Canadian Retail Collective
Bridging the Gap Between Industry & Academia
Upcoming Conference
May 6, 2026 | 8:30 AM - 5:30 PM | Toronto, Ontario
About the Canadian Retail Collective
The Canadian Retail Collective is an initiative to unite leading academic researchers and industry executives to foster collaboration and drive innovation in the Canadian retail sector. Spearheaded by the David Sobey Retailing Centre at Saint Mary’s University, the Retail Leadership Institute at Toronto Metropolitan University, Centre for Cities and Communities at University of Alberta and the McGill Institute of Marketing, this initiative aims to bridge the gap between cutting-edge academic research and real-world retail challenges.
By bringing together top researchers studying various aspects of retail and industry leaders shaping the future of retail, the Canadian Retail Collective serves as a hub for the exchange of ideas, insights, and collaborative research. Our goal is to support the retail sector while producing world-class research that informs and enhances retail practices in Canada and beyond.
Research
We advance retail knowledge through applied, data-driven research that addresses real-world challenges facing Canada’s retail sector. Our work generates practical insights that inform strategy, innovation, and policy.
Events
We bring the retail community together through conferences, workshops, and speaker series that foster knowledge sharing, meaningful dialogue, and professional development across industry and academia.
Industry Collaboration
We connect retailers, technology partners, and researchers to co-create solutions, pilot new ideas, and translate research into impact, bridging theory and practice to drive retail innovation.
Canadian Retail Collective founders from left to right:
Dr. John Pracejus, Dr. Ramesh Venkat, Dr. Jenna Jacobson, Dr. Ethan Pancer, Dr. Yu Ma