Kitchener, Ontario
2026 FEO "SUSTAIN"
Conference
February 23 - 25, 2026
Monday, February 23, 2026 Schedule
07:00 AM - 06:00 PM
Conference Registration Desk Open
Location
Waterloo Hallway
Run by
Ann Barker
Ticketpro
09:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Half Day Session #1
Enhanced Critical Path Development
Paid session $99 +hst
Enhanced Critical Path Development
Paid session $99 +hst
Location
Ontario B
Speaker
Marnie Lapierre
Northern Events and Tourism Consulting (NEAT)
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Lunch Break
Location
On Your Own
01:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Half Day Session #2
A.I Technology
Paid session $99 +hst
A.I Technology
Paid session $99 +hst
Location
Ontario C
Speaker
Carl Karamouan
aidapt
6:00 PM - 6:30 PM
First Timers Orientation
Location
Ontario B
7:00 PM - 09:00 PM
Experience Kitchener Welcome Reception
Light appetizers and cash bar.
Transportation will be provided to offsite venue
Light appetizers and cash bar.
Transportation will be provided to offsite venue
Location
Ken Seiling Waterloo Region Museum and Doon Heritage Village
10 Huron Road,
Kitchener, Ontario, N2P 2R7
10 Huron Road,
Kitchener, Ontario, N2P 2R7
Speakers include:
Berry Vrbanovic
Mayor of Kitchener
Dave MacNeil
Festivals and Events Ontario
Chief Executive Officer
Chief Executive Officer
Kyle Sipkens
Festivals and Events Ontario
Board President
Board President
Tuesday, February 24, 2026 Schedule
07:00 AM - 06:00 PM
Conference Registration Desk Open
Location
Waterloo Hallway
Run by
Ann Barker
Ticketpro
7:00 AM - 8:00 AM
Breakfast
Location
Hotel Restaurant
8:00AM - 8:30 AM
Conference First Timers
Orientation Session
Orientation Session
Location
Ontario A
8:15 AM - 8:30 AM
Official Conference Welcome
Location
Waterloo Ballroom
Speaker
Dave MacNeil
Festivals and Events Ontario
Chief Executive Officer
Chief Executive Officer
8:30 AM - 09:15 AM
Keynote Speaker
Drayton Festival Theatre
Drayton Festival Theatre
Location
Waterloo Ballroom
Speaker
09:15 AM - 09:30 AM
Supplier Spotlight
Location
Waterloo Ballroom
Speaker
9:30 AM - 10:15 AM
Plenary Session #1
University of Waterloo
Future proofing for community events and festivals: An ecosystem approach.
University of Waterloo
Future proofing for community events and festivals: An ecosystem approach.
Location
Waterloo Ballroom
Speaker
Dr. Kelly McManus
University of Waterloo
10:15 AM - 10:30 AM
Supplier Spotlight
Location
Waterloo Ballroom
Speaker
10:30 AM - 11:15 AM
Plenary Session #2
Panel Discussion:
Supplier Solutions - Outside partners for onsite solutions
Panel Discussion:
Supplier Solutions - Outside partners for onsite solutions
Location
Grand Ballroom
Speaker
Rakesh Singh
Little Electric Inc.
Joe Privatt
Little Electric Inc.
Shaine Moore
Spectralite
Jake Rice
Incirque & Jake in the Box
11:20 AM - 12:05 PM
Plenary Session #3
Panel Discussion:
Crowd Planning Considerations for Extreme Weather Events.
Panel Discussion:
Crowd Planning Considerations for Extreme Weather Events.
Location
Waterloo Ballroom
Speaker
Kevin Kennedy
Kennedy Crowd Safety Solutions
12:05 PM - 2:00 PM
Lunch and Marketplace
Enjoy a delicious buffet lunch
Meet & Greet & Shop with a room full of FEO Suppliers
Enjoy a delicious buffet lunch
Meet & Greet & Shop with a room full of FEO Suppliers
Location
Waterloo Hallway
Concurrent Breakout Sessions #1
2:00 PM - 2:45 PM
Breakout Session
Kennedy Crowd Safety Solutions
Basic Crowd Management
Kennedy Crowd Safety Solutions
Basic Crowd Management
Location
Ontario A
Speaker
Kevin Kennedy
Kennedy Crowd Safety Solutions
2:00 PM - 2:45 PM
Breakout Session
Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest
Building Effective Sponsorship Decks
Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest
Building Effective Sponsorship Decks
Location
Ontario B
Speaker
Laurie Davison
Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest
2:00 PM - 2:45 PM
Breakout Session
aidapt
A.I For Festivals and Events
aidapt
A.I For Festivals and Events
Location
Ontario C
Speakers
Carl Karamaoun
aidapt
2:45 PM - 3:00 PM
Coffee Break
Enjoy a coffee, tea or cold beverage and network with friends
Enjoy a coffee, tea or cold beverage and network with friends
Location
Waterloo Hallway
Concurrent Breakout Sessions #2
3:00 PM - 3:45 PM
Breakout Session
Caledonia Fair
Discover how strong partnerships with your local Agricultural Society can enhance your festival or event.
Caledonia Fair
Discover how strong partnerships with your local Agricultural Society can enhance your festival or event.
Location
Ontario A
Speaker
Ian Thompson
Manager, Caledonia Fair
3:00 PM - 3:45 PM
Breakout Session
Odyssey Medical
Never Underestimate the Risk: Learn what can go wrong, how to plan for it, and what it takes to respond when seconds matter.
Odyssey Medical
Never Underestimate the Risk: Learn what can go wrong, how to plan for it, and what it takes to respond when seconds matter.
Location
Ontario B
Speakers
Kevin Jones
Odyssey Medical Inc.
3:00 PM - 3:45 PM
Breakout Session
Vaughan International Film Festival
Sustaining Festival Growth: Marketing Strategies, Emerging Trends & Volunteer Creativity
Vaughan International Film Festival
Sustaining Festival Growth: Marketing Strategies, Emerging Trends & Volunteer Creativity
Location
Ontario C
Speaker
Christina Ciddio
Vaughan International Film Festival
3:45 PM - 06:30 PM
Free Time
Unwind after a busy day or catch up with friends before the Service Excellence Awards dinner.
Unwind after a busy day or catch up with friends before the Service Excellence Awards dinner.
Location
Anywhere You Wish
6:30 PM - 07:00 PM
Cocktail Reception
A great time to socialize and share experiences after a long day of education or visit suppliers you may have missed earlier in the day.
A great time to socialize and share experiences after a long day of education or visit suppliers you may have missed earlier in the day.
Location
Waterloo Hallway
07:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Service Excellence Awards Gala
Location
Waterloo Ballroom
Service Excellence Awards
Celebrating our FEO Suppliers
Live Entertainment
10:30 PM - 01:00 AM
Hospitality Suite Night #1
Theme TBD
Theme TBD
Location
Ontario A
Live Entertainment
Wednesday, February 25, 2026 Schedule
07:00 AM - 06:00 PM
Conference Registration Desk Open
Location
Waterloo Hallway
Run by
Ann Barker
Ticketpro
7:00 AM - 8:00 AM
Breakfast
Location
Hotel Restaurant
8:00AM - 8:30 AM
Conference First Timers
Orientation Session
Orientation Session
Location
Ontario A
8:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Marketplace
Meet & Greet & Shop with a room full of FEO Suppliers
Meet & Greet & Shop with a room full of FEO Suppliers
Location
Waterloo Hallway
8:30 AM - 9:15 AM
Keynote Speaker
Ad Caffeine and Mad Ads Interactive
From Clips to Crowds, Digital Strategies to Fill Festivals
Ad Caffeine and Mad Ads Interactive
From Clips to Crowds, Digital Strategies to Fill Festivals
Location
Waterloo Ballroom
Speaker
Keith Walthers
President at Ad Caffeine and Mad Ads Interactive
9:25 AM - 10:10 AM
Plenary Session #1
Canadian National Exhibition
Sustainability
Canadian National Exhibition
Sustainability
Location
Waterloo Ballroom
Speaker
Sarah Miele
Canadian National Exhibition
Beau Felipe
Canadian National Exhibition
10:20 AM - 11:05 AM
Plenary Session #2
Niagara Grape and Wine Festival
From Site Plan to Sensational: Bringing Your Event Vision to Life
Location
Waterloo Ballroom
Speaker
Dorian Anderson
Niagara Grape and Wine Festival
11:15 AM - 12:00 PM
Plenary Session #3
Panel Discussion
GrantsLocation
Waterloo Ballroom
Speaker
Tiffenni Wilkinson
Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Gaming
Thomas Vaughan
Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund
12:00 PM - 1:40 PM
Lunch and Marketplace
Enjoy a delicious buffet lunch
Meet & Greet & Shop with a room full of Vendors
Enjoy a delicious buffet lunch
Meet & Greet & Shop with a room full of Vendors
Location
Waterloo Hallway
Concurrent Breakout Sessions #1
1:40 PM - 2:25 PM
Breakout Session
Connect Dot Management Inc
No Surprises: The Role of Communication in Managing Major Events
Connect Dot Management Inc
No Surprises: The Role of Communication in Managing Major Events
Location
Ontario A
Speaker
Meaghan Holder
Connect Dot Management Inc.
1:40 PM - 2:25 PM
Breakout Session
Roundtable Discussion
Grants
Roundtable Discussion
Grants
Location
Ontario B
Speakers
1:40 PM - 2:25 PM
Breakout Session
Canada's Forest Trust Corporation
Smart Forests™: Growing Legacy Impact Through Events.
Canada's Forest Trust Corporation
Smart Forests™: Growing Legacy Impact Through Events.
Location
Ontario C
Speaker
Melissa Marie Maltais
Canada's Forest Trust Corporation
2:25 PM - 02:35 PM
Coffee Break
Enjoy a coffee, tea or cold beverage and network with friends
Enjoy a coffee, tea or cold beverage and network with friends
Location
Waterloo Hallway
Concurrent Breakout Sessions #2
2:35 PM - 3:20 PM
Breakout Session
Influence Marketing
Sponsorship and Experiential Marketing for Festivals and Events
Influence Marketing
Sponsorship and Experiential Marketing for Festivals and Events
Location
Ontario A
Speaker
Chris Wilson
Influence Marketing
2:35 PM - 3:20 PM
Breakout Session
Town of Newmarket and York Regional Police
The Safety Equation: Municipal Planning + Police Partnership = Successful Events
Town of Newmarket and York Regional Police
The Safety Equation: Municipal Planning + Police Partnership = Successful Events
Location
Ontario B
Speaker
Dave Lowes
Town of Newmarket
2:35 PM - 3:20 PM
Breakout Session
Northern Events and Tourism Consulting
Volunteer Management Strategies
Northern Events and Tourism Consulting
Volunteer Management Strategies
Location
Ontario C
Speaker
Marnie Lapierre
Northern Events and Tourism Consulting
3:20 PM - 6:30 PM
Free Time
Unwind after a busy day or catch up with friends before the FEO Awards Gala and On-Line Auction.
Unwind after a busy day or catch up with friends before the FEO Awards Gala and On-Line Auction.
Location
Anywhere You Wish
6:30 PM - 7:00 PM
Awards Gala Cocktail Reception
A great time to socialize and share experiences after a long day of education.
A great time to socialize and share experiences after a long day of education.
Location
Waterloo Hallway
07:00 PM - 10:00 PM
FEO Celebrates The Blues
Welcome to the FEO Awards Gala where we recognize the best of the best and the Top 100 Festivals and Events in the Province. In addition to the awards, there will be an incredible on-line auction you can bid on and there will be a few Blues performances as well. It's gonna be an awesome night.
Welcome to the FEO Awards Gala where we recognize the best of the best and the Top 100 Festivals and Events in the Province. In addition to the awards, there will be an incredible on-line auction you can bid on and there will be a few Blues performances as well. It's gonna be an awesome night.
Location
Waterloo Ballroom
Live Entertainment
FEO Awards Gala
Celebrating the best of the best festivals and events
On-Line Silent Auction
Bid on your favourite items
10:30 PM - 01:00 AM
Hospitality Suite Night #2
TBD
TBD
Location
Ontario A