Events

Ready to welcome a new pet into your family? Now is the purr-fect time to adopt! Join Mississauga Animal Services for their upcoming Adopt-a-thon. This special event aims to help more shelter animals find loving homes before winter, when pet adoptions are typically lower.

From November 2 to 14, 2026, all dogs and cats at the shelter can be adopted for just $25, plus HST and any applicable pet licence fees for Mississauga residents. This reduced rate offers significant savings compared to regular adoption fees, which are typically $280 plus HST for dogs and puppies and up to $190 plus HST for cats and kittens.

View available pets online.

Event details

What

Mississauga Animal Services’ Adopt-a-thon.

Who

The event is open to everyone. No appointment is needed but wait times may vary. You must be 18 years or older to adopt.

When

Monday to Saturday, November 2 to 14 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Where

Mississauga Animal Services
735 Central Parkway West
Mississauga, ON L5C 4H4

Why adopt from Mississauga Animal Services?

When you adopt from the shelter, you give an animal a second chance at a happy life. All cats and dogs available for adoption have received basic medical care, including vaccines and spay or neuter surgery. This can help save on the initial costs of pet ownership. If an animal is too young to be spayed or neutered at the time of adoption, adopters will receive a voucher to have the procedure completed at a later date.

First‑time pet owners can also get helpful tips from shelter staff on training, food and exercise to make bringing a new pet home easier.

Before adopting, it’s important to remember that pet ownership is a long-term commitment. Pets rely on their owners for daily care, exercise, attention and veterinary care throughout their lives. Potential adopters should carefully consider their lifestyle, time and financial responsibilities before bringing a pet home. Learn more about adopting a pet.

Fostering a pet

If adoption isn’t possible for you right now, consider submitting an application to foster a shelter animal. Foster volunteers provide love, a temporary home and daily care for animals while they wait to be adopted. To foster a pet, you must be at least 18 years old and complete an in-person interview.

The shelter provides everything you need, including food, bedding, toys and veterinary care. Foster placements can last from a few weeks to several months, making it a flexible way to help animals in need.

Read more and submit a foster parent application.

As one of only three Canadian stops on the 2026 Startup Canada Tour, Mississauga will welcome entrepreneurs, investors, mentors and business leaders from across the country to the Living Arts Centre on October 29. Building on the success of last year’s event, the Tour will connect attendees with industry experts, support organizations and

What

The Startup Canada Tour in Mississauga gives attendees a chance to: 

• Learn from inspiring keynote speakers and industry experts. 
• Gain practical business advice through panel discussions and workshops. 
• Connect with mentors and advisors in the Ask the Expert Lounge. 
• Build relationships with entrepreneurs, investors and support organizations. 
• Discover new tools, resources and strategies to help grow their businesses. 
• Explore opportunities to start, scale and succeed. 

Entrepreneurs can also compete in the Startup Global National Pitch Competition for a chance to win $8,500 and secure a spot in the Grand Finale in Mississauga, where finalists will compete for a national prize of $30,000. Attendees will also vote for a People’s Choice Award winner, who will receive a prize of $1,000. 

Who 

The event will bring together entrepreneurs, startup founders, scale-up leaders, small business owners, investors, students and ecosystem partners. Attendees will hear from business leaders, entrepreneurs and industry experts, including: 

• Emily O’Brien, founder and CEO of Comeback Snacks (keynote speaker) 
• Kayla Isabelle, Chief Executive Officer of Startup Canada 
• Anand Misir, Founder and CEO of Access2Pay Ltd. 
• Donna Heslin, Manager of Small Business Enterprise and Innovation, Invest Mississauga 
• Gharsa Amin, CEO of Kavodax 
• Graham McBride, Investor and Altitude Angels member at LarchHill Capital Inc. 
• Paul Gaspar, Director of Small Business for UPS Canada 

The day will also feature a fireside chat with Donna Heslin and Gharsa Amin.  

When

Thursday, October 29, 2026
Doors open: 8:30 a.m.
Mainstage and breakout sessions: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Event concludes: 5:15 p.m. 

Where 

Living Arts Centre
4141 Living Arts Dr.
Mississauga, Ontario 

Registration 

Tickets start at $49 plus fees and taxes. Register here using the promotional code MISSISSAUGA30 at checkout for 30 per cent off all passes. 

About IDEA Mississauga 

IDEA Mississauga, powered by Invest Mississauga, the City’s Economic Development Division, brings together industry, government, education and organizational leaders. It helps startups and scale-ups bring those ideas to market. IDEA Mississauga gives entrepreneurs access to mentorship, services and a strong network of partners and talent. From startup to scale-up, IDEA supports businesses in turning ideas into real-world impact.   

About Visit Mississauga 

Visit Mississauga is the official destination marketing organization (DMO) for the City of Mississauga. As an industry-led organization, it is responsible for developing the city’s tourism strategy, leading tourism marketing and development efforts, promoting local businesses and attracting business, sport and leisure events to Mississauga.  

About Startup Canada   

Startup Canada is the gateway to Canada’s entrepreneurial ecosystem that points you in the right direction, eliminates barriers, and champions your needs to private and public sector partners. We connect you with support organizations and peers across the country with industry expertise, regional knowledge, and funding to help you start and build successful businesses.