Élise Hanson
Bar Manager, Civil Works
About this speaker
Élise Hanson is an award-winning bartender and bar manager based in Toronto. With over a decade in the industry, she has worked at some of Canada’s most celebrated bars. In 2024, Elise opened Civil Works alongside the team behind the acclaimed sister bar, Civil Liberties. A passionate advocate for sustainability and community in hospitality, she founded Higher Harvests, an initiative dedicated to building rooftop farms above Toronto’s bars and restaurants. Her creativity and leadership earned her the titles of Bombay Sapphire’s Most Imaginative Bartender 2024, Foodism’s Mixology Icon 2024 & Canada's 100 Best - Bartender of the Year 2025.
