The 2026 PLEAC Conference will take place in Ottawa, Ontario, on February 18 and 19, 2026, at the Westin Ottawa, with an additional day for providers of public legal education and information on February 20 at the University of Ottawa, Learning Crossroads.
Register Here!
Here’s what you need to know:
- The deadline to register is Tuesday, February 10.
- Conference details will continue to be updated on the PLEAC 2026 Conference website. The registration form, FAQ, agenda, and speakers can all be found there. Some details are still being finalized and will be posted on an ongoing basis, so we strongly recommend checking back regularly for updates.
- The registration fee for the two-day conference (February 18 and 19) hosted at the Westin, Ottawa, is $100/per person. The registration fee for the three-day conference, including the additional day for PLEI providers (February 18, 19, and 20), hosted at the University of Ottawa, is $125/per person.
- Registration is first-come, first-served. We’re happy to welcome multiple representatives from your organization, but please note that space is limited, especially for the third additional day at UOttawa.
- The keynote address will be presented by Shauna Van Praagh, professor at McGill University Faculty of Law and President of the Law Commission of Canada.
- Plenary topics this year will focus on the following conference themes:
- the role of public legal educators in building understanding of the rule of law
- using evolving technologies effectively
- applying data in practical ways to inform and improve public legal education
- strategies for connecting with rural, remote, and Indigenous communities
- supporting the critical justice-related work of non-lawyer community workers across Canada
- Workshops will mirror these conference themes.
- Spotlight sessions, a new addition to this year’s conference, are short 20-minute sessions featuring a specific PLEI project or initiative.
Due to popular demand, several live-streaming conference sessions will be available for those who are unable to join in person.
Live streaming on Zoom will be available for select sessions on Wednesday, February 18 and Thursday, February 19 only. Workshops, spotlights, and all sessions on Friday, February 20, at the University of Ottawa will not be live-streamed.
Please see the live-streamed sessions below with registration links:
Wednesday, February 18
- 9:15 AM – 11:20 AM EST | Keynote Address: Public Legal Education and Law Reform: Rule of Law in action | Plenary: The role of public legal educators in building an understanding of the Rule of Law
- Speakers:
- Shauna Van Praagh, Law Commission of Canada (LCC)
- Sabreena Delhon, The Samara Centre for Democracy
- Nat Paul, Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA)
- Shalini Konanur, South Asian Legal Clinic of Ontario (SALCO)
- Moderator: David Wiseman, University of Ottawa Faculty of Law
- 📌 Click here to register!
- 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM EST | Plenary: Strategies for connecting with rural and remote, and Indigenous communities
- Speakers:
- Valerie Falls Down, Montana Legal Services (MLSA)
- Doreen Stone, Nishnawbe-Aski Legal Services (NALSC)
- Paula Michelin, Public Legal Information Association of Newfoundland and Labrador (PLIAN)
- Moderator: Kevin O’Shea, Public Legal Information Association of Newfoundland and Labrador (PLIAN)
- 📌 Click here to register!
Thursday, February 19
- 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM EST | Plenary: What we can learn from community justice worker programs in the U.S.
- Speakers:
- Antonio Coronado, Innovation for Justice (i4J)
- Hayley Cousin, Community Justice Advocates of Utah (CJAU)
- Sarah Carver, Alaska Legal Services Corporation – Community Justice Worker Resource Center (CJWRC)
- Moderator: Julie Mathews, Public Legal Education Association of Canada (PLEAC)
- 📌 Click here to register!
- 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM EST | Plenary: Recent developments in online legal information
- Speakers:
- Nora Bergh, Justice Education Society (JES BC)
- John Mayer, Computer-Assisted Legal Instruction (CALI)
- Sarah Mauet, Innovation for Justice (i4J)
- Moderator: Jessica Reekie, Community Legal Education Ontario (CLEO)
- 📌 Click here to register!
Once you register, you’ll receive the session details along with the Zoom link to join.
Note, questions and comments from virtual participants may be limited, as priority will be given to in-person attendees.
Feel free to share this with anyone who is interested but can’t make it to Ottawa in person next week!
The livestream registration links will also be available on our conference website here.
