We would love to invite you to our first annual distressed cannabis conference being held in Toronto on Wednesday, January 29, 2025. As the sector faces shifting regulations, financial challenges, and new investment opportunities, this conference is designed to provide actionable insights for stakeholders navigating the complexities of the industry.

Date and Time

Wednesday, January 29, 2025, 8:30 am to 12:00 pm.

Location

Offices of Ernst & Young Inc.
EY Tower
100 Adelaide St W, 40th Floor
Toronto, ON M5H 0E2

Who Should Attend

This conference is tailored for:

• Cannabis producers, processors, and retailers

• Investors and lenders focused on the cannabis sector

• Commercial bankers and special loans teams

• Legal and regulatory experts

• Industry consultants and advisors

Insolvency professionals should also plan to attend to meet those in the industry and hear firsthand about the issues and dynamics at play in the market.

Spots are limited and will be taken quickly, so please register today to reserve your seat!

Agenda

8:30 to 9:15 - Registration and Light Breakfast

9:15 to 10:00 - Panel 1: High Stakes: The Cannabis Industry’s Current Market Landscape

This panel will provide an overview of the financial and operational challenges facing Canada’s cannabis industry, including oversupply, pricing pressures, regulatory hurdles, and shifting consumer demand. Industry executives and market analysts will share insights into how these factors have led to distress across the sector. Attendees will gain an understanding of the forces driving the current wave of insolvencies and business restructurings.

Panelists:

• Mauricio Zelaya, Partner & National Economics Leader at EY

• David Hyde, President, Hyde Advisory & Investments Inc.

• David Goldstein, CEO, Stoke Inventory Partners Inc.

10:00 to 10:30 - Coffee and Networking Break

10:30 to 11:15 - Panel 2: Turning Over a New Leaf: Restructuring Strategies and Executive Insights

This panel will combine the expertise of insolvency professionals and cannabis industry executives to explore practical strategies for navigating financial distress and operational challenges in the cannabis sector. Topics will include leveraging restructuring tools such as CCAA and BIA proceedings, addressing cannabis-specific licensing and asset valuation complexities, and stabilizing businesses through operational streamlining and strategic partnerships. Panelists will share real-world case studies and offer actionable advice on managing financial challenges, diversifying product lines, and preparing for long-term success in this evolving market.

Panelists:

• Larry Ellis, Group Leader Restructuring & Insolvency, Miller Thomson LLP

• Karen Fung, Senior Vice President, Ernst & Young Inc.

• Howard Steinberg, President, Steinberg Advisory Corp.

11:15 to 12:00 - Panel 3: After the Restructure: Challenges and Opportunities Ahead

This fireside chat will explore life after a cannabis restructuring, featuring insights from an industry executive who has successfully navigated the process. Discussions will focus on rebuilding trust, managing compliance, and addressing operational pain points. Representatives from the Department of Justice, Canada Revenue Agency and the Ontario Cannabis Store will also share their thoughts so that attendees can gain a comprehensive view of the challenges and opportunities for businesses aiming to rebuild and thrive in the evolving cannabis market.

Panelists:

• Shawn Dym, Managing Director, York Plains Investment Corp.

• Trevor Dayton, Vice President – Merchandising & Inventory Planning, OCS Ontario Cannabis Store

• Robert McKenzie-Kerr and Gwen Keating, Canada Revenue Agency

• Department of Justice Canada representative TBD

CPD

The learning portions of the event will be eligible for CPD credit for both lawyers and accountants.

Pricing

No cost for those in the cannabis industry.

$249 + HST and EventBrite fee for insolvency professionals.

We very much hope that you can join us for this morning. And please do pass along the invitation to your colleagues. We'd love for them to join as well!

Just make sure to register right away as the spots will be taken quickly. Registration can be done in under a minute.

Looking forward to seeing you!

Dina Kovacevic
Editor-in-Chief
Insolvency Insider

Sponsors

Thanks to our generous sponsors for making this conference possible: