The Rick Hansen Foundation is pleased to announce the 2025 Accessibility Professional Network (APN) Conference APN2025 Building for People presented by Accessible Employers and Vancouver International Airport (YVR), the premier event that brings together industry leaders, innovators, and advocates to champion the importance of creating accessible spaces for people of all ages and abilities. The conference will take place virtually and in person in Vancouver, B.C. on March 27 & 28, 2025 and promises to ignite a vital conversation on the importance of improved accessibility in the built environment.

APN2025 will bring together leaders in all levels of government, individuals working in Diversity, Equity and Inclusivity (DE&I), Accessibility Professional Network (APN) members, and corporate leaders, among others, to collaborate on how to create an accessible built environment for all. Featuring an exciting line up of national and international speakers, this year's theme Building for People will encourage attendees to explore accessibility holistically from the perspective of the users at the centre - to think about how someone truly uses a site, going beyond minimum requirements and current practices to create a truly inclusive world. 

 "Accessibility isn't just about compliance—it's about creating environments where everyone can thrive," said Matthew Shaw, Head Accessibility Practice at the Rick Hansen Foundation. "Year after year we are in awe of business leaders who come together at this conference to lend their voices to this important topic. Organizations that are embracing innovation and committing to a higher standard to ensure that accessibility becomes the norm, not the exception."

Why accessibility matters more than ever

With 1 in 4 Canadians living with a disability and an aging population, the demand for accessible spaces is surging. Yet, accessibility isn't just about accommodating those with mobility challenges—it's about fostering inclusivity for everyone, regardless of age or ability. Recent trends in the built environment show a growing commitment to accessibility, driven by policy advancements, public awareness, and innovative design solutions. The APN2025 Conference will serve as a platform to celebrate these advancements, share knowledge, and inspire action.

Join the Movement

The APN and this conference were developed as part of the Rick Hansen Foundation's commitment to building a community of like-minded people, propelled by the belief that it takes all of us to create a shift in design culture and embed accessibility and inclusion. Registration is now open online and the full program and speaker lineup is also available.

A dynamic lineup of speakers and sessions

Emceed by Marco Pasqua, Co-Founder and Accessibility Consultant—Meaningful Access Consulting, this year's conference features an impressive roster of topics from a panel discussion that includes people with varying lived experiences, to the latest standards updates, leveraging systems thinking and designing for the mind.

Speakers, include:

• Marjorie Aunos, psychologist, researcher & professional speaker—PBEC Inc.
• Stephanie Cadieux, chief accessibility officer—office of the chief accessibility officer, employment and social development canada, Government of Canada

• Habib Chaudhury, professor—Simon Fraser University
• Vinu Abraham Chetipurackal, deaf consultant—DeafConsulting.com
• Marnie Courage, chief executive officer (chief executive officer)—Incluzia
• Stephanie Davies, property manager—GWL Realty Advisors
• Mia de Freitas, director, Accessibility Enablement—Royal Bank of Canada
• Maya Desai, chair, Environmental Design, Faculty of Design / senior urban designer and planner—OCAD University / Moriyama Teshima Architects

• Doramy Ehling, chief executive officer—Rick Hansen Foundation
• Camille Farrag, senior specialist, Housing Research—Canada Mortgage & Housing Corporation
• Maureen Haan, president & chief executive officer—Canadian Council on Rehabilitation and Work
• Kristen Habermehl, Primary—Atlantic Accessibility Consulting
• Joshua Klyber, Principle of Accessibility and Universal Design—Jensen Hughes
• Yat Li, associate director—Accessible Employers
• Ana Madariaga, senior manager of Workplace Global Design Guidelines—Royal Bank of Canada

• Pina Mallozzi, senior vice president, Design—Waterfront Toronto
• Jonathan Marriott, director of Partnerships - AccessNow
• Brad McCannell, vice president, Access & Inclusion—Rick Hansen Foundation
• Colin McCarthy, president—Canadian Accessibility Professionals
• Tammy Morris, Accessibility & Neuroinclusion Leader—EY Canada

• Kevin Nordmeyer, principal—BNIM Architects
• Ingrid Palmer, principal IDEAL Advocate, professional speaker—Realize
• Kimberly Pellett, senior manager—Diversity, Equity & Inclusion—Scotiabank
• Nabeel Ramji, chief executive officer—Pedesting
• Claudia Salgado, honorary research fellow—University of Stirling
• Mike Shoreman, principal and chief executive officer—Mike Shoreman Communications
• Gregory Spencer, director of research—Canadian Urban Institute
• James Stauch, Complex Systems strategist—ATCO SpaceLab
• Nancy Stern, architect—Vancouver International Airport (YVR)
• Christopher T. Sutton, chief executive officer—Wavefront Centre for Communication Accessibility

• Elizabeth Tang, specialist, Outreach—Canda Mortgage and Housing Corporation
• Adam Taylor, manager, Facilities—First West Credit Union
• Mikiko Terashima, associate professor—PEACH Research Unit, Dalhousie University
• Daniel Van Sant, director of disability policy—The Harkin Institute
• Paul Walsh, chairperson, Board of Directors—Accessibility Standards Canada
• Dino Zuppa, chief executive officer—Accessibility Standards Canada

For more information, visit rhf.my.site.com.