Resilience keynotes for Toronto’s finance and tech teams
Toronto is Canada’s largest city and its financial capital. Paris brings stories from seven continents and the Pacific to its conference rooms.
Bay Street and beyond
Toronto is home to the Toronto Stock Exchange and Bay Street, the centre of Canada’s financial industry, and has one of North America’s largest technology workforces.
Paris’s keynote connects with audiences who work under constant pressure: seven marathons on seven continents in 5 days, 21 hours and 51 minutes, and 4,800 km of open ocean.
For bank, insurance and tech teams going through change, The Grit Code offers tools to keep going when the plan breaks.
Who Paris speaks to in Toronto
Banks and insurers
Conferences and offsites on Bay Street.
Technology
Kick-offs for fast-growing teams.
Associations
Main-stage keynotes for conventions.
Sales kick-offs
Set the tone for a demanding year.
Where Toronto meets
Toronto hosts large conventions and industry conferences throughout the year.
- Metro Toronto Convention Centre – downtown, beside the CN Tower
- Enercare Centre – at Exhibition Place
Ways to book Paris in Toronto
Most Toronto organisers book the 45–60 minute Grit Code keynote. Teams that want depth add a Grit Deconstruction workshop of 90 minutes to half a day, remote audiences get a 30–45 minute virtual version, and Paris can also host and moderate full-day events. Compare formats →
Why audiences believe him
5 days, 21 hours, 51 minutes
The time it took Paris to run 7 marathons on 7 continents: Antarctica, Cape Town, Perth, Dubai, Madrid, Fortaleza and Miami.
More than £150,000 raised
For marine conservation, by rowing 4,800 km across the Pacific in 2023.
See how The Grit Code turns endurance into practical tools. The Grit Code keynote · Past speaking events
Speaking in Toronto, in person or virtually
Available for in-person events in Toronto, or virtually in your local time zone.
Organisers typically book speakers about three months ahead, so get in touch early to secure your date.
See also keynote speaker in Canada, or browse all keynote speaker locations.
Toronto’s economy and who the talk is for
Toronto has a population of about 2,794,356 (2021 figure, Wikidata), which makes it a substantial market for conferences, leadership events and company gatherings.
Businesses with their headquarters in Toronto include Thomson Reuters (media industry), Royal Bank of Canada (economics of banking), Toronto-Dominion Bank (financial sector), Scotiabank (economics of banking), Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (economics of banking) and Brookfield Corporation (financial services).
Banking and financial services (Royal Bank of Canada, Toronto-Dominion Bank and Scotiabank). Banking and finance audiences respond to evidence. Paris frames grit as a measurable habit rather than a personality trait, and links it to the pressure of targets, regulation and market swings that finance teams face every quarter.
Manufacturing and engineering (Thomson Reuters). Manufacturing and engineering audiences value process. The Grit Code breaks grit into habits that can be practised on a production line or a project site, using the discipline of a 4,800 km ocean row as the example.
Telecoms (Rogers Communications). Telecoms businesses run networks that can never stop. Paris has spoken for Nokia, and his message on steady, disciplined effort under pressure suits network, sales and customer teams alike.
Students, graduates and faculty
Toronto’s universities, including OCAD University and Université de l'Ontario français, make it a strong market for student, graduate and alumni events. Paris speaks to young audiences about effort, setbacks and choosing hard goals, and to faculty about building resilient teams.
Typical formats include welcome weeks, graduation events, entrepreneurship programmes and alumni dinners. University keynote speaker →
Other large venues in Toronto
Beyond the main conference halls, Toronto also has large venues for major events, including Maple Leaf Gardens, Coca-Cola Coliseum, Massey Hall and Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts.
Paris is comfortable on any stage, from an arena to a boardroom, and can also host the main stage as MC. Event host and MC →
How a Grit Code session works
- Paris starts with a short briefing call to understand the room, the sector and the challenge in front of it.
- The keynote uses film from his expeditions and TV work to make each idea concrete.
- Many organisers pair it with a Grit Deconstruction workshop or ask Paris to host the full day.
The content is shaped around Toronto organisations and their goals, so the room hears examples that match its own challenges. Paris presents as an adventurer and CEO of Blazing Sand Studios, not as a theorist.
Where the talk fits in Toronto
In Toronto, the most common bookings fall into a few groups:
- Annual company conferences and town halls.
- Change and transformation programmes, including AI adoption.
- Safety, wellbeing and performance days for operations teams.
- Charity dinners and community events, which Paris knows well as an ambassador for Gulf for Good.
Credentials at a glance
- Past speaking clients include Nokia, DHL, Kraft Heinz, IHG, Dubai Airports, Expo 2020, COP28 and the UN Tourism General Assembly.
- He ran 7 marathons on 7 continents in 5 days, 21 hours and 51 minutes.
- In 2023 he rowed 4,800 km across the Pacific with three teammates, raising more than £150,000 for marine conservation.
- He is the CEO of Blazing Sand Studios, an AI video production company.
Queen’s University, Ontario
Paris has given talks at Queen’s University in Ontario. That is his confirmed Canadian speaking work so far. Canadian city and hub pages are also for organisers who want to book him elsewhere in the country, in person or virtually.
He is a keynote speaker on grit and mindset and CEO of Blazing Sand Studios. The Grit Code draws on the 7 marathons on 7 continents and the 2023 Pacific row of 4,800 km.
FAQ
Can I book Paris Norriss as a keynote speaker in Toronto?
Yes. Paris speaks at conferences, company events and leadership programmes in Toronto, in person or virtually.
How far ahead should we book a Toronto event?
About three months ahead is typical, though shorter notice is sometimes possible.
Is the talk relevant to financial-services teams?
Yes. It focuses on performing under pressure and adapting the plan.
Can Paris deliver a workshop as well as a keynote?
Yes. The Grit Deconstruction workshop runs from 90 minutes to half a day.
Which Toronto industries is The Grit Code suited to?
The keynote is tailored to each sector. In Toronto it suits banking and financial services, manufacturing and engineering and telecoms audiences in particular, along with leadership teams, sales kick-offs and all-hands meetings in any industry.
Does Paris speak at universities in Toronto?
Yes. He speaks to students, graduates and staff, for example at institutions such as OCAD University and Université de l'Ontario français, on grit as a learnable skill.
Is there a workshop option for teams in Toronto?
Yes. The Grit Deconstruction workshop runs from 90 minutes to half a day and turns the keynote’s ideas into team habits and actions.
Can the keynote be delivered online for teams in Toronto?
Yes. A 30–45 minute virtual version is available for remote or hybrid audiences, delivered in your local time zone.
Who has Paris spoken for?
Past clients include Nokia, DHL, Kraft Heinz, IHG, Dubai Airports, Expo 2020, COP28 and the UN Tourism General Assembly.
Has Paris spoken in Canada?
Yes. He has given talks at Queen’s University in Ontario. He is also available for conferences and company events elsewhere in Canada.
Bring grit to your next Toronto event
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More about Paris: About · The Grit Code · TV shows · Contact