Young Conservation Professional (YCP) 2026 Leadership Conference

YCP 2026 Leadership Conference: Fostering Connections

Bringing YCP alumni and leaders together to continue professional skill development in conservation

Throughout the year, YCP Alumni and leaders gather for networking events, learning, and reconnecting.
Join us for the 4th YCP Leadership Conference, February 5–6, 2026 to meet leaders in the field and hear from inspiring speakers from YCP Alumni and friends. A portion of conference fees will be used to support future leadership participants in the core program.

Fee Schedule:

• Thursday, February 5 only: $125 (includes continental breakfast, lunch & dinner)
• Friday, February 6 only: $75 (includes breakfast & lunch)
• Both days (Thursday & Friday, February 5–6): $200 (includes meals & accommodation)
• Optional Wednesday, February 4: $50 (includes evening snacks & accommodation)

Things to Know

• Overnight accommodation is at the , featuring shared bathrooms and shared bedrooms with a cozy, dorm-style atmosphere.
• Door prizes will be given throughout the conference (valued up to $25).
• Join us for an optional Wednesday evening session — a relaxed chance to mingle, connect, and kick off the conference early! This includes evening snacks and overnight accommodation.

Cancelation Policy:
All ticket sales are final. Weather Conditions: Unless TRCA cancels an event due to low registration or inclement/adverse weather, refunds associated with weather conditions will not be issued. Event cancellations may occur due to extreme conditions such as severe snow or ice storms, extremely heavy rainfall, high winds and/or in the event of lightning or lack of power. Since most of our events are held outdoors with limited to no indoor space, please come prepared for current weather conditions. TRCA makes every effort to proceed with an event as planned and will reopen its venues as quickly as possible once inclement/ adverse weather conditions cease and the safety of our clients is not threatened. If an event is canceled by TRCA, participants will be notified, and all applicable fees will be refunded. Payments made by credit card will be credited back to the original card used for payment within 2-3 business days. Payments made by cheque or cash will be refunded by cheque in the mail, within 4 weeks.

The Young Conservation Professionals Leadership Program (YCP) is a year-long personal and professional development program serving the conservation and environmental sector in Ontario.

The purpose of the YCP program is to build capacity in the conservation sector by helping the next generation of leaders to step up. To learn more about the program, click here to view the YCP website.

If you would like to donate to the YCP program to support future YCP participants, please click here to donate.

Info: All meals will be vegetarian.

Info: John Lounds is the Director of Business Development for the Centre for Land Conservation. Relating stories from his 30 years of leading non-profit conservation organizations, John will share his experiences and provide "food for thought" for current and aspiring leaders.

Info: All meals will be vegetarian.

Info: Kristie McCabe is the Director of Planning and Development Services for Kawartha Conservation.
Being a great leader requires the willingness to be self-reflective. The ability to look at yourself and learn from past decisions and experiences without the need to be right is one of the most under-rated skills. It will allow you to build a better self-awareness and make you more aware of your strengths and weaknesses which will help you become an authentic leader that will inspire others. There are many ways to help build the skill of being self-reflective. This session will explore some of those tools including journaling, sit spot, and other forest therapy practices. As a Certified Forest Therapy Guide and a Leader, I know, first hand, the value of building a practice to help you develop these skills, and I am excited to share them with you.

Info: Kim Statham is the Director of Forestry for the City of Toronto. Kim was a participant in the very first YCP Career Development Initiative in 2005. Twenty years later, she is still a leader in the urban forestry and biodiversity sector and is 'paying it forward' by dedicating a lot of time to mentorship and coaching programs. In this session, Kim will share a few pinnacle moments along her journey that have been key to a rich and rewarding career.

Info: All meals will be vegetarian.

Info: Colin Love is the Supervisor Community Outreach & Education for Toronto and Region Conservation Authority. Please bring an item, story or tool that has had an impact or influenced your leadership style - be prepared to share these in a large group format (optional) 

Info: All meals will be vegetarian.

Info: Braiding Cultural Perspectives and Philosophies in Nature

Info: Tim Gray is the Executive Director for Environmental Defense Canada. Whether you are looking to secure new programs in your local park, or want to shut down a big polluter in your city, you will need to have a theory of change about how to get to the win. This session explores the common elements of charting out your theory of change as well as some of the common pitfalls in campaign planning and execution.

Info: All meals will be vegetarian.

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Host or Publisher Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA)