AGLC’s Insight Responsible Gambling Symposium returns for its 21st year in 2026, providing the Alberta gambling industry with high-quality sessions dedicated to patron safety and gambling harm reduction. This free event will explore a new era of gambling in the province and advances in social responsibility.
September 22, 2026
Beverly Hills Ballroom
Fantasyland Hotel, West Edmonton Mall (Map)
17700 – 87 Avenue NW
Edmonton, Alberta
Program
| 8:15 – 9:30 a.m. | Registration and networking breakfast |
| 9:30 – 9:35 a.m. | Welcome and housekeeping Meg Polson, Master of Ceremony |
| 9:35 – 9:40 a.m. | Opening remarks Kandice Machado, Chief Executive Officer, AGLC |
| 9:40 – 10:40 a.m. | Topic: Slow down, power up Carl Honré, Keynote speaker |
| 10:40 – 11 a.m. | Networking break |
| 11 – 11:45 a.m. | Topic: 25 years of discovery: Recognizing Alberta Gambling Research Institute's (AGRI) contribution and growth towards a safe and sustainable industry Presenter: Dr. Carrie Shaw, Ph.D, Research Chair of AGRI Presenter: Dr. Seamus O'Shea, Ph.D, D.Sc, Chair of AGRI |
| 11:45 a.m. – 12:05 p.m. | Topic: Centralizing impact: Key updates and growth in the Self-Exclusion Program Presenter: April Jasper, Program Specialist, Self-Exclusion Program, AGLC |
| 12:05 – 12:15 p.m. | 2025 GameSense and Self-Exclusion Awards of Excellence presentation Presenter: April Jasper, Program Specialist, Self-Exclusion Program, AGLC Presenter: Jaimie Wilson, Program Specialist, Gaming, AGLC |
| 12:15 – 1 p.m. | Lunch |
| 1 - 1:45 p.m. | Topic: Safer play, stronger communities Panelist: John Szumlas, Chief Executive Officer of Bingo Alberta Panelist: Linda Burke, Chair of Bingo Hall Managers, Bingo Alberta Panelist: Shawna Janvier, Chief Executive Officer of Hotel Dene & conference center and Casino Dene Panelist: Carla Loitz, General Manager of The Sherlock Holmes Pub – Sherwood Park Moderator: Meg Polson |
| 1:45 – 2:30 p.m. | Topic: From harm to healing: A conversation about gambling recovery Presenter: Leif Gregersen, Author Moderator: Dr. Carrie Shaw, Ph.D, Research Chair of AGRI |
| 2:30 – 2:45 p.m. | Health break |
| 2:45 – 3:10 p.m. | Topic: A new era of gambling Panelists: AGLC and AiGC |
| 3:10 – 3:55 p.m. | Topic: The evolution of support in the digital and AI age Presenter: Dr. Matthew Chow, MD, FRCPC, Chief Mental Health Officer, TELUS Health, and Past-President Doctors of British Columbia |
| 3:55 – 4 p.m. | Closing remarks and acknowledgements Meg Polson |
Hotel Room Reservations
For guests needing to book a hotel room, individual reservations at the Fantasyland Hotel can be made by contacting the hotel Reservations Department directly at (780) 444-5541 or toll-free 1-800-737-3783.
You can also book online: Reserve Your Room
Contact AGLC
For questions about the event, please contact us at responsible.gambling@aglc.ca.