E.D.G.E.+ is Spark Employment Services’ Annual Conference for everyone working to build more accessible, inclusive workplaces and communities. This year’s theme, Awareness to Action, is all about that next step.

Over two days, employers, HR and people leaders, service providers, educators and advocates come together to learn from people doing the work, share what’s working, and leave with tools they can put to use right away.

What you’ll take away

• Tools, not just talk. Sessions were chosen for clear, practical takeaways, with extra weight on projects already working in communities.
• Voices that know the work. Hear from speakers who bring lived experience and hands-on community expertise alongside professional knowledge.
• Connections that last. Meet the employers, service providers, educators and advocates who can help you keep the momentum going long after January.

Program at a glance

• Keynote presentations to inspire and energize
• A panel bringing together diverse voices and lived experience
• Case studies sharing real results from initiatives in our communities
• Interactive breakout sessions built around practical takeaways

Who should attend

If you hire, lead, teach, support or advocate, there’s a place for you at E.D.G.E.+.

• Employers and business owners
• HR, recruitment and people leaders
• Managers and supervisors
• Employment and community service providers
• Educators and post-secondary staff
• Advocates, community leaders and people with lived experience

What do people have to say?

The conference is really important to our community because it brings so many people together. They’re learning accessibility and diversity skills that they can implement within their office spaces. Not only are important conversations being had, but they’re being brought forth to teams, to HR, to finance, to everyone. And that is what makes a difference in our community.

— Jelise Keating, Speaker

We had the opportunity to play around with different musical instruments and kind of have a team building exercise. It was great to see how music can be incorporated to encourage team building, leadership styles and just an understanding of diversity and everyone’s differences. We also got to experience what is called the wheel of privilege… it showed the variety of different factors that make up somebody’s privilege, and somebody’s own struggles and barriers.

— Jordan Benge, Pioneer Construction

This has been a rewarding experience to engage with individuals and organizations who are all here with the right intent—the intent to make change within their workplaces. To me, that really drives me forward to bring these experiences into my organization to better help those that I support and serve, as well as to better support my staff.

— Jessica Bertuzzi, ICAN-CERD

E.D.G.E.+ 2027 is fully funded by Government of Canada’s Opportunities Fund, which allows us to offer it at no cost to attendees. Spark’s other training and professional development events remain ticketed. Future editions of E.D.G.E.+ may carry a fee depending on available funding.