TL;DR: On August 19th, Stan brought Stan Sessions to Toronto for the very first time in partnership with Digital First Canada. Hosted at The Drake Hotel’s Sky Yard Rooftop Bar, the evening gathered some of the city’s most inspiring Creators for a night of storytelling, vulnerability, and community building. From heartfelt conversations to a hands-on Flower Bar activation, this was more than a meetup, it was a reminder that Creators thrive when they connect beyond the algorithm.
New to Stan Sessions? Here’s what you need to know:
These events were born from a widening gap in the Creator community: Creators spend all day online and only connect with each other in real life at brand events or conferences. But real connection happens offline and in safe spaces where they can just be…themselves! We launched Stan Sessions with an inaugural event in LA (Venice Beach, to be exact) at the Stan HQ. The event proved that Creators are craving spaces to gather, share, and grow without the pressure of brand deliverables or performance metrics.
And while the U.S. is rife with industry events, Toronto’s Creator scene rarely gets to experience moments like this in their hometown. It’s a city overflowing with talent, but without many opportunities to gather outside of massive, business-driven conferences. That’s why we brought Stan Sessions north of the border: to create a space for Creators, by Creators in Canada.
The Panel: Real Conversations, Real Creators
Over the twinkling lights of Queen Street West, Creators gathered for a panel that cut through the highlight reels and got to the heart of what it really means to build a creative career today. Moderated by Stan’s own Sean Ruffin, who leads Creator Partnerships, the conversation encouraged vulnerability, storytelling, and connection: the core values behind every Stan Session.
Panelists included the king of fashion, Jalen Nelson, mother of five and wearer of many hats, Olivia Parke, and creative partners Roya Ghahremani and Sophia Yeh who has earned herself over 8M fans thanks her ability to translate beat-boxing, a love of food, and comedy into an unique content brand.
Sean set the tone for the evening by asking everyone to meet one new person before the night was over—a small but powerful challenge that carried through the entire event.
“The evening left me feeling that I belong to a family of Creators.” – Stan Sessions Attendee
What We Heard: Lessons From the Night
Jalen Nelson: Motivation doesn’t always show up, but discipline does
Jalen spoke candidly about the discipline behind his success, sharing that staying consistent, even when the inspiration fades, is what keeps both him and his audience engaged.
Olivia Parke: Practice what you preach, even to yourself
As a mother of five daughters, Olivia shared how motherhood and content creation have become intertwined. “I’m always telling my daughters they’re beautiful, patient, and capable,” she said. “Being a Creator has finally made me apply that same grace to myself.”
Roya Ghahremani: Community is everything
Roya reminded everyone that Creators can’t do this alone. “You build connection with your audience differently than in your personal life,” she said. “But both require honesty and openness.” She encouraged attendees to connect with each other after the panel because “you never know who might be holding the camera for you in the future.”
Sophia Yeh: Grab attention, then build connection
Sophia shared advice she once received from another Creator: capture attention in the first two seconds and then earn the audience’s trust. She also touched on what’s next for her: attending TIFF and seeing how Creators are increasingly part of the broader cultural conversation.
“The panelists answered all the questions I really had and made me pumped to take over the market and my space.” – Stan Sessions Attendee
Celebrating Creation and Community
Between conversations, connections, and bouquets, the night captured the spirit of what Stan Sessions are all about: community-driven creativity. The conversations were raw, the laughter was real, and the connections made were genuine.
Stan also spotlighted Stanley, our new AI-powered creator support tool designed to help creators streamline their businesses, freeing up more time to focus on what they love: creating.
Connection IRL Matters
Creators left feeling seen, re-energized, and connected Stan Sessions are meant to do. Toronto showed up, and in doing so, reaffirmed that there’s a vibrant, powerful Creator community in Canada ready to collaborate, create, and support one another.
“The panelists touched on a lot of my current struggles as a Creator. I loved that they were able to share different perspectives on how they’re navigating or have navigated them.” – Stan Sessions Attendee
What’s Next for Stan Sessions
Toronto marked the second stop on Stan Sessions’ growing North American city takeover, following LA and leading into Phoenix and Atlanta. Each Session is locally rooted but globally inspired, designed to bring Creators together to share, grow, and connect.
If you want to be part of this movement or host your own Stan Session in your city, click here to learn more.
Stan Sessions Toronto wasn’t just another event—it was a reminder that Creators don’t have to go it alone. Connection is what fuels creation, and when Creators come together, the results are nothing short of inspiring.
