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- Program & Speakers
Recreation Manitoba is proud to offer a variety of keynote speakers, workshops and presenters at the Connect Conference. Each keynote and workshop is specifically chosen to meet the needs of the sector and to our delegates. With a wide selection of topics, styles and learning opportunities, there is something for everyone!
Conference Schedule
To download the schedule in a pdf click on this link. Note: schedule and workshops are subject to change.
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Session Descriptions
Select the session below to learn more about the presentation and the speaker.
Day 1: Wednesday, February 25 |
Keynote Address : What it Means to Work in RecreationDr. Joe Pavelka | Mount Royal University Recreation is an ever changing sector with roots solidly grounded in the community. Joe is going to shed light on where we are, where we have been and mostly where we are going and the many changing roles we play in our communities. Joe has more than 30 years of experience in recreation but always focused on the future of our field. |
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Presenter: Chantal Young & Representatives from Key Francophone Organizations in ManitobaWednesday, February 25, 2026 l 11:00 am - 12:00 pm Are you a Recreation Director or Technician looking to better serve your community's French-speaking population? This practical workshop will connect you directly with representatives from several key Francophone organizations in Manitoba. These organizations offer a wealth of resources, expertise, and programming assistance that can help your department: - Access existing resources and programming designed for French speaking Manitobans. -Enhance your current recreational offerings with culturally relevant French content. - Identify potential partnerships and opportunities specific to French-language services. - Ensure your department meets the needs of your entire bilingual community, strengthening your town's social and cultural fabric. Leave this session with concrete contacts and actionable ideas for integrating Francophone services into your municipal recreation mandate .
Presenter: Benoit RodierWednesday, February 25, 2026 l 11:00 am - 12:00 pm
In this session, we will describe the evolution of thermal approach in the recreation sector for the past 35 years. How initially very basic heat recovery system where install , passing by the low grade heat recovery for the building, the appearance of the CO2 system with various level of heat recovery and today offering the net zero approach where the refrigeration system could actually be the only thermal hub for the facility as well as being extended to become in some cases the thermal plant for a complete community and be connected to clean and renewable power. .
Presenter: Hernan PopperWednesday, February 25, 2026 l 11:00 am - 12:00 pm
Recreation professionals are trusted stewards of community spaces and participant data—making them prime targets for phishing attacks. This interactive workshop cuts through the jargon to show how phishing threatens your programs, member information, and organizational reputation. You'll learn to spot deceptive emails, understand why attackers specifically target recreation organizations, and discover simple protocols that turn your staff into a human firewall. We'll walk through real-world examples relevant to your environment—compromised registrations, fake vendor communications, and credential theft schemes. Leave with practical, immediately actionable strategies for training your team, and protecting participant data. . Hernan Popper is the Founder and Principal Consultant of POPP3R Cybersecurity, a Canadian boutique cybersecurity consulting firm specializing in human risk management and security awareness training. With over 30 years of international business experience and 15+ years as an entrepreneur, Hernan brings practical, real-world perspective to cybersecurity challenges. His expertise centers on the human element of security—recognizing that organizations are only as strong as their people's awareness and preparedness. Hernan holds multiple advanced certifications including Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) and Harvard University executive education in cybersecurity strategy. He currently serves as an authorized partner for leading security solution providers and works with over 100 enterprise clients across healthcare, manufacturing, and government sectors. Hernan is a thought leader in making cybersecurity accessible and actionable for non-technical audiences. He's passionate about helping organizations understand that protecting data and community trust isn't just an IT problem—it's everyone's responsibility. When not consulting, you'll find him sharing knowledge with professional groups and helping teams build security cultures that actually stick.
Presenter: Brent PoplawskiWednesday, February 25, 2026 | 11:00 am - 12:00 pm Safe sport - an overview of the safe sport movement in Canada. Participants will be introduced to the concept of safe sport and the various forms of maltreatment that can occur in sport, including how these experiences can impact participants. The presentation will explore practical strategies to advance safe sport and prevent maltreatment. Focus will be placed on safe sport in Manitoba, highlighting current initiatives, available resources, and an overview of The Protecting Youth in Sports Act. Brent Poplawski is the Safe Sport Coordinator at Sport Manitoba and is primarily responsible for overseeing safe sport education and outreach initiatives. He is also a PhD candidate at the University of Manitoba studying safe sport, with a particular focus on advancing safeguarding practices within Canada’s hockey system. Brent recently received a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council Canadian Graduate PhD Scholarship, supporting his research on safeguarding youth athletes in Canada.
Presenter: Joe Breedon | City of BarrieWednesday, February 25, 2026 l 1:15 pm - 2:15 pm Great sports fields don’t happen by accident — they’re built with the right practices, the right tools, and the right people. This session dives into five essential sports field maintenance practices every professional should know, along with the tools and resources that help keep fields safe, playable, and high-performing. You’ll hear practical insights from our industry expert, explore real-world solutions you can put to work right away, and learn about resources available to support you and your team. What should be in your toolbox? From daily maintenance decisions to long-term planning, this presentation is designed to help today’s sports field professionals work smarter, lead with confidence, and stay ahead of their game. Come ready to learn, connect with others who do what you do, and walk away with fresh ideas, expert knowledge, and tools you can actually use. Presenters: Dr. Mandi Baker & Jessie-Stephanie | University of ManitobaWednesday, February 25, 2026 | 1:15 pm - 2:15 pm This workshop will explore the ideas of building recreation provision work culture that is positive and emphasises the feelings of being valued for staff and participants. Drawing on the work of Flett (2018 and 2019), we will explore the experiences of "mattering", of feeling valued and like you can make a positive impact, as a key component to building optimal work and recreation participation cultures. We will share our recent research with Mini U at the University of Manitoba and lead workshop participants through activities where we extrapolate how to transfer these findings into a range of workplaces across the recreation and leisure provision sector. Jessy-Stephanie is a Computer Science-Stats Student at the University of Manitoba with interdisciplinary research experience in the Faculty of Kinesiology and Recreation. This is where she worked with Dr Mandi Baker on researching Mattering in Mini U summer day camp. She is interested in community-focused, human-centred computing . Mandi Baker, PhD, is an Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Kinesiology and Recreation Management at the University of Manitoba. Mandi specializes in studying the relational aspects of summer camps, outdoor leisure and youth programmes. Her work focuses on how staff manage emotions, navigate power dynamics and create inclusive environments in these settings
Presenter:Wednesday, February 25, 2026 | 1:15 pm -2:15 pm .. Presenter: Kamillah El-Giadaa | Volunteer ManitobaWednesday, February 25, 2026 | 2:30 - 4:00 pm Recreation professionals play a vital role in creating vibrant communities, well volunteers are often at the heart of this work! This Community of Practice will be for anyone who recruits, supervises, or works alongside volunteers in recreation settings. We will explore real-world challenges and practical solutions. Participants will engage in open dialogue, share tools and resources, and build relationships with peers who understand the unique demands of volunteer-involved programs. Together, we will: - Exchange ideas, challenges, and successes in volunteer engagement - Explore emerging trends and best practices in volunteer engagement - Build a network of colleagues who can offer ongoing support Facilitator: Wendy Giesbrecht & Brenna PhilpWednesday, February 25, 2026 | 2:30 pm - 4:00 pm ...
Presenter:Wednesday February 25, 2026 | 2:30 pm - 4:00 pm |