Past Event! Note: this event has already taken place.
Date: Monday, December 2nd and Tuesday, December 3rd, 2024
Host: Accessibility Institute and CAN National Office, Carleton University
Language of delivery: English
Platform: In-person and Zoom options
Accessibility: Bilingual captioning and French audio translation will be provided. Additional accommodations available as requested. If you require ASL or LSQ interpretation, please email [email protected].
About
The Canadian Accessibility Network’s inaugural Annual Business Meeting is taking place on December 2nd and 3rd, 2024, at Carleton University in Ottawa, hosted by the Accessibility Institute and CAN National Office. For CAN members unable to attend in person, we’re providing a hybrid option to ensure you can participate fully from wherever you are.
CAN members will have the opportunity to engage in productive business meetings and professional development sessions, as well as hear from leaders in accessibility with keynote speeches and panels. This event also offers a unique chance for members of our network to meet and interact directly, with numerous opportunities for networking built into the agenda.
Notably, this event coincides with the International Day for Persons with Disabilities and CAN’s five-year anniversary. It is a moment to celebrate the strides we have made together over the past five years in accessibility work and to set our sights on what lies ahead.
We look forward to seeing you in person and online!
Agenda
Welcome to the inaugural CAN Annual Business Meeting and Five-Year Anniversary Celebration Dinner!
Click on the headings below to navigate to the agenda for each day of the Annual Business Meeting:
Annual Business Meeting Day 1
| Time | Activity | Speaker(s) |
| 8:00 to 9:15 a.m. | Registration and Hot Breakfast Buffet | |
| 9:15 a.m. | Event Start and Welcome | Mastoor Al-Kaboody, CAN Program Manager |
| 9:15 to 9:30 a.m. | Opening Remarks | Suzanne Blanchard, Vice President, Students and Enrolment, Carleton University and Chair, CAN Governing Council |
| 9:30 to 10:00 a.m. | Keynote Address | Tina Namiesniowski, Senior Associate Deputy Minister at Employment and Social Development Canada and Deputy Minister Champion for Federal Employees with Disabilities |
| 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. | Panel Discussion: AI and Accessibility: Opportunities, Challenges, and Ethics | Moderator: Adrian Chan, Carleton University Panelists:
|
| 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. | Hot Buffet Lunch and Networking | |
| 1:30 to 2:50 p.m. | Community of Practice (CoP) Impact Session – Part 1 | Mastoor Al-Kaboody, CAN Program Manager
|
| 2:50 to 3:10 p.m. | Health Break and Networking | |
| 3:10 to 4:15 p.m. | Community of Practice (CoP) Impact Session – Part 2 | As above (see Part 1) |
| 4:15 to 4:30 p.m. | Closing Remarks and Wrap Up | Mastoor Al-Kaboody, CAN Program Manager |
| 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. | Carleton University Art Gallery Tour (Optional) |
CAN Five-Year Anniversary Celebration Dinner
Time | Activity | Speaker(s) |
5:30 to 6:00 p.m. | Celebration Dinner Registration |
|
6:00 to 6:10 p.m. | Welcome | Mastoor Al-Kaboody, CAN Program Manager
|
6:10 to 6:25 p.m. | Keynote Address | Stephanie Cadieux, Chief Accessibility Officer |
6:25 to 8:00 p.m. | Dinner and Networking |
|
8:00 to 8:30 p.m. | Awards Presentation | Mastoor Al-Kaboody, CAN Program Manager
|
8:30 p.m. | Closing Remarks | Mastoor Al-Kaboody, CAN Program Manager |
Annual Business Meeting Day 2
Time | Activity | Speaker(s) |
8:00 a.m. | Registration and Hot Breakfast Buffet | |
8:30 a.m. | Welcome | Mastoor Al-Kaboody, CAN Program Manager |
8:35 a.m. | Opening Remarks and Call Advisory Council Meeting to Session | Tony Labillois, Chair, CAN Advisory Council |
8:35 to 10:30 a.m. | Advisory Council Meeting and Working Breakfast | |
10:30 to 10:45 a.m. | Health Break and Networking | |
10:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. | Shaping the Future: Accessibility as an Emerging Field | Moderator: Tara Connolly, Accessibility Institute Panelists:
|
12:15 to 12:30 p.m. | Closing Remarks | Tony Labillois, Chair, CAN Advisory Council |
12:30 to 2:00 p.m. | Networking Lunch in Teraanga Commons Dining Hall (Optional) | |
12:30 to 2:00 p.m. | Governing Council Meeting | Governing Council Members only |
Frequently Asked Questions
The inaugural CAN Business Meeting will host regular business sessions, including Communities of Practice meetings, an Advisory Council meeting and a Governing Council meeting. In addition to these standard CAN meetings, the event will provide professional development sessions, networking opportunities, keynote addresses, and more.
The meeting on Monday, December 2nd will begin at 9:00 a.m. EST with a complimentary breakfast for in-person attendees beginning at 8:00 a.m. The meeting will end at 4:30 p.m. on the Monday. In-person attendees are encouraged to attend the celebration dinner from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. on Monday evening, which will include food, awards, and a keynote speech.
The meeting on Tuesday, December 3rd will begin at 9:30 a.m. EST with a complimentary breakfast for in-person attendees beginning at 8:30 a.m. The meeting will end at 12:00 p.m. A Governing Council working lunch meeting will occur from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. for governing council members only.
For anyone unable to make it for certain times either in person or online, recordings of all sessions will be made available after the event.
The meeting is taking place in the conference rooms in Fenn Lounge, (2nd floor Teraanga Commons, formerly Residence Commons) at Carleton University, Ottawa. For online participants, the meeting will be livestreamed over Zoom for your participation. More information and links will be sent closer to the event date.
There are numerous hotels around Carleton University available for booking during the CAN Business Meeting. Feel free to browse this list of hotels near Carleton for some accommodation options. Kindly note that CAN is unable to cover the cost of accommodations. We recommend discussing travel expenses with your organization.
Free parking will be available on campus for both CAN Business Meeting days. More information, including on where to park and how to validate parking, will be available at a later date.
There is a comprehensive public transportation system to get from various locations in Ottawa to Carleton University. Both buses and a train stop right at the heart of campus. Feel free to use OC Transpo’s Travel Planner for public transportation routes.
There is no strict dress code for the event; it is most important to wear what you find comfortable. However, we suggest attire that is business casual/business formal.
For those attending meetings in person, you will not require access to any technology to participate. However, if you are interested in taking notes during sessions, you are welcome to bring any devices that will make the best experience for you. Meeting materials will be provided in advance for all registered attendees. Paper copies will not be provided in person, unless a special request has been made.
In-person attendees will be provided a complimentary breakfast and lunch on Monday, December 2nd. Breakfast will be provided on Tuesday, December 3rd for all in-person attendees, and there will be a working lunch for members of the governing council on this date.
A celebration dinner will be covered for CAN members attending the event in person on Monday, December 2nd.
Yes, our CAN members are invited to bring one guest to the celebration dinner. Please note that CAN member guests will be charged a nominal fee for dinner. More information will be provided later
Contact
If you have any questions about the Annual Business Meeting or would like to make adjustments to your registration, please email the CAN National Office and we would be happy to assist you:
Meal Preferences and Guest Registration
The Meal Preferences and Guest Registration form is now closed. If you would like to make changes to your registration or selections, please contact the CAN National Office as soon as possible: