SCHEDULE

Note that speakers and topics are subject to change.

Summit - Day 1 | Feb 24

7:30am Doors Open

7:30am - 9:00am Registration & Better Together Breakfast - Presented by WFCU Credit Union

7:45am - 8:30am Sponsorship 101

Closed Bonus Session exclusively for Industry Newbies

Introduction to Municipal Sponsorships
Delivered by Brent Barootes

9:00am - 9:15am Welcome

Includes Welcoming Remarks from the City of Kingston Mayor, Bryan Paterson

9:15am - 10:15am Opening Keynote

The Changing Sponsorship Landscape – What to Expect in 2026 and Beyond
Delivered by Brent Barootes

10:15am - 10:45am Networking Break - Presented by PandoPartner

10:45am - 12:15pm In-depth Breakout Sessions

How to build a Municipal Sponsorship Program
Delivered by Scott Elliott

Municipal Sponsorship & Developers – The Challenges and Opportunities
Delivered by James O’Conner

Building a Comprehensive Sponsorship Marketing Asset Inventory
Delivered by Meghan Hollett

12:15pm - 1:30pm Networking Lunch - Presented by Rec Media

Remarks from our Day 1 Lunch Sponsor, REC Media

Remarks from the City of Kingston CAO, Lanie Hurdle

Remarks from our Day 1 Lunch Chef

1:30pm - 2:15pm Breakout Sessions (Block A)

How to Manage User Groups Assets – Who Owns What?
Delivered by Brent Barootes

Narratives that Inspire: Turning Sponsorships into Shared Stories
Delivered by Troy Beharry

The Prospecting Playbook: Using Data to Prospect and Identify your Audience
Delivered by Jim Kalogerakos

2:25pm - 3:10pm Breakout Sessions (Block B)

Selling with data: Demonstrating Your Property's Sponsorship Benefits
Delivered by Eddy Sidani

Sponsorship Success in Municipal Events
Delivered by Victoria Mahoney

The Art of Fulfillment: Turning Deliverables into Renewals
Delivered by Kristen Lawrie de Jesus

3:10pm - 3:40pm Networking Break - Presented by PandoPartner

3:40pm - 4:40pm Day 1 Closing Keynote

The Changing Face of Canada: Reaching New Audiences in Our Cultural Mosaic
Delivered by Jason Harper

4:40pm - 5:00pm Day 1 Wrap Up & Closing Remarks

5:00pm - 6:30pm Free time, refresh at hotel, walk to Grand Theatre for Evening Reception Experience

6:30pm - 9:30pm The Grand Evening Networking Reception

Summit - Day 2 | Feb 25

8:00am - 9:00am Better Together Breakfast - Presented by WFCU Credit Union

9:00am - 9:15am Welcome Back & Day 1 Recap

9:15am - 10:15am Day 2 Keynote

Developing Municipal Leaders: Applying the 10-80-10 Principle
Delivered by Sunjay Nath

10:20am - 11:05am Breakout Sessions (Block C)

What I Learned through the IAV Process
Delivered by Shane Ray

Structuring Sponsorship Teams and Workflows
Delivered by Mitch Thompson

Thinking Beyond the $ – The True Value of Partnership for Municipalities, Sponsors & Communities
Delivered by Doug Bennett

11:05am - 11:25pm Networking Break - Presented by PandoPartner

11:25pm - 12:10pm Panel Discussion

From Their Side of the Table: The Sponsor’s Perspective (Brand Side Perspective Panel Discussion)

Moderator: Brent Barootes

Panelists: Tom Kekewich (Culligan), David Dempster (INVISTA), and Jean-Rock Beaudoin (Slush Puppie)

12:10pm - 1:15pm Networking Luncheon - Presented by Slush Puppie + Group Photo Session

Remarks from our Day 2 Lunch Sponsor, Slush Puppie

Remarks from our Day 2 Lunch Chef

1:15pm - 2:00pm Breakout Sessions (Block D)

Negotiating Sponsorships: Turning Conversations into Community-Building Partnerships
Delivered by Rob Richardson

Using Innovative Event Research to Uncover New Sponsorship Categories 
Delivered by Michael Harker

2:10pm - 3:00pm Panel Discussion

Ask me Anything in Municipal Sponsorships
Moderator: Brent Barootes
Panelists: Brandi Pickering, JP Desrosiers, Doug Bennett

3:00pm - 3:15pm 2026 Summit Wrap Up

3:15pm – 4:30pm Reception