Western Cities HR Conference 2026: Innovate HR

A public-sector HR conference for leaders and decision-makers to make connections, explore innovation and share best practices. The Western Cities HR Conference brings together Municipal HR professionals and Not-For-Profit leaders for three days of meaningful learning, connection, and practical insight focused on the evolving realities of today’s workplaces. Designed for decision-makers in municipalities and the public sector, the conference explores innovation in HR, HR skill development, HR leadership, workplace culture, mental health, and the changing role of HR. The conference begins with an optional Pre-Conference Workshop on Tuesday, October 6: From Operational to Strategic: HR Planning for Municipal Success, led by HR experts Michelle Reid and Heather Gherman. Municipal and public sector organizations face increasing workforce pressures, evolving service demands, and limited resources. A strong HR strategic plan helps align people priorities with organizational goals, workforce needs, and community expectations. In this interactive workshop, we will share best practices, lessons learned, and practical tools to help you build or refresh your HR strategic plan. Participants are encouraged to bring any current plans, workforce data, or ideas to work through during the session. You will leave with practical next steps, a stronger planning framework, budget considerations, and an actionable roadmap to support your organization’s future workforce success The main conference program runs over two full days (October 7 & 8) and features two keynote presentations, 3 workshops and 15 breakout sessions to choose from. Your registration fee includes an opening reception with tapas, 2 hot breakfasts, 2 lunches, a networking dinner and entertainment, and of course, our famous networking/hospitality suite. We are pleased to welcome two outstanding keynote speakers: Olympic Gold Medalist Lori-Ann Muenzer on Wednesday, October 7, and Top 100 HR Influencer and HR Disrupter, Julie Develin on Thursday, October 8. The Western Cities HR Conference is proudly presented in partnership with Title Sponsor Alberta Municipalities, supporting HR professionals and leaders across Alberta and Western Canada. Full agenda details and optional activities will be released soon, stay tuned.