Caregiving Summit 2025 Recap
If there’s one thing I’ve learned from my recent trip to the capital, it’s that great communication happens where heart and strategy meet. I just got back from the Canadian Caregiving Summit 2025 at the stunning Fairmont Chateau Laurier, and my camera roll (and my heart) is officially full.
Here’s a peek behind the scenes of my whirlwind few days in Ottawa!
🥐 Day 0: Landing & Exploring
The trip kicked off on a high note. After landing in Ottawa, my colleague Nikol and I headed straight to the ByWard Market. There’s something about that historic market energy that just resets your brain before a big event. We fueled up on local treats (maple syrup rolled in the snow and a hot bowl of ramen) and caught up on life before the Summit madness began.
🎥 Day 1: Capturing the Momentum
The Summit opened at the Fairmont Chateau Laurier, and the energy was electric. Nikol and I spent the day in "content creator mode," weaving through the halls to capture Reels of the incredible speakers.
Hearing the legendary Arlene Dickinson deliver her keynote was a total "pinch-me" moment. Her insights on the intersection of caregiving and the economy were powerful, and capturing that fire for our social channels was such a rewarding challenge.
🥂 The Gala: Laughs & Legacy
That evening, we traded our camera gear for gala attire. The Canadian Caregiving Summit Gala was hosted by the hilarious Courtney Gilmour, who kept us laughing while we celebrated the "Champions of Care." It was a beautiful reminder of why we do this work—to amplify the voices of those who give so much of themselves.
💻 Day 2: Editing Grind & a Rabbit Hole
Day two was all about the "final push." We spent the morning grabbing any last-minute footage and then hunkered down in a back room to start the editing magic. There’s a special kind of bond that forms when a Comms team is deep in the trenches of a deadline together!
To celebrate a successful Summit, my Comms team colleagues headed to The Rabbit Hole for dinner. It was the perfect spot—moody, cool, and filled with great food and drinks. Getting that quality time with the team outside of "work mode" was the absolute cherry on top of the conference.
🎨 Day 3: Stem Cells & Contemporary Art
The final morning was a beautiful blend of science and soul. I attended a celebratory breakfast hosted by the Stem Cell Network at their TMM (Till & McCulloch Meetings) conference just across the street. It was such a privilege to meet some of our grantees in person and hear about the life-changing research they’re doing.
Before heading to the airport, my boss and I squeezed in a visit to the National Gallery of Canada. We wandered through the contemporary art wing—getting lost in the bold colors and textures (hello, design inspiration!)—before reuniting with the team for the flight home.
Ottawa, you were a dream. I’m heading back to my desk feeling incredibly grateful for a team that works hard, plays hard, and creates meaningful impact every step of the way.
