Program

Enjoy a one-hour cruise on the Island Belle, a replica St. Lawrence River steamer. The tour will offer an introduction to the unique sites and heritage of Kingston’s waterfront, including Fort Henry, Royal Military College of Canada, and Kingston Penitentiary, all National Historic Sites.

After the cruise, we will take over The Helm Dockside Patio right on Crawford Wharf for an open-air reception. Enjoy hors d’oeuvres and a selection of local beverages in the warmth of a summer evening, with cruise boats, ferries, and pleasure craft coming and going. And for those keen to explore a bit more of the city, Kingston’s famously vibrant restaurant scene is just steps away, as is our host hotel, the Kingston Marriott.

8:00 a.m - 8:30 a.m

8:30 a.m - 9:30 a.m

Partnership Pursuit Meet & Greet (Limestone Ballroom)

Business Associates Advisory Council (BAAC) Meeting (Rideau Room)

In today's unpredictable landscape, collaboration is your competitive edge. In this empowering, forward-looking talk, Shane Feldman goes beyond the hype and speculation to reveal a fundamental truth — in this new world of work, community and relationships are what will set you apart.

Having researched community leadership and human behaviour across 40 countries and six continents, Feldman brings audiences on a journey around the world, sharing lessons learned from global leaders. He decodes how to empower human connection, future-proof any organization, and optimize people, planet, and profit through real-world examples and clear strategies that can be applied right away. Audiences are left re-focused, re-connected, and ready to elevate their impact.

Keynote: Matthew Pegg, Good Sleep Requires Shiny Shoes:  Candid Life and Leadership Lessons Learned the Hard Way

Chief Matthew Pegg built and maintained an extraordinary reputation and unparalleled level of public, staff, and elected official trust and confidence throughout his 32-year career as a first responder. This included eight years serving as chief of the largest fire and emergency service in Canada, where he was independently ranked as the sixth most influential person in Toronto and maintained a global media profile and presence through some of the nation’s most significant issues and events.

In this candid, entertaining, and raw keynote, Pegg will share some of the most powerful and important life and leadership lessons learned from his prolific career overseeing some of the largest and most complex emergencies in North American history. They are truly a collection of lessons learned the hard way.

Imagine being in a room full of trusted career coaches ready to tackle your biggest painpoints. Welcome to the Ignite Collaboration Lab, with its signature mix of candid conversation, small group brainstorming and tangible takeaways!

The Ignite Collaboration Lab is a facet of the Worth It Stand Up for Business Events initiative, launched to spark discussion on tough topics in order to elevate our worth as event professionals, as companies, and as an industry.

8:30 a.m - 9:45 a.m

9:45 a.m - 10:30 a.m

Keynote Presentation: Bridging Business and Reconciliation - Tools for the Entrepreneurial Event Planner

Presented by Marc Forgette

Bridging Business and Reconciliation invites entrepreneurial event planners to take a leadership role in reconciliation by embedding cultural respect and awareness into their events. From delivering authentic land acknowledgements and engaging Indigenous Elders, to understanding the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's 94 Calls to Action, this session offers practical tools to plan with intention, build inclusive spaces, and strengthen relationships with Indigenous communities. Reconciliation isn't a trend - it's a responsibility.

Keynote Presentation: How To Create an Emotional Lizard: Using Brand to Drive Connection and Empathy

In this informal session we will look at what influences human decision making and how stories and experiences can drive perception and behaviour change. As ‘feeling machines that think’, we will look at some fun examples of how a brand can turn the mundane into the marvelous, and create branded hits of joy that turn the brain’s emotional receptors on and open minds to suggestion.

Open Space is a participant-led session where you create the afternoon program based on the topics that matter most to you. It’s a chance to collaborate, share ideas, and solve challenges in an organic, dynamic way. No rigid structure—just meaningful conversations that lead to real takeaways.

Dean Renwick is a Regina-based fashion designer renowned for his custom couture creations that blend sophistication with a modern edge. After honing his craft in Los Angeles, where he designed for celebrities such as Bette Midler, Kiefer Sutherland, Guns N’ Roses, and the Eurythmics, Renwick returned to Saskatchewan to establish Dean Renwick Design Studio.

Open Space is a participant-led session where you create the afternoon program based on the topics that matter most to you. It’s a chance to collaborate, share ideas, and solve challenges in an organic, dynamic way. No rigid structure—just meaningful conversations that lead to real takeaways.

Step into the spirit of the West and connect with the best at the Saskatoon Saloon — a high-energy session where professionals from across industries gather to spark conversations, share ideas, and build valuable relationships in a lively atmosphere. Whether you're a seasoned entrepreneur, a rising professional, or just looking to expand your circle, the Saskatoon Saloon offers the perfect blend of business and casual charm.

The session features facilitated table discussions on trending topics and key challenges in business and leadership. These small-group conversations are designed to foster meaningful dialogue, idea-sharing, and deeper connections among attendees. Walk away with fresh insights and potential collaborators after this engaging and insightful session.

Enjoy local food and drink tastings and to learn from your colleagues in a fun and rewarding environment.

Tourism Kingston, Kingston Accommodation Partners, and an array of local food and beverage partners will welcome CanSPEP Conference delegates to the Great Hall at Fort Henry for an evening of delicious food, delightful beverages, alluring entertainment, and perhaps an absorbing game or two.

We’ll make the short trip to the Fort on Kingston’s iconic Red Trolleys, crossing the century-old LaSalle Causeway and passing Royal Military College before arriving at the Great Hall. With a terrace overlooking the first of the 1000 Islands at the confluence of the St. Lawrence and Cataraqui rivers and Lake Ontario, we’ll enjoy an evening of engaging conversation and meaningful networking in a spectacular setting within the Rideau Canal/Kingston Fortifications UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Wake Up With Encore (Breakfast)

Have you ever experienced Kristamas?  Whether you have or have not, you'll want to experience what Waking Up with Encore is really like!

Sponsored by:

Event food and beverage experiences have long been dictated by outdated, uninspired practices that fail to meet the evolving expectations of today’s attendees. Highbell Hospitality, a boutique hospitality agency, is challenging the status quo—rethinking event food through intentional, inclusive, and culturally rich experiences that uplift local economies and enhance community connections. This session explores how event professionals can break free from traditional constraints and embrace a new model that integrates small businesses, supports women- and BIPOC-led establishments, and reinvents the way we think about food budgets.

Presented by: CanSPEP Business Associate Advisory Council

The Business Associates' Advisory Council (BAAC) is back with a session unlike any other. This clue-inspired experience will blend curiosity, collaboration and creative problem-solving.  With puzzling scenarios full of twists, tales and surprises!  But rather than asking whodunit, we'll explore how you would solve it.

Can you solve the mystery?

Sponsored by:

12:30 p.m - 1:00 p.m - Reception

1:00 p.m - 2:00 p.m - Luncheon

2:00 p.m - 2:30 p.m - Keynote Presentation:  "The Power of Yes"

Inspiring Words from Travis Blackmore (Founder and President of Lionhearts, Inc.) 

2:30 p.m - 3:00 p.m - Awards Celebration