.png)
Schedule
Monday, June 8, 2026
12:30pm – 4:30pm
Optional Group Tour – Backed By Bees tour departs from the Lobby at 12:30pm. Pre-registration is required.
3:00pm – 6:00pm
Conference Registration – Visit us in the Edgewater Foyer (2nd floor) to pick up your conference badge and our fabulous Boodle Bag, packed full of company products and other goodies.
6:00pm – 10:00pm
Welcome Reception & Dinner – Edgewater Room – Mingle with colleagues and conference guests while enjoying a cocktail and casual dinner at our welcome reception. Come prepared for some World Cup soccer fun, while fundraising for the DSEF.
Welcome reception sponsored by Quebec City Business Destination
Tuesday, June 9, 2026
8:00am– 9:00am
BREAKFAST – Northshore Ballroom
Tuesday nutrition sponsored by Reliable Logistics
9:00am– 9:10am
Welcome to CONNECT 2026 – Edgewater Room – Peter Maddox, President, DSA Canada and Marcia Cota, DSA Canada Chair & Senior Vice President, North America, MONAT
9:10am – 9:20am
Setting Your Conference Intention – Stephen Millman, President, Juice Plus+ Canada
9:20am – 10:00am
Panel – Direct Selling Today: Challenges and Opportunities – Moderator: Darla Brown (SIS); Panelists: Sue Timmermeister (Mary Kay), Nicole Keely (AVON), Jackie McClements (Shaklee)
10:00am – 10:10am
Why DSA Membership Matters to Every Consultant – Reema Rafay, Independent Regional Vice President, Arbonne
10:10am – 10:40 am
MORNING BREAK
10:40am – 11:25am
The AI Acceleration Gap: Keynote & Workshop – Dan Debnam, Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Inovara
11:25am – 11:40am
Incentive & Travel Insights: Supporting the DSEF – Leigh-Anne Martin, Vice President Incentive Travel, Meetings & Events, Strategic Incentive Solutions
11:40am – 12:00 pm
DSA & DSEF – Annual General Meetings – Marcia Cota, DSA Canada Board Chair & Jessie Arsenault, DSEF Board Chair
12:00am – 1:00 pm
LUNCH BUFFET – Northshore Ballroom
Tuesday nutrition sponsored by Reliable Logistics
1:00pm – 1:30pm
Modernizing Compensation Plans for Growth and Retention – Brent Neidig, Chief Commercial Officer, USANA Health Sciences
1:30pm – 1:55pm
Staying Power: Evolving Your Brand in a Changing Market – Marcia Cota, Senior Vice President, North America, MONAT Global
1:55pm – 2:35pm
Panel – Unlocking Success with Smart Technology – Moderator: Crystal Holtzendorff (PayQuicker); Panelists: Cole Mason (Amway), Ben Robinson (Abby AI), Dave Siembieda (Bloo Kanoo)
Panel sponsored by PayQuicker
2:35pm – 3:05pm
AFTERNOON BREAK
3:05pm– 3:30pm
Remote, Not Removed: Motivating and Engaging Remote Workers – Robin Flax, HR Manager, Amway
3:30pm – 4:10pm
Panel – Legal & Compliance: Credibility is Currency – Moderator: Jules Gorham (CHFA); Panelists: Colleen Ma (Miller Thomson), Lewis Retik (Gowling), John Bassindale (Millar Kreklewetz), Michael Weinberger (MLM Canada)
4:10pm – 4:30pm
The Power of Association – Peter Maddox, President, DSA Canada
4:30pm
Day One Wrap Up – Peter Maddox, President, DSA Canada
6:00pm – 7:00pm
Gala Cocktail Reception – Edgewater Room
Gala reception sponsored by Citcon
7:00pm – 11:00pm
Gala Dinner, Awards & Live Band – Edgewater Room
Join colleagues for dinner and an evening celebrating our industry's finest.
After the awards, the party continues with renowned vocalist Lorraine Lawson, dubbed "Canada's Mariah Carey", backed by world-class musicians who have performed with top Canadian artists, such as David Wilcox, Corey Hart, Jeff Healy, Colm Wilkinson, and many more.​​
​
It's a night you won’t want to miss!
Wednesday, June 10, 2026
8:00am– 9:00am
BREAKFAST – Northshore Ballroom
9:00am– 9:15am
Wednesday Welcome – Edgewater Room – Peter Maddox & Marcia Cota
9:15am – 9:45am
A Global Perspective: Fireside Chat – Shaila Manyam, Executive Director, WFDSA with Peter Maddox
9:45am – 10:05am
Advocacy in Action – Charles Bernard, Lead Economist, Impact Public Affairs
10:05am – 10:35 am
MORNING BREAK
10:35am – 11:25am
Group Therapy: Moderated Discussion – Peter Maddox and Marcia Cota
11:25am – 11:55am
Push Fast to Success: Keynote – Alex Kopac, Olympic Bobsleigh Gold Medalist
11:55am – 12:30pm
Panel – Executive Insights, Takeaways & Reflections – Moderator: Tracie Kenzora (USANA); Panelists: Joe Cardillo (Cutco), Vida Achundsada (Mannatech), Helena Alexandre (Arbonne)
12:30pm
Conference Wrap Up – Peter Maddox
12:30pm – 1:30pm
LUNCH BUFFET – Northshore Ballroom