On Monday August 21, 2017, the ICCCTO in partnership with Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland, and the Ireland Fund of Canada, welcomed An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar T.D. to Toronto.  200 guests turned out for a business breakfast at One King West’s  Grand Ballroom.  Guests of honour included His Excellency Jim Kelly, Irish Ambassador to Canada; His Excellency Kevin Vickers, Canadian Ambassador to Ireland; Seamus O'Regan M.P., Chair Canada-Ireland Interparliamentary Group; James Maloney M.P., Vice-Chair Canada-Ireland Interparliamentary Group. 

The focus of the morning was the economic opportunities for Ireland and Canada in light of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) and the existing links between both countries.

We were delighted to be joined by Minister Sean Canney TD; the Irish Ambassador to Canada HE Mr. Jim Kelly; the Canadian Ambassador to Ireland, HE Mr. Kevin Vickers; Seamus O’Regan, MP and Chair of the Canada-Ireland Inter-parliamentary Group; Jean-François Perrault, Senior VP and Chief Economist Scotiabank; Greg Kanargelidis, I.E. Canada; Wendy Wagner, Gowling WLG; John Roxburgh, Senior Trade Commissioner Embassy of Canada Dublin, Ireland; Emmanuel Dowdall, EVP of North America, IDA Ireland; Alan Gregg, Industrial Brothers; Michael Stewart, Toronto Global; Ruaidhri McSharry, Sureskills; Vincent McNally, Bimeda; and our colleagues from the Ireland Canada Business Association delegation including Chair Garrett Monaghan and E.D. Kate Hickey.  

Thank you to venue host Gowling WLG and to contributing sponsors: KPMG, IDA Ireland, Scotia, and the Irish Embassy Pub and Grill.

On May 5th 2017, An Taoiseach Enda Kenny T.D. visited Toronto.  ICCCTO with partners Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland, and the Embassy of Ireland hosted a sold-out business breakfast for our membership to engage with the Taoiseach and hear him speak about how CETA will pave a path to better Canada-Ireland trade relations. 

Thank you to all our members who joined us to celebrate the year that was.  PJ O'Brien Pub and its wonderful staff welcomed us as they always do and the band "The Irish Guys" provided toe-tapping entertainment.  Special thanks to Enterprise Ireland and Pat Quinn for sponsoring this event. 

Key-Note Speaker Bill Kyle--former CEO Irish Life and EVP Wealth Management Great West Life--addressed a packed room at One King West with Guest of Honour Michael Hurley--Deputy Head of Mission Embassy of Ireland Ottawa--speaking about CETA, Brexit, the US Election, and how trade with Canada is as vital as ever.  

Great turn-out from long-time members and new arrivals.  Guests included: Enterprise Ireland, Scotia, Rogers, Thunder Bay Community Economic Development Commission, Ireland Fund of Canada, and the Ireland Park Foundation.  

Thank you to our volunteers; our event sponsors The Hot House Restaurant and Bar and The Irish Embassy Pub and Grill; and our prize sponsors Tourism Ireland and Air Canada Vacations.

Photo Credit: William Smith

Quiz Master Mick Monaghan and his question-vetting committee challenged us again with high-level material.  You were an audience to be reckoned with, and many impressed with answers that were correct or comedic. 

Congrats to Derek Quilliam’s Rebel House Alliance who took the trophy.  2nd place went to the Fearsome Foursome, captained by Ray Kerr.  We had a tie for 3rd: Allens's Academicals (captained by John Maxwell) + Nuf Neurons (captained by Majella Coleman).

Thank you to venue host Andrew Laffey and his attentive team at the Hot House Restaurant and to prize sponsors: John Maxwell (Yer Ma's Kitchen); Theresa Schandl (Tessolutions), Hamed Lackpour (A1 Entertainment).  

Photo Credit: William Smith

Thank you to our lunch sponsor OnSite Construction, our hole-in-one sponsor Ken Shaw Lexus, our closest to the Barrel sponsor The Galway Arms and our prize sponsors:  Irish Embassy Pub and Grill, PJ O’Brien Irish Pub, Quinn’s Steakhouse, Hot House Restaurant, Quadrant Cosmetics, Ireland Fund of Canada, Cadillac Fairview, The Lamb Company, Kevin Dolan, Caledon Woods, ClubLink, Tourism Ireland and Air Canada Vacations.

Top Women's Foursome: Eithne Heffernan, Linda Armstrong, Melanie Hurley, Karen Rice

Top Men's Threesome: Mark O'Brien, Dennis Murphy, Mark Rooney 

Gratitude to our volunteers Madeleine O'Loghlin, Rory O'Loghlin, and Deirdre Slowey; our committee Eithne Heffernan, Eddie Brett, Maureen Neglia, Marie Dolan Sherman, Ken Tracey, and Treasa O'Loghlin; and our MC Carolyn Dunne. 

Photo credit: Con O'Connell 

To celebrate a bright St. Patrick's morning, our chair Matthew Cotter and a cross-section of our membership welcomed Enterprise Ireland's new Senior Vice President/Country Manager for Canada Neil Conney who hosted key-note speaker Dr. Tim McTiernan, President and Vice- Chancellor University of Ontario Institute of Technology.  Guest-speakers who shared case studies included: Nick Bednarz President’s Choice; John Whelton, Leading Edge; and Mark Duffy, One Posting.  Thank you to our hosts Enterprise Ireland and their fine team.  Gratitude, too, to Andrew Laffey and the staff at the Hot House Restaurant.

Well folks we packed the Pat Quinn Lounge yet again and were delighted to see faces absent in recent years. Johnny manned the bar as only he can, Shawn Brady wowed us with his vocal renditions, and the delightful staff at PJ’s waded their way through our dense crowd to see that the Guinness was balanced by a healthy serving of canapes. We said goodbye to board member Alannah McMahon who returns to Ireland this month and honoured her for her years of service. Thanks to all who joined us and helped to round out the year with a little merriment.

Photo Credit William Smith

Headlined by Cathal J. O’Connor, EVP & CFO of Cadillac Fairview Ltd., our second annual President's Dinner exhibited an impressive turnout of long-time members and new arrivals. Cathal presented to a packed room with KPMG and Deloitte book-ending the head table. We welcomed guest of honour Michael Hurley, Deputy Head of Mission—Embassy of Ireland, and raffled off a trip for two to Dublin sponsored by Air Canada Vacations and Tourism Ireland. Thank you to our event sponsors: The Hot House Restaurant and Bar and the Irish Embassy Pub and Grill.

Photo Credit: William Smith

The annual Brian Dolan Memorial Chamber Golf Tournament took place at Caledon woods on June 18^th.  Miraculously, the weather held and our 25 foursomes completed all 18 holes at this beautiful ClubLink course.  Thank you to our many generous sponsors and congratulations to the Neglia family who led both the women and men to victory.

Photo Credit: Con O'Connell

A packed room gathered at the National Club on April 16th to hear Derek Collins—Senior Director & Head of Global Foreign Direct Investment, Bank of Ireland Corporate Banking—speak on his current role in FDI and deliver CEO Richie Boucher's address. A Q&A session moderated by BNN’s Andrew Bell followed.

Enterprise Ireland and the ICCCTO teamed up once again to host the annual St. Patrick's  business breakfast at the Hot House Restaurant.  Visiting Irish Minister of Foreign Affairs Charlie Flanagan and Irish Ambassador to Canada Ray Bassett attended as guests of honour with a strong turnout from the Embassy in Ottawa.  Our gratitude goes to the Enterprise Ireland staff for their preparations.  Thank you also to Andrew and Eleanor Laffey and team.

Photo Credit: William Smith

Once again we gathered for our annual Christmas party at P.J. O' Brien's.  Johnny poured the purest pints, Shawn Brady crooned smooth hits, and Ronan Clohissey joined the sweet-voiced Aideen O'Brien to lead us in "The Fairy-Tale of New York".  Thanks to our gracious hosts the Quinn's, their marvelous team, and to all of you who attended. 

Photo Credit: William Smith

Another impressive year where quiz-master Michael Monaghan terrified  and the competition trembled.  As the night reached its culmination Allen's Academicals cut down the rest, taking home the trophy with fierce pride.  Congratulations to John Maxwell, Bob Brent, Daniel Heath, and Kevin Behan. 

Thank you to the Hot House Restaurant and Bar and their friendly and accommodating staff for another great night out!

Photo Credit: William Smith

The Ireland Canada Business Association hosted another terrific summit this year with support from the ICCCTO and The Ireland Fund of Canada.  Thank you to our guest speakers and attendees. 

Candidates Olivia Chow and John Tory addressed the Chamber on September 3rd and September 27th respectively.  Thank you to PJ O'Brien's and the Hot House Restaurant for hosting.

20th Annual Brian Dolan Memorial Golf Tournament held at Nobleton Lakes Golf Club on June 20, 2013.