October 14 - 16

✳︎

TRU Conference Centre

✳︎

Kamloops, BC

✳︎

WCWC 2026

✳︎

October 14 - 16 ✳︎ TRU Conference Centre ✳︎ Kamloops, BC ✳︎ WCWC 2026 ✳︎

Western Canada Women’s Conference

The Western Canada Women’s Conference is an annual academic knowledge exchange event, created in partnership between the Interior Women’s Centre Society, Canadian Association of Women Centre Societies, Western Canada Women’s Leadership Council and a community planning table from the host City. This Knowledge exchange is for gendered revisioning, built to leverage modern-day feminism to address gaps in current systems. In honour of Canadian Women’s History Month, this event recognizes challenges that still exist for women and girls when considering safety, economic advancement, restorative justice, reproductive justice and overall equality. The conference is designed to develop a collaborative platform for dialogue, inviting Iconic individuals drawn from across Canada and abroad to support smaller communities in addressing their unique challenges.

This year’s conference is taking place in Kamloops, BC, at the TRU Conference Centre, where we will be centring on the theme - Rewriting the Rules: Women Designing the Systems that Shape our Lives. On this theme, the WCWC will focus on premises of how we can reshape the systems we are working within, to address the current challenges when it comes to GBA+, Gendered Economic Gaps & Women’s Health Access. Taking steps that will prevent further harm to women due to broken systems.

Get Your Early-Bird Tickets!

Why Do This Work?

Gender-Based Violence in BC’s Interior

  • The violent crime rate is 1.3x higher in rural BC than urban BC

  • Sexual Offences are 1.5x higher in rural areas

  • Women & Girls make up 55% of victims in rural BC

Gendered Economic Gap in BC’s Interior

Because economies are dominated by forestry, mining, energy and construction in these areas,, women in these regions are more likely to work in lower-paid service roles or have less stable employment.

Women in resource towns can earn as low as 50 - 70% of male income. This creates economic dependence, which is a key barrier to leaving abusive relationships.

Women’s Health Access in BC’s Interior

Service availabilty is a major issue in BC’s Interior. In Rural BC communities face physician shortages, and limited access to specialists (Oby-Gyn’s, Mental Health).

In order to access supports many individuals are required to to travel long distances for care. In rural BC over 20 maternity service site have closed in the past 20 years.

Rural women have lower access to screening (e.g. Cancer), and have delayed care due to travel / logistical barriers.

Investing in regions where funding and services are limited or restricted.

Statistics Canada research shows that rural and remote communities in British Columbia face limited access to resources and services, which disproportionately affects women. Rural women experience higher rates of intimate partner violence but have fewer nearby supports such as shelters and legal aid due to service centralization in urban centres. They also face persistent economic disadvantages, including fewer job opportunities and wider gender wage gaps linked to seasonal or low-wage industries. In health care, rural women have reduced access to primary care, reproductive services, and specialized treatment, resulting in delayed care. These gaps reinforce gender inequality across safety, income, and health outcomes.

Academic Partnerships

To make the Western Canada Women’s Conference a success, we strive to work with academic partners to bring new research, methods, and ideology to the conversation. Several institutions are working across Canada with nonprofit organizations and charities to develop programs that support the growth and advancement of women’s equity. We seek to collaborate with institutions that value diversity, inclusion and safe working environments. This conference also seeks partnerships with research institutions outside of academia. Organization’s who’s mission is to hold our government leaders accountable to gender parity commitments. We seek to grow partnerships that will help the conference reach nationally.

Through this work, WCWC will be launching the SHE Speaks: Unmuted journal, which will be a compilation of articles submitted for the conference. To strengthen this journal, we would love to hear from academics, people with lived / living experience and folks working in feminist spaces to support the peer review process for this academic feminist-lensed compilation.

Partner With Us

WCWC 2026 Keynote Lineup

  • TBA

  • TBA

  • TBA

  • TBA

Call For Abstracts

Topics of Interest:

This year’s theme “Rewriting the rules: Women designing the systems that shape our lives,” opens dialogue for a few topics that can help shape systems for the Thompson Nicola Community as we look at women’s health care, women’s safety, family reunification, restorative justice and advancing women economically.

  • Exploring the preventative work taking place for GBV in BC’s Interior, and addressing rural service gaps and compliance barriers.

  • Tackling access barriers to legal aid, family court, and advocacy services; integrating trauma-informed approaches

  • Addressing high postpartum care gaps, mental health support, and holistic maternity services in rural areas.

  • Examining systemic barriers to reproductive care, including rural service shortages and punitive health practices.

  • Designing multi-sector approaches connecting health, social services, and community supports in Interior regions.

  • Highlighting strategies for policy influence, cross-sector collaboration, and rural-specific system redesign.

Formatting Requirements:

  • Font: Times New Roman, Arial, or Calibri, 11- or 12-point.

  • Spacing: Single-spaced or 1.5-spaced text.

  • Margins: 1-inch (2.5 cm) margins on all sides.

  • Alignment: Left-aligned or justified, usually with a 0.5-inch indentation for new paragraphs.

  • Format: Single paragraph (unstructured) or structured with clear, bolded headers (e.g., Background, Objective, Methods).

  • Word Count: 500 words

Important Dates:

  • Submission Deadline: August 26, 2026

  • Notification Date: September 15, 2026

  • Registration Deadline: October 1, 2026

Submission Procedure:

Submit Abstract Proposal below. Make sure to provide name, contact information and outline topic of interest.

Submit Your Research Abstract

Our Approach

  • The WCWC approach is bottom up, speaking to individuals who have direct experiences of inequity within their community. The intention is to bring community experiences, with an evidence informed lens to the advisory table to shape the theme for each year’s conference.

    1. Develop an Advisory Table

    2. Complete a Needs Assessment, and cross reference with the research.

    3. Lead group think discussions in the community, hearing from PWLLE

    4. Present findings to Advisory Table

    5. Create conference theme

  • Once the theme for the conference is determined, the planning committee will be formed with representation from the city, organizations, PWLLE, and women in business. The table will pull together the event through partnerships, sponsorships and collaboration.

    1. Organize the Planning Committee

    2. Develop community partnerships and find sponsorships

    3. Invitation for keynote speakers

    4. Call for proposals and tradeshow registration

    5. Knowledge sharing, recognition and connection

  • From the profit made in sales, we will be reinvesting a portion to grant making, where we will take the dialogue and put it into action through collaborative initiatives. The aim is to implement projects that will resolve the identified community challenges.

    1. 70% of profit is reinvested into Granting Programs & Scholarships

    2. Grants are collaborative, grassroots and intended to address themes from the conference.

    3. Granting committee is made up of members of the Western Canada Women’s Leadership Council

    4. Projects & Scholarships will be Announced at the High Tea for Change in June.

    5. Each project requires evaluation, and the findings will be presented at the following annual WCWC Gala.

Interested in joining next year's planning?

Grant Making, Scholarships & Awards

WCWC will utilize a (3) pronged approach for their reinvestment back in to community: (1) Call for proposals (2) Youth scholarships, and (3) Annual recognition of women who are leading change in their community.

The purpose of this work is to be able to develop evidence informed projects that are centred in a community response to the equity issues directly impacting the communities we are supporting. Smaller communities have limited financial resources to be able to address the social challenges that impact rural and remote spaces. They are the least funded, yet have the highest rates of GBV, Gendered Employment Disparity and limited opportunities for advancement. Through this work, and through intentional collaboration, we aim to change the structures that continue to limit efficient and necesary supports.

  • Each year, a percentage of profit will be allocated into granting programs that are centred on the conference theme. Projects will be required to work in collaboration with 2-3 organization’s, developing a centralized support project to address the challenges that the community is facing.

  • WCWC has a focus to advance leadership for women and girls. As a part of this mission, each year WCWC will launch scholarship applications for the following:

    (1) Youth Scholarship - University Entry

    (2) Mature Student Scholarship - University Entry

    (3) Graduate Studies Scholarship

  • Each year, community will be able to nominate a change maker in their community who has provided outstanding leadership, advocating for the advancement of women and moving systems / creating programs that support and advance women towards a healthier life.

  • Our aim is to bridge dialogue and action to create overall impact and a model for systems change at all societal levels (local, provincial, national & international).

Help Us Grow The Impact

Tradeshow Registration

Engaged Partner | $1,200

Basic Exhibitor | $675

2-Day Table Top Booth
Logo On:
Website
Conference Program
1 General Conference Pass
Swag Bag
2-Day Prime Booth Location
Featured Logo Placement
Access to Attendance List
Pre-Conference Email & Social Media Spotlight
Ability to host a small meetup or demo session
1 VIP Conference Passes
Swag Bag

Leadership Sponsor | $1,800

2-Day Prime Booth Location
Brand Integration (Logo on main stage slides & featured in all marketing materials)
Host Workshop, Networking Session, or mentorship event
2 VIP Conference Passes
Access to Attendee List
Sponsor our youth scholarships for the Girls of Tomorrow Leadership Awards
Register Today!

  • Join like minded individuals to share sips, and appetizers. Connecting with other professionals, and expanding your network.

  • Each morning of the conference, join our certified yoga instructor on the retunda to start your day off right - with a yoga practice.

  • As folks become overloaded with information, take a break, and join our instructor on the retunda to move your body and re-energize your spirit.

  • Wrapping up the day, take a moment to stretch and unwind with a local artist. Enjoy some art and calm on the retunda.

  • Join us for a beautiful black tie evening event, where we will be celebrating two women of recognition for Canadian Women’s History Month, hearing from leaders in our community, and enjoying a fine dining experience with TRU’s catering services. There will be a 50/50, Raffle and live entertainment.

  • On the last day, join us for our closing ceremony where you will hear from the Executive Directors who organized the event, and the impact this space provided this year.

Special Events & Networking

Purchase Your Tickets!

Our Planning Committee

  • Kathleen Larose

    Committee Chair

    Canadian Association of Women Centre Societies

  • Bailey Fujita-Stewart

    Committee Vice-Chair

    Interior Women’s Centre Society

  • Carly Watson

    Committee Member

    Interior Women’s Centre Society

  • Kelli Paddon

    Committee Member

    Equiiti Strategic Ltd. & Board Voice Society

  • Dale Bass

    Committee Member

    Kamloops City Council

  • Maureen Colledge

    Committee Member

    Hopewell Clinic

  • Jenn Johnson

    Committee Member

    United Way British Columbia

  • Vanessa Woulfe

    Committee Member

    Stellar Feels Embodiment