

DesignTO is honoured to welcome the Honourable Stan Cho, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Gaming, Ontario, Mayor Olivia Chow, Deputy Mayor Ausma Malik, and Mark Ruta, Board Member, Ontario Arts Council, to celebrate the launch of the 15th DesignTO Festival at the 2025 DesignTO Launch Party.
This year, the Launch Party returns to Harbourfront Centre on Toronto’s waterfront! Attendees will experience a one-night-only installation by Toronto-based artist Asli Alin. In tandem with the immersive installation, DJs Fly Lady Di and Delicious will set the mood with their distinct musical styles.
While at the event, party goers will be the first to see ‘REVIVE’, a DesignTO-curated group exhibition in Gallery 235 featuring the work of seven local and international artists and designers. Additionally, attendees can explore three new exhibitions across the venue showcasing works in lighting, sculpture, glass, textiles, ceramics, and more.
Date: Friday, January 24, 2025
Time: 7-11 PM EST
Location: Harbourfront Centre, 235 Queens Quay W
Tickets: General Admission (Jan 13-24, 2025): $30* + Harbourfront ticketing fee + HST
Honourable Stan Cho – Minister of Tourism, Culture and Gaming, Ontario

Stan Cho is Ontario’s Minister of Tourism, Culture and Gaming and MPP for Willowdale.
First elected in 2018, Minister Cho served as Parliamentary Assistant to the President of the Treasury Board and to the Minister of Finance before being appointed to Cabinet as Associate Minister of Transportation in 2021.
Upon his re-election in 2022, Minister Cho was once again called to Cabinet by Premier Doug Ford.
During his tenure at the Ministry of Transportation, Minister Cho helped modernize the PRESTO system by bringing debit and credit payment options to GO Transit, the TTC, and most other local transit systems across the GTHA. He also laid the groundwork for Ontario’s ‘One Fare’ program and officially set the Northlander train on track for reinstatement by procuring three brand-new trainsets for future service.
In September 2023, Minister Cho was named Minister of Long-Term Care.
At the Ministry of Long-Term Care, Minister Cho broke ground on and opened thousands of new long-term care spaces across the province, delivered historic investments to dramatically increase staffing and care, and launched a new investigations unit to bring greater accountability to the sector.
He was named Minister of Tourism, Culture and Gaming in June 2024.
Before joining politics, Minister Cho began his career at a leading auto manufacturer, where he worked his way up from an entry-level role to become one of the company’s auditors. It was during this time that he travelled extensively throughout Ontario to communities large and small.
In 2002, he joined his family’s real estate business and worked as an agent for 15 years before taking over as broker and general manager.
Born in Rexdale and raised in Willowdale, Minister Cho proudly holds the distinction of being the first Canadian-born person of Korean descent to hold public office in Canada.
Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow

Olivia Chow has served the people of Toronto for over three decades. Born in Hong Kong in 1957, she immigrated to Toronto with her parents at the age of 13. An apartment in the St. James Town neighbourhood was the launchpad for her remarkable personal journey as a community organizer, activist, school board trustee, Metro Toronto Councillor, Member of Parliament, and now the first person of Asian descent to serve as Mayor of Toronto, and the first woman to serve as Mayor since the six municipalities of Metro Toronto were amalgamated. As our new Mayor she is working hard to build a City that holds the same kind of hope and promise that it did when she first arrived here – a City that is more affordable, caring and where everyone belongs.
Councillor Ausma Malik

Ausma Malik is your City Councillor for Ward 10 – Spadina–Fort York.
The first hijab-wearing Muslim woman elected to public office in Canada, Councillor Malik is known for staring down hate and inspiring hope for racial justice, economic reconstruction, and democratic renewal.
As Toronto City Councillor, Ausma brings her local knowledge and experience to be a champion for affordable housing, vibrant public spaces, improved public transit, and safer streets for everyone.
Ausma has spent her life working to build a better city, more caring communities and inclusive civic spaces. From student organizing to environmental activism, from child care advocacy and education accessibility to policy innovation that improves lives, she has experienced first-hand the power of working together.
From 2014 to 2018, Ausma served our downtown communities as a Trustee elected to the Toronto District School Board, where she was successful in getting Jean Lumb Public School built – the first new downtown public school in over twenty years.
From 2016 to 2022, Ausma was the Director of Advocacy and Organizing at the Atkinson Foundation, where she collaborated with grassroots organizers, policy innovators, and other movement builders to advocate for decent work and a fair economy.
Ausma is proud to serve Ward 10, Spadina–Fort York, and knows we can do more in Toronto to bring people in, not push people out. Ausma’s vision for Toronto is a green, just, and caring city – a Toronto that works for all of us, includes all of us and gives voice to all of us.
Name pronunciation guide: USS-muh MAH-lick
Marek Ruta, Ontario Arts Council

Marek Ruta was appointed to the Ontario Arts Council (OAC) board of directors in October 2021.
Based in Mississauga, Marek is a community leader, best known for his work as Chair of the Carassauga Festival of Cultures, a family-friendly festival that aims to promote understanding, respect, and cooperation among Canadians of different heritage, and Canada’s largest multicultural festival. In 2021, Marek received the Volunteer of the Year Award from Festivals and Events Ontario in recognition of his leadership of the festival throughout the pandemic.
Marek has also been actively involved in municipal affairs in Mississauga, serving on the community advisory circle for Legends Row: Mississauga’s Walk of Fame as well as the stakeholder subcommittee of the Mississauga Tourism Advisory Board, which produced the city’s Tourism Master Plan in 2017.
Marek’s community involvement extends to his support of charitable organizations, including the Luso Canadian Charitable Society and Community Living Mississauga. He is also a leader in Mississauga’s Polish community and the Knights of Columbus.