CHFI Annual Summit 2026
Proactive Health in Action
What Works. What Scales. What Canada Can Implement Now.
May 25–26, 2026 | Ottawa, Ontario — By invitation only
Join leaders from the public, private, philanthropic, and community sectors for CHFI’s Annual Summit, a non-partisan convening focused on advancing proactive health and translating ideas into practical, real-world action across Canada.
This event is approved for 6 Professional Development Credits (PDCs) by the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology (CSEP), with 1 credit awarded for each hour of the summit attended.
Join CHFI's Online Community Hub
Join CHFI’s online community and connect with Canadians who want to move more, live healthier, and help build a more active country. This hub is a place to find encouragement, access practical resources, follow national initiatives like Let’s Move Canada, and discover simple ways to get involved wherever you are. Whether you’re just beginning to build movement into your life or already helping your community get active, you belong here.
How To Join
1. Visit the Online Community sign-in page.
2. Register an account.
3. Log in and start connecting!
Proactive Health in Action
Three ways parliamentarians can help Canadians move more, connect more, and live well.
1. Champion National Health and Fitness Day
First Saturday in June — established by Bill S-211.
Participate, post, and host an activity in your riding.
Partner: National Indigenous Physical Activity Awareness Week.
2. Support a National Cycling Strategy
Safer roads. Smarter infrastructure. Healthier Canadians.
Co-sponsor, champion in committee, or speak in the House.
3. Activate Let’s Move Canada and the Community Hub in Your Riding
Endorse the June Challenge. Recognize a local champion.
One riding. One photo. One conversation that builds momentum.
A Practical Forum for Action
Canada’s approach to health remains largely reactive, with too little focus on prevention, participation, and the conditions that support healthier lives.
The CHFI Annual Summit brings together leaders and partners to focus on practical, scalable approaches that support healthier communities and increased participation.
Engagement with Members of Parliament, Senators, and officials will be complemented by a Parliament Hill activation, including public-facing physical activity sessions and an evening reception.
Advocacy & Parliament Hill Activation
Our Sponsors
Gold Sponsor
Silver Sponsor
Supporting Sponsor
Partners
Karl André Talbot
Opening Plenary
A Country That Moves, On Purpose
Ian Fraser, CEO, RA Centre
John Weston, Chair, CHFI
Greetings from the Government of Canada
Let’s Move Canada Challenge and Community Hub Launch
Session 1 — Global View: Best Practices from Abroad
A View from Around the World: What’s Working and What Scales
Her Excellency, Hanne Ulrichsen, Norwegian Ambassador to Canada
Her Excellency, Hanna-Leena Korteniemi, Finnish Ambassador to Canada
Anne Witheford, Deputy High Commissioner, Australian High Commission, Ottawa
Session 2 — Non-Governmental Organizations: The Heart of Civil Society
Moderator: Michael Bentley, CHFI Director; President, SierraSil Health Inc.
Larry McCloskey, Author, Registered Social Work Psychotherapist, former Director, Carleton University’s Paul Menton Centre for Students with Disabilities
Brian Torrance, President and CEO, ParticipACTION
Session 3 — Policy Makers’ Perspective: Federal Level
A Healthier Canada: Roles, Boundaries, and Levers
Moderator: Senator Marty Deacon, Former member of Canadian Olympic and Commonwealth Sport Canada Board
Dr. Janice Forsyth, Professor in the School of Kinesiology at the University of British Columbia
Gabriel Hardy, Member of Parliament for Montmorency - Charlevoix, former President, Fitness Industry Council of Canada
MP Louis Villeneuve, Member of Parliament for Brome—Missisquoi
Session 4 — Policy Makers’ Perspective: Local Level
A Healthier Canada: Roles, Boundaries, and Levers - Fireside Chat with Local Government Leaders
Moderator: Pierre Lafontaine, International Olympic Coach
Antoine Tardiff, Vice President, Public Affairs, Burson, and former Mayor of Victoriaville
Jeff Leiper, Ottawa Deputy Mayor; Communications and Tech Executive; and physical activity champion
Session 5 — From Ecosystem to Execution: Creating Connected Pathways
Roundtable discussions focused on the RA Centre’s celebrated House of Sport and its 44 members with Ian Fraser, CEO, RA Centre
Closing Remarks
John Weston, Chair, CHFI
Beyond the Summit
The Summit is part of a broader, ongoing effort to strengthen movement, connection, wellbeing, and participation across Canada. Momentum from the Summit will carry into National Health and Fitness Day on June 6th, the Let’s Move Canada / Canada Actif Challenge, the emerging Community Hub, and continued partner engagement. Post-Summit insights, storytelling, and activation will support collaboration, community-based action, and measurable progress. The Community Hub will help connect people, partners, and communities around movement, shared initiatives, resources, local opportunities, and participation pathways. The Challenge will serve as an important activation point, while the Community Hub will support ongoing engagement through stories, tools, ambassador-led activities, meetups, and year-round community participation. This work will also continue to value collaboration with Indigenous partners and community-led approaches to movement and wellbeing.
For sponsorship or general inquiries: summit@chfi.fit
