2026 Indigenous Human Resources Conference
Agenda
September 15 - 17, 2026
Sheraton Vancouver Aiport Hotel | Richmond, BC
Pre-Conference Workshop | Tuesday September 15 |
1:00pm - 4:00pm | Title To Be Confirmed |
Conference Day 1 | Wednesday September 16 |
8:00 am | Registration/Full Breakfast/Exhibits |
9:00 am | Opening Comments: AFOA BC |
9:15 am | Title To Be Confirmed |
10:15 am | Refreshment Break & Exhibitor Intros |
10:45 am | Title To Be Confirmed |
11:45am | Title To Be Confirmed |
12:30 pm | Lunch & Networking |
1:30 pm | The Changing Health and Financial Landscape and Why Education Is More Important than ever Health and wellness programs continue to become increasingly complex; from blockbuster drugs coming off patent, weight loss drugs, National Pharmacare, First Nation’s Health Authority and other initiatives. Meanwhile, financial literacy is lacking across the country in a time when there is more pressure to spend and a decrease in employment satisfaction. Learn more around understanding these topics and how to lead with education and improve overall employee well-being. |
2:30 pm | Refreshment Break |
2:45 pm | Title To Be Confirmed |
3:30 pm | Fireside Chat: Investing in Our Youth and Recruiting Indigenous Talent Panelists: |
4:15 pm | Conference Adjournment |
4:15 pm - | President’s Reception |
Conference Day 2 | Thursday September 17 |
8:00 am | Registration/Full Breakfast/Exhibits |
9:00 am | Opening Comments: Wendy Ham, Executive Director, AFOA BC |
9:15am | Beyond Recruitment: Creating the Conditions That Encourage People to Stay Employee retention is about much more than compensation. This presentation will explore practical strategies that leaders can use to attract, engage, and retain talented employees, including hiring the right people, creating clear HR policies, developing strong leaders, offering meaningful benefits, and learning opportunities, leveraging technology, and using stay and exit interviews to understand employee needs. Participants will learn how to reduce turnover and create workplaces where employees feel valued, supported, and committed to your organization’s success. |
10:15am | Refreshments & Exhibitors |
10:30am | Title To Be Confirmed |
11:15 am | Attracting and Onboarding Talent to Your Organization Join this interactive discussion focused on today's recruitment and onboarding challenges. Explore practical strategies for attracting top talent and successfully integrating new hires into your team. Bring your questions, share real-world scenarios, and collaborate with fellow HR professionals to brainstorm solutions. You'll leave with practical tools, fresh insights, and actionable strategies to improve hiring outcomes and create a more engaging, lasting onboarding experience. |
12:00 pm | Lunch and Networking/Exhibitor Draws
|
1:00 pm | Building Sustainable Benefit & Pension Programs for Indigenous Organizations Employee benefits and pension plans are some of the most valuable investments an organization makes in its people. They also represent a significant financial commitment, making it important to regularly review programs to ensure they continue to meet employee needs while remaining sustainable for the future. In this session, we'll share practical ideas, lessons learned, and real examples from our work with First Nations and Indigenous organizations across Canada. |
2:00 pm | Title To Be Confirmed |
2:45pm | Closing remarks, AFOA BC Draw Prizes, Conference Adjournment |