Bold Ideas, Practical Solutions and Hands-On Learning: What to Expect from the Canadian Trail Summit Program
Explore the full schedule for the inaugural Canadian Trail Summit, happening June 16-19, 2026 in Winnipeg
Climate resilience, accessibility, trail tourism, digital innovation and hands-on learning are just a few of the topics covered the newly announced schedule for the 2026 Canadian Trail Summit.
Built around the theme, “Trails for a Changing World”, the program is designed to spark fresh thinking, share practical solutions and inspire connections. Across the Summit’s three streams — innovating trail management, strengthening the trail sector, and fostering healthy communities — attendees will find sessions that address real opportunities and challenges facing trails today.
Inspiring keynotes
The Summit’s keynote speakers invite participants to think broadly about what trails inspire and how the sector can evolve to meet changing needs.
Dr. Melissa Lem will explore how trails can improve physical and mental health, Paralympian Lisa Franks will draw on her experience navigating the outdoors as a wheelchair user to highlight the importance of accessibility, while Know History CEO Ryan Shackleton will dig into the importance of understanding the deeper histories of the land trails inhabit.
Experiential learning
The program also includes plenty of opportunities to learn by doing. In the process, participants will also get a chance to explore some of Winnipeg’s beloved trails.
Experiential workshops will take attendees beyond the conference room to explore geocaching, visitation data collection, signage and wayfinding, access assessments, and community-based approaches to movement and belonging. These sessions are designed to be practical, interactive and easy to apply back home.
Unique breakout sessions
Bringing together presenters from across Canada and beyond, the Summit’s breakout sessions will take deep dives on a variety of topics.
The Summit’s panels, discussions and small-group presentations dive into the issues many organizations are navigating right now. Sessions explore topics like climate resilience, visitor use management, digital tools and data, responsible tourism, liability, stewardship, youth engagement and inclusive planning. Others look at how trails can support local economies, strengthen communities and open the door to new ways of thinking about belonging, participation and partnership.
Register now!
Registration is currently open, with limited spots remaining! Explore discounted travel and accommodations, and stay tuned for more details on the official Summit app, day-long field trips and more!
