Call for conference speakers!
Courage and Compassion: The Currency of Care
May 6 and 7, 2026, Edmonton Convention Centre
Proposal submission deadline: Wednesday, February 25, 2026
Courage and Compassion: The Currency of Care recognizes that the true measure of our work is more than efficiency and scale—it is the human values and interactions that sustain them. This premier event promises to inspire and connect leaders and decision-makers from across sectors, including continuing care, health care, seniors’ services, and government.
We are inviting bold ideas, grounded in research and real-world experience, that place compassion, collaboration, and courageous leadership at the centre of transformation. Together, we will explore how values-driven decisions translate into resilient organizations, fulfilling experiences, improved outcomes, and care systems worthy of the trust placed in them.
Conference Information
Called to Care will take place May 6 and 7, 2026 at the Edmonton Convention Centre. We anticipate more than 175 leaders and decision-makers from across sectors, including continuing care, health care, seniors’ services, and government.
This is your opportunity to be one of the 50+ speakers and presenters as we build upon the huge success of our 2025 event.
Conference Theme and Presenter Submission Categories
Courage and Compassion: The Currency of Care recognizes that the true measure of our health and continuing care systems is not only efficiency or scale, but the human values that sustain them. This conference invites bold ideas grounded in both research and real-world experience that place compassion, collaboration, and courageous leadership at the centre of system transformation – supporting workforce wellness, strengthening partnerships, and addressing complex operational and policy challenges. Together, we will explore how values-driven decisions translate into resilient organizations, improved outcomes, and care systems worthy of the trust placed in them.
Individuals or groups are invited to submit proposals for oral, panel or workshop-style sessions. Submissions should relate to the overall conference theme (Courage and Compassion: The Currency of Care) or to any topic of interest to the sector, including any of the sub-themes listed below. Presentations of a commercial nature will not be considered unless they are part of broader research, quality improvement, or innovation topics aligned with the conference theme.
• Compassion, Wellness and Mental Health: Evidence and initiatives that illustrate why understanding and enhancing the wellness and mental health of residents and our workforce is central to the design and delivery of compassionate, values-driven care.
• Courageous Pathways: Ideas and initiatives that stay true to the values of client-focused care while courageously seeking new solutions to increase system responsiveness, expand capacity, challenge conventional silos and boundaries, and streamline service delivery.
• The ROI of Collaboration: Showcasing the exponential gains that are possible when we work collaboratively across community, facility and government partnerships -- leveraging the timeless assets of philanthropy, volunteerism and social enterprise.
• C-Suite Challenges: Tackling the most pressing political, financial and future-focused challenges of our times. These topics are in urgent need of frank, candid dialogue about organization- and system-level risks and solutions.
• Leadership with a Mission: Thought leadership and governance strategies that propel organizations into the realm of exceptional performance and impressive outcomes.
Eligible Presenters
Sector representatives and organizations from any non-profit, private, government, academic, commercial or other organization are eligible to submit, so long as the topic aligns with the conference theme.
Government and policymaker representatives may submit presentation requests or summaries involving consultation, collaboration, or problem-solving with sector representatives.
Private individuals sharing a resident, client, or consumer perspective are also welcome if the topic is relevant and suited to the audience.
Submission Requirements
Abstracts must be submitted electronically through the conference portal and include:
• Presenter(s) name, contact details, academic or leadership credentials.
• Relevant theme/topic and why it will interest the audience, highlighting any novel insights.
• Session type, description, and learning objectives.
• Target audience (C-suite, executive, operational and clinical leadership; front-line staff).
• Additional materials (papers, reports, videos) that support the submission.
Submission Evaluation Criteria
Submissions will be evaluated based on:
• Fit with the conference theme and target audience’s interests.
• Focus on transforming care and influencing the drivers and metrics of high quality, high performing care.
• Emphasis on collaboration, innovation, leadership and shared goals.
• Relevance to enhancing the experience of giving and receiving care and support services.
• Diversity of thought and application across Alberta’s diverse population segments, operator types, and geographic regions.
• Addressing workforce challenges and varied business models within the sector.
• Speakers’ ability to inspire and inform with innovative ideas, promising practices, novel regulations and policies, and values-driven leadership.
• Potential for scalability within current and future operating environments.
• Creating opportunity for meaningful engagement between session leads/presenters and attendees, both during the session and after the conference.
Presentation Formats
Abstracts will be accepted for the following presentation formats.
• Individual or Group Presentations (45 or 75 minutes): Session involving presentation of a program, idea, success story, or emerging research relevant to the conference theme. Your lead presenter is assembling the group of speakers.
• Panel Discussions (75 minutes): Perspectives on a single topic/theme from a diversity of individuals/organizations, with the goal of fostering new insights and challenging groupthink. Abstract submitters are not required to assemble a panel of diverse views/speakers, but should indicate the suitability of their topic for a panel-style discussion if other co-panelists can be arranged.
• Workshops or world café discussions (90-120 minutes): Small group-facilitated discussions with the goal of exploring complex challenges and considering solution possibilities through idea and information sharing. Sessions with the facilitator identified in the speaker proposal are preferred.
All submissions will be reviewed for relevance and diversity. Some may be considered for keynote or plenary sessions. The review committee’s decisions are final.
Important Dates
• Wednesday, February 25, 2026: Proposal submission deadline. Proposals must be submitted electronically using our conference portal.
• Monday, March 9, 2026: Proposal reviews completed and successful submitters notified by email
For More Information
Questions or comments about the conference content, themes or delivery should be directed to our Conference Manager:
Kazia Ekelund, CMP
E: kazia@sparkeventcollective.com
T: (587) 880-2922 ext. 709
Sponsorship and Partnership Opportunities
CHAA’s Called to Care Conference 2026 is a landmark event bringing together Alberta’s continuing care leaders, policymakers, and innovators to shape the future of compassionate, high-quality, community-driven care. This is a conference with impact.
“The future of our health care system looks brighter and more promising because of the positive attitude shared by speakers with influence.” ~ 2025 conference participant
We invite you to be among the first to support this highly anticipated conference, ensuring your organization is recognized as a key partner in its success. View our sponsorship package to learn how you can partner with CHAA and make an impact. Sponsorship opportunities are limited!
Discuss sponsorship questions and design custom partnership packages with
Kazia Ekelund, CMP, by email at kazia@sparkeventcollective.com or by phone at 587.880.2922 x 709.
Important Dates
· Registration opens: Early February
· Presenter submission deadline: February 25, 2026
· Proposals reviewed and successful submitters notified: March 9, 2026