The Imagine Marine Conference returns for its third year on September 22 & 23, 2026, in Ottawa, Ontario at the Rogers Centre (formerly the Shaw Centre). This year’s theme, Future-Proofing the Marine Workforce: Skills, Tech, and Talent, will explore how the sector can adapt to evolving workforce trends while engaging the next generation and increasing employee retention. We’re seeking proposals that highlight student, early career and/or employee perspectives, as well as insights from stakeholders and experts both within and beyond the marine industry.

Last year’s conference sold out once again, welcoming 175 attendees from across the country and representing all segments of the marine sector. As we enter our third year, the Imagine Marine Conference continues to grow as the national event dedicated to sharing strategies, ideas, and innovations to address labour and skills shortages and shape the future of Canada’s marine workforce.

We are seeking presentations and speakers in the following areas:

• Emerging technologies and digital skills shaping the workforce of the future — including the integration of AI (Both in recruitment and in workplace integration)
• Successful approaches to mentorship, internships, and experiential learning that help young professionals and students connect to career pathways in the maritime sector
• Strategies to increase student success rates in marine training programs
• Developing and improving pathways and integration for immigrants/new Canadians in the marine sector
• Initiatives addressing marine retention challenges (Family-friendly policies, Work-Life balance, workforce culture, peer networks, etc.)
• Marine sector workforce development innovation success stories
• Value-added education, competency-based and upskilling training models
• Proposals will be reviewed by conference programming committee. We will contact you accordingly about your submission.

Proposals will be reviewed by a designated programming committee. We will contact you accordingly about your submission.

Please contact Anna Hogarth for all programming information and submissions at ahogarth@imagine-marine.ca.