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Keynotes
2026 Connections Conference – Keynote Speakers & Panels
Keynote Speaker
Chief of the Defence Staff
Government of Canada – Department of National Defence
General Jennie Carignan is a trailblazing Canadian military engineer and the first woman to serve as Canada’s Chief of the Defence Staff. General Carignan will dive into the strategic priorities of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) and the essential role of skills, education, and innovation partnerships in strengthening Canada’s defence readiness – including meeting evolving operational demands and the importance of coordinated national approaches to training capacity, long‑term readiness, and military–civilian interoperability.
Participants will gain a deeper understanding of how collaboration with colleges and institutes can help a stronger, more secure Canada.
Tuesday, April 21, 2026 | 13:00 – 14:30
Confederation Ballroom
Natan Obed
President
Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami
Natan Obed will explore how Inuit are working with post-secondary institutions to build a skilled and confident workforce across Inuit Nunangat. The keynote will highlight the central role of Inuit perspectives in Canada’s long-term security, prosperity, and approach to Arctic sovereignty. President Obed will share insights on the realities facing Inuit communities, the role of education in supporting economic and social development and provide an update on progress toward establishing Inuit Nunangat University by 2030.
Tuesday April 21st | 16:30 – 17:30
Confederation Ballroom
The Honourable Anita Anand
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Government of Canada
As Canada navigates rising geopolitical uncertainty, supply-chain pressures, and the need for economic diversification, skills and talent are central to delivering national priorities.
In her keynote, Minister Anand will reflect on the Government of Canada’s Canada Strong agenda and the role of colleges, institutes, CEGEPs, polytechnics, and Indigenous Institutes of Education as partners in nation-building.
Drawing on Canada’s renewed relationship with India, Minister Anand will highlight education as a core pillar of international partnerships. She will discuss new strategic initiatives, including the Canada-India Joint Talent and Innovation Strategy, opportunities for vocational and skills-based collaboration, and how colleges and institutes are helping build globally connected talent pipelines that support trade diversification and shared economic growth.
Her remarks will underscore the essential role of education, skills, and knowledge exchange in advancing Canada’s international trade objectives and fostering strong, reliable global partnerships.
Thursday, April 23 | 15:45 – 17:00
Confederation Ballroom
Keynote Fireside Chat
Shared Challenges, Shared Solutions: A North American Post-Secondary Education Dialogue
Wednesday, April 22, 2026 | 8:30 – 9:45
Confederation Ballroom
About the Session
This high-level fireside chat brings together North American perspectives for a conversation on shared postsecondary challenges across Canada, the United States, and Mexico. Panelists will examine the geopolitical and economic shifts shaping higher education and highlight opportunities for stronger trilateral collaboration to support learners and institutional resilience.
Panel Speakers
President and CEO
Humber Polytechnic (Moderator)
Executive Secretary General
National Association of Universities and Higher Education Institutions (ANUIES)
Keynote Roundtable
National Missions: Building the Workforce Canada Needs
Thursday, April 23, 2026 | 8:30 – 9:45
Confederation Ballroom
About the Session
As Canada accelerates major infrastructure, clean energy, defence, and housing initiatives, workforce capacity remains a critical constraint. Without a skilled talent pipeline, national priorities cannot advance at pace.
This panel convenes leaders from industry, economic policy, and the college and institute sector to examine structural workforce gaps and practical solutions. The discussion will explore high-demand skills, system-level reforms, and the essential role of colleges and institutes as regional workforce hubs supporting national execution and long-term economic resilience.
Panel Speakers
Minister of Jobs and Families & Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario
Government of Canada (Moderator)
Keynote Panel
Shaping the Next Generation of Leaders
Wednesday, April 22, 2026 | 13:00 – 14:00
Confederation Ballroom
About the Session
This student panel features recipients of CICan’s Student Leadership Excellence Award sharing how their postsecondary experiences have shaped them as leaders and as contributors to strong communities. Panelists will reflect on the key moments and challenges that influenced their growth, highlighting the importance of student voice in shaping the next generation of leaders.
Panel Speakers
President and CEO
Northern Alberta Institute of Technology
(Moderator)
Abigail Ansell
Durham College
2025 Gold recipient of the CICan Awards of Excellence for Students
Kathleen Ramsay
Algonquin College
2025 Silver recipient of the CICan Awards of Excellence for Students
Samara Ocansey
Humber Polytechnic
2026 Gold recipient of the CICan Awards of Excellence for Students
Marielle Angelica (Mayie) Esteria
NorQuest College
2026 Silver recipient of the CICan Awards of Excellence for Students
Onoriode Francis Osifo
Humber Polytechnic
2026 Bronze recipient of the CICan Awards of Excellence for Students
