Building High-Impact Careers In A Global Polycrisis

From May 27- May 29, 2024 the Institute for Community Prosperity hosted the first Banff Systems Summit, bringing together changemakers from various sectors, post-secondary students from across Canada, and international participants. We engaged in inspiring keynotes, interactive plenaries, and hands-on workshops. Attendees explored innovative ideas, built meaningful connections, and collaborated to create a more regenerative and resilient future for Canada.

We are excited to announce that the momentum continues with the Banff Systems Summit 2025! Join us on this transformative journey as we expand our reach, deepen our conversations, and build a thriving community dedicated to lasting impact.

CALL FOR PROPOSALS: Banff Systems Summit 2025

The Banff Systems Summit aims to address the pressing need for a systems-driven approach to tackling global challenges. In this new era as one of “polycrisis” or “permacrisis", we face increasing and overlapping challenges in various areas such as housing, health care, food security, political polarization, transitioning to a lower carbon economy, creating shared prosperity, decolonization, racial justice, new patterns of global conflict, along with adaptations to virtually every career and area of life with advanced technologies. Unpacking and addressing complex adaptive systems requires a leading-edge mindset. The Summit aims to bridge the gap between classroom-based learning and real-world applications.

We’re calling for proposals and ideas that push boundaries, whether you’re from academia, government, industry, non-profits, or grassroots communities. All stages of development are welcome—from emerging concepts to polished projects. Share your vision through workshops, interactive sessions, panel discussions, case studies, or any creative format that sparks dialogue and innovation.

Submit your proposal by December 9th by emailing Ashley Dion, our Systems Learning Lead adion@mtroyal.ca

To make this process easier for you, we have outlined some tips on how to write a session proposal for the Banff Systems Summit below.

What makes a great proposal?

We’re looking for interactive, engaging sessions that bring systems thinking to life. Whether it’s a workshop, panel, case study, or something entirely different, your proposal should spark curiosity and inspire participants to broaden their horizons. Here’s how to structure your submission:

1. Catchy Session Title

Think of this as your session’s “headline.” It should grab attention and give people a clear idea of what to expect while they’re in your session, and a snapshot of what they may take away from it.

2. What’s This All About? (Session Description)

In a few short sentences, tell us what your session is about. What will people learn, experience, or do? Why is it important? Make us curious!

3. What Will Participants Get Out of It? (Learning Objectives)

What skills, knowledge, or perspectives will participants walk away with? List 3-5 key takeaways that will stick with them long after the summit ends.

4. Who’s This For? (Target Audience)

Who will benefit most from your session? Be specific – is this for community leaders, students, change-makers, or maybe a mix of everyone? We want to make sure the right people are in the room.

5. Let’s Break It Down (Session Structure)

Give us a sense of the flow with a step-by-step breakdown of how you want to achieve your session goals. What will happen, How will participants interact with you and each other? Make sure there’s plenty of room for collaboration and dialogue.

6. How Will You Engage? (Methodology)

Will your session use storytelling, hands-on activities, digital tools, group discussions, or a mix of multiple facilitation approaches to immerse participants? Tell us how you’ll make sure people are engaged, thinking deeply, and connecting ideas.

7. Who’s Leading the Way? (Facilitator Info)

Tell us about yourself (and your co-facilitators, if applicable). What’s your experience with systems thinking, and what makes you excited to lead this session?

8. What Do You Need? (Materials)

Are there any special materials or tools you’ll need provided for your session? Let us know!

9. What Will Participants Take Away? (Expected Outcomes)

What’s the “aha” moment you hope participants will leave with? How will they apply what they learned in their work or life? Paint a picture of the desired impact.

We’re excited to see how your creative ideas can transform the Banff Systems Summit! We’re looking for proposals that go beyond the ordinary, inviting people to engage with systems thinking in fresh, innovative, and relational ways.

If you have any questions or need support shaping your proposal, we’re here to help! Just reach out, and let’s chat about how to bring your vision to life in Banff.

Thanks for being part of this incredible journey!