YPN Leadership Conference
Now in its fifth year, the Young Professionals Network (YPN) Leadership Conference continues to grow as the premier event for emerging leaders in the Canadian sign industry. Generously sponsored by ND Graphics, this members-only, multi-day leadership conference is crafted to inspire the next generation of sign industry professionals to step confidently into leadership roles—within their companies, the association, and the industry at large.
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​Join us in Calgary for the Young Leadership Network Conference, a premier event designed to support and elevate emerging sign industry professionals.
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Held in conjunction with Sign Experience Canada 2026, this year’s conference offers a unique opportunity to connect with like-minded professionals, gain valuable industry insights, and explore pathways to leadership.
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Whether you're looking to grow within your company or take on a greater role in the industry, the YPN Conference is your gateway to new opportunities. If you’re in the first half of your sign industry career and working for a SAC-ACE member company, this experience is for you!
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This year’s YPN Leadership Conference agenda is intertwined with Sign Experience Canada in Calgary, including 2 keynote speakers
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Wednesday, September 16
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Young Professionals Network Reception – GRETA – Arcade Bar
Join fellow young professionals for an informal evening of networking at
GRETA Arcade Bar
213 10 Ave SW, Calgary, AB T2R 0A4
Thursday, September 17
8:00 AM - 8:30 AM
Breakfast
Start the day with breakfast and networking.
8:30 AM - 9:30 AM
Flat A Ballroom
Opening Keynote – Warren Macdonald
Resilience, Adaptability & Overcoming Adversity.
9:45 AM - 10:45 AM
Flat B Ballroom
Sign-Building Competition
A hands-on team challenge designed to spark creativity, collaboration and friendly competition.
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Flat A Ballroom
Building the Next Generation: Leadership, Mentorship and the Future of the Sign Industry
The discussion will be conversational rather than presentation-based, encouraging panelists to share experiences and engage with one another, followed by an audience Q&A.
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Attendees will leave with practical insights into career development, mentorship, leadership, succession planning, and strategies for developing the next generation of industry leaders.
12:00 PM - 12:15 PM
Loft Ballroom
Networking Break
Connect with speakers and fellow attendees.
12:15 PM - 1:15 PM
Flat A Ballroom
Changing Places: How Calgary’s Growth Turns Signage into Identity, Navigation, and Experience
Calgary is changing quickly through events, development, tourism, construction, and public-space investment. For sign companies, that change is not just background noise: it shapes what clients need, how projects are planned, and where signage creates value. Find out what can sign companies can learn from the people shaping Calgary’s growth.
1:30 PM - 4:30 PM
Flat B Ballroom
Disc Assessment
DISC & Motivators: Reading the Room You're Actually Walking Into
Most DISC sessions end where this one starts. You'll leave knowing your own natural and adapted styles — but more importantly, you'll leave able to read someone else's in the first sixty seconds of a conversation.
Through live voicemail challenges and real sign-industry hiring scenarios, you'll practice calling the style, naming the signal that gave it away, and adjusting your approach on the spot.
Then we put it where the stakes are highest: two real job postings, three candidates each with identical experience, and one question — who do you hire, and how do you know?
Because a bad hire costs more than any other decision on your desk, and it's the one skill almost nobody gets to practice before it counts.
6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Hudson Foyer + Flat Room
Best of Canada Sign Industry Awards Reception & Gala
Separate ticket required.
Friday, September 18
8:30 AM - 11:00 AM
Hilton Garden Inn Downtown Bus Pick up
Knight Signs Shop Tour
Depart from the Hilton Garden Inn Calgary Downtown hotel at 8:30 AM for a guided facility tour, company introduction, overview of manufacturing operations and expansion, plus time for questions and networking. Return to the Hudson by approximately 11:00 AM.
11:15 AM - 12:15 AM
Flat A Ballroom
Closing Keynote: Navigating Economic Chaos
Todd Hirsch closes the conference with an insightful look at today’s economic environment.
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Flat B Ballroom
YPN Workshop: Thriving Through Change
Practical strategies for adapting, leading, and succeeding in an unpredictable world.
Moderated by Todd Hirsch.
Opening Reception
Niagara Parks Power Station, Nighttime Light Show “Currents”
Kick off the Young Professionals Leadership Conference with a captivating tour of the Niagara Parks Power Station and Tunnel. Explore the historic generator hall illuminated with stunning LED light shows and immersive soundscapes. Wander through the 2,200-foot tunnel featuring archival projections and storytelling displays. Guests can enjoy the Currents light show at their own pace and take in the spectacular Falls Fireworks from the tunnel platform - an unforgettable experience with breathtaking views and photo opportunities.
The Mackenzie Printery
A Working Printing Museum
The restored home of rebel publisher William Lyon Mackenzie reveals 500 years of printing technology, amid the authentic ambiance of a period print shop.
Rarest in the museum's collection is the Louis Roy Press, oldest in Canada and one of the few original wooden presses remaining in the world! A hands-on experience is encouraged with a working Linotype and eight operating heritage presses.
Shop Tour
Get an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of Signature Sign and Image. Discover how industry leaders create standout signs and experience their innovative processes firsthand!
Hear it from your peers:
Why the YPN Conference Matters!
“The YPN leadership conferences are unlike any personal or professional development I have been to before. They focus intensely on the connections we form in a relatively small industry as the pillar of what makes us so strong. Meeting others my age in the same field helps contextualize wins and losses we all have and serves as a platform to improve with newfound focus. I would recommend any young person stepping into the industry to join in on these conferences and the YPN in general. The information gained and the people you meet will propel your career forward like nothing else.”
– Will Gibbs, Fast Signs Scarborough
"Attending the recent YPN leadership conference in Montreal was an enlightening experience for me as a young professional. The conference was a meaningful moment in my professional journey, equipping me with skills and perspectives to lead authentically and drive positive change...this was a great opportunity to network with peers who share my passion and to learn from mentors who generously shared their expertise."
– Rebecca Potvin, EM Plastic
"I loved the opportunity to meet other like minded, young professionals in the same field. Learning that we all experience the same issues on a day-to-day basis. Making new friends for hopefully a long time to come."
– Michael Linardi, ND Graphics