Program Monday October 27

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Enjoy light refreshments at the start of your day.

Join us as we kickstart the conference with local renowned drummers and throat singers. 

John Colton, Ph.D., Head, Community Development, Environmental and Sustainability Studies

Acadia University and a long-time adventure guide will kick off the conference with a session that provides a clear-eyed overview of the current state of our climate.

Grounded in science and the latest global and regional data, the Climate Reality Check sets the tone for the conference by highlighting the risks, challenges, and opportunities facing the tourism industry. It’s a moment to align our understanding, confront the realities of climate change, and frame the urgency and focus needed for the discussions ahead. 

 Modelled after food nutrition labels, the Economic Nutrition Certification Mark reveals how every dollar spent on a product or service is distributed—showing costs like labour, materials, and local impact. This simple yet powerful tool helps consumers see where their money goes and how it supports community well-being. Learn how your business can adopt Economic Nutrition to build trust, transparency, and stronger local economies. 

Listen to Amanda Decker-Penton, Fogo Island Inn's Innkeeper and VP of Hospitality, for a passionate discussion on this unique view on how to value Tourism impacts Community Development, or is it the other way around?

This session explores how education can serve as a catalyst for sustainability, resilience, and long-term change. From community training programs to formal academic pathways, we’ll highlight innovative initiatives that equip learners of all ages with the knowledge and skills to drive sustainable practices. Participants will gain insight into emerging opportunities to strengthen capacity, inspire the next generation, and embed sustainability into the core of tourism and community development. 

A little pause to let the knowledge sink in!

This session showcases how the accommodation sector is advancing sustainability through innovative practices, certifications, and community-driven solutions. From energy efficiency and waste reduction to partnerships that support local culture and ecosystems, we’ll explore real-world initiatives that not only reduce environmental impact but also enhance guest experience and business resilience. 

Clarah Germain,  Director, Guest Experience of Germain Hotels, and Ian Stone, owner/operator of Gros Morne Inn, will give delegates practical insights and inspiration to drive meaningful change within both national and local operations. 

 This session explores the crucial connection between destination development, infrastructure investment, and community sustainability through the Alberta Bootstrap Plan. 

David Goldstein, Travel Alberta Chief Executive Officer, will explore how thoughtful planning and design can balance visitor needs with community well-being, environmental stewardship, and long-term economic resilience. This program went beyond COVID recovery and created a long-term sustainable growth plan that is central to the Province’s Tourism Strategy to more than double tourism growth by the year 2035.

Core to this strategy is a sustainability function, first by no having a visitation target, only a revenue target, and secondly, investing heavily in the promise of indigenous tourism.  

Mr Goldstein will speak to the tenant of the strategy, including his province's new “All Seasons Resort” Act to help stimulate world-class sustainable resorts.

He will highlight successful initiatives, giving delegates a new perspective on best practices and strategies that ensure tourism growth supports thriving, sustainable communities. 

 Lunch will feature a conversation on :  Wealth & Well-Being: How They Affect the Sustainability of Our Communities & Tourism. 

This session explores the relationship between economic prosperity, community well-being, and sustainable tourism. We’ll look at how equitable wealth distribution, quality of life, and social resilience influence the long-term success of both communities and the tourism sector. 

 This session highlights the importance of authenticity in Indigenous tourism experiences and products. 

Through relationships, stewardship, and necessity, Jen Shears, a Mi'kmaw woman from the west coast of Newfoundland and owner of multiple tourism businesses across the island, explores how tourism can support cultural integrity, safeguard traditions, and ensure that Tourism contributes to Indigenous self-determination and economic resilience. 

Marsha Clarke, Fisheries and Marine Institute of Memorial University, will explain the importance of coastal ecosystem restoration and how reversing the loss of these vital habitats benefits not only the natural environment but also local communities, culture, and the economy.

Ms. Clarke will highlight ongoing eelgrass restoration efforts in Placentia Bay, NL, sharing key lessons learned over the past eight years of work in this region.

 Atlantic Canada’s cruise sector is charting a new course toward sustainability. From reducing environmental impacts to supporting local economies and authentic cultural experiences, ports and operators are rethinking what responsible cruising can look like. Join Scott McDougall and Mike Cochrane for a discussion on the innovations, collaborations, and community partnerships positioning Atlantic Canada as a leader in sustainable cruising. 

 For nearly two decades, businesses have strived to "start with why." But what if we've been misguided in our search for purpose?

This talk addresses sustainable tourism's twin challenges of greenwashing and greenhushing. Lesley Robb demonstrates how starting with who—mapping stakeholders, listening to their values, and building genuine relationships—creates authentic communication that avoids both extremes.

As the industry shifts toward localized approaches, this session offers practical frameworks for SMEs and DMOs to build sustainability stories rooted in community.

Lesley shares her professional revelation: responsible tourism communication must start with who, not why. Drawing on examples from UnTours (the first certified B Corp) and Airbnb's stakeholder crisis, she presents Michel Bachmann's framework, which places people, values, and relationships at its core.

Salt Legacy — how it all began.

The impact of marine debris and plastic pollution —understanding how they affect our oceans.

The power of circular design — and how it shapes everything we do.

Fast-paced and inspiring, this session features a series of short presentations where speakers each have seven minutes to share an innovative solution, big idea, or practical strategy for advancing sustainability in tourism. From grassroots initiatives to industry-wide innovations, 7 Minute Solutions is designed to spark creativity, showcase diverse perspectives, and leave participants with actionable takeaways they can adapt to their own work. 

Proud to Present - Bell Island Mine #2; Enviroblue; Aera Farms; Tranquility Cove

The Jag Crush Lobby 

Enjoy light refreshments at the start of your day.

This session examines how scientific research and data-driven insights are shaping the future of sustainable tourism. From climate science and environmental monitoring to behavioral studies and conservation strategies, participants will learn how applying scientific knowledge can enhance destination planning, visitor experiences, and community resilience. The session highlights practical examples of how tourism can both benefit from and contribute to scientific understanding. 

This session explores how ocean stewardship drives sustainability in Atlantic Canada’s tourism and maritime sectors. Rebecca Brushett of Atlantic Healthy Oceans Initiative (AHOI) and Green Marine's Allison Ryan highlight how community engagement, knowledge sharing, and voluntary industry initiatives help protect biodiversity, improve environmental performance, and strengthen community relations—building resilient coastal economies, richer visitor experiences, and healthy marine ecosystems for generations to come.

 This session highlights how the tourism trade sector is driving innovation to promote sustainability across the industry. From sustainable supply chains and eco-friendly products to collaborative partnerships and responsible marketing, participants will explore strategies that encourage environmentally and socially responsible practices. The session showcases real-world examples of how businesses and trade networks can lead the way in creating a more sustainable tourism ecosystem. 

 Discover how the FoodArtNature (FAN) Project is redefining experience design in Nova Scotia through the fusion of food, art, and nature. This grassroots collaboration showcases how engaging non-traditional community hosts can create more inclusive and authentic tourism experiences. Learn how FAN exemplifies leadership in regenerative visitor experience design, celebrating diverse community stories while fostering connection and sustainability. 

A little pause to let the knowledge sink in!

This panel explores how tourism can empower communities to lead their own development. Gros Morne Institute of Sustainable Tourism will share strategies and success stories of citizen-led initiatives, highlighting how local engagement can create vibrant, inclusive, and resilient destinations while balancing economic, social, and environmental goals. 

 Prepare your organization or community for an uncertain future. This session explores practical strategies for resilience planning, helping businesses and destinations anticipate challenges, adapt to change, and thrive under pressure. Sarah at Connect7 will share tools, frameworks, and real-world examples to guide effective decision-making, strengthen capacity, and build long-term sustainability in a rapidly evolving environment. 

This panel highlights how destination development in Labrador, with a focus on Torngat Mountains National Park, is fostering preservation and conservation. 

 Lunch will feature a conversation on:  Authentic Storytelling Through Visual Art.

 This session explores how visual art can convey authentic stories that celebrate culture, heritage, and place. Participants will learn how artists and tourism professionals use imagery, installations, and multimedia to create meaningful connections with audiences, foster understanding, and enhance the visitor experience. The session highlights best practices for ensuring that storytelling remains genuine, respectful, and impactful. 

Climate emergencies, accidents and intentional acts dominate our news cycle and impact our communities at an ever-increasing rate. From massive wildfires, prolonged droughts and torrential flooding to transportation incidents and acts of extreme violence, the world is a changing place. With this change comes the need to adapt resilient business strategies and ensure that clients of our tourism sector are informed, supported, and, as required, repatriated during crises and while in our care.

Using recent case studies and current data, this workshop facilitator, Mike Andrews of Get Solutions, will inform the tourism sector about evolving patterns in hazards and provide insight into the world of response and support during major emergencies. 

It will empower participants with an understanding of the steps required to ensure organizational resilience and industry measures. These measures support the response community and ease the burden of incorporating a transient tourist population into relief efforts aimed at assisting impacted resident populations.

 Take a moment to meet other delegates. 

 This session explores how destinations can move beyond sustainability toward regenerative practices that restore ecosystems, empower communities, and enhance cultural heritage.   

Join Dylan Rose from Destination Canada and Jennifer Dingman from Fundy Biosphere Region and Stonehammer Geopark as they converse on the Atlantic Canada UNESCO Tourism Corridor. Delegates will learn how innovative planning, collaborative partnerships, and responsible tourism strategies can create destinations that actively contribute to environmental, social, and economic resilience.  

Rooted in place-based community economic development, corridor sites and partners are leveraging tourism as a force for sustainable development, reconciliation, collaboration, knowledge sharing, and reinvestment into Atlantic Canada’s internationally-renowned rural communities. 

This session is a call to action for tourism professionals and community leaders to unite around shared sustainability goals, commit to meaningful change, and take concrete steps toward a more responsible industry.