Develop Author & Speaker Platforms

**It's ALIVE!** This interactive workshop invites writers to **step away from the page** and into a **hands-on creative process** using playdough to design original monsters, aliens, or creatures. Participants will **sculpt their own creations**, then collaborate with others by responding to and building on each other’s designs. The workshop also includes **writing a brief history or micro-short story for each creation** to flesh out its personality, culture, and purpose. By creating characters in a **visual and tactile medium**, writers can unlock new ideas, deepen believability, and discover details they might not find through writing alone. **Suggested donation of $5 to cover the cost of workshop supplies**

Join us for our in-person Saturday critique session! We'll be meeting in the basement of **The Blake House**, which is located near Wellesley and Jarvis, about a 10-minute walk from Wellesley Station or Sherbourne Station. **In respect to the Blake House for hosting us, we humbly request that attendees purchase a meal, dessert, or drink if you are able to do so.** Feel free to bring in a piece of writing up to **2000 words** for reading and critique. Please bring paper copies so that listeners can easily follow and make notes. Dedicated listeners are equally welcome. In larger groups, please be mindful of giving everyone a fair chance to speak. Our group values and meeting structure can be found here: [https://www.torontosffwriters.com/sff-writer-rules-and-guidelines](https://www.torontosffwriters.com/sff-writer-rules-and-guidelines) We ask that writers provide content warnings when necessary. To limit the spread of diseases, we kindly ask that you stay home if you're feeling sick. We will be here every week! **\*\*We support the hard work and effort that goes into writing fiction, and do not condone the use of AI to replace the creative process.\*\*** And, that's everything! See you there!

Bond Lake is a serene, natural oasis located in Richmond Hill, part of the Oak Ridges Moraine protected green space in Ontario. This picturesque lake, surrounded by lush forests and rolling hills, is a popular destination for nature enthusiasts and outdoor adventurers alike. The lake itself is a pristine body of water, providing opportunities for seasonal activities such as canoeing, kayaking, and fishing. In winter, it transforms into a peaceful retreat for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. Bond Lake is also home to a diverse array of wildlife, making it a valuable spot for ecological observation and conservation. **Important Reminder:** By participating in this hike, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agreed to the Liability Waiver and Acknowledgement of Risk. If you have not done so, we kindly request that you refrain from participating in this event. We appreciate your cooperation and look forward to an enjoyable and safe adventure! • Dress for the weather! Prepare for the weather and wear suitable gear for the trail. • Ice cleats are mandatory! • Arrive on time! Please be punctual, as the group will leave on time. • Know your limits! Choose the hike that match your fitness level. Meet in the Bond Lake PS parking lot https://maps.app.goo.gl/XLm78hgQWKJTeTmt7

Let’s do some coding together at a cafe! No more working alone in the weekend. Here, we write code together. And I mean together together. Not occupying-the-same-space-but-separate together. Here’s how it works: Jennifer brings her mobile app project, tells everyone that it is like Pinterest for recipes and she’d like to work on the nav bar. Paul and Chloe think Jennifer's project is fascinating, and they join the group. They gather around Jennifer’s laptop and work on the nav bar for 2 hours. Jennifer is the one typing out the code while Paul and Chloe research, brainstorm, and offer suggestions. If you’re feeling stuck on your own project or need a motivation boost, bring it to mob programming! Want to learn by watching how others code and solve problems? Join someone else’s project at this event! Oh and we love your half-done projects that you are a bit embarrassed to share. Absolutely bring those to the event! **Discord**: We use Discord to share screen & code snippets during the event. Also feel free to share your projects here before the event! https://discord.gg/Da9fZFxPfs **Event policy**: * We have 0 tolerance for harassment. * We don’t allow the projects that are not meant to be shared in public such as school assignments, interview tasks, or trade secrets. * The goal is to write code. We discourage you from pitching business ideas here, doing code reviews, or spending the whole event on planning what to do. * Please buy a drink, and tip the barista well.

Join us for an unforgettable Travel Talk with Gwladys Ilfix (@voyagewithbliss) as we explore: Discover the rich traditions, vibrant culture, and breathtaking landscapes of Vietnam. Whether you’re planning your next adventure or simply curious, this is your chance to explore Vietnam like never before! 📅 Date: Saturday, January 10, 2026 🕑 Time: 2:00 PM 📍 Location: Expedia Cruises, 2035 Danforth Avenue, Toronto, ON 🎤 Speaker: Glwadys Ilfix, IG @VoyageWithBliss ✅ Free admission; RSVP required. #TravelTalk #VietnamUnveiled #VoyageWithBliss #ExpediaCruises #TravelWithGwladys #EastYorkEvents #ECeastyork #travel ✅ Reserve your spot today

Join us for a Toronto meetup of creative coders! Every Sunday in January, we're having a meetup to work on generative sketches for Genuary! **What is Genuary?** Genuary is a series of prompts for you to do for every day in January! More info: [https://genuary.art/](https://genuary.art/) **What is creative code?** *Creative coding* refers to anything with an artistic component that uses code as a medium. We welcome artists who use code (for visuals, audio, poetry, or whatever else), designers, animators, toolmakers, researchers, or just enjoyers and people looking to learn more! **Location:** Impact Kitchen on Queens Quay (88 Queens Quay W, Toronto, ON M5J 0B6) **Join our discord** if you want to talk to everyone before/after the event, or have any suggestions for things you'd like to see or do! [https://discord.gg/ux9txXPsdJ](https://discord.gg/ux9txXPsdJ)

#### **This event page is for English speakers only.** **こちらのイベントページは英語話者の方向けです。** **日本人の方は、別のイベントページからお申し込みください！** *** We host a Japanese & English language exchange meeting every Sunday at 9:30 AM. Participants practice in pairs or small groups, with 50 minutes of Japanese practice and 50 minutes of English practice. The study materials used in our sessions are created by professional language teachers. ### **Before Signing Up, Please Read the Following** * **Please make sure to check the comments section of the event page, as all event details and materials will be shared there around Saturday.** * This meeting is intended for people who are genuinely interested in language learning. Participants joining for other purposes may be asked to leave. * We prioritize creating a safe and comfortable environment for all attendees. * Disruptive behavior, solicitation, or sales activities are not allowed. Anyone who does not follow the instructions of the organizer or staff may be removed from the group. * **Participation fee : Refunds and carryovers are not available.** ### **Participation Fee & Donation** Your participation fee will be used by Emiko Tanaka, a Yosakoi Ambassador, to promote Yosakoi Naruko Dance from Kochi, Japan, to the world. For more details, please visit our website: 🔗 [Yosakoi Ambassador Project](https://yosakoiambassador.com/) We look forward to seeing you at the event! 😊

**BACKGROUND** Whether you are an author, game master, or artist, sometimes, we can get stuck on ideas and rough concepts before fully forming our creations. This is the opportunity to brainstorm these with others. **DETAILS** You can bring in your ideas - including world-building, character details, plot arcs, magic systems, technology, etc. - and brainstorm places where you are stuck. Each participant will be given time to workshop their ideas in a free-form manner, as they see fit. It is not mandatory to bring something to discuss; you can also help others brainstorm and meet like-minded people. Please make sure your RSVPs are honored on the day. **LOCATION** Balzac's Image Arts 122 Bond St, Toronto, ON M5B 1X8 (Walking distance from Yonge-Dundas)

Have a completed manuscript and ready to take the next step? Need to polish up your submission materials? Curious about the submission process for trad publishing? Then you'll want to join our query letter and synopsis workshop. The meeting will run the same way as our usualy Saturday in-person meetups, but we'll be reviewing query letters and synopses instead of actual stories. Feel free to bring in a query letter, a synopsis, or both. Not sure what any of this means? In trad publishing, with few exceptions, publishers don't accept unsolicited manuscripts (which means you can't submit to them without an agent). But before an agent will even read your full manuscript, they usually ask that you send a query letter, possibly along with a synopsis and sample pages. A query letter is basically a one-page pitch for your book, providing all the relevant stats (genre, age category, word count), a brief summary of the premise meant to entice them into reading more, and a bio. See here for a more detailed breakdown: https://janefriedman.com/query-letters/ A synopsis outlines all the major beats/plot points of your novel, including the ending. They can range anywhere from one page to a few pages (usually on the shorter side), depending on the agent. See here for more details: https://janefriedman.com/how-to-write-a-novel-synopsis/ We'll start the session with some time for questions and then launch straight into the critique, so come prepared! Listeners are also welcome. We'll be meeting at the MaRS Building in the usual writing sprint spot (up the stairs near Teabot). Note: This process only applies to traditional publishing, but all are welcome to attend. If there's enough demand, more of these will be scheduled in the future.

**FREE EVENT** Business Builders is a Toronto-based, in-person community for **professionals**, **founders**, and **entrepreneurs** who are building—or preparing to build—meaningful businesses. This is **not** a pitch room. This is **not** a motivational talk club. This is a **builder room**. We meet monthly to focus on **practical growth**, share real experiences, solve real business problems, and help each other move forward—together. Each session is built around one core theme that matters right now, such as: * Scaling systems and teams * Improving cash flow and financial clarity * Marketing and lead generation that actually converts * Hiring, delegation, and company culture * AI and automation in real-world businesses * Preventing burnout while maintaining momentum If you’re tired of surface-level networking events and want conversations that actually move your business forward, you’ll feel at home here. **Who This Group Is For** Business Builders is designed for people who are **actively building**. You’ll fit right in if you are: * A business owner or founder * An entrepreneur or independent professional * Running (or growing toward) a real business * Focused on revenue, systems, and long-term sustainability * Looking for meaningful conversations—not business card swaps **This group is especially valuable if you want:** * Honest conversations about what’s working and what isn’t * Practical frameworks you can apply immediately * Accountability and momentum between sessions * A trusted circle of peers who understand the challenges of ownership **What We Do at Each Meetup** Every month, we host a **2-hour in-person session** built around one high-impact theme. **Each meetup includes:** * **Practical Learning** Short, focused insights from an experienced guest or facilitator. * **Real Conversations** Members share wins, challenges, and what they’re currently working through. * **Hands-On Building** Group exercises, workshops, or problem-solving sessions—not passive listening. * **Momentum & Accountability** You leave with clarity, next steps, and support from the group. **Typical Meetup Agenda** **Arrival & Intro (10 min)** Casual mingling, introductions, and agenda overview. **Expert Talk or Theme Presentation (30 min)** A focused presentation on the month’s topic by an experienced practitioner. **Open Sharing & Discussion (30 min)** Members share a win, a challenge, or a current focus area. **Group Workshop (30 min)** Hands-on work on a specific business problem or exercise. **Guided Theme Discussion (15 min)** Facilitated conversation to go deeper on the topic. **Wrap-Up & Social (5 min)** Next steps, upcoming dates, and casual networking. **Topic of the Month** Top 10 AI Tools Every Business Builder Should Know AI is no longer a future trend, it’s a practical advantage for builders who know how to use it correctly. This month, we’ll break down 10 high-impact AI tools that business owners, professionals, and entrepreneurs can use right now to think better, grow faster, automate smarter, and build more efficiently. **Meetup Details** **Frequency:** Monthly **Time:** 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM **Duration:** 2 hours **Location:** Rotating venues in Toronto Exact location details are shared before each event. **Community Values** To keep this group high-quality and valuable for everyone, we operate with a few simple principles: * Be practical * Be honest * Be generous * Be willing to ask for help * Find ways to add value * Respect everyone’s time * Support others before asking for support This is a peer-driven community. Everyone contributes. **What This Group Is NOT** To set clear expectations: ❌ Not a sales pitch room ❌ Not a casual networking happy hour

Join the Toronto Founders Hub every other Saturday at 3:30pm for our regular meetup at 5 Elements Espresso Bar. Sit down with other entrepreneurs to network and discuss business ideas or strategies. \- Broaden your network \- Get critical feedback \- Socialize in low pressure setting I look forward to seeing you!

Looking forward to having you join us! **• What we'll do** We will be meeting every 2nd Saturday of the month from 2-4pm at [The Maker Bean Cafe](https://themakerbean.com/) at [1052 Bloor Street West](https://goo.gl/maps/xB63PDggYo8PRWHC7) in Toronto. **There is no presentation or workshop** \- just people interested in 3D printing meeting to talk about it\! Please purchase a drink or food to support the event and The Maker Bean\, which donates the space at no cost to us\. **• What to bring** Curiosity about 3D printing products, services and training programs for makers of all ages. Business cards to network with other makers. **• Important to know** Join us to find out more about programs organized by the Maker Bean in Toronto and Makerwiz in Richmond Hill! [Makerwiz](https://makerwiz.com/) is Canada's hottest and coolest maker company and has been "Inspiring Boundless Creativity" since 2014\. We have been a long\-time sponsor of this group\. If you are interested in maker technologies from 3D printing and CNC to videography with drones to coding with robots\, come talk to us at our new 3DTech Shop \| DigiFab Lab \| STEAM3D Space north of Toronto\! \(120 East Beaver Creek Road\, Suite 200\, Richmond Hill\) [The Maker Bean](https://themakerbean.com/) is Toronto's first makerspace cafe (est. 2017) and where guests can enjoy great drinks and food in a warm, welcoming environment, while letting their imaginations soar by designing and making things together! We are excited to bring you Making in all its forms: from traditional arts & crafts to high-tech digital fabrication like 3D printing, laser cutting and educational workshops. Paired with locally roasted coffee and food, customers will share the experience of bringing their creative ideas to life!

**Important time note:** Please plan on arriving between 5:30 and 6:00 as the elevators lock after 6 and you'll need to message us and we'll need to come get you. The building address is 4450 Bridge Park The entrance is 6620 Mooney St, Suite 400 **Abstract** GitHub Copilot is rapidly changing how developers write, understand, and maintain code. Powered by generative AI and deeply integrated into modern development environments, Copilot acts as an intelligent coding assistant, helping developers move faster while maintaining quality and focus. In this session, we’ll explore what GitHub Copilot is, how it works, and where it fits into a real-world developer workflow. We’ll break down what Copilot can (and cannot) do, where it can be used, and how licensing differs for individuals and organizations. Most importantly, this talk goes beyond theory with a live, hands-on demo showcasing Copilot inside the IDE and on GitHub, demonstrating how it can assist with code generation, refactoring, learning new APIs, and accelerating day-to-day development tasks. Designed for developers, technical leads, and engineering managers, this session provides a practical introduction to AI-assisted development, highlights best practices for getting value from Copilot, and closes with guidance on how to continue learning and evolving alongside this rapidly advancing tool. Attendees will leave with a clear understanding of how GitHub Copilot can enhance productivity, improve developer experience, and fit into modern software teams today, not someday. **YouTube Link** TBA

The topic for January is "Chemistry" Speak Easy: true stories, told live. The idea is simple: an audience, an open microphone, and great stories. Hilarious, gripping, poignant- it's up to you. Audiences are invited to come to listen or come to tell as folks from all corners of Columbus offer their stories live on stage! Held at Wild Goose Creative's warm, intimate space, this night of tales occurs on the 3rd Thursday of every month. Doors open at 7:00 pm, show starts at 7:30 pm. Please arrive early if you want to tell, as we generally only have room for a limited number of tellers, and the sign-up sheet has a tendency to fill up fast. Formed around the idea that people need stories--they're what hold and draw us together--SpeakEasy celebrates the strangeness and commonness of being human. And in a world of smartphones, Facebook, Twitter, and more . . . it gives people a real, breathing, in-person way to connect. The night is geared for true stories of all kinds, taking the best tales told around kitchen tables, in darkened pubs, on the street corner, and at late-night parties and giving them an audience. Speak Easy is also a great outlet for performers, writers, and artists looking to share their favorite stories and perfect their skills. We strongly encourage tellers to please tell the story rather than read it so we keep within the spirit of good storytelling and stay engaged with the audience. All are welcome. Hang around after the show for a drink and build community!

We're collaborating with Westerville Queer Collective to gather supplies and pack care packages. Head over to their event page to [register](https://www.meetup.com/meetup-group-wroejsfn/events/312453970/) officially. We’ll be assembling care packages with food, warm weather supplies, recreational items like books, and resource guides for local unhoused folks. Packages will then be delivered to HEER2SERVE, local nonprofit that has weekly “serves”, when they go out into local encampment areas and deliver needed items and food. Our care packages will be a part of that. WQC will supply containers and food items for the care packages. So this time we are primarily focusing on gathering donations for keeping warm, including up to 50 of the following items: Clean or new socks, hats, scarves and gloves Handwarmers Sanitizing wipes Lighters You are welcome to contribute items or just come and help pack. Leave a comment if you are bringing donations. We can also accept money donations through WQC.

**Doing KPIs Right: a KEY to Analytics (and AI!) Impact!** On the one hand, KPIs are such a Business 101 concept that it may seem a little silly to dedicate an entire session to the topic. On the other hand, KPIs get handled so poorly so often that a case could be made that this meetup could just be one of the most impactful sessions of the entire year! We’re starting off the year at a new location: [COhatch Upper Arlington](https://www.cohatch.com/locations/columbus/upper-arlington/) but with a familiar speaker, Tim Wilson! We’ll be back at Rev1 in February, when the speaker will presumably not be Tim. Tim will make the case that effectively measuring performance of projects, campaigns, and initiatives (and even meetups!) should be a foundation for any data analytics program. Topics covered will include: the “two magic questions” of performance measurement, how to help business partners distinguish between outcomes and outputs, and effective tactics for collaboratively establishing KPI targets. He will also stick his neck out by demonstrating some of these techniques in real-time by measuring whether his talk lives up to the promise of this description! All CBUSDAW events are free thanks to our 2026 Sponsors: Clarivoy, Conductrics, What Box Consulting Group, and Piwik PRO. Check out [cbusdaw.com](https://cbusdaw.com) for more information.

Columbus Code & Coffee is an inclusive, informal co-working session. People of all skill levels attend, and we love it that way. Many people (optionally) bring projects to work on, and many other people (optionally) socialize the entire time. It's entirely up to you! **What to Expect at the Intro Circle** \~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~ Near the beginning of the event (1:30 pm), we do a standup: * Organizer announcements, updates, and logistics Round 1 - (7 secs max): * Your name * What you're working on * What you can help others with Round 2: * Community events you wanna plug. If none, that's cool too. Round 3: * Job opportunities you're hiring for OR announce that you are looking for one. If none, that's cool. After the introduction circle, everything is self-organized! Feel free to work alone, pair up, attend one of our workshops/presentations, or mingle!