Product Prototyping

**.... Do you *dread* speaking in front of others? .... Need to *present* an important meeting? .... Is it time to *enhance* your communication skills?** **Meeting Theme: 'Create Images with Powerful Words**' In Toastmasters we encourage the use of precise, vivid, and active language to engage audiences and convey ideas clearly. By stretching our working vocabulary and using more evocative word descriptions, we can easily expand our language skills and eventually improve our message. Gain new insights and benefit from the information provided by Toastmasters Speechcraft program. Join our meeting and experience the hands-on “how-to” instruction in public speaking. If you are an experienced Toastmaster or a guest exploring Toastmasters, you will acquire a new way of communicating your thoughts with increased clarity and impact. Each ‘discovery’ meeting will provide valuable tips to boost your confidence on stage. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals and learn from experienced speakers. **What is the Toastmasters Speechcraft Discovery meeting?** You will: * gain insights into principles and strategies from expert speakers, * hear speeches and learn from evaluations given by advanced Toastmasters, * experience what happens at a real Toastmasters meeting, * get familiar with the Toastmasters Speechcraft program and resources, * discover the benefits of Toastmasters Speechcraft for personal and club growth. **Register NOW for any FREE Discovery meeting.** **Discovery Meeting:** Tuesday, May 5, 2026 7:00PM to 8:30PM Doors open 6:45PM **Have a question, contact organizer:** Phoenixtmvppr@gmail.com **Sponsor:** Phoenix-Toronto Toastmasters Club Phoenix-Toronto Toastmasters empowers individuals to master the communication skills that drive personal achievement and confidence. Through practice and peer feedback, you will rapidly develop presentation abilities, persuasive influence, and leadership presence. Accelerate your audience impact and transform your trajectory with skills that will help you grow your opportunities. **Speechcraft Discovery Series** **Week 1 – Tuesday, Feb 3, 2026** ‘How to Choose a Topic’ **Week 2 – Tuesday, Mar 3, 2026** ‘How to Organize a Speech’ **Week 3 – Tuesday, Mar 17, 2026** ‘Know Your Speech Purpose’ **Week 4 – Tuesday, Apr 7, 2026** ‘How to Impact with Body Language’ **Week 5 – Tuesday, Apr 21, 2026** ‘How to Use Vocal Variety’ **Week 6 – Tuesday, May 5, 2026** ‘How to Create Images with Powerful Words’ **Week 7 – Tuesday, Jun 2, 2026** ‘Research Your Topic to Elevate Your Credibility’ **Week 8 – Tuesday, Jun 16, 2026** ‘Evaluate to Elevate’

**Bible & Beer Series!** Ignite! Young Adult Ministry (ages 18–39) **Tuesday, May 5** \| 7:00 p\.m\. \- 9:30 p\.m\. **St. Patrick’s Church – 137 McCaul Street** (Enter through the front Church doors) **Followed by a social at Sin & Redemption** Come be a part of Bible and Beer, a monthly conversation series for young adults (18 - 39) diving into scripture, life, and the real questions that shape our faith journey. This month, we welcome **Fr. Graham Hill, C.Ss.R.,** as our guest speaker, offering a reflection on the upcoming Sunday readings. Expect though-provoking insights, small group conversations, and plenty of time to unwind with others over a pint (or your choice of drink - mine is tea) at **Sin & Redemption Pub** just across the street. **Get your ticket and register here: [https://bit.ly/Bible_And_Beer_May2026](https://bit.ly/Bible_And_Beer_May2026)**

**Meet new people over great food in a relaxed, social setting.** This is a small-group social dining experience for people who enjoy good food, good conversation, and expanding their circle in a natural way. Everyone attending is there to meet others — no pressure, no awkward networking. **What to expect** * A small group (usually 4–8 people) * A friendly, low-pressure atmosphere * Easy, natural conversation **How it works** We coordinate the group and reserve the table once attendees confirm. The venue and details are shared with the group beforehand. Just show up, order what you like, and enjoy the experience. Each guest covers their own food and drinks. To keep groups balanced and confirmed, seat confirmations happen through #dine: https://www.hashtagdine.com/

That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime the Movie: Tears of the Azure Sea (Japanese w/ e.s.t.) will be our next movie night in theatre on May 5th at 6:20PM in Cineplex Yonge and Dundas.

We often think of reasons as tools for justifying our choices. But if that’s all they are, why is it that we can feel “reasonless” in the middle of doing something — or confident in a choice we can’t explain to anyone else? In our next Curiosity Café we will begin by thinking about reasons as justifications. What makes a reason a good reason? What has to be true for a reason to actually justify an action — and why do we so often feel compelled to justify ourselves in the first place? Then we will turn to the question of where reasons come from. The answer seems deeply personal — your reasons feel like yours — yet philosophers argue that some reasons may be universal, rooted in human nature, culture, or ethics. But which is it? And does having a reason to do something mean, on some level, that you want to do it? Finally, we ask: can any choice be fully justified? The “Why Game” suggests that however good your reason is, someone can always ask why again. What does this justificatory regress mean for the choices we make and what responsibility do we have, individually and collectively, to seek good reasons for how we live and treat each other? Join our co-moderators Jesse Vriend and Marybel Menzies to explore these questions and more on May 5th! **Space is limited!** **Please obtain a “Pay-What-You-Can” ticket from Curiosity Café at [this link (click here)](https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/curiosity-cafe-reasons-justification-tickets-1988294578608) to attend this event. You need a ticket to be admitted.** See the above link for more info about tickets and other options including a limited number of free tickets. Come and hang out with us, grab food, and read through our handout from 6-6:30pm. Our structured discussion will run from 6:30-8:30pm with a 10 minute break in the middle. Hope to see you there! ***__________________________________________________________________*** This event is brought to you by [Being and Becoming](https://beingnbecoming.org/), a Toronto based non-profit. We aim to create community around exploring everyday concepts and experiences so that we may live more intentional, thoughtful, and meaningful lives. We use philosophy as a tool with which we can come to a richer understanding of the world around us. By offering activities, spaces, and other opportunities for conversation and co-exploration, we hope to enable the meeting and fusion of individuals and their ideas. Everyone is welcome, regardless of background: indeed, we believe the journey is best undertaken alongside explorers from a variety of disciplines, cultures, backgrounds, and experiences. Find out more about Being and Becoming [here](https://beingnbecoming.org/). About the Curiosity Café Series: For those of you who haven’t had the opportunity to join us at our Curiosity Cafés and are wondering what they’re all about: every two weeks, we invite members of our community to come out to the Madison Avenue Pub to engage in a collaborative exploration of our chosen topic. Through these events, we aim to build our community of people who like to think deeply about life’s big questions, and provide each other with some philosophical tools to dig deeper into whatever it is we are most curious about.

**Meet new people over great food in a relaxed, social setting.** This is a small-group social dining experience for people who enjoy good food, good conversation, and expanding their circle in a natural way. Everyone attending is there to meet others — no pressure, no awkward networking. **What to expect** * A small group (usually 4–8 people) * A friendly, low-pressure atmosphere * Easy, natural conversation **How it works** We coordinate the group and reserve the table once attendees confirm. The venue and details are shared with the group beforehand. Just show up, order what you like, and enjoy the experience. Each guest covers their own food and drinks. To keep groups balanced and confirmed, seat confirmations happen through #dine: https://www.hashtagdine.com/

💡 **Online Speed Dating — Built for Bakersfield Singles Who Mean It** Some of the best people at these events are first-timers who thought they'd be nervous. Others are introverts who thrive in one-on-one rounds. Some are just bold enough to try something new. Think of it as a room full of Bakersfield singles who all turned up with the same hope: that today might be the day something real begins. Live on Zoom from wherever you are. Short rounds, real people, all local to Bakersfield. Matched by age so conversations actually go somewhere. **Choose your age bracket to claim your place:** - Ages 18-32: [Register Here](https://tempodating.com/product?productId=474.0&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=Bakersfield&groupurlname=local-brunches-for-meaningful-longterm-connections&ar=18-32&face_v=3.0) - Ages 30-46: [Register Here](https://tempodating.com/product?productId=474.0&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=Bakersfield&groupurlname=local-brunches-for-meaningful-longterm-connections&ar=30-46&face_v=3.0) - Ages 40-58: [Register Here](https://tempodating.com/product?productId=474.0&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=Bakersfield&groupurlname=local-brunches-for-meaningful-longterm-connections&ar=40-58&face_v=3.0) - Ages 55+: [Register Here](https://tempodating.com/product?productId=474.0&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=Bakersfield&groupurlname=local-brunches-for-meaningful-longterm-connections&ar=55+&face_v=3.0) 🔔 Heads up — clicking RSVP here is not enough. Please register through your age group link and finish the personality quiz to lock in your spot. --- **Here's what to do:** 1. Follow the link for your age group, complete the registration, and answer the personality quiz. 2. Join the Zoom at the event time — no app downloads needed, works on any device. 3. Go through a series of short private rounds with age-matched Bakersfield singles, all guided by a friendly host. 4. After it ends, mutual matches are sent to you so you can take things at your own pace. Small groups. Real rounds. Actual chemistry. If finding someone meaningful matters to you, this is the most direct path there.

Startup Grind Toronto is partnering with RCVRI to host an evening that blends startup grit with physical and mental recovery. We are inviting founders to step up and pitch their ventures to a panel of active investors - not from a stage, but throughout RCVRI's world-class facility. By removing the formal slides and the traditional stage, we are creating a space for more natural, organic conversations while rotating through contrast therapy. Who should be in the room? Founders & Builders: Whether you are buying a ticket to pitch or just to join the conversation, this is for those who prioritize mental performance as much as business growth. Investors & Angels: VCs looking to meet founders in a transparent, high-engagement environment that goes deeper than a standard deck. Ecosystem Partners: Leaders who value wellness, longevity, and high-performance cultures. What you’ll learn How to communicate your vision clearly and concisely without the crutch of a slide deck. Gain firsthand experience with contrast therapy (cold plunge and sauna) and learn how it impacts stress management. Real-time reactions from our investor panel in a setting that encourages honest, unfiltered dialogue. A strictly limited, private session (max 25 people) designed to foster deeper relationships through shared experience. Run of Show 7:00 PM: Arrival & Registration 7:15 PM: Welcome & Investor Introductions 7:20 PM: Pitch Rotations & Free Flow Contrast Therapy 8:30 PM: Event Wrap-Up Ready to pitch? Select the "Founder Pitch" ticket at checkout. Only 10 slots available. About RCVRI RCVRI Toronto is a wellness and recovery studio designed to help people recharge, perform better, and feel their best. Located in Toronto, RCVRI offers science-backed recovery modalities including hot and cold plunges, traditional saunas, red light therapy, compression, and PEMF to support physical recovery, reduce stress, improve sleep, and optimize overall well-being. Agenda --- Hosted By Ankur Sethi, Director Ankur Sethi is a seasoned entrepreneur and venture capitalist with over 17 years of experience building and scaling consumer businesses across technology, finance, and healthcare. He has led ventures from inception to over $350 million in annual revenue and $2 billion in valuation, combining operational excellence with a deep understanding of evolving consumer behavior. Daria Tilikanova, Co-Director Daria Tilikanova is a business and startup coach who helps founders and service-based entrepreneurs build scalable businesses with clear strategy, strong positioning, and predictable revenue systems. Originally from Russia, she founded and sold two education companies before moving to Canada, where she shifted into full-time mentoring for early-stage and growing founders. Daria has worked with 200+ entrepreneurs across tech, education, wellness, and agency-based businesses, guiding them from first clients to stable growth and team building. Alongside her private practice, she is a Venture Fellow at Winner Capital, supporting startup evaluation and founder readiness for investment. Her coaching combines business structure, mindset work, and execution clarity - helping entrepreneurs grow without burnout or chaos. Lydia Emanuel, I run a consultancy that focuses on Talent Strategy and Operations for fast-moving companies. Instead of just hiring people, I build the systems that help businesses scale without the chaos. I also lead Events and Sponsorships for Startup Grind Toronto, connecting the best brands to our local tech community. Diana Subbotkina, I help grow the Toronto startup ecosystem through Startup Grind Toronto, connecting founders, investors, and operators through curated events, partnerships, and community initiatives. My work focuses on bringing the right people into the room and creating opportunities for meaningful connections and growth. Shabs Badsha, Sukanta Goswami, Inquisitive entrepreneur connecting and collaborating with earlystage ventures by investing time and energy in bringing new ideas and concepts to the market. --- Global Partner Carta (http://www.carta.com/launch?utm_campaign=20240423-nam-general-smb-startup_grind_partnership&utm_medium=social&utm_source=startup_grind) Carta helps people manage equity, build businesses, and invest in the companies of tomorrow. Carta Launch is the only free cap table product, helping new founders get started. The company is trusted by more than 40,000 companies, over 7,000 funds and SPVs, and over two million equity holders to manage cap tables, compensation, valuations, liquidity, and more. For more information, visit carta.com. Partners Winner Capital (https://winner.capital) Winner Capital is an early stage to growth stage syndicate fund investing across North America RCVRI (https://www.rcvri.co/en-ca/) --- Startup Grind is a global startup community designed to educate, inspire, and connect entrepreneurs. We host monthly events in more than 600 cities and 125+ countries featuring successful local founders, innovators, educators and investors who share personal stories and lessons learned on the road to building great companies. Our monthly fireside chat interviews, startup mixers and annual conferences provide ample opportunities to connect with amazing startups and the people behind them, tap into a strong support network, form meaningful connections and gain inspiration for the startup journey ahead. For more information visit StartupGrind.com or follow us on twitter @StartupGrind. --- Complete your event RSVP here: https://www.startupgrind.com/events/details/startup-grind-toronto-presents-cancelled-pitch-and-plunge/.

**Directions to the Room:** To find the room, once in Port Credit Arena at the main entrance, go up the stairs, room is on the left. Room is labelled Credit Room South. **Event Description:** This is an informal improv workshop where we get together to play games and scenes similar to those in Whose Line is it Anyways: https://youtu.be/KF3D2TMUhN8. If you want to boost your acting chops or are just looking for some silly fun, this is the place to be! There are usually 10-20 people. The session starts with introductions, followed by group games then finishes with audience/performance sessions. Max capacity is 35 and spots are held based on how soon you sign up. See you there! **Payment** The price is $10 per person (interac only!) to help cover the costs of running the event. I can only accept interac e-transfer since at Mississauga facilities I'm not allowed to take cash. We start by 7:10 please make sure to come on time. P.S - We usually grab dinner/drinks at one of Port Credit's fabulous nearby bars or restaurants after the session. Everyone's welcome!

Don't be disappointed if you don't see a bunch of people attending. I advertise this on multiple platforms and the class usually sells out. Improv comedy uses several techniques to create laughter. These include, creating an atmosphere free of judgement, saying 'yes', active listening, being positive, putting your focus on others, and the importance of play and laughter. Not coincidentally, these are the same things that happen to us naturally when we are bonding with another person. In this class, we'll explore these techniques not with the goal of being funny, but with the goal of being people that other people want to be around. The organizer, Ralph MacLeod, is a co-founder of two independent improv clubs in Toronto - Bad Dog Theatre and Social Capital Theatre. He's been teaching improv for over 30 years. He also teaches these same techniques to several organizations including UofT, Google, Kraft, Shopify and many, many more. Please feel free to ask any questions you may have! FAQs and Good To Know.... After every event, a group from this class sit down and have a drink together so be prepared to stay if you want! Of course, you don't HAVE to. You also don't have to be single or bring a friend. The vibe of this class is much more 'making new friends' than a 'singles' mixer'. We usually run to 8:15 so pay for extra parking!

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/xwjDdVSw3E **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.

Don't be disappointed if you don't see a bunch of people attending. I advertise this on multiple platforms and the class usually sells out. \*\*If you don't use Paypal, email me at ralph@socap.ca and we'll figure it out. You can pay be etransfer or with a credit card/cash at the venue.\*\* Improv comedy uses several techniques to create laughter. These include, creating an atmosphere free of judgement, saying 'yes', active listening, being positive, putting your focus on others, and the importance of play and laughter. Not coincidentally, these are the same things that happen to us naturally when we are bonding with another person. In this class, we'll explore these techniques not with the goal of being funny, but with the goal of being people that other people want to be around. The teacher, Ralph MacLeod, is a co-founder of two independent improv clubs in Toronto - Bad Dog Theatre and Social Capital Theatre. He's been teaching improv for over 30 years. He also teaches these same techniques to several organizations including UofT, Google, Kraft, Shopify and many, many more. Please feel free to ask any questions you may have! FAQs and Good To Know.... After every event, a group from this class sit down and have a drink together so be prepared to stay if you want! Of course, you don't HAVE to. You also don't have to be single or bring a friend. The vibe of this class is much more 'making new friends' than a 'singles' mixer'. We usually run to 8:15 so pay for extra parking!

💡 **Richmond Online Speed Dating — Where Meaningful Starts** If you're someone who's been holding back — maybe you're a bit introverted, maybe you've never tried speed dating, or maybe you just haven't found the right setting — this is that setting. Everyone here is looking for something that lasts. Not a match that fades after a week — something real, meaningful, and worth building on. Live on Zoom from wherever you are. Short rounds, real people, all local to Richmond. Matched by age so conversations actually go somewhere. **Find your age group and sign up:** - Ages 18-32: [Register Here](https://tempodating.com/product?productId=481.0&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=Richmond&groupurlname=downtown-singles-serious-about-meaningful-bonds&ar=18-32&face_v=3.0) - Ages 30-46: [Register Here](https://tempodating.com/product?productId=481.0&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=Richmond&groupurlname=downtown-singles-serious-about-meaningful-bonds&ar=30-46&face_v=3.0) - Ages 40-58: [Register Here](https://tempodating.com/product?productId=481.0&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=Richmond&groupurlname=downtown-singles-serious-about-meaningful-bonds&ar=40-58&face_v=3.0) - Ages 55+: [Register Here](https://tempodating.com/product?productId=481.0&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=Richmond&groupurlname=downtown-singles-serious-about-meaningful-bonds&ar=55+&face_v=3.0) ⚠️ RSVPing here does not hold your place. You must register through the link above and complete the short personality quiz to be confirmed. --- **What happens next:** 1. Click your age group link above, register, and fill in the short personality questionnaire. 2. At event time, open your Zoom link. Any device works — phone, tablet, laptop. 3. Spend a few minutes with each Richmond local in private one-on-one rounds, matched by age and personality. 4. After it ends, mutual matches are sent to you so you can take things at your own pace. Small groups. Real rounds. Actual chemistry. If finding someone meaningful matters to you, this is the most direct path there.

**Building a great product is one thing—building momentum behind it is another.** Join **Senior Product Manager Adam Solaiman** and **User Experience Manager Tyson Smith** for a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to turn complex ideas into scalable products inside large organizations. In this session, they’ll share how teams move from ambiguity to execution—navigating organizational complexity, aligning stakeholders, and continuously evolving products after launch. You’ll walk away with insights on how to: * Build and sustain momentum across teams * Adapt to changing priorities without losing direction * Scale products thoughtfully in complex environments Whether you're driving a new initiative or growing an existing product, this conversation will give you practical strategies to keep things moving forward. Come connect, learn, and swap stories with fellow product professionals. \-\-\- Food and drinks will be provided by Switchbox, our generous host. Free parking will be available at the front and back sides of the Switchbox Office.

Bring your Raspberry Pi, Arduino, microcontroller, or any other electronic project and join fellow electronics makers for a night of creativity and collaboration! This session is open forum to share your current projects—whether complete or in progress, it’s all interesting! Whether you’re deep into embedded systems, exploring new ideas, or just getting started, you’ll find a welcoming space to collaborate, share, and get inspired. **New to electronics or curious about tinkering?** You’re absolutely welcome. If you’re a beginner and want to experiment, I’ll have a couple of starter kits available so you can try things out—whether that’s blinking your first LED, putting something on a display, or experimenting with simple sensors. No pressure and no experience required—just an interest in learning and building. While we continue to pursue a more permanent venue for this Meetup, we’ll be using public library facilities based on availability. This session will be at the Worthington Park Library in the Olentangy Meeting Room.

Whether you've never done improv before, or you've done it for so long you knew Del Close on a personal level, or anywhere in between, come join us! Swing by *Gresso's* for the **Columbus Improv Comedy Meetup** for some fun and games! The idea behind improv is to create entire scenes from scratch based on a suggestion from the audience. This can be done in game form, like *Whose Line Is It Anyway*, *ComedySportz*, or *Wild 'n Out*; it could also be done to tell stories, like *Middleditch and Schwartz*. Our meetup, which is central Ohio's longest running (and free!) weekly comedy event, brings the games (and occasionally different forms) for you to play in a safe, supportive, and compassionate environment. Not only is it a lot of fun, but you get to work on thinking faster on your feet, plus it's an excellent way to meet new people and make friendships that'll last a lifetime! Ask yourself if you want to join the **Columbus Improv Comedy Meetup**, and say "Yes, And" that you'll have fun!

FREE event [https://www.ccad.edu/chroma](https://www.ccad.edu/chroma) Friday, May 15, 3–7 p.m. CCAD campus, 60 Cleveland Ave, Columbus, OH Join Columbus College of Art & Design for *2025* *Chroma: Best of CCAD*, our annual campuswide exhibition showcasing outstanding student work from across the college’s academic programs. This faculty-juried show features select work from CCAD students of all class years, and is a can’t-miss end-of-year campus celebration recognizing their tremendous achievements. It’ll be a night of fun and entertainment, with interactive games, animation and film screenings, art symposiums, poetry and prose readings, and more (along with some of the best local food trucks). *Chroma* is free and open to all. Many exhibitions including... **Game Art & Design:** **DSB, first floor, Welcome Center lobby and Room 115**

Whether you've never done improv before, or you've done it for so long you knew Del Close on a personal level, or anywhere in between, come join us! Swing by *Gresso's* for the **Columbus Improv Comedy Meetup** for some fun and games! The idea behind improv is to create entire scenes from scratch based on a suggestion from the audience. This can be done in game form, like *Whose Line Is It Anyway*, *ComedySportz*, or *Wild 'n Out*; it could also be done to tell stories, like *Middleditch and Schwartz*. Our meetup, which is central Ohio's longest running (and free!) weekly comedy event, brings the games (and occasionally different forms) for you to play in a safe, supportive, and compassionate environment. Not only is it a lot of fun, but you get to work on thinking faster on your feet, plus it's an excellent way to meet new people and make friendships that'll last a lifetime! **AND TODAY IS OUR THIRTEENTH ANNIVERSARY!!!** So be ready for a celebration of everything that's made Improv Meetup wonderful: you, the amazing performers! Ask yourself if you want to join the **Columbus Improv Comedy Meetup**, and say "Yes, And" that you'll have fun!

NFT's are here to stay folks! This is a group for like minded people interested in understanding, leveraging, using, creating for, profiting from, trading too i suppose, NFT's.. everything around them, complexity, fear and exploits, best practices and more. **PLUS** This group will talk AI ART tools, techniques, artists, video, audio, prototypes and more in the AI assisted production space- ART specifically, but we can get into any aspect of some of the cooler things happening in AI in general.