The Sport Summit

Every tournament is about more than competition.

Sport brings visitors.
Sport supports local businesses.
Sport creates jobs.
Sport boosts regional economies.

Communities win when sport thrives.

Meet Julian Smith 🎿🇨🇦

We’re excited to welcome Julian Smith to the Sport Summit 2026 speaker lineup!

A former Canadian national team cross-country skier, Julian represented Canada internationally for 12 years, competing at the World Junior Championships, U23 World Championships, World Cup, and Senior World Championships.

Today, Julian continues to make an impact well beyond competition. As one of Nordiq Canada’s Athlete Directors and a member of the AthletesCAN Board of Directors, he advocates for athletes and works to advance equity, diversity, inclusion, positivity, and athlete-centred leadership across the Canadian sport system.

Based in Thunder Bay, Julian is also passionate about strengthening communities through local outreach and his volunteer work with The Urban Abbey.

From elite competition to athlete advocacy and sport leadership, Julian brings an authentic athlete voice and a powerful perspective on building a more inclusive, positive, and athlete-centred future for sport.

🎟️ Join us at Sport Summit 2026: October 19–21.

www.thesportsummit.com

🎤 SPEAKER ANNOUNCEMENT: MICAELA WIDMER

We’re thrilled to welcome Micaela Widmer to the Sport Summit 2026 stage! 🇨🇦

A high-performance sport leader, coach, former international skeleton athlete, and partnership strategist, Micaela brings a unique perspective on leadership, athlete development, community, and the power of sport to create meaningful change.

From competing internationally for both Canada and Switzerland, to leading the development of Canada’s National Skeleton Program, Micaela has worked across every level of the sport, from an athlete’s first race to the 2026 Winter Olympics.

🌎 As Co-Chair of the IBSF Development Committee, she is helping shape the future of skeleton internationally.

💪 As Head Coach at the 2025 Invictus Games, she helped more than 200 adaptive athletes face their fears and compete in skeleton.

🤝 And beyond sport, as Senior Manager of Partnerships at the Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada, she brings her passion for people, partnerships, and social impact into the charitable sector.

Micaela believes sport is about far more than what happens on the field, track, ice or track — it’s a catalyst for developing people, building communities, and creating positive social change.

We can’t wait to have her in the room.

📅 October 19–21, 2026
📍 Sport Summit 2026

🎟️ Join us and be part of the conversation.

www.thesportsummit.com

Confidence doesn't come from luck.

It comes from preparation, repetition, and putting in the work long before the spotlight arrives.

When preparation meets opportunity, great things happen.

How are you preparing for your next big challenge?

Buy tickets to the 2026 Sport Summit today at www.thesportsummit.com

Women's sport isn't emerging, it's accelerating!

Record crowds.
Record sponsorship.
Record audiences.

The future of sport is being built through greater investment and opportunity.

www.thesportsummit.com

🚨 MEET OUR NEXT SPORT SUMMIT SPEAKER 🚨

We’re thrilled to welcome Farkhunda Muhtaj to Sport Summit 2026! ⚽️

An Afghan-Canadian professional footballer, social activist, and community leader, Farkhunda brings a powerful perspective on the ability of sport to create connection, opportunity, and meaningful social change.

In 2021, following the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan, Farkhunda helped lead the evacuation of more than 300 Afghans, including members of the Afghanistan Youth National Team. Her extraordinary role in the mission was later featured in We Are Ayenda, a Cannes Lions Grand Prix–winning documentary presented by WhatsApp.

Farkhunda is also the co-founder of Scarborough Simbas, a non-profit organization using sport to help refugees and newcomers build community and find their place in Canada.

Her impact extends across sport, education, and humanitarianism. She is an ambassador for Right To Play Canada, a supporter of UNHCR Canada, and has contributed to several national sport and child rights initiatives, including Canada Soccer’s Women’s Development Advisory Committee and the FIFA World Cup 2026 Toronto Sport, Physical Activity, Health & Wellness Program Advisory Body.

With degrees in Kinesiology and Health Science and Education from York University, Farkhunda understands the power of sport both on and off the field.

Her story is one of courage, leadership, resilience, and the belief that sport can be a catalyst for belonging and positive change. We can’t wait to hear her story.

📅 October 19–21, 2026
thesportsummit.com

Come connect. Come collaborate. Come be part of the conversation shaping the future of sport.

🔥 KEYNOTE SPEAKER ANNOUNCEMENT 🔥

We’re proud to welcome Leland Irving to Sport Summit 2026 as a keynote speaker!

From battling cancer at just eight years old to becoming a first-round NHL Draft pick, competing at the highest levels of professional hockey, and ultimately transitioning into a career as a Calgary firefighter, Leland’s story is one of extraordinary resilience, determination, and purpose.

Selected 26th overall by the Calgary Flames in the 2006 NHL Draft, Leland went on to compete in the NHL and internationally, gaining firsthand experience in the preparation, teamwork, leadership, and mental toughness required to perform under pressure.

Today, he brings those same qualities to the fire service — protecting his community while continuing to lead, serve, and perform when it matters most.

His journey is a powerful reminder that adversity doesn’t define us. How we respond to it does.

Join us at Sport Summit | October 19–21, 2026, for an inspiring keynote from someone who has faced pressure in every arena — and continues to rise to the occasion.

BUY TICKETS TODAY at www.thesportsummit.com