About this Event
It’s a Wrap for 2025/26!
2nd Annual Pecha Kucha Night
Event 4: Development Remix
Mistress of Ceremonies - Irma Girdle
Join us for our 2nd annual W-GRID Pecha Kucha night. Members share rapid-fire professional and personal stories about growth, creativity and wacky daily life.
Hosted by , award-winning speaker, coach, and dynamic storyteller known for her energy and ability to bring out the best in every voice, the evening promises to be engaging, supportive, and a lot of fun.
Now is your chance to be involved.
What is a Pecha Kucha?
Pecha Kucha, meaning “chit-chat” in Japanese, is a fast-paced presentation format: 20 slides × 20 seconds each.
6 minutes and 40 seconds to tell your story.
We’re calling members to step up and share. A project, a pivot, a passion, or a personal story, this is a low-pressure, high-energy space to try something new, push past your fear and connect with the group.
Want to present?
Sign up to join the lineup by filling out
Not quite sure?
To help you prepare, W-GRID's Kim Graham is offering two optional virtual prep sessions:
Prep Session 1: May 8 at 2:00 PM
Intro: What’s involved and how to prepare.
Prep Session 2: May 22 at 11:00 AM
Brainstorming presentations and answering questions
Whether you’re in or just curious, these sessions will help you shape your story and get comfortable with the format.
IF YOU HAVE NOT PURCHASED A TICKET FOR THE SERIES PREVIOUSLY, YOU CAN PURCHASE A TICKET FOR $40 FOR ATTENDANCE AT THIS LAST EVENT OF THE SERIES
For payment, send an e-transfer to: [email protected]
After Party at the Prop House!
And because we know the best conversations happen after the presentations… we’re keeping the night going at Hamilton Prop House.
Stick around, grab a drink, and explore this one-of-a-kind space. Think film sets, wild props, unexpected backdrops, and plenty of corners to wander through and chat in. It’s a little quirky, a little cinematic, and a perfect setting to unwind and connect.
W-GRID members are welcome to bring friends, SO's, and allies, so feel free to make a night of it!
* No ticket required for the after-party!
Important Note: Prop House is Members Only
A quick heads up for the evening at Hamilton Prop House: the venue operates as a members-only space, and all guests are required to have a (free) membership to enter.
To keep things moving smoothly on the day of the event, we strongly recommend signing up in advance. Registration is quick and easy, and doing it ahead of time will help avoid lineups or delays at the door.
You can register online through the Prop House website before you arrive. Once you’re signed up, you’re all set to walk in, grab a drink, and enjoy the evening.
About your Mistress of Ceremonies
Irma Girdle, 44, is new to Toronto. She started www.irmagirdle.com, “Irma on Architecture” on YouTube, and her Dragitecture Walking Tours to share her enthusiasm with all of Canada, and the world. As Irma is still a baby Drag Queen, she cautions that her lip sync and leg split skills are not up to snuff--she's happiest with a martini in one hand and an ear beside her willing to be filled as she waxes poetic about her favourite subject (Irma Girdle is a work of fiction, created by architecture journalist Dave LeBlanc to get the RuPaul-obsessed TikTok generation interested in their built heritage).
About the Series
Join us for a year of connection, creativity, and conversation as we explore how women in development are adapting to change and shaping what comes next.
The series aims to uncover new ways of thinking and building in Hamilton’s evolving landscape.
Four events surrounding the theme of: Getting Creative In Times Of Change
Past Events
Event 1: Adaptive Futures
October 2025
A behind-the-scenes tour with Core Urban exploring how creative development models can adapt to shifting economic realities and changing patterns of investment while providing a fresh approach to Hamilton’s downtown regeneration.
Event 2: Resilient Growth
February 2026
W-Grid’s Annual +1 event An inspiring evening and Fireside Chat with a Taya Cook Executive Vice President at Urban Capital, on navigating change and building resilience in a shifting development landscape.
Event 3: New Directions
April 2026
An interactive, peer-based discussion bringing together the W-GRID community to explore how shifting policy, market forces, and infrastructure investments are reshaping Hamilton. Through a Panel in the Round, participants share lived and professional perspectives, exchange ideas, and reflect on their role in shaping the city’s future.
ABOUT US
WGRID, Women Growing Resources in Development, is a collective of women city-builders shaping how our communities grow. We believe women’s voices and perspectives are essential to creating more thoughtful, inclusive, and impactful cities.
Our goal is to create a genuine, supportive space where we connect as our full selves, share openly, and lift each other up.
Together, we aim to strengthen our presence in the industry, grow our leadership, and drive meaningful change in the places we help build.
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Hamilton Prop House, 422 Barton Street East, Hamilton, Canada
CAD 0.00
