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ANNUAL CONFERENCE - January 22 - 23, 2026, Victoria BC

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2026 Conference 

This year's agenda will follow the same schedule as the 2025 agenda, with the event starting at 1:00 pm on Thursday the 22nd and finishing at around 6:00 pm on Friday the 23rd.  Last year's agenda is appended below to get a good idea on the overall structure
2025 (last year's) Agenda
 
Thank you to our 2025 sponsors!​

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Thursday January 23, 2025
  • 1:00 pm to 1:15 pm - Opening Remarks - Shawn Fraser,  Athabasca University

  • 1:15 pm to 2:00 pm - Introductions

  • 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm - "Re-envisioning Interdisciplinary Graduate Program Development through Generative AI" - Ali Shiri, University of Alberta

  • 3:00 pm to 3:15 pm - Break

  • 3:15 pm to 4:15 pm - "Strategic Action Planning for Responsible and Partnership-focused Graduate Education", Tracy Raivio, University of Alberta

  • 5:30 pm to 9:00 pm - Reception and Gala dinner

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Friday January 24, 2025
  • 8:00 am to 9:00 am - Breakfast sponsored by Duolingo

  • 9:00 am to 10:00 am - Panel - "Innovative ideas in the face of legacy best practices" - Kendra Stiwich, Vancouver Island University

  • 10:00 am to 10:30 am - Break

  • 10:30 am to 12:00 pm - Keynote Address: "Organizational Legacies and Transgenerational Responsibility" - Diego M. Coraiola, Peter B. Gustavson School of Business University of Victoria

  • 12:00 pm to 12:15 pm - Instage.io presentation

  • 12:15 pm to 1:30 pm - Lunch and catch up

  • 1:30 pm to 2:30 pm - Deans' Meeting and Roundtable / Administrators' Meeting and Roundtable

  • 2:30 pm to 2:45 pm - Break

  • 2:45 pm to 3:30 pm - "Forgotten Heroes of Our Research Success, Postdoctoral Scholars: Professional Development, Community Forming, and Our Efforts for Their Future Job Aspects" - Cagri Ayranci, University of Alberta

  • 3:30 pm to 4:45 pm - Best Practices Workshop - Kelley Main, University of Manitoba

  • 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm - Reception and Discussions

  • 6:00 pm - Out on the town for dinner

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The Inn at Laurel Point

Once again the conference will be held at the Inn at Laurel Point in Victoria, BC.


Hotel Booking Information

 

  • WCDGS members are responsible for booking their own rooms for the conference.

  • Group rates available from Wednesday, January 21 – Sunday, January 25, 2025

  • Quote: Western Canadian Deans of Graduate Studies to obtain the group rate.

  • The group rate cut off date to reserve is Friday, December 5, 2025

  • Register individually

Conference registration

2025 Conference Registration is now closed.  2026 registration will open in the fall

ABOUT US >

The Western Canadian Deans of Graduate Studies (WCDGS) was established in 1974. This website is designed to provide quick access to information
about the Western Deans' Agreement, notices for WCDGS annual meetings and a centralized place for links and resources relating to graduate studies in Western Canada.

© 2024 by the Western Canadian Deans of Graduate Studies.
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