https://www.infirmiere-canadienne.com/blogs/ic-contenu/2026/02/02/grdisa-transformer-ensemble-la-sante
‘Our strength as a profession depends on engagement, connection, and shared purpose,’ CNA CEO says
The CNA Conference is a national call to action. It is where we will reconnect across roles, sectors, generations, and jurisdictions, and where we will demonstrate, with clarity and confidence, the power of nursing expertise to transform health systems and improve lives.
We begin 2026 with a defining moment for nursing in Canada: the Canadian Nurses Association (CNA) is holding its first conference in eight years. The theme of the conference is The Power of Nurses to Transform Health — Our Expertise, Our Impacts. This event will bring us together in Winnipeg, Manitoba, on Treaty 1 Territory, September 21–23, 2026.
“As CNA enters 2026, we are renewing our commitment to amplify nursing’s voice, strengthen our national presence, and translate expertise into lasting impact,” CNA CEO Dr. Valerie Grdisa says.
This gathering is more than a conference — it is a national call to action. It is where we will reconnect across roles, sectors, generations, and jurisdictions, and where we will demonstrate, with clarity and confidence, the power of nursing expertise to transform health systems and improve lives. (The call for abstracts is open until February 17, 2026.)
This moment reflects who we are and where we are going. Across Canada, nurses are sustaining a health system under extraordinary pressure, too often without the authority, recognition, or support that our expertise demands. Yet our collective power has never been greater.
As CNA enters 2026, we are renewing our commitment to amplify nursing’s voice, strengthen our national presence, and translate expertise into lasting impact.
At the heart of this renewal is membership. Our strength as a profession depends on engagement, connection, and shared purpose. In 2026, we are revitalizing CNA membership to ensure it is accessible, relevant, and member-driven. We are modernizing membership benefits and offerings, reviewing membership rates, and making student membership free — because leadership begins early, and belonging should never be a barrier. We are strengthening organizational Affiliate and Chapter models, updating our corporate partnership and sponsorship strategy, launching a CNA revitalization initiative, and crafting a renewed engagement narrative that reflects the diversity and leadership of nursing across Canada. By leveraging member and leadership voices and advancing advocacy through CNA Champions for retention, we are ensuring nurses are not only heard but valued and retained.
In 2026, CNA remains deeply committed to truth, reconciliation, and anti-racism. We are advancing initiatives that strengthen awareness, accountability, and systemic change, including the six-module learning journey, The Path: Your Journey Through Indigenous Canada, co-designed with Indigenous experts and nurse leaders.
CNA will also launch our co-created reconciliation framework on National Indigenous Peoples Day and share findings from the Third National Summit on Racism in Nursing and Health Care and the Anti-Indigenous Racism Knowledge Sharing Event. We will also unveil phase two of a research project, funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, that is tackling racism and discrimination in nursing.
These efforts are more than programs — they are opportunities for all nurses to lead, reflect, and act, ensuring our profession honours Indigenous voices, confronts inequities, and embeds justice and equity into every aspect of nursing practice.
CNA is also investing in infrastructure that will support our connection and growth. By assessing web and technology needs, enhancing our membership management systems, promoting the CNA store, and thoughtfully integrating artificial intelligence, we are improving the member experience while reducing administrative burden — freeing capacity for what matters most: relationships, advocacy and impact.
The CNA Credentialing Centre remains a cornerstone of professional recognition and workforce excellence. In 2026, our focus is on expansion, innovation, and improved experience. We are broadening pathways to the CNA Certification Program, enhancing the CNA Accreditation Program, advancing the Stellar Certification Program, integrating membership with credentialing services, and modernizing application systems to improve automation, accessibility, and client experience. Through bundled services, targeted employer engagement, and improved client journeys, we are ensuring nursing excellence is visible, portable, and valued across care settings and borders.
Governance renewal is also underway. Our governance transition task force, chaired by president-elect Dr. Tracie Risling, will launch nominations in late winter 2026 for skills-based representation on the board of directors, guided by modernized governance policies grounded in inclusivity, diversity, and competency-based leadership. This work strengthens accountability and positions CNA for long-term sustainability and influence.
None of this happens without you. CNA’s future is built through collective leadership — by CNA members, Canadian Academy of Nursing Fellows, the Canadian Network of Nursing Specialties, CNA council and working group representatives, and other subject matter experts (e.g., nurses who contributed to CNA certification and accreditation programs, professional development opportunities, and other events). We thank you for choosing to engage, invest, and lead together.
When we gather in Winnipeg in 2026, we will not only reflect on our expertise and impact, we will unleash our power, amplify our leadership, and actively shape the future of nursing and health in Canada.
We hope you join our call to action at the 2026 CNA Conference!
Dr. Valerie Grdisa, RN, PhD, is the CEO of the Canadian Nurses Association and has over 35 years of diverse experience across public, private, not-for-profit, and senior government roles, with deep knowledge of Canada’s health system.
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