MONTRÉAL, Sept. 14, 2026 /CNW/ -- The 13th edition of the Fintech Canada Forum kicks off today in Montreal. Organized by Finance Montréal and presented by Portage, this international event brings together over 1,400 leaders from the finance and technology sectors to explore the major trends that are shaping the future of the financial industry, from payment technologies to artificial intelligence and open finance, as well as solutions developed by fast-growing fintech companies.
The Forum will be held on September 14 and 15 at the Fairmont Queen Elizabeth. The first day of the event will be dedicated to integrated and open finance, while the second day will focus on artificial intelligence and enterprise infrastructure. Start-ups, investors, researchers and public policymakers will come together to discuss innovations that are transforming the financial sector.
This year's event comes at a pivotal moment for the sector. New opportunities are opening up for growth and innovation, stemming from changes to Canada's regulatory framework, the modernization of payment infrastructure and the accelerated deployment of artificial intelligence. As a result, financial technology is becoming as a key driver of competitiveness and economic resilience in Canada.
"The Fintech Canada Forum has become an essential event for showcasing Canadian expertise in financial technology and Montreal's role as a world-class hub of innovation. Whether the companies participating this year are modernizing cross-border payments through digital assets or developing new tools for sustainable finance, they demonstrate the dynamism and innovative capacity of the Canadian ecosystem."
– Simon Dandavino, Vice President of Fintech and Technology Innovation at Finance Montréal and Executive Director of Station Fintech
Leaders at the Forefront of Financial Transformation
Several renowned speakers and panellists are participating in this year's Forum, including:
Adam Felesky, Co-Founder and CEO of Portage; Brett Huneycutt, Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer at Wealthsimple; André Boucher, Chief Technology Officer and Chief Information Security Officer at National Bank of Canada; Joëlle Pineau, Chief AI Officer at Cohere; Marjorie Janiewicz, Chief Revenue Officer at Mistral AI; Chris Ferron, Vice President, Enablers, Merchants and Fintechs in Canada at Visa Canada; Jean-Sébastien Pilon, Vice President and Chief Information Security Officer at Desjardins; Jing Zhuang, Managing Director and Head of FinTech BMO Capital Markets; Michael Denham, Executive Vice President and Vice Chair at National Bank of Canada; Lily Hansen-Gillis, Product Manager at Tetra; and Malik Yacoubi, Co-Founder and CEO of Nesto.
"Artificial intelligence is already transforming the way financial companies innovate, grow, and create value. The companies that will stand out are those that can integrate AI into robust platforms deeply rooted in their customers' needs. The Fintech Canada Forum offers a unique opportunity to bring together entrepreneurs, investors and institutions so we can explore together the conditions that will enable this transformation and create sustainable value for the financial sector."
– Adam Felesky, Co-Founder and CEO of Portage
Announcements on Digital Payments and Sustainable Finance
Among the announcements being made during the event, Tetra Digital Group and RemitBee are formalizing a new partnership aimed at integrating the Canadian stablecoin CADD into RemitBee's global payment infrastructure. This integration will enable businesses to make and fund international payments in digital Canadian dollars, leveraging RemitBee's foreign exchange, clearing and local disbursement capabilities to transfer funds to over 100 countries. This announcement forms part of the Fintech Canada Forum programme, in which Lily Hansen-Gillis, product manager at Tetra, will participate in discussions on innovation in digital payments.
In addition, the Forum will provide an opportunity for ESGTree to unveil its new Productivity, Agri-Lending and Emissions Tool, which is designed to help financial institutions integrate considerations related to agricultural productivity and emissions into their financing processes. This initiative forms part of the ongoing discussions surrounding the future of sustainable finance, with a particular focus on the role of artificial intelligence, the use of ESG data as a financial intelligence tool and the mobilization of private capital to support the climate transition.
"Financial innovation is no longer just a driver of economic development. In a context marked by technological and geopolitical upheavals, it has become a strategic issue for global influence and economic sovereignty. The Fintech Canada Forum brings together the creators of the next generation of financial services and all the stakeholders who are shaping Canada's position in the global economy."
– Jacques Deforges, Executive Director at Finance Montréal.
About Finance Montréal
Founded in 2010, Finance Montréal, Quebec's financial cluster, is at the heart of the development and promotion of Quebec's financial services industry and its international positioning as a world-class, growing, competitive, attractive, and innovative business hub. Through its International Financial Center (IFC) team, Finance Montréal works to attract foreign financial companies to Montreal. The organization's areas of focus also include fintech and innovation, sustainable finance, and talent development. As a hub for the financial community, Finance Montréal mobilizes stakeholders around these pillars, embodied by the community gathered at the Station Fintech Montréal, which it manages. For more information, visit www.finance-montreal.com or its LinkedIn page.
SOURCE Finance Montréal
Press contact: Myriam Balian, Senior Director, Communications and Strategic Partnerships, [email protected], 514-550-4743
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