VRTO

VRTO (Virtual Reality Toronto) was founded in 2015 by Keram Malicki-Sánchez as a Meetup group dedicated to virtual reality in Toronto. In June 2016, VRTO launched the VRTO Virtual & Augmented Reality World Conference & Expo, a professional event focused on exploring arts, culture, and science through immersive technologies.

Its inaugural year – held at the Mattamy Centre (better known as Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto, Canada) – it featured keynotes from University of Toronto Professor Steve Mann, Hollywood film director Brett Leonard – director of The Lawnmower Man, Chief Digital Officer Ana Serrano of the Canadian Film Centre and Phil Lelyveld of USC.

The opening year featured a keynote, town hall and discussion panel around creating a Code of Ethics for Humanistic Augmentation also known as the HACode or The Toronto Code.

In 2016 and 2017 the show was co-produced by Jessy Blaze and Chrissy Aitchison. In 2018 and 2019 it was produced by Stephanie Greenall, Aitchison and Melanie Smith. Longtime collaborator Joshua Miles Joudrie served as a key production consultant.