Join the Minneapolis Regional and St. Paul Area Chamber for the 22nd Annual InterCity Leadership Visit. This year we are headed to Toronto!  

Trip Dates: Thursday, September 19-Saturday, September 21, 2024 | Registration is open! 

For 21 years, leaders from the MSP region have travelled to cities across the country to connect with one another and learn about key issues facing other regions. Every year, we return with ideas that help spur growth and innovation in Minneapolis-St. Paul.  

The InterCity Leadership Visit (ICLV) experience includes access to business, community, and civic leadership in Toronto, sharing best practices, gaining industry insights, and learning about innovative solutions to shared challenges.  

Several successful initiatives here in MSP were sparked by past ICLV trips, including The Itasca Project, MN Compass, and Greater MSP Just as importantly, we return with new and strengthened cross-sector relationships at home – building networks and finding opportunities to collaborate. Join us! 


Why Toronto? 

Toronto is a fellow northern metro area with a strong quality of life and diverse economy that has attracted residents from around the world.  We are excited to take ICLV outside of the United States this year and experience firsthand both the wins and the challenges they face – some remarkably similar to ours.  

• Toronto is North America’s fastest-growing city. The population of Toronto is about 3 million people, and the metro area is 6.4 million.
• Toronto also has the most construction cranes - currently the city has several large and innovative transit, infrastructure and development projects taking shape and physically going up.
• Toronto also is ranked as the third greenest city on Earth and is developing new clean energy systems. It’s also got 25% forest coverage and 18% of the city’s land is devoted to parks.
• Toronto is incredibly diverse, with 50% of its current residents born elsewhere, representing more than 200 cultural origins.
• Toronto is grappling with how to manage such fast growth, and also with issues similar to the Twin Cities, such as adequate housing, and current issues such as mental health, homelessness, and the impact of fentanyl.
• Toronto has created innovation zones and programs including the MaRS Centre and a booming life sciences landscape. 

Other fun facts

• The PATH is the largest underground shopping complex in the world, connecting 70 buildings – similar to our skyways but in tunnels below.
• The Toronto Film Festival will be just closing out when we arrive and is one of the preeminent film festivals in the world.
• For sports fans, Toronto is home to the Hockey Hall of Fame and also the world’s first stadium with a fully motorized retractable roof.

Price 
$3,200 per person includes hotel and meals, ground transportation while we’re together, hospitality hours - everything except airfare and incidentals at the hotel and any food/beverage not on the agenda. Everyone is responsible for their own air travel to and from Toronto; we suggest you book early. We will start our program on Thursday afternoon, Sept. 19, at 2 pm, and we will close out on Saturday at 2 pm. Full payment for the trip must be confirmed and received by August 19, 2024, to participate in this experience. 

Registration
All registrations are being managed by the St. Paul Area Chamber for this year's trip. The information we collect is required for your participation in the InterCity Leadership Visit. Please visit their website here to complete your registration!

Cancellations 
Any cancellation received before August 19, will result in a full refund minus a $300 administrative fee and any costs associated with room and/or airline charges at that time. If we cannot fill your seat, you may be responsible for the full cost. No refunds will be given after Friday, August 19. Substitutions are very welcome if you cannot attend. 

Entry to Canada
All participants will need a valid passport or passport card to enter Canada. Under Canada's immigration law, if you have committed or been convicted of a crime, you may not be allowed entry into Canada. You may find more information about entry into Canada here.

Contacts 
If you have questions, please contact Megan Forgrave at the St. Paul Area Chamber, mforgrave@stpaulchamber.com, or Megan Krohn at the Minneapolis Regional Chamber, mkrohn@mplschamber.com. If you would like to pay over the phone, please contact Jill Grimme at the St. Paul Area Chamber at 651-223-5000 or jill@stpaulchamber.com.

Sponsors
If you would like to be a sponsor of this trip, gain visibility with this group of leaders and help support this event, please contact us!