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Wilfrid Laurier University to host the 2026 Canadian Community Psychology Conference and celebrate 50 years of the discipline on May 21-23, 2026.
By: Erin Dekker and Ciann L. Wilson
Over 180 people gathered on Laurier’s Waterloo campus for the three‑day 2026 Canadian Community Psychology Conference. This was the first Canadian community psychology conference hosted by Laurier in a decade, and it marked the 50th anniversary of Laurier’s Community Psychology program, the largest English‑language program of its kind in Canada.
The conference theme, Community‑Based Research and Practice in Canada and Beyond: Hope in the Times of Polycrisis, framed the gathering as a celebration and gathering space to tackle some of the world’s most pressing and intersecting issues. More than 90 presenters from across North America, the Caribbean, and continental Africa shared their interdisciplinary research and practice from fields such as social work, child and youth studies, psychology, urban health, etc. The conference served as a space for connection among community‑based leaders, practitioners, student trainees and community partners, with a clear goal: to reinvigorate a Canadian Community Psychology network and strengthen interdisciplinary scholarship, practice and community work across Canada and beyond.
Over three days, attendees participated in workshops, attended presentations, and engaged with community organizations. Program features included an evening gala with musical entertainment provided by the KW Sentro choir and DJ Ketan (Shankardass), community partner site visits, a local vendor market, and a mix of panel, lightning, artistic and poster presentations.
A memorial address was given for the late Dr. Isaac Prilleltensky. Keynote discussions included a panel of founding leaders in community psychology from Laurier and other Canadian universities, reflecting on the history of the field and sharing advice for emerging community psychologists. An alumni panel highlighted the impact of community psychology graduates in their communities and workplaces. Two town‑hall collaborative sessions invited participants to discuss strategies and next steps for reinvigorating a Canadian Community Psychology network.
Accessibility was an important aspect of the program, with microphones in presentations, captioning support, low-stimulation sensory rooms, and accessible and all‑gender washrooms were clearly labelled. A medicines space in a courtyard offered participants a place to engage with healing practices.
The conference was made possible through the support of graduate and undergraduate students, as well as support from partner universities: Université du Québec à Montréal, University of Ottawa, Toronto Metropolitan University and Brock University and funders included the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) Connection Grant Program and SSHRC Canada Research Chair Program, Wilfrid Laurier University’s Office of Research Services, Alumni Association, Faculty of Science and Department of Psychology.
Building on the momentum of the conference, a special issue of the American Journal of Community Psychology will focus on the contemporary landscape of community psychology while acknowledging 50 years of these conversations in Canada and beyond. The call for proposals is active now, and invites scholarship and practice that highlights how communities, especially those facing marginalization and structural oppression, cultivate hope, resilience and collective action in response to intersecting crises. Abstract submissions are due July 31 2026.
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Conference Highlights
- Full Schedule
- Conference Program Booklet
- Things You Need to Know (English)
- Choses à savoir (French)
- Registration Now Closed
- Instructions for Presenters:
In spring of 2026 we are celebrating 50 years of the Community Psychology (CP) program at Wilfrid Laurier University. We are thrilled to invite you to both support and attend a day of celebration on May 21st, 2026.
This will be followed by the Canadian CP Conference on May 22nd and 23rd in honour of 50 years of the formalization of CP as a discipline in Canada.
After a decade-long hiatus, the Canadian CP Conference returns—revived, re-imagined, and ready to ignite your passion for social justice and community-engaged work. Laurier is excited to host this conference for the first time in 10 years and we would be thrilled to have your support.
The celebration and conference are being organized in collaboration with partners from the University of Ottawa, Brock University, and Toronto Metropolitan University.
Theme
The conference theme is Community-Based Research and Practice in Canada and Beyond: Hope in the Times of Polycrisis and we will be welcoming academics, students, practitioners and community partners from CP and related interdisciplinary fields in Canada and internationally.
Aim
Our goal is to provide lots of opportunities for networking and sharing our collective and multi-sectoral work in forwarding the aims of social justice confronting today’s world.
Objectives
- Facilitating critical trans-disciplinary scholarship and multi-sectoral, community-based practice in the field of psychology and beyond.
- Sharing the relevance, timeliness, and utility of Community Psychology theory, research, knowledge and practice in the contemporary times of crisis and risk.
- Cultivating a space for professional development, relationship building, social networking, and a practice of hope in community-engaged work.
- Strengthening and reinvigorating collaborations and knowledge exchange for cultivating the field and future of community psychology as a practice-based discipline in the Canadian context.
Hosts
Your host is the Centre for Community, Research, Learning, and Action (CCRLA) partnered with the Viessmann Centre for Engagement and Research in Sustainability (VERiS) as well as partners from Brock University, University of Ottawa, and Toronto Metropolitan University.
Dates
Ticket sales and registration closes May 11 2026.
Free portion:
Thursday May 21, 2026 - Day of celebration, 50 years of the Community Psychology at Laurier
(Free please register - on Eventbrite)
Paid portion:
Thursday May 21, 2026 - Gala in the evening
Friday May 22, 2026 - Conference Day 2
Saturday May 23, 2026 - Conference Day 3
Note: Friday day 2 and Saturday day 3 are both included in the one ticket purchase marked May 22, on Eventbrite.
General Overview Schedule
9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Conference Day 1: Thursday, May 21st, 2026
Day 1 will include an Opening Panel: 50 Years of CP in Canada - A Half Century in Review and Alumni Panel: CP Practice in the Field - Making a Difference.
Join Day 1 via Zoom (Only available Thursday, May 21 till 3pm.)
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/4233814794
Meeting ID: 423 381 4794
- One tap mobile
+14388097799,,4233814794# Canada
+15873281099,,4233814794# Canada
Join by SIP
4233814794@zoomcrc.com
Join instructions https://us02web.zoom.us/meetings/4233814794/invitations?signature=DHDBc0s0EGhDYKTK5ceZzdAql3ZOmQYo47mTTouuY5Y
5:30 pm - 10:00 pm
CP 50th Anniversary Celebration Evening Gala: Thursday, May 21st, 2026
In the evening, attendees can opt to attend the Community Psychology 50th Anniversary Gala in celebration of 50 years of the discipline in Canada and the largest English-speaking program based at Laurier. This gala will include opportunities for networking, arts-based performances, dinner and dancing!
9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Conference Day 2: Friday, May 22nd, 2026
Day 2 will feature presentation and poster sessions throughout the day, as well as a Townhall: Reinvigorating a Canadian CP Network.
9:00 am - 4:30 pm
Conference Day 3: Saturday, May 23rd, 2026
Day 3 will feature presentation and poster sessions throughout the day, as well as a World Cafe discussion about reinvigorating the Canadian CP Network and future directions for the field.
Registeration closed May 11 2026
Early Bird Price
Until Monday April 27 2026 (11.59pm EST)
- Conference Day 1: Thurs, May 21 (9:30 - 4:00 PM) Free - attendees must reserve a ticket in advance.
- CP50 Evening Gala: Thurs, May 21 (5:30 - 9:30 PM) CAD $79.26
- Conference Days 2-3: Friday May 22 and Saturday May 23 (Academic/Faculty) CAD $263.00
- Conference Days 2-3: Friday May 22 and Saturday May 23 (Student/Community) CAD $79.26
Registration
Tuesday April 28 to Monday May 11 2026 is subject to a rate increase.
- Conference Day 1: Thurs, May 21 (9:30 - 4:00 PM) Free - attendees must reserve a ticket in advance.
- CP50 Evening Gala: Thurs, May 21 (5:30 - 9:30 PM) CAD $104.26
- Conference Days 2-3: Friday May 22 and Saturday May 23 (Academic/Faculty) CAD $313.00
- Conference Days 2-3: Friday May 22 and Saturday May 23 (Student/Community) CAD $104.26
All Registration closes May 11 2026 (11.59 EST).
| Day of Conference | Event Segment | Cost | Date/Day |
| Day 1 | Day of Celebration | Free – Registration required | Thursday, May 21 2026 |
| Day 1 | Evening Gala | One paid ticket per person | Thursday, May 21 2026 |
| Day 2 and 3 | Conference Day 2 and 3 | One paid ticket per person for days 2 and 3 | Friday, May 22 and Saturday, May 23 2026 |
Day 2 and 3 tickets are not available separately.
Steps to Purchase and or Reserve Tickets
- Select "Check Availability" on the event page.
- For the events you are interested in attending, select the number of tickets you'd like to purchase by clicking the "+" button next to each event. We welcome participants to join us for all three days of the conference!
- Upon completing your ticket purchase, you will be prompted to share any dietary requirements and accessibility or learning accommodations.
Join our mailing list to keep updated as soon as this information is available.
Welcome to Waterloo Ontario.
- Hotel Laurier (King Street Residence)
Address: 200 King Street North, Waterloo ON.
Contact: hotel@wlu.ca or (+1) 548-889-3249
Website
Approximate rates:- Dormitory style private bedroom (semi-private washroom): $69.70
- Dormitory style private bedroom (private washroom): $91
- Dormitory style two bedrooms (private washroom): $121.65
- Apartment style three bedroom: $152.40
- Apartment style four bedroom: $174.85
- Apartment style five bedroom: $220.50
- The Laundry Rooms
Address: 181 King Street South, Waterloo ON.
Contact: (+1) 226-749-3648
Website - Delta Hotel Waterloo
Address: 110 Erb Street West, Waterloo ON.
Contact: (+1) 519-514-0404
Website - Waterloo Suites Hotel, Trademark Collection by Wyndham
Address: 547 King Street North, Waterloo ON.
Contact: (+1) 519-884-0100
Website - The Walper Hotel - JDV by Hyatt
Address: 20 Queen Street South, Kitchener ON.
Contact: (+1) 519-745-4321
Website
Public street parking is available around the Waterloo campus. Examples include King Street in uptown Waterloo (1.5 km walk), Regina Street (500 m walk), and Bricker Avenue (500 m walk).
Chair
Ciann Wilson (CCRLA / Laurier)
Graduate Student Coordinators (Laurier)
Brittany Palmer
Dion Flores
Emily Escoffery
Erin Dekker
Jayashri Maraj
Rachel Persaud
Organizing Committee Members
Alexis Buettgen (Laurier)
Ela Desmarchelier (Laurier)
Julian Hasford (Toronto Metropolitan U)
John Sylvestre (U Ottawa)
Konrad Czechowski (U Ottawa)
Liesette Brunson (U of Quebec and Montreal)
Manuel Riemer (VERiS / Laurier)
Scott Neufeld (Brock U)
Conference Ticket Registration FAQs
No, you do not. Our conference is interdisciplinary and we encourage community members, practitioners, researchers, students and alumni from a wide range of fields to attend. We invite anyone who is interested in community-based work and social change to attend or present their work.
Conference Day 1 is free; however, attendees must reserve a ticket in advance.
The CP 50th Gala, as well as Conference Days 2-3, requires a paid ticket. All tickets - both free reservations and paid options, can be selected once you click the “Check Availability” button on this Eventbrite.
Attendance for Conference Days 2 and 3 is sold only as a combined, flat-rate registration fee. When purchasing, this Day 2–3 ticket (May 22–23) is listed only under the “9:30 AM - 9:00 PM” tab after clicking “Check Availability.” There is no separate ticket or tab for Days 2 and 3.
No - attendance for Conference Days 2-3 (May 22-23) is offered exclusively as a combined, flat-rate registration fee. Individual single-day registrations/payments for these days are not available.
The deadline to purchase all paid tickets (CP 50th Gala; Conference Day 2-3) - and to reserve a free Conference Day 1 ticket - is Monday, May 11, 2026, in order for our team to coordinate catering and accessibility requirements.
No. The conference attendance is open to all, regardless of whether or not you are presenting.
If you are interested in submitting an abstract for presentation, the deadline date has been extended to Monday, December 15th, 2025.
A fully catered dinner and drink ticket are included with your CP 50th Evening Gala ticket purchase (Thursday, May 21 from 5:30 - 9:00 PM). Coffee, tea, and juice or soda will also be available. Refreshments, including a lunch, will be provided throughout Conference Day 2 and Day 3.
In alignment with the conference theme, the Gala meal will be predominantly vegetarian, reflecting our commitment to environmentally responsible and ethical food practices. An optional meat-based entrée will be available for attendees who select this preference at the time of ticket purchase.assets/documents/cp50-schedule-may12-2026.pdf
Conference program and schedule:
Participants can select from a range of formats, including: panel discussions; individual presentation sessions; and poster presentations. Please note that presentations will take place on Days 2 and 3 of the conference.
Wilfrid Laurier University’s campus is about 1-hour (100 km) from Toronto Pearson Airport. There are a variety of convenient methods of transport to get you to Waterloo. Please refer to the GO Train (GTA public transit service) website for transport schedules: https://www.gotransit.com/en
Wilfrid Laurier University’s campus is about 60-75 minutes (~115-120 km) from Billy Bishop Airport. There are a variety of convenient methods of transport to get you to Waterloo. Please refer to the GO Train (GTA public transit service) website for transport schedules: https://www.gotransit.com/en
Accommodation information can be found on this page above under the “Places to Stay”.
After soliciting accommodation requests, ASL interpretation is not available during the conference.
Captioning will be available in select rooms for various sessions.
Yes. French interpretation will be provided.
While our photographer will do their best to only take head on photos of people who explicitly consent to being in photos, we understand and respect that some attendees may prefer not to be photographed at all. If you do not wish to appear in photos, please inform a conference staff member at check-in and speak directly with the photographer.
Donate to CCRLA and Community Psychology
Your support helps us create a meaningful and impactful experience for all participants. Every contribution directly enhances the quality and reach of things like:
- CP50 Conference
- Day of Celebration 2026
- CP50 Gala 2026
- Translation services - French and English
- ASL and related accessibility costs
- Refreshments
- Other Community Psychology and Centre activities
Together, we can foster collaboration, learning, and change. Thank you for your generosity and support to help make these activities and events exceptional.
Please see the donation page for tax receipt information.
Call for Abstracts (Now Closed)
We would like to showcase innovative community-based research, interventions, and frameworks that offer examples of hope, solidarity, and resistance in times of crisis. If you're interested in presenting, please fill out this survey by December 15th, 2025 at 11:59 pm EST.
Abstracts FAQs
Ideal for presenting proposals, preliminary project ideas, findings from smaller studies, a new tool or method, or research that is still in progress. Presenters are given 5-minutes to present, as well as a 2-minute Q&A. Each presenter is permitted the use of aids, like a slide deck.
What is needed: 300 word abstract.
Groups deliver a series of short presentations across a specific theme or topic. Only one proposal for each panel is permitted. A total of 60 minutes will be allocated for each panel, which includes questions and discussion.
What is needed: Presenter-specific abstract (200 words) and theme of panel abstract (200 words).
Facilitate one-on-one or small interactive group discussions through the use of a classic conference poster, depicting components such as research frameworks, relevance of study inquiry, methods and findings. Poster presentations can emphasize new learning from research, evaluations, practice, action or other initiatives.
What is needed: 300 word abstract.
Designed for innovative arts-based and arts-informed outputs (e.g. photovoice gallery, photographs, paintings, digital stories, songs, poems, displays, collages, textiles, cultural clothing display, etc.). While audio-visual equipment will be available onsite, presenters will be expected to bring exhibit and display equipment.
What is needed: 300 word abstract, as well as an explanation of what equipment will be needed to display the artistic presentation.
Note: While audio-visual equipment will be available onsite, presenters will be expected to bring exhibit and display equipment.
Interactive, skills-focused sessions that promote learning, reflection, and practical application in line with CP values (e.g., participatory methods, systems change, community engagement, equity, and social justice). A total of 60 minutes will be allocated for each workshop.
What is needed: 300 word abstract.
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