The 'Olympics of Tech' are returning to Toronto this June, but as with any Olympic event, the arrival comes with tons of baggage. The Collision Conference is set to put the city on the global map, but not without a hefty price tag. While some argue it's worth every penny, others beg to differ. Should Toronto continue to play ball with Collision, or is it finally time to let it crash and burn? We’ll let you be the judge.

The Pulse Results (26 Votes) 📈

Side A 54% - Collision is a smart investment that puts Toronto on the world’s tech radar

Side B 46% - Collision is an unnecessary expense; we should be supporting our homegrown conferences

^{Poll closed: May 31, 2023}

Good riddance, Collision tech conference and its $40-million ask. Canada can do better.

Published on: May 18, 2023
Published by: The Globe and Mail – Opinion

Get ready, Toronto! The highly anticipated Collision Conference, AKA ‘The Olympics of Tech’, is making a grand return this June. With over 33,000 attendees from 140 countries, including investors, startups, journalists, and even celebrities… this four-day tech conference is definitely giving the city something to talk about.

Featuring keynotes by renowned speakers, thought-provoking panels, educational sessions, and unparalleled networking opportunities, Collision promises to be an event like no other. However, conversations surrounding Collision are not all rainbows and gummy bears.

The future of Collision in Toronto remains unclear, as negotiations about a 3-year contract renewal are currently underway, with Collision demanding a whopping $16 million per year to stay in Toronto.

Organizations are lobbying for government support, arguing that the event is a worthwhile investment that helps put Toronto on the world’s tech radar. On the other hand, others are arguing that supporting homegrown conferences should be our number one priority.

Should the city secure the necessary funding for Collision to return, or is it time for it to peace-out of Toronto? It’s too soon to tell what the future has in store, but one thing is for sure – there are a collision of opinions surrounding this event!

The Debate Showdown

Side A: Collision is a smart investment that puts Toronto on the world’s tech radar

• ​Collision shines a spotlight on Canada and puts us on the global tech map, supporting Collision shows our commitment to innovation and our drive to be a leader in the global tech game.

• Hosting Collision makes it easier for Canadians to access and attend. In the past, it may have been impossible for them to have that opportunity when it was held internationally.

• Talk about a money-maker! With over 33,000 attendees flocking to Collision, in need of accommodations, food, clothing... you can bet they're spending big bucks in Toronto.

• Collision is a networking dream! It gives our local tech community and startups access to prime connections with influential people and companies from all over the world. These connections could even lead to serious funding that they may not have otherwise had access to locally.

• Collision's global exposure attracts more companies and investments to our city. So, our investment in the conference will pay itself back tenfold with a thriving economy down the road.

• We can still support and attend homegrown conferences, but they will never bring the crowds or clout that Collision does.

Side B: Collision is an unnecessary expense; we should be supporting our homegrown conferences

• We can’t claim to want to support Canadians, but then actively bid against them by funding an international organization. We should be supporting and investing-in our local conferences. It's time to shift the spotlight and give Canadian events the recognition they deserve.

• Collision's hefty financial demands and global bidding wars are borderline extortionist. They don’t genuinely care about Canada’s tech ecosystem; they just care about lining their pockets with money from whichever city is willing to pay them most to host them.

• Why not use that money to invest in initiatives that directly benefit our local tech ecosystem? Like grants, funding incubators, and research and development.

• Homegrown conferences could easily bring in the same masses that Collision does, if they had the same funding.

• By supporting our homegrown conferences, we strengthen our networks, encourage collaboration, and create a sustainable ecosystem for continuous innovation. All while keeping costs lower.

• We should be focusing on the long-term sustainability and growth of our tech ecosystem rather than relying solely on a single, expensive event for attention. This feels like a fad that’s going to eventually fade.

Key Takeaways:

• Collision Conference is returning to Toronto from June 26-29^th after being postponed in 2019 due to the pandemic.

• The conference is expected to gather over 33,000 attendees, including 850 investors, 1,250 startups, 1,200 journalists, and 200 partners from 140 countries.

• The event spans four days and features keynotes, panels, education sessions, and networking opportunities.

• Confirmed speakers include notable individuals like Wikipedia Founder Jimmy Wales, Clearco's Co-founder and CEO Michele Romanow, Canada's Minister of Innovation, Science & Industry Francois-Philippe Champagne, and Startup Mexico‘s Founder and CEO Marcus Dantus.

• Collision's 2023 conference is scheduled to be the last one in Toronto under the current agreement, and its future beyond this year depends on negotiations and financial support.

• Toronto Mayor John Tory, who pioneered the launch of Collision in Toronto, expressed enthusiasm about hosting tech events like Collision, saying that it provides an opportunity to showcase the city's growing technology and innovation sector.

• Collision's future in Toronto is uncertain due to the departure of Mayor Tory, financial pressure on the city and the provincial and federal governments, and an increased financial ask from Collision.

• When originally discussing an agreement to come to Canada, Collision initially asked for $3.8 million, a free venue, free internet, and paid travel for press, speakers, and its team.

• Collision currently receives roughly $6.5 million a year.

• Collision's financial demands for a potential multi-year agreement with Destination Toronto are reportedly around $16 million CAD per year, more than double the current funding.

• Collision has a history of leaving host cities, including Las Vegas and New Orleans, and engaging in a global bidding war every three years to enrich itself.

• Canada has other homegrown conferences such as Mesh, Traction, SaaSNorth, Elevate, and the International Startup Festival (Startupfest) that offer world-class resources for the startup ecosystem.

• Some argue that government support for Collision in 2019 hindered the growth of homegrown conferences.

• Some criticize the Canadian government for favouring foreign conferences over local events.

• Some argue that the money requested by Collision could be better spent in other areas to showcase Canada's ability to build amazing things domestically.

• Organizations, including the Conference Board of Canada and Destination Toronto have requested financial support from the provincial and federal governments to keep Collision in Toronto.

• Some argue that Collision has been a significant contributor to Toronto's tech community and has had a positive economic impact, generating millions of dollars in direct spending and economic activity.

Previous Debate

Previous Pulse Results (51 Votes) 📈

Side A 45% - Social media use helps young adolescents

Side B 55% - Social media use harms young adolescents