1. Addressing the TRC Calls to Action, Indigenization and Unlearning Colonialism – Accountability and Answerability.
   This sub-theme centers on the urgent and ongoing responsibility of nursing education to respond meaningfully to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Calls to Action. It emphasizes the need for deep, systemic change through the processes of Indigenization, decolonization, and the unlearning of colonial practices within curricula, pedagogy, and institutional culture. Vital to this work is the principle of accountability not only to Indigenous communities, but also to students, educators, and the broader healthcare system. This sub-theme invites critical reflection on how nursing programs can move beyond symbolic gestures to implement tangible, measurable actions that honour Indigenous knowledge ways of knowing, support Indigenous learners, and foster cultural safety. It also explores how nursing educators enact their commitments, ensuring that reconciliation is not a passive ideal but an active, lived practice.
2. Social Justice, Anti-racism and Anti-oppression: from Intention to Praxis.
   This sub-theme challenges nursing education to move beyond aspirational statements and toward meaningful, sustained action in advancing social justice, anti-racism, and anti-oppression. It calls for a critical examination of how these principles are operationalized in curricula, institutional policies, faculty development, and student support systems. The focus is on transforming good intentions into praxis such as intentional, reflective, and justice-oriented practices that dismantle systemic barriers and foster inclusive learning environments. This sub-theme invites dialogue on strategies for embedding social justice, anti-racism, and anti-oppressive frameworks into all aspects of nursing education, ensuring that future nurses are equipped to provide culturally safe, equitable care and to advocate for social justice within and beyond the healthcare system.
3. Preparing Nurses to be Change Makers: Integrating Advocacy, Policy Reform and Political Engagement System Change in Nursing Education.
   This sub-theme explores how nursing education can promote system change by equipping nurses with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to lead transformative efforts in health care and beyond. It emphasizes the integration of advocacy, policy reform, and political engagement into curricula to prepare nurses as proactive change makers. By fostering critical thinking, civic responsibility, and leadership, this approach empowers nurses to challenge inequities, influence policy, and drive meaningful improvements in health systems and social structures.
4. Accessible Nursing Education: Supporting Neurodiverse/Non-Typical Learners. Accessible nursing education is essential for cultivating a diverse and resilient healthcare workforce. This sub-theme focuses on strategies to better support neurodiverse/non-typical learners through intentional and equitable educational practices. It highlights the critical role of educators in creating accessible, supportive learning environments for both in class and clinical experiences that recognize and accommodate diverse needs. By fostering inclusive teaching models and building strong support networks, nursing programs can empower neurodiverse/non-typical students to thrive, ultimately contributing to a more representative and responsive healthcare system.
5. Accessible Nursing Education: Supporting Rural/Remote Learners.
   Accessible nursing education is essential for building health human resources capacity in rural/remote communities. This sub-theme focuses on strategies to better support learners from rural/remote communities through intentional and equitable educational practices. It highlights the critical role of educators in exploring innovative pedagogical approaches to deliver nursing programs without jeopardizing quality of education. By fostering accessible and supportive ‘de-centralized’ learning environments, nursing programs enable students to thrive regardless of geographic location, remain in their communities, and ultimately contribute to a more representative and responsive healthcare system.
6. Preparing Future Nurses to Build Resilient Communities: Addressing Planetary Health, Climate Change, and Disaster and Emergency Response.
   As the impacts of climate change and environmental degradation intensify, nurses are increasingly called upon to play a pivotal role in promoting planetary health and supporting community resilience. This sub-theme explores how nursing education can prepare future nurses to understand and respond to the complex interconnections between human health, ecological systems, and global crises. It emphasizes the integration of climate science, environmental justice, and disaster preparedness into nursing curricula, equipping students with the knowledge and skills to lead in emergency response, advocate for sustainable practices, and support vulnerable populations during environmental and public health emergencies.
7. Innovations in Nursing Education Leadership and Administration in times of Uncertainty and Change.
   In a period marked by rapid change, global crises, and evolving healthcare demands, transformative leadership in nursing education has never been more critical. This sub-theme explores how nurse educators and administrators can lead with vision, adaptability, and resilience to foster learning environments that thrive amid uncertainty. It emphasizes the importance of innovative pedagogies, inclusive decision-making, and responsive leadership strategies that support both faculty and students through disruption and transition. By cultivating leadership that is reflective, equity-driven, and future-focused, nursing education can not only withstand challenges but also emerge stronger, shaping a generation of nurses prepared to lead with courage and compassion in a complex world.
8. Emerging Innovations, Technologies and Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Nursing Education.
   The rapid evolution of technology is reshaping the landscape of nursing education, offering unprecedented opportunities to enhance teaching, learning, and clinical practice as well as significant challenges. This sub-theme explores the integration of emerging innovations, including simulation, virtual and augmented reality, digital learning platforms, and artificial intelligence (AI) into nursing curricula. It highlights how these tools can support personalized learning, improve clinical decision-making, and expand access to education. At the same time, it invites critical reflection on the ethical, pedagogical, and practical implications of technology use in nursing education. By embracing innovation while maintaining a human-centered approach, nursing education can prepare future nurses to thrive in a digitally advanced and data-driven healthcare environment.
9. Upholding and Centering Community Health and Public Health in Nursing Education and Practice.
   Community and public health are foundational to achieving health equity and improving population outcomes. This sub-theme emphasizes the critical role of nursing education in preparing nurses to lead and advocate within community and public health settings. It explores how nursing curricula centers the social determinants of health, health promotion, disease prevention, and culturally responsive care while equipping nursing students to counter misinformation and mistrust of the public health system. By integrating community-based learning, interprofessional collaboration, and public health frameworks, nursing programs can empower students to address complex health challenges at the population level.
10. Other: Abstract does not fit any of the listed sub-themes yet meets the overall theme. This option provides space for innovative, interdisciplinary, or alternative abstracts that align with the overarching theme but do not clearly fit within a sub-theme. We welcome emerging ideas, approaches, and unique perspectives that contribute to the advancement of nursing education.

1. Are there funds available from CASN to assist students to cover expenses to attend the conference?

There are no funds available for students. However, CASN offers a discounted student rate for registration. The student rates are listed on the conference webpage: https://www.casn.ca/2024/11/the-casn-biennial-canadian-nursing-education-conference-2026/

Students may wish to check if there are funds available at their university/college or through their faculty/department or thesis supervisor. As well, students may check if there are any funding opportunities through the Canadian Nurses Foundation, as they offer scholarships for nursing students. Website is: https://cnf-fiic.ca/scholarships/

2. Are there any draws or contest available to assist students in covering the conference registration fee? (time sensitive)

Thanks to a generous faculty donation, CASN is giving away 4 FREE registrations for students who are enrolled in a Canadian nursing program at a CASN member school to attend the CASN Biennial Canadian Nursing Education Conference in Mississauga, Ontario June 1-2, 2026!

• • Open to any nursing students enrolled in nursing undergraduate or graduate program in Canada at a CASN member school
  • Proof of enrollment required if selected
  • Winners will get a chance to meet the donor at the conference

Enter now for your chance to win:

https://casn.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3RfTITzqRFu6XVc

Contest will end on Wednesday, February 11, 2026.

3. Are there funds available from CASN to assist any other attendees to cover expenses to attend the conference?

There are no funds available for attendees. Please check if there are professional development funds or travel funds available at your institution/university/college.

4. When I sent my abstract, I requested to have an in-person presentation. I no longer can attend in person. Is it possible to switch my presentation to be virtual?

This option may be available only upon your agreement to convert your presentation to an e-poster format. Should you wish to request this change, please contact Jordan Potter (jpotter@casn.ca) or Roxanne Nizio (rnizio@casn.ca). If you elect to proceed with a virtual e-poster, please note that your e-poster PDF and/or prerecorded presentation must be submitted by Tuesday, April 21, 2026, for inclusion on the conference’s virtual platform.

5. When I sent my abstract, I requested to have an e-poster. I would now like to switch my poster to be in-person. Is this possible?

This may be possible. If there are in-person poster slots available after the Thursday, March 12, 2026 registration deadline, we may be able to switch your poster to be in-person. Please contact Jordan Potter (jpotter@casn.ca) or Roxanne Nizio (rnizio@casn.ca) with your request to switch.

6. If I am doing an in-person presentation, do I need to register to attend in-person and pay the in-person conference fee?

Yes. You must register by Thursday, March 12, 2026 to secure your presentation slot.

7. If I am doing an e-poster, can I register to attend virtually and pay the virtual conference fee?

Yes. You must register by Thursday, March 12, 2026 to secure your presentation slot.

8. If I register by Thursday, March 12, 2026, do I need to do anything else to secure my presentation spot?

No. No further action is needed. Once you register, your presentation slot is secured.

9. Why did I not get accepted for the presentation format I had requested?

Due to capacity limits for in-person presentations, some presentations were switched; e.g. from an oral presentation to a poster presentation, or from a panel/symposium presentation to an oral presentation. If any additional slots become available, you will be contacted to move your presentation back to the original format you requested.

10. Are there discounted rates for retired or Indigenous presenters?

No. However, if the presenter is affiliated with and/or presenting with an individual from a CASN member school, they are permitted to pay the discounted CASN member school conference rate.

11. For my panel/symposium presentation, not all my team is able to register to attend and present. Is this okay?

You must have a minimum of three (3) individuals from your team to register to attend and present. Please inform Jordan Potter (jpotter@casn.ca) and Roxanne Nizio (rnizio@casn.ca) which team members will be registering and presenting.

12. Is it possible to have a hybrid presentation? i.e. some presenters on my team present in person and others present virtually?

No. The breakout rooms do not have this capacity. However, the team members not attending in person may pre-record a video that can be embedded within your PowerPoint presentation. If you plan to do this, please inform Jordan Potter (jpotter@casn.ca) and Roxanne Nizio (rnizio@casn.ca) as soon as possible. You will be sent a link to upload your PowerPoint presentation prior to the conference, and the conference audio/video team will test your presentation in advance to ensure that it is working.

13. When will I know my exact presentation time? (for in-person presentations)

Your in-person presentation date and time will be provided after the March 12, 2026 registration deadline for presenters.

14. Due to my travel schedule or other conflict, I can only present on a certain day/time (for in-person presentations). What should I do?

Please provide your availability details to Jordan Potter (jpotter@casn.ca) and Roxanne Nizio (rnizio@casn.ca) by the March 12, 2026 registration deadline. We will do our best to accommodate your availability when scheduling your presentation.

All registration fees are in Canadian dollars

In person registration fee includes:

• Networking/exhibitors reception on Sunday evening, May 31, 2026, which includes appetizers and one complimentary non-alcoholic drink ticket
• Breakfast, lunch, and coffee breaks on both days (June 1-2, 2026)
• Access to the conference app
• Access to the conference platform to view e-posters

Any other expenses related to the conference are the responsibility of the registrants.

Nurses registered in Québec (Ordre des infirmières et infirmiers du Québec) may use this conference for unaccredited continuing education hours.

All registration fees are in Canadian dollars

Intended for individuals whose abstract is accepted for an e-poster presentation but do not plan to attend the conference in person, or individuals who only wish to view the e-posters and live streaming of the keynote presentations.

Virtual Registration fee includes:

• Access to the virtual conference platform to view pre-recorded e-posters and live streaming of the keynote presentations (both days).

Access to the virtual conference platform will be available for six months post conference.

• Registrations that are cancelled on or before Sunday, March 22, 2026 will be refunded minus a 15% administrative fee.
• Registrations that are cancelled between Monday, March 23, 2026, to Sunday, April 19, 2026, inclusive will be refunded minus a 25% administrative fee.
• There will be no refunds for cancellations on or after Monday, April 20, 2026, and for no-shows.

CASN reserves the right to cancel this conference for circumstances beyond its control.

Hotel Reservation Information

Book your hotel reservation by Friday, May 1, 2026, at 11:59 pm EDT (Ontario/Quebec) to secure the special CASN 2026 Biennial Conference guestroom rates starting at $209.00/night by reserving online: https://book.passkey.com/gt/CASN2026BiennialConference

Please note: This special conference rate is available for a limited number of contracted rooms and subject to availability at the time of booking. We encourage attendees to book early to secure the special rate.

If you would like to book a guestroom pre or post conference beyond the room block dates of May 28 to June 4, 2026, you must call the hotel to make reservations. Guestrooms and rates are subject to availability.

For reservations assistance, please call 1-905- 821-1981 and mention the “CASN 2026 Biennial Conference” guestroom block.

Travelling to the conference