More than 1,400 guests from across the Greater Toronto Area will gather at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre (North Building) Tuesday evening for the 45th annual Cardinal’s Dinner. The event is hosted by the Metropolitan Archbishop of Toronto, the Most Rev. Francis Leo.

Founded by Gerald Emmett Cardinal Carter in 1979, the late archbishop believed passionately that local leaders from the world of business, politics and religion should come together in fellowship and fraternity to strengthen the communities in which they work, live and worship.

This year’s head table includes more than 50 guests, including:

• Dinner Chair, Dr. Colin Saldanha KC*HS
• His Excellency, The Most. Rev. Ivan Jurkovič, Vatican Apostolic Nuncio to Canada
• His Eminence, Thomas Cardinal Collins, Archbishop-Emeritus of the Archdiocese of Toronto
• Hon. Filomena Tassi, representing the Government of Canada
• Hon. Todd McCarthy, representing the Province of Ontario
• Chair Nando Iannicca, Region of Peel (speaking on behalf of 42 municipalities in the archdiocese)
• Her Worship, Olivia Chow, Mayor of Toronto
• Chief Myron Demkiw, Toronto Police Service

The evening begins with a reception at 6 p.m., followed by dinner at 7 p.m. and a keynote address by Archbishop Leo, who was recently named to the College of Cardinals by Pope Francis. An official ceremony will take place this December in Rome.

The Cardinal’s Dinner is primarily a community dinner with fundraising as a secondary goal. Yet, over the years, more than $6 million has been raised to support local charities that are not fully funded by traditional sources. In 2023, 25 charities benefited from the dinner proceeds.