A Look at the 2026 Staff Development Seminar

The Staff Development Seminar wrapped up a couple of weeks ago, and it was another one for the books. ISL welcomed more than 600 ISLers to Calgary from offices across Western Canada.

The seminar kicked off Thursday evening with a reception full of laughter, conversation, and hors d’oeuvres. You’d think ISLers would be exhausted after a full day of work and/or travel to Alberta, but the atmosphere in the convention centre suggested otherwise. Walking into a room buzzing with activity may have felt a little overwhelming at first, but it didn’t take long for conversations to spark and connections to form among colleagues from across the company.

On Friday, ISLers gathered bright and early for breakfast before diving into a jam-packed schedule. The opening ceremony and remarks from the CEO set the tone for this year’s seminar theme — A Place on the Podium. Inspired by the spirit of the Olympics, the theme highlighted ISL’s commitment to striving for excellence and positioning ourselves among the very best in the industry. Just as athletes dedicate themselves to reaching the podium, ISLers were encouraged to continue pushing boundaries, supporting one another, and working toward shared success as a company.

Leading up to the seminar, ISLers were grouped by office and tasked with creating a torch that represented their team and community. Each office worked together to design their torch and film videos that would later be showcased during the opening ceremony at Staff Dev. Watching the finished videos was a highlight of the event, as teams paraded their Olympic torches around their cities, with some offices going the extra mile through creative editing and storytelling. The Olympic-inspired energy carried throughout the day and served as a reminder that every office, sector, and individual plays a role in helping ISL reach its goals. The rest of the day featured keynote presentations, showcases, and networking breaks sprinkled throughout, along with a delicious buffet-style lunch. There were also plenty of opportunities for attendees to update their professional headshots.

At 3:30 p.m., ISLers headed home or back to their hotel rooms to get ready for the evening banquet dinner. Guests arrived in creative costumes that filled the room with impressive and out-of-the-box ideas — some even catching the photographer’s attention more than once. Indigenous performances and local bands kept everyone entertained throughout the evening and drew crowds to the dance floor. Later in the night, convention centre staff surprised everyone with a late-night poutine buffet. It was a welcome treat and the perfect fuel for those wanting to keep dancing.

Saturday marked the final day of Staff Dev, and ISLers came down for breakfast wearing their favourite sports jerseys. After a short introduction, sector sessions and presentations filled most of the morning. Another keynote presentation followed before the closing remarks officially wrapped up this year’s seminar. This time, the lunch menu featured Mexican cuisine, and ISLers spent their final hours saying goodbye, checking out of their hotels, and heading home.

Not only was the seminar a great opportunity to meet and connect with ISLers across different sectors and offices, but it was also a valuable chance to learn more about the work everyone does to contribute to ISL’s success. The weekend reinforced the idea that reaching “a place on the podium” is not just about individual achievement, but about working together to elevate ISL as a whole. Now, we’re already looking forward to next year’s seminar!