To kick off small business month in Canada, Pier Five and HP Canada came together in Toronto to host The AI Studio , a one-of-a-kind workshop experience designed to help Canadian small business owners discover how AI and HP’s Next Gen AI PCs  can transform the way they work, create, and grow. The event welcomed 20 entrepreneurs and founders from industries including hospitality, health, media, fashion, tech, retail and restaurant for a day of hands-on learning, collaboration, and innovation. Every detail of the experience was crafted around real challenges and opportunities shared by attendees in a pre-event survey, ensuring that each moment was personalized, relevant, and actionable. Swipe through images The day unfolded through two interactive sessions that reflected the dual nature of entrepreneurship, the balance between operations and creativity. The first session focused on productivity and operations, helping business owners learn how to integrate AI into their day-to-day tasks, streamline workflows, and unlock new efficiencies. The second session shifted gears toward creative strategy and marketing, offering insights into how AI can support content creation, copywriting, and campaign planning for founders looking to amplify their brand stories. During the sessions, attendees were invited to explore HP’s Next Gen AI PCs and devices, guided by HP Commercial Category Business Manager, Towen Chrea, who demonstrated the power of AI-driven hardware in real time. From adaptive tools that anticipate workflow needs to features that make creative work more intuitive, the demos showcased how HP is reimagining what’s possible for small businesses in the age of AI. Beyond the learning, The AI Studio offered what every entrepreneur values most; connection. Guests shared experiences, swapped insights, and formed new relationships. They also took part in professional portrait sessions to elevate their personal brands and left with co-branded Pier Five x HP Canada merch as a reminder of the day’s inspiration. Swipe through images Ultimately, The AI Studio wasn’t just an event, it was a celebration of Canadian entrepreneurship and a glimpse into the future of work. It gave small business owners the knowledge, confidence, and tools to embrace AI not as a buzzword, but as a genuine growth partner. Pier Five and HP Canada are proud to have built this experience together, supporting the small business community, empowering innovation, and continuing to champion the incredible founders shaping Canada’s creative economy.

This past week, Pier Five hosted its very first Mental Health Mixer, a fresh kind of event created to blend wellness, creativity, and meaningful connection into one intentional gathering. This wasn’t your typical networking party. Instead, it was a space designed to slow down, check in with yourself, and engage in real conversations with others navigating the ups and downs of life. The event welcomed 50 passionate creatives, entrepreneurs, and community members who showed up ready to be present and open. From the moment the mixer began, there was a genuine energy of warmth and vulnerability that set the tone for the afternoon. To kick things off, guests were guided through a calming breathwork session, helping everyone center themselves and settle into the space. This mindful start paved the way for a powerful panel discussion featuring two incredible voices in mental health: Yanal Dhallieh, founder of Peace Collective , and therapist and podcast host Makena Arntsen from Don’t Worry It’s Confidential . Their candid conversation touched on personal journeys, mental health strategies, and the unique challenges creatives and entrepreneurs face when it comes to self-care. More content to come from that panel on the Pier Five Instagram . Between the thoughtful dialogue, attendees explored wellness activations from local brands PleaseNotes and Health Hut , discovering tools like affirmation journals and curated self-care essentials that support ongoing mental wellbeing. Light refreshments complemented the experience, with sparkling drinks from Barbet , fresh coffee from Itso Coffee , and delicious charcuterie beautifully prepared by MiBowl . These thoughtful touches, provided by local sponsors, made the event feel like a true community celebration. Before leaving, guests received special gifts from Peace Collective and HOKA , small reminders of the day’s intention to care for oneself and each other. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive and many shared how much they appreciated the chance to slow down, connect deeply, and reflect in a safe, welcoming environment. Pier Five’s Mental Health Mixer was more than an event; it was a reminder of the importance of holding space for mental wellness in our busy, creative lives. We are grateful to our partners and sponsors who helped make this possible and look forward to hosting many more gatherings that bring community, creativity, and care together. Stay tuned to the Pier Five Instagram and mailing list for updated on future events!

Introducing Stimmie, the runner up recipient of the Pier Five & Intak Printing Activation Grant! Founder: Steph Nightingale Location: Toronto, ON Discover Stimmie online: Website  // Instagram About Stimmie Stimmie is an oral care disruptor on a mission to end single-use toothpicks and improve gum health sustainably. With deep clinical roots and strong design sensibilities, Stimmie has proven that it is solving a real need. In just one year since launch, the brand has seen traction with features in CNN, Porter Airlines, and multiple sell-throughs at "better for you" retailers across major cities such as New York and Toronto. What is your vision with the grant funds and support from Pier Five & Intak Printing? Our vision is to create a culture-forward pop-up experience in Toronto that brings the world of Stimmie to life. The grant will enable us to push the boundaries of our design and experiential assets, introducing larger-scale formats, innovative materials, and hands-on product sampling that wouldn’t be possible otherwise. This activation will drive real-time consumer testing, social media buzz, and deeper brand engagement as we continue building momentum in the market. How will this grant help you realize your long term goals? Drawing our current community to this unique pop-up experience will build brand loyalty and connect with our customers. These types of activations typically capture the attention of NEW customers which is always both a short and long term business goal. We'll be able to build our database, provide more customers with samples which we've seen as a great way to convert people into long-term customers and give them experiences that will excite them to develop social media content and drive organic awareness for our brand. Photos supplied by Stimmie Learn more about the Pier Five & Intak Printing Activation Grant and discover the other recipients here .

The AI Studio: Pier Five and HP Canada Helped Canadian Small Businesses Harness the Power of AI PIER FIVE COMMUNITY DINNERS LEARN MORE Latest Posts Catch up with our latest conversations and events. Small Business Activation Grant Runner Up: Yueh Tung Restaurant Jun 22 Small Business Activation Grant Runner Up: Stimmie Jun 22 Small Business Activation Grant Winner: Grays Jun 22 Pier Five’s Mental Health Mixer: A Space to Reset, Reflect, and Connect Jun 4 Mental Movement Day with Pier Five and Puma Brings Toronto’s Creative Community Together for Yoga, Wellness, and Open Conversation Jun 3 A Spring Clean-Up Day to Remember Apr 29 5 Essential Tax Strategies for Small Business Owners to Save Money Mar 7 Empowering Women Entrepreneurs: Mastercard x Pier Five's 2024/25 Priceless Experience Mar 2 Pier Five’s 2024 End-of-Year Celebration Dec 17, 2024 Celebrating Creativity and Community at the OOAK Show '24 Dec 5, 2024 5-Tips On Brand Building From Kuwalla Tee's Founder Yaniv Abecassis Nov 26, 2024 Toronto Community Court Day Recap: A Slam Dunk Success Oct 21, 2024 Explore All Posts

The July Roundup Welcome to Pier Five monthly round ups, a look back at some of the people, brands & things that caught our eye this month that we thought you should know about. Dime x Vans Montreal based skate brand Dime has launched another perfect collaboration, dubbed the Wayvee, as part of their ongoing partnership with Vans. This collab is brought to life in two colorways: evening blue and egret. Complemented with luxe suede, embroidered Vans and Dime logo hits throughout and an all-new upper construction with reinforced translucent mesh panels, this model delivers luxury design and performance construction in the perfect shoe. Hopefully you were lucky enough to get a pair on the initial July 17th but if not, make sure to check your local skate shops, which dropped the shoes on July 24, for any remaining sizes. Adidem Astericks* Collabs The month of July has been a busy one for up and coming Toronto based fashion brand Adidem Astericks* who has recently made waves with refined luxury aesthetics similar to brands like Aime Leon Dore and Todd Snyder with a more street twist. This month, Adidem Astericks*partnered with two heavy hitters for some big collaborations. In partnership with Roots, they redefined the Canadian classic Awards Varsity Jacket with elevated multi-patch embroidery work and thoughtful colour blocking in two colourways; piston blue & merlot. The jacket has been seen on the likes of Toronto rappers, Jazz Cartier & Pressa to name a few. The second collab tapped into the hand painted illustrations of fellow Toronto artist Moya “Gang Box'' Garrison-Msingwanaon a collection featuring tees, caps, pins & even a coffee table book! Both collaborations are available on their webstore here . Vandy The Pink Carpenter Mules When it comes to customizing sneakers & clothes, Junghoon Son, the man behind Vandy The Pink, is at the forefront of it all. From hawaiin summer shirt-short sets with Hidden.NY to playful fast food burger inspired sneakers, Vandy doesn’t miss and we’re here for it all! His latest creation gives the Vandy treatment on a pair of mules called the VTP Carpenter Mule, taking design inspiration from the popular Carhartt workwear brand. From the soft suede upper to the gold rivets & zipper detailing, the attention to detail is A1. These dropped July 15 and are unfortunately sold-out but make sure to follow Vandy The Pink on instagram for all of their feature releases! Matty Matheson Summer Merch Collection Canadian chef & internet personality Matty Matheson launched his latest merch line, perfect for the summer, called “Camp Matty’s World”. This full collection has everything from tees to truckers & dad caps, basketball jerseys, shorts & more. As you can tell by the name of the collection, it’s design theme and graphic inspiration comes from throwback summer camp style bringing back the little kid in all of us. The designs are on point and the full collection is available for purchase on Matty’s webstore here . norda™ 001 Our monthly roundup wouldn’t be complete without including the world’s first seamless, lightest, trail running shoe from our friends at norda™. The norda™ 001 comes in two colourways, black or white and is made from Dyneema®: the world’s strongest and lightest fiber™, delivering the lowest carbon footprint per unit strength of any material. The sole of the shoe is a brand new design made in collaboration with Vibram, a leader in shoe design and footwear soles, and was inspired by the Canadian Shield, the largest and strongest pre-Cambrian rock formation on Earth. The technology in this shoe is unlike any other trail running shoe that exists and was made to prove that high performance and sustainability should always run together. The shoe is available for pre-order on norda’s website and will hit local running shops in August. Also check out our latest interview with Nick Martire, founder of norda™ here ! Stay tuned to The Roundup series to discover the coolest new people, brands and releases each month and keep it locked to all of Pier Five for stories and interviews with our favourite designers, entrepreneurs, creators and more.

A Conversation With Photographer Wade Hudson As a creative, there are many avenues that you can take to turn your passion into a career. More often than not, this will require others and understanding how to balance personal efforts and the inclusion of those around you will take you to great heights. Toronto based photographer Wade Hudson understood this early on, partnering with those whom he enjoyed and shared passions with, creating equal value and fostering growth for one another. The secrets of finding great people to work with take time to uncover and we got the chance to catch up with Wade to learn about how he identifies talent around him, capitalizes on opportunities at every moment and produces the best possible outcome within each situation. Take a read through the conversation below to hear from one of Toronto’s best shooters. In 2013 you did a shoot with a wee youngster by the name of Joey Bada$$. How does it feel shooting people at an early age and then watching them blow up into huge superstars? Nearly every person I shoot I am a big fan of so watching them come up is really quite fascinating to me. When I heard [Joey] bada$$, I was like “this guy is going to be a huge star”. It’s obviously hard for me to know at the moment where they’ll be down the line but that doesn’t matter to me when I’m working. When I’m around people like that I try to just be myself and show my interest in them. Joey and so many others are so genuine and great people and that makes it really fun to follow their careers and growth. The best thing is seeing where they are years later and know that their attitudes haven't changed and that they’re still humble. What are some tips you’d give to creatives looking to connect with talent to work with? If you’re seeking out talent to work with, make sure that your skill is at the level that it needs to be to execute your vision with the talent. After that, be ready to move quickly. Opportunities don’t always come with a lot of advanced notice. Be ready to move on things at any moment. I’d also say, from a mental standpoint, know that anyone is accessible if you persevere. This doesn’t mean they are accessible today but if you work hard enough, anyone can be accessible and so you should always shoot your shot. You won’t get anywhere if you never ask. Another way to get buy-in from talent is to remember that someone’s time can be more valuable than money. Don’t overlook experience and the impact that personal connections can make in the long term. Lastly, be patient. Things take time so don’t give up. When you have the time to plan with someone, how long does it take to ideate a shoot? It’s really as long as I have. I usually don’t have a ton of time so I work with the elements in the moment. When I do have time, I’ll just make sure I can complete all the needed - or ideal - steps in that amount of time. Finding references, finding the right people to bring in like stylists, creative directors, etc. is all important. I’ll try to get calls or meetings together beforehand to discuss how we can make the best product possible and how we can cater the shoot to the subject. How involved are the subjects in creating the story for the shoot? For the most part, when I reach out to people I have the concept of what I want them to look like already in mind. If it’s my creative shoot, it has to follow my style and I need you to do what I have envisioned. Obviously I'm open to ideas depending on who you are, like if you’re a creative director you might have good ideas, but if I simply approach you because I like your look, I will have the concept down. This is different though if I’m shooting for a client and their ideated project. In that case, I’m helping execute their vision. Would you say more of your work is client focused or your creative work? It depends on the time of year so that’s hard to say. They go hand in hand though for my career so it’s not too big of a deal to do one more than the other from time to time. My creative work is how I pull clients in and my client work pays for my creative work. I’d always like to do more creative work but client work is needed. Right. That’s a good outlook on the two. Do you think you could ever get to a point where you’re only doing creative work? I think there are photographers that have found a great balance where the work they do on their own and the work they do for clients are very similar but it’s hard to only ever do your own thing, if only due to money. I’m always working to bring my ideas into the client work to make it fun and reduce the space between that and my client work but I don’t think I’d ever stop doing client work. Interesting, and I guess client work also brings new sets of challenges that can make you a better photographer. Changing gears now, what are 5 do’s or don’ts of shooting with someone for the first time? That is true and a great question. I can only give these tips from my perspective but... DON’T have your camera in hand when you first meet someone. This helps to remove the power dynamic of the subject and photographer. DO h ave a conversation with the subject before you shoot. Learn about them and what they are comfortable with. This will make the shoot much better for everyone and deliver the best results. DON’T talk about why you’re qualified or who you’ve worked with in the past. In that moment, nobody cares about who you’ve shot in the past. DON’T show the subject the shots when you’re shooting. It often makes the subjects less comfortable. Instead, talk to them as you shoot. Sometimes you can’t follow this depending on the subject but this is what I find is typically best. DO discuss what the subject should be doing in the photograph before they sit in front of you. You want to make sure everyone knows what they’re going into. You recently became a father (congratulations!). Has that journey with your wife and now your newborn son influenced your work? Thank you! Right now, not too much has changed but I imagine as he grows, it may impact the work, what jobs I take, how I see things, etc. Just a crazy time learning to be a father [laughs]. Although it was published over 7 years ago, your Jamaican Proverb Series still lives as one of the best photography series that we have ever seen. Do you have a proverb that you live by? A lot of these are just kind of always relevant but one that I think back on a lot is “Ebry dawg ave im day, ebry puss im four a clock.” which translates to “Every dog has his day, every cat his 4 o’clock.” This has a few meanings. Some days you win and some days you love. Good fortune comes at different times for everyone. Do not behave as if you are better than others. Oh, love that. Super important as a creative for sure. Do you have a favourite story from your time as a photographer? Yes! About 5 years ago I went to London because I was interested in potentially moving out there and wanted to check out the scene. Some of the modelling agencies out there were having these openings where you can just go and shoot their models. They basically invite you out, introduce you to the models and you shoot for the day. I went out and shot about five or six models that day and got some shots that I really liked. After the shoot I went onto the agency websites to find all of the models I had shot but there was one person I couldn’t find anywhere. It turns out that it was Grace Bol who is a big time model, like she’s been on iPhone backgrounds including my own [laughs] and has modelled for so many major brands. She’s huge! I don’t even know why she was there that day and I had been speaking to her for about twenty minutes without a clue of who she was and it was such a wild moment realizing it after the fact. Honestly, it was probably better that I didn’t know at the time or I likely wouldn’t have had the confidence to ask her to shoot. Wow! That’s insane. I guess sometimes it’s better not knowing all [laughs]. Lastly, now that we are starting to return to some normalcy in the world, what are you most excited for work-wise? I just want to go back home to Jamaica. I have a ton of ideas and people that I want to be with and I just can’t get down right now so that will be the first thing I do when I can. I lived there until I was sixteen and then moved here. Before Covid I was there a few times a year so I really want to get back. Check out more of Wade's work on his website and follow him on Instagram to catch all of his latest work. Keep it locked to Pier Five for more interviews and stories with the coolest entrepreneurs, designers, artists, activists and more.