Annual Conference

PLEAC Conference Agenda NOW LIVE | Hotel Deadline Approaching | Feb 18–20, 2026

With the 2026 PLEAC National Conference just weeks away, now is the time to register to secure your spot and finalize your plans!

The conference will take place in Ottawa on February 18-19, 2026, at the Westin Ottawa, with an additional PLEI-focused day on February 20 at the University of Ottawa, Learning Crossroads.

Two important updates to share:

• The conference agenda and speaker information are now live!
  We’re pleased to share that the conference agenda and speaker details are now available on the conference website. Updates to the agenda will continue as final details are confirmed, but the program is taking shape, and we’re excited about what’s ahead. We encourage you to take a look as you plan your attendance.
  
  
• Hotel discount ends Friday, January 23. Book Now!
  A reminder that the discounted conference rate at the Westin Ottawa is only available until Friday, January 23. After this date, the preferred group rate will no longer be available, and room prices will return to regular rates. Rooms are limited, so we strongly recommend booking your accommodation here as soon as possible if you plan to attend. You can also call the hotel at 1-888-627-8528 and mention the group name, “Public Legal Education Association of Canada Conference Feb2026,” and quote #M-UZUCSP7 to make a booking.
  

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN – 2026 PLEAC National Conference | February 18 – 20, 2026

We are pleased to announce that conference registration for the 2026 PLEAC Conference is now open! 

The conference will take place in Ottawa, Ontario, on February 18 and 19, 2026, at the Westin Ottawa, with an additional half-day for providers of public legal education and information on February 20 at the University of Ottawa, Learning Crossroads.

Register Here!

Here’s what you need to know:

• The deadline to register is Tuesday, February 10.

   

• Conference details will continue to be updated on the PLEAC 2026 Conference website. The registration form, FAQ, agenda, and speakers can all be found there. Some details are still being finalized and will be posted on an ongoing basis, so we strongly recommend checking back regularly for updates.

   

• The registration fee for the two-day conference (February 18 and 19) hosted at the Westin, Ottawa, is $100/per person. The registration fee for the three-day conference, including the additional day for PLEI providers (February 18, 19, and 20), hosted at the University of Ottawa, is $125/per person.

   

• Registration is first-come, first-served. We’re happy to welcome multiple representatives from your organization, but please note that space is limited, especially for the third additional day at UOttawa.

   

• Plenary, workshop, and spotlight topics this year will focus on the following conference themes:
  • the role of public legal educators in building understanding of the rule of law
  • using evolving technologies effectively
  • applying data in practical ways to inform and improve public legal education
  • strategies for connecting with rural, remote, and Indigenous communities
  • supporting the critical justice-related work of non-lawyer community workers across Canada

Additional conference details are coming soon, but if you have any questions in the meantime, please don’t hesitate to contact me directly at hholmes@pleac-aceij.ca. 

CALL FOR PROPOSALS IS NOW CLOSED – PLEAC National Conference | February 18 – 20, 2026

The Call for Proposals for PLEAC’s upcoming national conference is now closed. This conference takes place in Ottawa, Ontario, on February 18 and 19, 2026, with an additional day for public legal education and information providers on February 20.

The deadline to submit a proposal was Friday, October 10, 2025. 

We will be reviewing all submissions and will be in touch with applicants within a few weeks of the deadline.

If you have any questions, additional comments, or materials, please do not hesitate to reach out to Hanna Holmes at hholmes@pleac-aceij.ca.

For further conference details, please see below.

PLEAC National Conference | February 18 – 20, 2026

The Public Legal Education Association of Canada (PLEAC) is holding its annual conference at the Westin Ottawa on February 18 and 19, 2026.

We are also planning to offer an additional half-day on Friday, February 20, for PLEI producers. This add-on day will have a separate invitation and registration process from the main two-day conference, but please save it in your calendars.

The conference will bring together public legal educators, legal aid and legal clinic workers, community organization staff, academics, federal and provincial justice ministry and court staff, and others interested in sharing and learning about developments relevant to public legal education and access to justice in Canada.

Twenty-five years into the 21st century, developments on multiple fronts are influencing the ways in which Canadians are learning about the law, how the law can assist them, and actions they can take to protect themselves—and, potentially, to protect the rule of law. In the midst of a changing landscape, PLEAC’s 2025 conference will give participants an opportunity to delve into, learn about, and discuss several of these developments, including:

• The role of public legal educators in building an understanding of the rule of law
• Using evolving technologies effectively, including interactive tools and generative AI
• Using data in a practical way to inform and improve public legal education work
• Experiences with and strategies for connecting with rural and remote, and Indigenous communities
• Supporting the critical justice-related work being done on the front lines by non-lawyer community workers across Canada 

More details, including registration and a call for proposals, will follow in the coming weeks.

Please note that registration will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis, and space is limited. We encourage you to register early once registration opens to secure your place.

For now, please mark your calendars for February 18-19, 2026, with an additional half-day on February 20, and join us in Ottawa as we come together to explore and innovate in a time of change.

PLEAC Virtual Fair

The Public Legal Education Association of Canada (PLEAC)’s Virtual Fair has now concluded.

This event took place on February 25, 26, and 27, 2025 and featured two sessions each day from 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM EST. Participants gained insights into initiatives and emerging practices from Canada, the US, and the UK, coming away with new knowledge, ideas, and connections.

Please see the event flyer below with session and speaker details. If you’d like to see recordings of the sessions, you can visit our Video Hub here.

We look forward to seeing you at our next event! Please stay tuned.

These last two years, our conferences have brought together PLEAC Members and the Preventing Sexual Harassment in the Workplace Project organizations. We had over 100 attendees at each conference who were able to network, share information, and attend a multitude of workshops and plenaries, including opportunities to interact with each other throughout the conference. Simultaneous interpretation was offered to accommodate our French-speaking attendees and larger sessions were webcast to allow those to tune in who were unable to travel. We received great feedback and look forward to hosting the conference again next year.

Click here and here to see the schedules for the 2022 and 2023 PLEAC and Preventing Sexual Harassment in the Workplace Conferences. 

For immediate updates, you can sign up to be a PLEAC member. For all other updates, please feel free to check back here.

Thank you!