Summit for Creative Community Solutions

Call for Submissions! Be a Part of Summit 2026

The third Summit for Creative Community Solutions, hosted by the Laurier Hub for Community Solutions, will take place on November 4-5, 2026. This year’s theme, Making Change Together: From Small Projects to Big Possibilities Through Community-University Partnership, will highlight and celebrate partnerships at any stage, from early conversations and new ideas, to ongoing projects and established collaborations, to completed work and the changes that have grown from it.

We invite presentations, roundtables, panel discussions, and posters that celebrate partnerships between communities and universities.

We welcome submissions from individuals and groups involved in community-focused work, including Indigenous communities and organizations, non-profit and charitable organizations, NGOs, community groups, startups and social enterprises, municipal and other levels of government, academic institutions, and others working to address community needs or create positive change.

Students and early-career researchers are also strongly encouraged to submit presentations and posters.

We take a broad view of what constitutes a community. A community may be connected by geography, culture, identity, profession, shared experience, common interests, or a particular issue or goal. We are interested in partnerships of all sizes and across all fields and disciplines.

Proposals may be submitted through our online submission portal. Submissions should include a title, a short abstract of up to 200 words, the preferred presentation format, and contact information for the presenter or presenting group.

The deadline for submissions is October 4th 2026. Applicants will be notified of decisions no later than October 10, 2026.

About Summit 2026

The Summit on Creative Community Solutions is an annual event hosted and organized by Laurier’s Hub for Community Solutions. The Summit highlights meaningful partnerships between communities and universities across a wide range of fields, disciplines, and areas of practice.

The 2026 Summit also marks the fifth anniversary of the Hub for Community Solutions and provides an opportunity to celebrate what has been accomplished while creating new connections for the future.

In addition to presentations, the Summit will include a range of interactive sessions designed to help community members, students, early-career researchers, and organizations build knowledge, develop practical skills, and create new partnerships. These will include:

• Workshops offering practical training on topics such as grant writing and long-term funding, community outreach and engagement, and non-profit leadership and governance.
• Roundtable and plenary discussions that bring community and university participants together to identify emerging needs and shape future research and collaboration.
• Networking and engagement opportunities to meet potential partners and employers, build new collaborations, and co-create solutions to community challenges.
• Poster sessions that allow students, researchers, and community partners to share work in progress, research findings, program ideas, or completed projects and receive feedback from a broad community audience.

The Summit will be held November 4 and 5, 2026, at the Best Western Hotel and Conference Centre in Brantford, Ontario.

There is no registration fee, and you do not need to present to take part. Attendance is welcome and encouraged for those who are not presenting. We warmly encourage community members, students, practitioners, and others interested in community-university partnerships to attend, connect, and join the conversation. Travel subsidies will also be available for students and others who may need financial support to participate. Event registration will be available soon!

Questions? Email us at communityhub@wlu.ca

Previous Years

Highlights from Summit 2025

The second Summit for Creative Community Solutions, hosted by the Laurier Hub for Community Solutions, took place on May 8, 2025. This year’s theme, Bridging the Gap: Connections, Accessibility, and Sustainability for Communities, explored how to strengthen community integration, address the challenges between academic and real-world applications, and promote sustainability.

The Summit featured a dynamic array of keynote addresses, interactive workshops, and engaging panel discussions, all designed to spark creativity and inspire useful change. In addition, the event included artistic performances, demonstrating how creativity can be leveraged to tackle social issues and foster a deeper sense of belonging within communities.

The panel topics for Summit 2025 focused on critical aspects of community development. The Community Connections and Integration panels explored strategies to strengthen relationships among cultural groups and across many generations, promoting inclusive communities. The Accessibility in Knowledge and Skills Sharing panels addressed the alignment of academic research with community needs, ensuring that education and training are equipping individuals for societal and economic demands. Finally, the Sustainability and Resilience panels emphasized the importance of urban-rural partnerships, support for sustainable practices in underserved communities, and the pursuit of sustainable economic development.

Summit 2025 Schedule

Keynotes

Summit 2025 will include Lucy Marco, Executive Director of the Grand River Council on Aging; Dr. Alexis Buettgen, Assistant Professor of Psychology; and Rita-Marie Hadley, Director of Lansdowne Children’s Centre.

       Lucy Marco           Dr. Alexis Buettgen      Rita-Marie Hadley

The day featured inspiring keynote speakers, thought-provoking panels, interactive workshops, and creative performances, all designed to spark dialogue and action.

The Summit for Creative Community Solutions 2025 was presented in partnership by Wilfrid Laurier University and the City of Brantford, and made possible thanks to support from Enterprise Brant, Laurier’s Sustainability Office, Laurier's Office of Research Services, the Wilfrid Laurier University Alumni Association, Laurier Brantford Grants and Chamber of Commerce Brantford-Brant. 

Highlights from Summit 2024

Eric Meliton, Manager of Laurier’s Sustainability Office, said, “The inaugural Summit for Creative Community Solutions showcased diverse perspectives on innovation, sustainability, and inclusivity. As part of our support, the Sustainability Office offered a tour of key projects and initiatives at the Brantford campus, highlighting our 2023-2028 Sustainability Action Plan.”

Peter Smith, Founder and Creative Director of the Canadian Centre for Rural Creativity and a presenter at the Summit, described the event as follows: “The Summit brought together so many creative voices from a number of different communities and in that weave, a lot of stories got told - stories that offered not only food for thought - but ideas for action.” The Summit clearly showcased the power of community and the potential that emerges when people come together with a shared vision for a better future.

To learn more about 2024's Summit “Innovation, Sustainability, Inclusion”, please visit Summit 2024 Schedule.