Convention

Convention Schedule

Unless otherwise indicated, all convention activities take place at St. Paul's Bloor Church, 227 Bloor St E, Toronto, ON M4W 1C8. Note: the schedule is subject to change as we finalize speakers.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 13

Registration & Mixing Bowl 2:00 pm – 4:30 pm
St. Paul's Bloor
Real-life discussions on various subjects in self-selected small groups. Bring copies of your publication - or other swag - to put out in our "Newsstand."

Opening Worship 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Great Hall, St. Paul's Bloor

Opening sermon by Rev. Dr. Jason Byassee, senior pastor at Timothy Eaton Memorial Church in Toronto.

Opening Reception 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Pizza Party at convention hotel, Town Inn Suites, sponsored by Shanley & Associates. 

THURSDAY, MAY 14

Registration and Networking all day
St. Paul's Bloor Church, Cody Hall

Opening Prayer 8:30 am – 9:00 am
Cody Hall

Session 1: 9:15 am —10:30 am Workshops and roundtable discussions led by industry experts, on a variety of topics.

Food for Thought - Cody Hall (will also be livestreamed)
"Crossing the Denominational Divide"
How can publications and communicators cover divisive issues while bringing their audiences together? 

Speakers: Joel Zantingh (Peace & Reconciliation Network), Marina Fanous (Communications Coordinator Program Coordinator, Week of Prayer for Christian Unity - The Canadian Council of Churches), Joel Gordon (Director of Ministry Partnership and Innovation / Communications (tbc) - Evangelical Fellowship of Canada), Peter Noteboom (The Canadian Council of Churches)

Journalism skill builder - Room 106
"Understanding Audience"
Alexander Carpenter, Editor-in-Chief, and Raquel Mentor, Managing Digital Editor of SPECTRUM, will present key insights from the past year on integrating outreach strategies with audience feedback to inform editorial decision-making and expand media impact within their faith community. Their session will explore the use of audience surveys and qualitative feedback—including critical responses—to refine content strategy, with a particular focus on journalism practices and the growing role of vertical video. We invite audience interaction! 

Speakers: Alexander Carpenter and Raquel Mentor (SPECTRUM)

Revenue / Marketing - New Youth Room
"Mailchimp Analytics"
What your numbers mean and how you can improve engagement. Heidi Thompson draws on her marketing expertise as a consultant with Shanley & Associates to navigate audience analytics to create actionable strategies to improve audience engagement."

Speaker: Heidi Thompson (Shanley & Associates)

Take a BREAK
10:30 am —10:45 am Connect with others.

General Session
10:45 am —noon, Cody Hall (will also be livestreamed)

AI in Journalism and Communications

How is AI reshaping how stories are created, shared, and trusted across journalism and organizational communication? This panel brings together practitioners from publishing and communications to explore emerging trends, audience shifts, and what AI means for storytelling, credibility, and engagement across divides.

Speakers: Fazal Karam Jr. (Christian Herald), Joanna La Fleur (Alpha Canada & Word Made Digital), Aidan Britnell (Kaleo AI), Bosco Tung (Lausanne Movement Canada), Meghan Kort (Christian Courier)

Lunch with Keynote Speaker
Noon – 1:30 pm, Cody Hall (will also be livestreamed) -  Lunch with Keynote Speaker Brian Stewart
Brian Stewart is the host of CBC Newsworld international affairs show, CBC News: Our World and Senior Correspondent of CBC's flagship news program, CBC News: The National.  See Brian Stewart's Bio.

Take a BREAK
1:30 pm —1:45 pm Connect with others.

Training & Discussion tracks—Session 2
1:45 pm —3:00 pm Workshops and roundtable discussions led by industry experts, on a variety of topics.

Journalism Skill Builder - New Youth Room

"Storytelling Without all the Words"

Randy Hobson of the PC(USA), will share tips that have made him an award-winning video journalist, elevating stories and connecting with the audience. Are you a writer who seeks to better connect with your videographer’s vision of a story? Are you a videographer who wants to learn more about how the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is working in the world today? Join Randy in a case study review to learn how you can tell better stories and engage your audience. 

Revenue / Marketing - Room 106
"The Art of the Ask"
Top 15 Keys to Unlocking Generosity for Your Media Organization, with Trisha Elliott, Executive Director Broadview

Food for Thought - Cody Hall - (will also be livestreamed)

"Caring for yourself and others as a journalist" 

Meghan Kort will facilitate a panel discussing how journalists can care for themselves while engaging in high pressure coverage.

Speakers: Meghan Kort (Christian Courier), Jennifer Bowen (Shalem Mental Health Network), Sharon Ramsay, (Saint Paul University)

Take a BREAK
3:00 pm —3:30 pm Connect with others.

Business Meeting
3:30 pm —4:00 pm - Cody Hall - (will also be livestreamed - no charge for ACP members)
Annual meeting of ACP with a review of our work in 2025 and a look towards the future.

Explore and Dinner

4:00 pm – 7:00 pm

Explore Toronto and enjoy dinner on your own, but make sure to come to the Second City for the show at 8 pm.

Optional Service

7 pm, St. Mary Magdalene Church, 477 Manning Avenue, Toronto, ON, M6G 2V8.  Rev. Bob Bettson will celebrate a solemn high mass at St. Mary Magdalene Church in honor of the Feast of the Ascension of Our Lord. The church is internationally known as the home of the late Composer, Choirmaster and Organist Healey Willan, and its Gallery Choir continues to uphold that tradition of excellence in music making.

Group Outing
8 pm SHOWTIME!  Second City Toronto, 110 Harbour St, Toronto, ON M5J 0B6.  Join fellow convention attendees for an evening of fun and laughter, with premium, assigned seating.  Additional cost applies.

FRIDAY, MAY 15

Opening Prayer 8:30 am – 9:00 am
Cody Hall

Training & Discussion tracks—Session 1
9:15 am —10:30 am Workshops and roundtable discussions led by industry experts, on a variety of topics.

Food for Thought - Room 106

"Intergenerational Communication"

How can news media and communicators serve the needs of diverse generations?  Panelists will discuss Generations Theory, and specifically cover Gen Z and Gen Alpha.

Speakers: Chris Vascher (Clearway), Kayla Smith (HowToLife Movement), Jin Choi (M-Z Podcaster)

Journalism skill builder - Cody Hall (will be livestreamed)

"Decolonizing Journalism"

Jocelyn Bell of Broadview moderates a panel of thought leaders about how journalists can become more aware of the colonial past and how it shows up in institutions and coverage.

Speakers: Jocelyn Bell (Broadview), Shenaz Kermalli (Broadview), Vanessa Partridge (Red Quills), David Kim-Cragg (author)

General - New Youth Room

"Best Practices Summit Preview"

Lee Catoe, ACP Board member and Editor of Unbound, will facilitate an open session to hear what is on your mind.  Topics generated will most likely appear again for ACP's Best Practices Online Summit, scheduled for September 16, 2026.

Speaker:  Lee Catoe (Unbound)

Take a BREAK
10:30 am —10:45 am Connect with others.

Training & Discussion tracks—Session 2
10:45 am —noon Workshops and roundtable discussions led by industry experts, on a variety of topics.

Revenue / Marketing - Cody Hall (will be livestreamed)
"Thinking about SEO in the age of AI: A conversation amongst church communicators"

SEO isn’t what it was a year ago — and many of us are figuring that out in real time. Instead of a one-way presentation, this workshop invites church communicators into a shared conversation about what’s changing, what’s challenging, and what’s actually working right now. Together, we’ll name the realities of AI-driven search, explore how it’s shaping church media, and swap practical insights from our own contexts. Come ready to listen, share, and learn alongside others navigating the same questions.

Facilitator: Rose Schrott Taylor, Presbyterian Outlook

Food for Thought - New Youth Room

"The future of religious communication in Canada and the U.S."
Town Hall style meeting about the landscape of religious communication and journalism, led by John Longhurst, freelance journalist and longtime board member of Canadian Christian Communicators Association and Rebecca Snyder, executive director of Associated Church Press.

Speakers: John Longhurst (CCCA), Rebecca Snyder (ACP)

Lunch with Keynote Conversation with Molly Thomas and John Longhurst
Noon – 1:30 pm - Cody Hall (will be livestreamed) Lunch with Keynote Speaker
Molly Thomas is the Host of TVO’s show, Big [If True] which exposes disinformation and misinformation in everyday life. She is an award winning Anchor, Correspondent & Producer who has worked for all three major networks in Canada. See Molly Thomas's Bio.

Explore the city
1:30 pm —5:30 pm FREE TIME.

Reception
5:30 pm – 6:30 pm Pre-dinner Reception

Cody Hall

Awards Dinner & Program
6:30 pm – 9:30 pm Winners of the 2025 contest will be honored for both the ACP and CCCA contests in a combined presentation.