May 24–27, 2026 | Thompson Rivers University, Kamloops, BC
The ACE-WIL & CACEE 2026 Joint Conference brings together professionals, educators, employers, and community partners who are shaping the future of Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) and Career Development across Canada.
Conference Keynote: Greg Stewart
Greg Stewart is a two-time Paralympic gold medalist in shot put, winning in Tokyo (2021) and Paris (2024). A TRU graduate and Distinguished Alumni Award recipient, Greg participated in WIL and career education throughout his studies, where he first made his mark as a standout basketball player before transitioning to Paralympic athletics. Greg has built his career around turning adversity into opportunity.
As a speaker, author,and founder of The Mindfulete, Greg challenges audiences to embrace discomfort and a growth mindset by living what he calls Life’s Golden Standards: Trust, Ownership, and Integrity. His message blends elite sport, personal struggle, and mindful reflection to inspire others to stand tall in their own stories.
Schedule
- Session types:
- Presentation session – 50 min session with Q & A
- Workshop session – 80 min interactive session
- Lightening Talk session – 20 min presentations, each Lightening Talk repeats 2 times, back-to-back
- Panel session – panel discussion with invited speakers
Afternoon & Evening
- 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm – Leadership Workshop for Senior Leaders, learn more
- 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm – Welcome Reception at Mason’s Restaurant, Sun Rivers Golf Course
- 6:00pm – Following the reception, you will have the option to continue networking and connect with colleagues over dinner at one of three Dine Around Kamloops restaurants curated by Tourism Kamloops for conference attendees:
- Mason’s Kitchen & Bar
- The Noble Pig (walking distance to the Delta & Sandman Signature Hotel)
- Table Twelvefifty (located inside the Coast Hotel)
Click here to reserve your seat.
| Time | Event | Location |
| 7:30 AM | Registration Opens | First floor, Brown Family House of Learning (HL190) |
| 7:45 – 8:30 AM | Breakfast | First floor, Brown Family House of Learning (HL190) |
| 8:30– 10:30 AM | Opening Ceremonies | First floor, Brown Family House of Learning (HL190) |
| 10:30– 10:50 AM | Refreshment Break | Old Main – Law Atrium |
| 10:50 – 11:50 PM | Breakout Sessions | M1 Concurrent Sessions – Presentations (click link for session details) |
| 12:00– 1:00 PM | Lunch Sessions | ACE-WIL AGM (Old Main – 3rd Floor) , CACEE networking session (Old Main – Law Atrium) or TRU’s Coyote Project Self-Guided Campus Tour |
| 1:10– 2:40 PM | Breakout Sessions | M2 Concurrent Sessions – Workshops (click link for session details) |
| 2:40– 2:50 PM | Break | |
| 2:50– 3:50 PM | Breakout Session | M3A Concurrent Sessions – Lightning Talks (click link for session details) Lightening Talks are 20 min sessions repeated 2 times, back-to-back |
| 2:50– 3:50 PM | Breakout Session | M3B Vendor Information Sessions Information Sessions are 20 min sessions, check the link for timing |
| 3:50– 5:00 PM | Break | |
| 5:00– 6:00 PM | Pre-Dinner Reception | Coast Kamloops Hotel & Conference Centre |
| 6:00– 12:00 AM | Presidential Dinner | Coast Kamloops Hotel & Conference Centre buses run until 1am |
Please note in the morning workshops and presentation run concurrently and have different lengths
| Time | Event | Location |
| 7:30– 8:30 AM | Breakfast | Law Atrium Foyer |
| 8:30– 10:00 AM | Breakout Session | T1A Concurrent Sessions – Workshops (click link for session details) |
| 8:30 – 9:30 AM | Breakout Session | T1B Concurrent Sessions – Presentations (click link for session details) |
| 9:45 – 10:45 AM | Breakout Session | T2 Concurrent Sessions – Presentations (click link for session details) |
| 9:30 – 11:00 AM | Exhibitor Showcase/ Poster Sessions | Old Main – Law Atrium |
| 11:00 – 12:00 pm | Breakout Session | T3 Concurrent Sessions – Presentations (click link for session details) |
| 12:00– 1:30 PM | Lunch Sessions | ACE-WIL networking (Old Main – Law Atrium) or TRU’s Coyote Project Self-Guided Campus Tour |
| 1:30 – 2:30 PM | Breakout Session | T4 Concurrent Sessions – Presentations (click link for session details) |
| 2:45 – 3:45 PM | Plenary Session (Panel Discussion) | T5 Plenary Session – Panel AI and the Future of Work: Employer Perspectives Across Sectors Old Main – 3rd Floor |
| 3:45- 4:30 PM | Closing Ceremony | Old Main – 3rd Floor |
8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
- A light breakfast and lunch will be served for Board & Council Meeting Attendees
ACE-WIL Board Meeting
CACEE Board Meeting
BC WIL Council Meeting
- Community of Practice Meetings
Conference Theme
Reimagining the Future of Work-Integrated Learning and Careers
This theme highlights how disruption—whether technological, societal, or economic—can drive innovation in WIL, campus recruitment, and career development. We invite forward-thinking proposals that explore how experiential learning, employers, and career services can evolve, adapt, and thrive in times of change.
Conference Sub-Themes
Conference programming will align with one or more of the following sub-themes, each reflecting the overarching theme Reimagining the Future of Work-Integrated Learning and Careers. These sub-themes are designed to guide proposal development and support a diverse program that highlights innovative research, practical tools, and evidence-based approaches across post-secondary, employer, and community contexts. Presenters are encouraged to share insights, models, and collaborations that inspire new ways of thinking about the future of WIL and career development.
Explore innovative strategies, tools, and programming that prepare students for a rapidly changing world of work. This theme invites proposals showcasing career education practices and service models, competency frameworks, and skills development initiatives such as case competitions, hackathons, and digital badging. It also welcomes approaches to onboarding, employee engagement, simulations, and micro credentials that foster career readiness and lifelong learning.
Strong partnerships between employers, educators, and communities are essential to advancing meaningful WIL and career opportunities for post-secondary talent. This theme focuses on employer branding and campus recruitment strategy, collaboration between industry and the post-secondary sector, shared value creation, and employer engagement that enhances learning, meeting industry talent needs, and empowering student success.
WIL is evolving beyond traditional placements. This theme encourages exploration of new and emerging forms of WIL — including virtual, project-based, entrepreneurial, community-based, and research-integrated experiences. Proposals may also highlight how student voices of experience, co-design, and co-creation are shaping the future of experiential learning.
This theme focuses on creating inclusive, accessible, and equitable environments for learning, career development, and work. Proposals are encouraged that highlight programming, evidence-based practice, research, case studies that centre reconciliation, well-being, representation, or belonging within WIL, campus recruitment, and career development contexts.
Examine applications of pedagogy and learning theory to inform, transform, and strengthen outcomes in WIL, career education, and early talent programming. Topics may include instructional design, reflective practice, design thinking, data and assessment, leadership and rotational programs, faculty training, and e-learning or professional development initiatives for students, staff, and leaders across our field.