Canadore College—a first-of-its-kind academic lab for next-generation sequencing in Canada. Explore how genomics research is driving impact across:

• • • Agritech & agri-food
    • Health sciences
    • Water & wastewater management

Ottawa - Friday, October 3 (In-person & Virtual)

Explore Ottawa’s thriving life sciences sector with us on October 3, 2025. We’re bringing together leaders from across the ecosystem for a dynamic conversation on how research, talent, and companies are driving local innovation in ways that have national impact.

🕣Time: 8:30 am - 10:30 am
📍 Location: Confederation Room, 2^nd Floor, 350 Albert Street, Ottawa, ON  K1R 1A4

Cap off the road trip in Ottawa with a showcase of innovation featuring leaders from the Stem Cell Network, Capital BioVentures, the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Rhythm Biotherapeutics, Atorvia, and BioTalent Canada. Come hear why Ottawa is emerging as a powerhouse in Canada’s life sciences sector.