Building resilient futures 2026: Higher ed’s broader purpose
Montreal Program
Desautels Faculty of Management, 1001 Sherbrooke St. W, 6th floor, Montreal, QC
All times in this program are in Eastern Standard Time (EST)
Wednesday, March 4
5-6 p.m. | James McKEE Jr Lounge
6-7 p.m. | James McKEE Jr Lounge
Building resilient futures 2026 will open with welcoming remarks from McGill’s new Provost, Dr. Angela Campbell, followed by brief reflections on Universities Canada’s climate initiative from Scott Lofquist-Morgan. The opening keynote will be delivered by Alex Usher, who will share insights on how Canada’s higher education sector can help build a more resilient and regenerative future. A question and answer period will follow, moderated by Dr. Rees Kassen.
Master of Ceremonies:
Dr. Blane Harvey, Associate Professor, McGill University
Dr. Teri Balser, Professor, University of Calgary
Speakers:
Dr. Angela Campbell, Provost and Executive Vice-President, McGill University
Scott Lofquist-Morgan, Assistant Director, Member Relations, Universities Canada
Keynote speaker:
Alex Usher, President, Higher Education Strategy Associates
Keynote Q&A moderator:
Dr. Rees Kassen, Professor and Academic Director, McGill Sustainability Park
8-9 p.m. | James McKEE Jr Lounge
Thursday, March 5
9-10 a.m. | James McKEE Jr Lounge
Workshop opening remarks by Celeste Pedri-Spade, Associate Provost (Indigenous Initiatives)
10-10:30 a.m. | Canada Trust Room
This first session invites participants to examine emerging signals and trends shaping our resilient and regenerative futures. Working within thematic teams, participants will reflect on shifts observed in their own practice and consider what these reveal about the forces driving change across the sector.
12-1 p.m. | James McKEE Jr Lounge
In this session, participants will examine how priority signals and drivers could shape resilient and regenerative futures for higher education. Working in thematic teams, they will consider the possible consequences of these trends, explore desirable and undesirable trajectories and begin identifying strategic points of intervention where institutions can strengthen resilience and accelerate regenerative change.
2:30-3 p.m. | James McKEE Jr Lounge
In this final session, participants will work within their thematic teams to consider the futures that may emerge from the identified drivers and their chains of consequence. Teams will explore the potential roles universities could play within these futures and identify actions that can steer the sector toward more desirable outcomes — or help guard against those we hope to avoid. Drawing on existing “bright spots” and real-world exemplars, participants will ground their ideas in what is already possible today. The session concludes in plenary with a collective reflection on shared themes and distinct priorities across all groups.
In this closing session, teams will consolidate their discussions and summarize the key insights, highlights and priorities that emerged throughout the workshop. The goal is to capture the most important ideas to carry forward into the collective next steps for building resilient futures.
The closing session of Building resilient futures 2026 will bring together participants from both the eastern and western hubs. The session will begin with a brief overview of the workshop discussions and key findings from each location, followed by an interactive dialogue connecting participants across the two regions.
The event will conclude with a keynote performance by Zoë Slusar, whose evocative and dynamic presentation will both captivate audiences and reflect the collective work, insights and aspirations that emerged throughout the workshop.
Moderators:
Dr. Teri Balser, University of Calgary
Dr. Blane Harvey, McGill University
Keynote speaker:
Zoë Slusar, ZHE the Free
Calgary Program
MacEwan Student Centre, 402 Collegiate Blvd NW, Calgary, AB
All times in this program are in Mountain Standard Time (MST)
Wednesday, March 4
4-5 p.m. | MacEwan Hall B
Building resilient futures 2026 will open with welcoming remarks from McGill’s new Provost, Dr. Angela Campbell, followed by brief reflections on Universities Canada’s climate initiative from Scott Lofquist-Morgan. The opening keynote will be delivered by Alex Usher, who will share insights on how Canada’s higher education sector can help build a more resilient and regenerative future. A question and answer period will follow, moderated by Dr. Rees Kassen.
Master of Ceremonies:
Dr. Blane Harvey, Associate Professor, McGill University
Dr. Teri Balser, Professor, University of Calgary
Speakers:
Dr. Angela Campbell, Provost and Executive Vice-President, McGill University
Scott Lofquist-Morgan, Assistant Director, Member Relations, Universities Canada
Keynote Speaker:
Alex Usher, President, Higher Education Strategy Associates
Keynote Q&A Moderator:
Dr. Rees Kassen, Professor and Academic Director, McGill Sustainability Park
6-7 p.m. MacEwan Hall B
Thursday, March 5
7:00-8 a.m. | MacEwan Hall B
8-8:30 a.m. | MacEwan Hall B
This first session invites participants to examine emerging signals and trends shaping our resilient and regenerative futures. Working within thematic teams, participants will reflect on shifts observed in their own practice and consider what these reveal about the forces driving change across the sector.
10-10:30 a.m. | MacEwan Hall B
In this session, participants will examine how priority signals and drivers could shape resilient and regenerative futures for higher education. Working in thematic teams, they will consider the possible consequences of these trends, explore desirable and undesirable trajectories and begin identifying strategic points of intervention where institutions can strengthen resilience and accelerate regenerative change.
12-1 p.m. | MacEwan Hall B
In this final session, participants will work within their thematic teams to consider the futures that may emerge from the identified drivers and their chains of consequence. Teams will explore the potential roles universities could play within these futures and identify actions that can steer the sector toward more desirable outcomes — or help guard against those we hope to avoid. Drawing on existing “bright spots” and real-world exemplars, participants will ground their ideas in what is already possible today. The session concludes in plenary with a collective reflection on shared themes and distinct priorities across all groups.
In this closing session, teams will consolidate their discussions and summarize the key insights, highlights and priorities that emerged throughout the workshop. The goal is to capture the most important ideas to carry forward into the collective next steps for building resilient futures.
The closing session of Building resilient futures 2026 will bring together participants from both the eastern and western hubs. The session will begin with a brief overview of the workshop discussions and key findings from each location, followed by an interactive dialogue connecting participants across the two regions.
The event will conclude with a keynote performance by Zoë Slusar, whose evocative and dynamic presentation will both captivate audiences and reflect the collective work, insights and aspirations that emerged throughout the workshop.
Moderators:
Dr. Teri Balser, University of Calgary
Dr. Blane Harvey, McGill University
Keynote speaker:
Zoë Slusar, ZHE the Free
