Heads & Chairs Conference

An important benefit of membership in our national organization is participating in the annual Heads and Chairs Conference. Heads of School and the Chairs of their Boards are expected to attend the annual Heads and Chairs Conference during which the CAIS Annual General Meeting is held. If a Head is not able to attend, the CAIS Executive Director must be contacted prior to the conference. Outgoing Chairs may choose to send an incoming Chair in their place if they are in a transition year.

2026 Heads & Chairs Conference

Registration is now open for the 2026 CAIS Heads & Chairs Conference, taking place Sunday, October 18 to Tuesday, October 20, 2026, at the Hilton Toronto Hotel in Toronto, Ontario.

Register and find out more

Please note: On the registration page, tickets will appear as “Free.” Schools will be invoiced accordingly.

About the Conference

In a world increasingly shaped by shifting geopolitics, rising polarization, and paradigm-shifting technology that appears poised to reshape societies and economies, how can independent schools endure and emerge as meaningful and relevant communities of learning and human flourishing?

The CAIS Heads & Chairs Conference brings together experts from around the world in conversation with the deep experience and knowledge within our network across Canada and Bermuda for three days of dialogue on strategic change, resilience, and leadership in the age of AI.

While there will be much laughter, collaboration, and camaraderie, there will also be moments of discomfort, challenge, and reflection as we take an ambitious and abundance-minded approach to exploring what it means to be a school of choice in an unpredictable world.

Event Highlights

New Chair / New Head Orientation: Saturday, October 17 to Sunday, October 18
Conference: Sunday, October 18 to Tuesday, October 20
Canadian Boarding Collective Summit: Tuesday, October 20
Location: Hilton Toronto Hotel, Toronto, ON

Agenda

View the conference agenda for session details and timing. All times are listed in Eastern Time.

View the Conference Agenda

Travel Resources

Hotel Booking: Reserve your room at the special conference rate
Air Canada Discount Code: NJ3U7U21
Conference Logistics: View the Logistics page

If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact Hailey Francis, Events Planner and Strategist, at hfrancis@cais.ca.

2027 Heads & Chairs Conference

Save the Dates

Dates (Monday start): Monday, October 25 to Wednesday, October 27
Location: Sheraton Le Centre Montreal, Montreal, QC

Thank You To Our Sponsors

CAIS is grateful for our sponsors. Their support allows CAIS to provide valuable Leadership Development opportunities to our members. We invite you to click on their logos below to explore their websites and learn more about them. To discover how you can become a sponsor, visit our CAIS Corporate Sponsorship Program page or contact Hailey Francis at hfrancis@cais.ca.