Michael 'Pinball' Clemons to deliver keynote at Industry Dinner | Future Leaders in Convenience + Car Wash Awards
Michael 'Pinball' Clemons, general manager, Toronto Argonauts, and Canadian Football Hall of Fame member will deliver the keynote during the Industry Dinner following Day 1 of The Convenience U CARWACS Show on Tuesday March 10, 2026.
The Convenience U CARWACS Show is Canada’s largest and best-attended national convenience, gas and car wash event. It runs two full days—March 10 to 11—at the Congress Centre in Toronto.
Join your peers to network and celebrate the channel on March 10th at 5:00 p.m. for a cocktail reception, followed by dinner, keynote and—NEW IN 2026—the Future Leaders in Convenience + Car Wash Awards presentation, honouring individuals under age 40 who are already making an impact and shaping what’s next for the industry.
Why attend? The Industry Dinner is more than a meal, it’s where industry relationships are strengthened, ideas are shared and the future of the convenience industry is celebrated. Whether you’re attending The Convenience U CARWACS Show or joining exclusively for the evening, the Industry Dinner offers a unique opportunity to connect with peers, partners and industry leaders. Plus, celebrate FLICC winners' achievements and support the next generation of convenience industry leaders.
Space is limited: Register today to purchase individual seats or company tables
KEYNOTE DETAILS
Building Bridges: Leadership, culture and momentum under pressure
In high-stakes environments, teams don’t win on talent alone—they win on trust, shared standards, and the ability to respond when things get hard. Drawing on lessons from elite sport and organizational leadership, Pinball shares practical ideas leaders can use to build unity, strengthen culture, and create momentum—even when the room is diverse, the pace is fast and the pressure is real.
In addition to being the general manager of the Toronto Argonauts and a Canadian Football Hall of Fame member, Clemons played 12 seasons with the Argonauts (1989–2000) as a dynamic running back and return specialist, earned the CFL’s Most Outstanding Player award (1990), and retired as the league’s all-time leader in regular-season combined yards (25,438). After his playing career, Clemons served as the Argonauts’ head coach (2000–2001; 2002–2007) and later held senior leadership roles with the organization, including chief executive officer. Beyond football, Clemons founded the Michael Pinball Clemons Foundation (now Pinball Foundation) to support equity-deserving youth by helping break down barriers to education, mentorship, and career opportunities. He is a dynamic keynote speaker, who talks about leadership, culture and building momentum under pressure.
Make the most of this two-day event!
Join thousands of industry leaders, decision makers, key manufacturers, vendors, and suppliers from Canada and across North America at the 2026 Convenience U CARWACS Show. This is your annual opportunity to meet in-person and hear firsthand about the latest products, services, technologies and insights that will help you prepare your business for the challenges and opportunities ahead.
Check out The Convenience U CARWACS + C-store IQ Conference PACKAGES available, as well as the SPEAKERS lined up so far.
