The 14th Annual CAPPA Conference 2026
Theme: Revaluing Public Action: The Quiet Excellence of Public Administration
Dates: May 20–21, 2026
Location: University of Ottawa
Submit your proposal by November 16, 2025, using the online form available under the Submissions tab. Notification of acceptance will be sent by December 1, 2025.
You can also register now to attend the conference. Details are available under the Registration tab on our website for the Annual CAPPA Conference.
Description of the theme
Often invisible and sometimes taken for granted, excellence in public administration is evident in an institution’s ability to maintain trust, ensure continuity, and enhance the daily lives of its citizens.
While most conferences in this field focus on uncertainty and challenges related to adapting to rapid change in public organizations, this conference aims to highlight these quiet but essential successes (and opportunities for success) by providing a space for reflection not only on their meanings and impacts, but also on the processes and dynamics through which they occur.
To explore this theme, several sub-themes will guide the presentations and discussions:
- Resilience in times of crisis
- Everyday excellence
- Local Innovations that matter
- Quiet Drivers of Change
- Recognition and trust
- Digital governance and trust
- The civil service as a public good
- Teaching future (and current) public servants about success
Our sponsors
We gratefully acknowledge the support of the Alex Trebek Forum for Dialogue and the Office of the Vice-President, Research and Innovation (OVPRI) at the University of Ottawa, as well as the Centre on Governance (COG) and the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Ottawa for their financial, logisitical and human ressources commitment.
Travel discounts available!
Take advantage of preferred rates with Air Canada and VIA Rail to travel to Ottawa for the conference.