Languages Canada 2020 Conference

About the Languages Canada 2020 Conference

The Languages Canada Annual Conference is a meeting place for our member programs - public, private, French and English - and Canadian and international education partners and stakeholders to connect, share, learn, and collaborate on pertinent issues impacting Canada’s language education sector.

The 2020 Conference will take place in beautiful Vancouver BC. With its scenic views, mild climate and friendly people, Vancouver is known around the world as a top-choice tourism and study destination. Vancouver is also one of the most ethnically and linguistically diverse cities in Canada with 52 percent of the population speaking a first language other than English.

Languages Canada wishes to acknowledge that the 2020 Annual Conference will take place on the traditional, ancestral and unceded territory of the Coast Salish peoples – Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), Stó:lō and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) Nations.

Who Will Attend?

Over 300 delegates are expected to attend the 2020 Conference, including owners, directors, program managers, marketing staff and academic leaders from Canadian public and private language education programs; provincial and federal government officials; NGOs; invited international guests; Canadian Trade Commissioners; and other key influencers in the field of international education.

Conference Theme: The Future in Focus

2020 marks an important milestone in our collective consciousness. It is the future turned present. It is a time for planning, but also a time for immediate action, as the pace of change accelerates and the world becomes increasingly interconnected and interdependent, yet equality gaps and ideology divides widen. The impact of climate change is no longer a distant prophecy, but a reality that is manifesting in humanitarian, economic and ecological crises around the globe. Sweeping progress for human rights and inclusion are juxtaposed with populist political movements that are erecting walls. Digital technology, artificial intelligence and social media have changed the ways we communicate, learn and do business. The demand for employment has never been higher, while automation is eliminating low skilled jobs. Youth need skills for a knowledge economy, and competition is fierce among international education destinations to attract and retain top talent.

The above factors are influencing Canada’s language education sector by impacting student demand and demographics; recruitment and delivery channels; quality, inclusion and access to education. The 2020 Languages Canada Annual Conference will create space for leaders in the sector to address and respond to these global, national and operational issues. Languages Canada will use the conference as a platform to unveil a new 5-Year Strategic Direction for the association.

The Future is Green!

Languages Canada is committed to reducing the environmental impact of our Annual Conference. In 2020 we will eliminate printed conference programs and delegate kits and will be encouraging all participants to access the program and conference information via our conference app. Conference participants will also be encouraged to offset their carbon emissions for their travel to Vancouver.

Past Conferences

View pictures and video from past conferences or visit last year's conference page for more information.