If Cannexus has taught the career development community anything over the past 20 years, it’s this: favourite moments rarely follow the agenda.
Yes, Cannexus26 brought laughter, support and even welled-up eyes for our keynote lineup – Sonny, Spencer, Sarah and Susan. They were deeply moving.
But when people talk about what they remember most – and what they’re still talking about years later – they often start somewhere else. In a hallway. In a line-up. In the first five minutes when you realize you’ve found your people.
Starting with Cannexus26
This year had its own memorable beginning. A nation-wide cold front tested travel plans and scrambled schedules just days before our 20th anniversary gathering. We weren’t sure what the storm would mean. But we were ready to connect, learn and celebrate with whoever could make it.
Monday morning told the story. Despite freezing temperatures and delays, the Rogers Centre filled with attendees, presenters and exhibitors smiling back at our emcees on the main stage. It was a beautifully Cannexus beginning – not perfect conditions, but a shared commitment to show up.
Because Cannexus has always been more than professional development. It’s community at its finest.
The “it’s not a conference, it’s a vibe” moment
If you’ve been to Cannexus, you know.
Some favourite moments aren’t about a session at all. They’re about the atmosphere that keeps pulling you back.
“Cannexus isn’t as much a conference as it is a vibe. The energy in the entire space is overwhelmingly positive, welcoming and inclusive.”
Brad Whitehorn has been part of this story from the start. He attended the very first Cannexus 20 years ago in Markham, Ontario. He’s seen the conference grow and the field evolve, but says its strength has stayed the same: “the overall vibe of positivity and community that is completely unique.”
When he names his favourite moments, he doesn’t point to a keynote. He points to the small things that quietly matter.
“Getting to know colleagues on another level with casual conversations, sharing pictures of pets, and a handful of bad jokes only build and strengthen community.”
Sometimes it really is the pets and bad jokes.
The “I didn’t feel alone” moment
Over two decades, one theme surfaces again and again: feeling seen.
Sometimes it’s meeting in person someone you’ve only known through email or Zoom. Other times, it’s hearing a question at the end of a session and realizing you’re not the only one navigating that challenge.
One first-time attendee put it simply:
“As a first time attendee I never felt alone. Whether I was getting food, attending a session or just standing in line, it was easy to start a conversation with the person beside you and find a connection.”
These moments live in the spaces between sessions – in chat boxes, corridors and coffee lines. They remind us that even when the work feels isolating, we’re part of something bigger.
The moment you didn’t expect to carry home
Then there are the moments that land quietly and follow you back into practice.
For Sachin Kumar, one such moment came through Elder Claudette Commanda’s words:
“A hug is a prayer.”
He described it as capturing the care and relationality at the heart of career development. A short sentence. A lasting impact.
Lorraine Godden shared another moment that stayed with her. Hearing Susan Aglukark speak about assumptions made about her home and upbringing became a reminder to suspend judgment and honour the diverse lived experiences people carry.
Favourite moments aren’t always comfortable. Sometimes they clarify. Sometimes they gently unsettle. Often, they shift how we listen.
The “this is bigger than one tool” moment
Across 20 years, the field has evolved. The contexts we practise in have shifted. But one thread remains: Cannexus creates space to think beyond our day-to-day roles.
Zana D reflected:
“What stayed with me most was not a single tool or technique, but the sustained attention given to how our field is adapting to complexity.”
She noticed a move away from simply adding services and toward redesigning systems – and a renewed emphasis on lived experience and human judgment in an era shaped by AI and automation.
It’s a reminder that Cannexus isn’t just about new tools. It’s about perspective.
Across 20 years, favourite Cannexus moments share a pattern. They go beyond what we expect from professional development.
They catch us off guard – with belonging, insight or renewed purpose. They steady us for the work ahead.
Sometimes, the favourite moment is simply making it through a storm and realizing you’re not alone.
And sometimes, it’s a sentence you’ll carry for the next 20 years.
