CESBA Conference
2026
December 2-3
Toronto
Keynote speaker
Tom D’Amico
Dr. Tom D’Amico is a motivational speaker, education consultant, and workshop facilitator. He is the former Director of Education for the Ottawa Catholic School Board in Ottawa. As the President of AI Leadership Consulting, Tom now supports senior leadership teams with change management and leadership to implement AI across school districts.
Tom has presented across Canada on the topics of educational technology, leadership, education reform, and AI in Education. Tom served as the Canadian co-lead for New Pedagogies for Deep Learning (NPDL), a global partnership of over 3000 schools across 20 countries focused on education reform and the development of global competencies.
Sponsors and Exhibitors
EDUCATIONAL TRAVEL SPONSOR
SILVER SPONSOR
WIFI SPONSOR
Become a Sponsor
Sponsorship and exhibitor opportunities are now available. Explore how your organization can connect with hundreds of educators and key decision makers at Ontario’s premier adult and continuing education conference! Email michelle@bplevents.com for more information.
About Learning That Lifts 2026
Because adult and continuing education (A&CE) creates limitless possibilities for opportunity and upward mobility for adult learners at every stage of life, it must be recognized and supported as a vital pillar of public education. The theme Learning That Lifts celebrates the transformative impact of on individuals, families, and communities, fostering growth that extends far beyond the classroom.
CESBA Conference 2026 offers two incredible days of learning, knowledge-sharing, networking, and fun! It is a unique opportunity to learn best and promising practices to support your work in adult and continuing education in Ontario.
Our conference begins on Wednesday, December 2 with Sector Day organized by leaders in their fields. Dedicated workshops, presentations and discussions will be held for the following sectors:
- Principals & Vice-Principals
- Credit/Guidance/Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR)
- Get SET (formerly LBS)
- Personal Support Worker (PSW) programs
- English as a Second Language (ESL)/French as a Second Language (FSL)/Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC)
On Wednesday early evening, we will host a social gathering with all our conference guests!
Our second conference day on Thursday, December 3 is our Workshop Day. After starting the day with programming in the ballroom, you will have an opportunity to select from several dynamic workshops. The day will also include networking and opportunities to connect across sectors.
CESBA (full name: The Ontario Association of Adult and Continuing Education School Board Administrators) is a provincial non-profit professional association that represents, advocates for and supports adult and continuing education (A&CE) program staff working in over 60 school boards across Ontario. Incorporated in 1999 and provincially funded, CESBA works to ensure that adult and continuing education programs offered by school boards are accessible, affordable, and successful in helping learners achieve their education, training and employment goals.
Full Conference Rates
CESBA endeavours to keep registration fees as affordable as possible. The fees alone do not cover the cost of operating the conference. Thank you to our generous sponsors and funders who support the conference.
Early Bird Rate –
Before September 16
| Full conference – Member* $795 |
| Full conference – Indigenous organization $895 |
| Full conference – Non-member $995 |
Regular Rate –
After September 16
| Full conference – Member* $845 |
| Full conference – Indigenous organization $945 |
| Full conference – Non-member $1,045 |
Daily Rates
For either Sector Day or Workshop Day only.
| Member* | $500 |
| Indigenous organization | $600 |
| Non-member | $700 |
*Member Eligibility
If you are an employee of one of our 60+ member school boards, you qualify for a member rate! If you are unsure, please email registration@cesba.com
Get SET (formerly LBS) Sector
Get SET Sector Day is fully subsidized for Get SET staff (yes, that’s the same as LBS) from CESBA member school boards. If you would like to attend the full conference, select that option and continue to answer the prompts. You will only be charged at the member rate for Workshop Day.
Registration FAQ
What discounts are available?
CESBA members (staff of member school boards in good standing) receive a special conference rate for a single day or the full conference. If you represent an Ontario school board that would like to become a member of CESBA, please contact our Executive Director, Paul Cox at pcox@cesba.com. Hotel accommodations and travel codes are also available at a significant discounted rate, please visit the Accommodations section for details.
This year, we are offering an early bird rate for those who book before September 16. See rate details.
What is included in my registration fee?
The registration fee allows access to all events and functions during the event and includes: conference materials, receptions and meals as specified in the program.
Does the registration fee include travel costs for the conference?
No, all travel costs including air and hotel accommodations are the responsibility of the attendee. We have an amazing hotel rate of $189/night at our conference venue, the Chelsea Hotel. Room availability is limited. Travel and accommodations details.
When can I select my workshops?
We no longer require registrants to select their workshops in advance. You are welcome to attend whichever workshop you choose on Workshop Day.
What forms of payment do you accept for the conference fee?
Registration payment is by credit card.
How is my registration confirmed?
After completing the registration form and processing your payment, you will be routed to a confirmation page. In addition, you will receive a confirmation email with your registration information.
Can I register a group of participants?
Yes, you can register a group of participants. Continue your registration form until the payment portal where you will see the option to add another registrant. You need to submit contact details for all attendees.
When does conference registration close?
Registration online will close by November 17. Due to the popularity of the event, we recommend that participants register early as the event is expected to sell out before this date. If you are interested after we have sold out, please reach out to registration@cesba.com to be added to our waitlist.
Can I register in person at the conference?
Unfortunately, due to capacity limits, we cannot accommodate in-person registrations. We encourage you to register early.
What is the cancellation policy?
All registration fees are non-refundable. No credit will be issued for unused registrations. A registration may be transferred to another attendee. Requests for transfers of registration fees must be made by email. Transfer requests can be registration@cesba.com and must be completed by November 13.
Who do I contact if I have additional questions?
Please contact the CESBA Conference planning team at registration@cesba.com for assistance.
Travel & Accommodation
Chelsea Hotel, Toronto
33 Gerrard St. W, Toronto, ON M5G 1Z4
Chelsea Hotel Toronto is conveniently located in the downtown area and is easily accessible by car or transit. CESBA has negotiated a preferred rate at The Chelsea Hotel Toronto with single rooms starting at an incredible $189 per night, plus taxes and fees. The deadline for bookings is November 13, 2026, but room availability is limited so book earlier to avoid disappointment.
Reservations can also be made by phone at 1-800-CHELSEA (243-5732) or 416-595-1975. You must provide the booking code “CESBA Fall Conference 2026” or use Res ID: CES120126, and call prior to the cut-off date of Friday, November 13, 2026, to take advantage of your discounted group rate.
Parking
Paid, underground self-parking is available at the hotel and can be accessed via the garage entrances on Gerrard Street. Use the hotel address of 33 Gerrard Street West in your GPS as the location. Spots are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Please note that the underground parking garage has a max. height restriction of 5’6” in certain areas and cannot accommodate oversized passenger vehicles.
- Hourly Parking rate is $3/hour + HST
- Event Only Parking (6:00 am to 6:00 pm) rate is $16 + HST
- Discounted overnight Parking rate is $30/day + HST (added value of unlimited in and out privileges)
- Oversized Vehicle Parking is $53 (limited spots and subject to availability – please see Front Desk)
Travel Discounts
Air Canada (Discount Code: QQFNBFC1)
- Visit aircanada.com to claim the discount code.
- The travel period begins Wednesday, November 25, 2026 and ends Thursday, December 10, 2026.
- Travel is valid Monday to Sunday.
- For North America – 5% applies on standard fares, 10% on flex fares and higher.
Porter Airlines (Discount Code CESBA26)
- 10% discount for Flexible, Standard and Freedom and up to 15% discount for Ultimate and Navigate.
- Please book online at www.flyporter.com/en-ca/?promocode=CESBA26 or through your travel agent using promo code “CESBA26”
- The travel period from all markets to Toronto (YTO) begins November 30, 2026 and ends December 3, 2026.
- The travel period from Toronto (YTO) to all markets begins December 2, 2026 and ends December 5, 2026.
- Restrictions: Discount is available for base fares with the exception of the lowest class fare during a public seat sale. The discounted fares are available for booking from June 10, 2026 to December 3, 2026.
Westjet (Coupon Code Guest Web/TravelAgent Web 4X5D6IW or for Travel Agent GDS Only YBF52)
- 5% off Econo* and 10% off EconoFlex and Premium fares for travel within Canada.
- Exceptions: No discount will apply to Ultra Basic or Business class bookings. The booking is to be made to and from Toronto.
- The travel period begins November 11, 2026 and ends December 12, 2026.
- Visit www.westjet.com to make the booking.
Flixbus (Discount Code: CESBAPH)
- Visit flixbus.ca to claim the discount code at check out.
- 10% off Flixbus tickets
- This can be used on any trip involving Toronto between November 30, 2026 and December 5, 2026.
- Restrictions: Valid for travel within Ontario where Toronto is the destination or Toronto is the originating point. The discount applies only to Flix schedules and does not apply to Greyhound schedules.
Explore Toronto
For the trailblazers who leave no destination unexplored, meeting in Toronto puts you at the economic, innovative and cultural heart of Canada. An exciting city that’s ever-evolving, our multicultural roots are expressed through thriving local artists and innovators. Explore vibrant neighbourhoods, each one representing different facets of Indigenous, European, African, Caribbean and other cultural influences that add to our city’s eclectic identity. Follow your curiosity through towering skyscrapers, down artistic alleyways, and into one of the world’s biggest film festivals. Navigate sprawling seasonal markets, barhop live-music venues and land at a championship sporting event. Even if you’ve been here before, there are always new adventures to be had.
Sign up with Pass TO Savings for free and enjoy up to 20% off of some of Toronto’s best attractions and experiences!
Contact Us
If you have questions about attending, sponsoring or presenting at CESBA 2026: Learning That Lifts, email us at registration@cesba.com
Keynote speaker
Tom D'Amico
Dr. Tom D’Amico is a motivational speaker, education consultant, and workshop facilitator. He is the former Director of Education for the Ottawa Catholic School Board in Ottawa. As the President of AI Leadership Consulting, Tom now supports senior leadership teams with change management and leadership to implement AI across school districts.
Tom has presented across Canada on the topics of educational technology, leadership, education reform, and AI in Education. Tom served as the Canadian co-lead for New Pedagogies for Deep Learning (NPDL), a global partnership of over 3000 schools across 20 countries focused on education reform and the development of global competencies.
Dr. Tom D’Amico is a motivational speaker, education consultant, and workshop facilitator. He is the former Director of Education for the Ottawa Catholic School Board in Ottawa. As the President of AI Leadership Consulting, Tom now supports senior leadership teams with change management and leadership to implement AI across school districts.
Tom has 35 years of experience in education. An award-winning educator, he received the Prime Minister’s Award for teaching excellence, and was named one of Canada’s Outstanding Principals. As a Director of Education he was recognized by his peers with the Distinguished Leadership award. As CEO of the OCSB his district was recognized as the top K-12 EdTech district in Canada for their work in implementing and scaling AI across their district.
Tom has presented across Canada on the topics of educational technology, leadership, education reform, and AI in Education. Tom served as the Canadian co-lead for New Pedagogies for Deep Learning (NPDL), a global partnership of over 3000 schools across 20 countries focused on education reform and the development of global competencies.
Tom holds an Osgoode certificate in education law; a workplace mental health leadership certificate, a diversity and inclusive management certificate, an executive certificate in conflict management, and safe schools certification.
Tom has been an off-ice official with the NHL for 27 years, and prior to his career in education was the general manager of Ottawa’s professional soccer team, The Ottawa Intrepid.