Organizers 'pretty stoked' for professional development conference in St. John's next month
Canadian health and safety leaders are preparing to gather in St. John’s, Newfoundland, as Health and Safety Professionals Canada (HSPC) launches a bold new chapter for its annual national conference. Building on lessons from last year’s event in Edmonton, organizers promise a revitalized experience for 2025—one that emphasizes leadership, innovation, and community.
Fresh start on the east coast
Last year’s conference in Edmonton marked HSPC’s first in-person gathering after a four-year hiatus. The event, hastily organized due to a legacy contract and pandemic disruptions, left organizers with little time for planning or promotion. “It was really hot, our numbers were low. There wasn’t a lot of advanced advertising for it, and therefore it was a real struggle to throw it together,” recalls Kimberly Meadows, HSPC board member and 2025 conference chair.
This year, the conference heads east, promising a distinctly Newfoundland experience and a renewed sense of community. “We really wanted to have the conference there to ensure we get as many of our East Coast membership engaged in the conference, because when you always have it out west, it’s a long way,” Meadows says, who is preparing to travel from Victoria to St. John’s.
She says this time around they were able to announce the location with more than a year’s notice, and the team has been meeting weekly to create a conference with great a lineup of seminars, workshops and speakers. Keynote speakers include Canadian Olympic curler Brad Gushue, Michael Kutcher, the brother of Hollywood celebrity Ashton Kutcher and best-selling author Tina Varughese.
Leadership and innovation take centre stage
The 2025 conference theme, “Safety on the Rock: Strengthening our Foundations of Leadership,” signals a deliberate shift. “It’s really focused on the development of the safety professional,” Meadows explains. “We wanted to promote and develop leaders and leadership—so leadership for the safety professional.”
The team has spent months vetting speakers and curating sessions that push beyond the traditional boundaries of safety conferences. “We’ve never done this before, so I’m pretty stoked,” says Meadows.
Distinct Newfoundland experience
Organizers are infusing the event with local flavor and hospitality. “We have a challenge coin that came out last year. We’ve had a new one this year. If you show your challenge coin at local pubs and restaurants, they’re going to give us discounts. We’ve got the mayor on board. The mayor has been putting out some videos welcoming us to their city,” Meadows shares proudly. “As cheesy as this sounds, I sort of call it a love letter to Newfoundland. Like we really want to have it, East Coast, Newfoundland focus.”
The gala, themed “Rock Solid Safety,” promises live music and special surprises for attendees. “We always try to have a gala theme. So we’ve got amazing band coming, and we’ve got some extra goodies,” she hints.
Looking forward
Advance planning pays off: registrations are strong, and the team is already looking ahead to 2026. “We sold like 50 registrations this week. We’re expecting 250 or budgeting for 250. If we go over 250, we can pivot and make that happen, but I feel confident we’re going to hit our numbers for sure,” Meadows says.
While attendance is still below pre-pandemic peaks, the value of in-person connection remains clear. “To be able to bring everybody together, it’s not just about the sessions, it’s about meeting with colleagues and making those connections and networking.”
Meadows is especially passionate about supporting the next generation. “We want to be the mentors for those people coming up… that’s why I want to develop our leadership and get that going so that we can be that association for the up and comers as well.”
With a revitalized program, a new location, and a focus on leadership, HSPC’s 2025 conference is set to strengthen the foundations of Canada’s safety profession and forge lasting connections.
For more information or to register, visit the official conference website.
