All times appear in Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) | Toutes les heures sont indiquées en heure avancée de l'Est (HAE).

Day 1—Tuesday, September 23 | Jour 1 — Mardi 23 septembre

11:00–11:15 Welcome all—icebreaker and introductions | Bienvenue à tous — brise-glace et présentations

11:15–12:00 Introduction to Meaning Making—what is it, why it is important, and what are the downsides?

12:00–12:15 Mini-Break | Mini-pause

12:15–12:30 Stop Spewing Facts! Thematic Interpretation can help you create more meaning |Tracey Gage, Interpretive Guides Association

Turn facts into meaningful, memorable experiences with Thematic Interpretation. Learn how Theme, Organization, Relevance, and Enjoyment (TORE) help visitors connect personally, care deeply, and remember your message. One strong theme can transform your program and inspire guests to find their own meaning.

12:30–1:00 Discussion on presented topic | Discussion sur le sujet présenté

1:00–1:15 Mini-Break | Mini-pause

1:15–1:30 Inspire through PIE and TALK- Participatory and Dialogic Interpretation | Jacquie Gilson, InterpActive

Discover how Jacquie’s PIE (Participation, Information, Encouragement) and TALK models support meaning making through participatory and dialogic interpretive techniques. This short session introduces you to practical ways interpreters can move beyond delivering facts to create engaging, visitor-centered experiences that spark personal relevance, insight, and shared discovery for everyone involved.

1:30–2:00 Discussion on presented topic | Discussion sur le sujet présenté

2:00–2:15 Mini-Break | Mini-pause

2:15–2:30 Words Matter—Making Meaning through Interpretive Signage | Diane Mitchell, Red Rock Creative and Lauryn Record, Ground Cubed

How can a visitor make meaning from a sign panel, with only 100-150 words and when the writer can’t tailor their writing for the reader? In this presentation, we’ll explore ways to help interpreters enable meaning-making and personal connections in interpretive writing through universal concepts, fictional scenarios and dialogic prompts.

2:30–3:00 Discussion on presented topic | Discussion sur le sujet présenté

3:00–4:00 Discussion on meaning making making and making it relevant to you.

4:00 Wrap up | Conclure 

Day 2—Wednesday, September 24 | Jour 2 — Mercredi 24 septembre

Day 2 will run from 11:00 am EDT to 4:30 pm EDT and plans are underway. We are awaiting confirmation of presenters in addition to those given here. Stay tuned for the schedule and more!

La deuxième journée se déroulera de 11 h 00 à 16 h 30 (heure de l'Est) et les préparatifs sont en cours. Nous attendons la confirmation des intervenants en plus de ceux mentionnés ici. Restez à l'affût pour connaître le programme et plus encore !

Navigating Sensitive Topics – Facilitated Conversations about Death with Children | Led by Lorinda Calvert, BC Museums Association 

Death is an undeniable and unavoidable truth. It permeates all aspects of our lives, including the museum experience. Death in museums is visible not only within the biological artifacts but also in the subsequent discussions between visitors and educators. Museum staff can often feel uncomfortable and unprepared for conversations about death, specifically with child visitors. Join BCMA Program Manager Lorenda Calvert for this educational session on navigating sensitive topics with children. Learn about the five developmental stages and what they mean for understanding death while adding some tools in your toolbox on how best to facilitate conversations about sensitive topics.

Sharing Difficult Truths and Sharing Cultural Vibrancy | Heather George, Woodland Cultural Centre

Ten years ago Woodland Cultural Centre made the choice to "Save the Evidence" by renovating the 1903 Residential School building building and share the stories of Survivors, this September the building will re-open to the public. This presentation will consider how to balance these truths and how to care for the public and staff.

Day 3—Thursday, September 25 | Jour 3 — Jeudi 25 septembre

We are awaiting confirmation of presenters in addition to those given below. Stay tuned for the schedule and more!

Nous attendons la confirmation des intervenants en plus de ceux mentionnés ci-dessous. Restez à l'affût pour connaître le programme et plus encore !

11:00–11:15 Welcome back, details and the outline for Day 3

11:15–12:00 Celebrate Research. Three researchers presenting their research results. More to follow later.

12:00–12:15 Discussion on presented research| Discussion sur le sujet présenté

12:15–12:30 Mini-Break | Mini-pause

12:30–1:15 Celebrate Research. Three researchers presenting their research results. More to follow later.

1:15–1:30 Discussion on presented topic| Discussion sur le sujet présenté

1:30–1:45 Mini-Break | Mini-pause

1:45–2:45 Celebrate excellence in Canadian interp with the IC Awards! Dialogue with award recipients.

2:45–3:00 Mini-Break | Mini-pause

3:00–3:50 IC Future Focus—working groups

3:50–4:20 Making Meaning, Making Change. Discussion on highlights from workshop and taking action.

4:20 Wrap up (Upcoming AGM, Working Groups, and more) | Conclure 

Is personal interpretation effective? It depends on goals and techniques | Glen Hvenegaard, University of Alberta

Are your personal interpretation programs working? Based on a study in Alberta’s provincial parks, we summarize how well personal interpretation achieves target outcomes for visitors, and which characteristics of the programs and interpreters contribute to those outcomes.

Is this place haunted? Educational perspectives on paranormal programming | Ohan Stamboulian, Town of Stouffville / University of British Columbia

Humans have been interested in the commercialization of ghosts and the supernatural for centuries, but what is it that drives this curiosity at museums and historic sites, and what does it add to the visitor experience? This presentation will unpack some of the ways popular ghost tours can be both educational and entertaining, and support but the museum's and the visitor's expectations.

Storytelling in Conservation: Orangutans, Turtles and YouTube | Jill Bueddefeld, University of Manitoba

This presentation explores how dialogic narrative storytelling shapes conservation engagement. In partnership with the Toronto Zoo, researchers tested YouTube-style videos featuring orangutans and turtles to compare the impact of different message strategies. Findings reveal surprising insights about species charisma, digital versus in-person formats, and the power of story to inspire conservation

Lighting the Spark, Fanning the Flames: Interpretation and Repeat Program Participants | Dominique Haché, Parks Canada

What happens when participants return to our programs again and again? This presentation shares insights from a pilot research study exploring how interpreters at Fundy National Park adjust their facilitation for repeat participants—and how those returning visitors can deepen learning, challenge practice, and enrich the interpretive experience.

Poster Presentations | présentations d'affiches

It’s About Connection! How can whale watching sustain pro-environmental behaviours? | Sarah Board, University of Victoria

The whale watching industry is growing worldwide, but can the educational impact outweigh the negative effects. It is unknown what part of these experiences can increase participants conservation behaviours long-term. Through observations, surveys and semi-structured interviews, it was found that the connection to individual whales is what influenced participants.

Cultivating Curiosity: Museums and Meaning for Children Under Five | Mojca D'Arcy and Ann Bas, Early Childhood Educators

This presentation introduces a research-informed proposed outline for a toolkit designed to assist museum professionals and early childhood educators in developing inclusive, developmentally appropriate programs that acknowledge and respect young children’s diverse starting points. It emphasizes how interpretation can facilitate meaningful, culturally responsive learning experiences that inspire curiosity and foster lasting, real-world impact in the earliest years.