Conference theme & subthemes

The past two years have seen a lot of disconnection. The 2022 conference is not just about reconnecting but Connecting with Purpose. In addition to connecting with our peers, the conference will challenge us to explore how we connect with the profession, the projects we work on, and the public. 

We’ve chosen five conference sub-themes that highlight the importance of connection. Your proposal can fall under one or more of these subthemes:

1. Connecting with our P2 community and our profession

How can we learn from each other to improve and advance our practice? We want to hear about tools, techniques, frameworks, programs and research that can be applied to improve our changing field. 

2. Connecting to achieve diverse representation by providing  inclusive and equitable engagement environments

How do we create engagement processes that are equitable and inclusive to achieve diverse representation? How do we embrace, adapt and integrate different cultural styles into our processes? How do we address systemic racism in our engagement? What new skills and competencies must we develop to identify barriers so that our engagement is equitable and inclusive? What strategies have you applied to connect with hard-to-reach audiences?  We want to hear about your experiences. 

3. Connecting with Indigenous ways of knowing

Have you integrated Indigenous ways of knowing or sharing knowledge into your P2 processes? How have you decolonized your engagement processes? How is your engagement fostering reconciliation? What have you learned, and what do you do to learn and develop continually?

4. Connecting through differences

How do we create safe spaces to discuss difficult topics? How do we create collaboration and connection between groups that are divided? How do we find common ground when solving problems that are polarizing? How has your organization supported activities to generate meaningful discussions to solve problems? We want to learn how you have achieved successful outcomes amongst polarization and conflict.

5. Connecting through the screen

The past two years required us to adapt how we engage. What have you learned when engagement was fully online? How can we strengthen our relationships when they are digital? What benefits have digital medium opened? How do we have tough conversations when they are not done in person? How can we be agile and adaptable during online engagement? 

Target audience

This conference is for engagement practitioners from various organizations that include government, nonprofits, industry, education, business, health, science, and community associations. Our presenters and participants come from diverse backgrounds, working in or studying stakeholder engagement, community and Indigenous relations, facilitation, communications, education, planning, public policy, and more. Most have direct experience with public participation, some are just learning and others have been long-time public engagement practitioners.