IMPORTANT

All co-speakers' emails must be provided within the submission. They will be contacted to complete their speaker profile. All co-speaker information must be submitted by the call for speaker's submission deadline, which is August 21, 2025. 

We're now accepting proposals for both the Pre-Conference Deep Dive Day (April 19) and the Summit (April 20–21). Before submitting, please review the session formats and tracks carefully to ensure you’re submitting under the right event.

🐾 What’s the Difference?

• Pre-Conference Deep Dive Day – April 19, 2026

This day features half-day, in-depth learning experiences. Attendees register for one track and stay within that track all day (approx. 200+ people total). Sessions should be designed to build on each other and flow together, often in a hands-on or workshop-style format.

• Summit for Animals – April 20–21, 2026

The full two-day conference welcomes 500 attendees from across the animal welfare sector. Summit sessions are offered across multiple educational tracks and formats, and attendees build their own schedule by choosing from a variety of breakout sessions.

Summit Submissions

Sessions should be submitted under one of the following educational tracks.

• Animal care and behaviour
• Community impact
• Farmed animal welfare
• Humane education
• International voices
• Urban wildlife
• Volunteer engagement and management

Please click here for full descriptions of each educational track.

Sessions must be submitted in one of the following formats:

• 45-minute session: 1 to 2 speakers, including at least 10 minutes for Q&A
• 60-minute session: 1 to 4 speakers, including at least 10 minutes for Q&A

Submissions with more than four speakers will not be accepted.

Sessions can be submitted in the following formats:

• Interactive session: A session with some form of interactive element such as a poll or audience engagement (this could mean attendees raising their hands or offering a response to a speaker’s question).
  
  
• Classic presentation: A traditional conference session where speaker(s) present for an allotted time with slides and questions at the end.
  
  
• Workshop: a hands-on focused experience, often involving practical skills, group work, and direct engagement with the speaker(s).
  
  
• Panel discussion with moderator: A panel-style session where speakers are seated on stage alongside a moderator. The discussion is guided by pre-planned questions prepared in advance with the moderator, followed by a Q&A with the audience.

Sessions should be engaging, insightful, and tailored to the needs and interests of our diverse audience.

Please note that sessions are to be presented in person in Whistler, British Columbia on April 20th and/or 21st, 2026.

Pre-Conference Deep Dive Submissions

Sessions should be submitted under one of the following educational tracks:

• Humane education
• Leadership - pioneering progress
• Psychological health and safety

Please click here for full descriptions of each educational track.

Sessions must be submitted as 60-minute sessions or 90-minute sessions (max 4 speakers). Submissions with more than four speakers will not be accepted.

Sessions can be submitted in the following formats:

• Interactive session
• Workshop

Language

All sessions will be presented in English.

Decisions

All applicants will be notified of the outcome of their submission by the end of October 2025.

Questions

Please email events@humanecanada.ca

*Disclaimer: submitting a proposal does not guarantee your participation as a speaker at Humane Canada’s Summit for Animals. Please be aware that the submissions chosen for the conference may be recorded and utilized for various ongoing educational opportunities upon speaker approval. Additionally, even if your submission is not selected, it could still be utilized in other valuable educational endeavours upon speaker approval.

Speakers selected for the 2026 Summit for Animals will be given a full ride conference pass (valued between $600 to $800 CAD) for the Summit on April 20 and 21, and the pre-conference deep dives on April 19. Humane Canada does NOT cover additional speaker expenses, such as travel, accommodations, or additional meals outside what's provided on the conference days.