Presented by SPAO and the Ottawa Art Gallery

Poster image detail by Ann Piché

The Creative Opportunities Conference Returns
Don’t miss your chance to participate

You’re invited to the Creative Opportunities Conference, a free event at the Ottawa Art Gallery’s Alma Duncan Salon on Sunday, November, 8, 2026.

This one-day event is a fantastic opportunity to learn about a range of arts education, creative careers, and artistic development opportunities available within a 200km radius of Ottawa-Gatineau. The COC is designed to connect the region’s community of arts professionals, youth, and adult learners with local arts/visual media, and community organizations that offer programs and experiences designed to enrich your artistic practice, professional skills, and personal development.

Learn more here.

Photos: Bex Smith

What’s Happening?

The Creative Opportunities Conference includes many events you won’t want to miss, such as:

• 10:00am – Creative Opportunities Info Fair: Visit a broad range of info tables and network with arts and culture specialists
• 10:00am – 12:00pm – 2026 Project XO Reception + Artist Talk with Victoria Laube
• 11:45am – 12:45pm – Creative Careers Panel discussion moderated by CBC’s Alan Neal Featuring:
  • Paul Fox, Award-Winning Director for Schitt’s Creek
  • Jay Odjick, Artist, Author, & Television Producer
  • Izzy Poirier, Founder of the Ottawa Design Club
• 1:45pm – 2:30pm – Reshaping Ottawa Through Public Art Panel Discussion
• 3:00pm – 3:45pm – University of Ottawa MFA Artist Talk with Karen Miller

Images (left to right): Paul Fox, Jay Odjick, and Izzy Poirier. Paul Fox photo courtesy of Steve Wilkie.

About the Panelists:

Paul Fox – Award Winning Director for Schitt’s Creek
Paul Fox is a Canadian film and television director from Toronto. He is most noted for his 2006 film Everything’s Gone Green, which was the winner of the award for Best Canadian Film at the 2006 Vancouver International Film Festival, and as a Canadian Screen Award winner for Best Direction in a Comedy Series for his work on Schitt’s Creek.

Jay Odjick – Artist, Author, & Television Producer
Jay Odjick is a writer, artist and television producer from the Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg Algonquin Nation in Quebec. After writing and drawing his creator owned graphic novel KAGAGI: The Raven, Jay co-founded a production company that produced a television series called Kagagi.

Izzy Poirier – Founder of the Ottawa Design Club
Izzy Poirier is a creative director and brand architect with a background in fine arts. Through her independent practice, she works across brand strategy, editorial design, publications, events, and experiences, with a focus on how design shapes culture, community, and the way people connect. She is also the founder of Ottawa Design Club, a creative community bringing people together through events and its award-winning zine series.

Photo: Bex Smith

Apply Today

Showcase your organization and connect with creatives!

This event is a fantastic opportunity to share information about your organization and learn about a range of arts education, creative careers, and artistic development opportunities available in the greater Ottawa-Gatineau region. The COC is designed to connect the region’s community of arts professionals and share audiences.

Apply for a table here.

About Our Partners and Supporters

SPAO is one of Canada’s foremost photographic arts centres. It houses the only 2-year photographic arts college diploma program in Canada, a robust selection of recreational classes, a unique 6-month international artist residency as well as the only critical and independent gallery in the region dedicated to lens-based art. Learn more.

The OAG is an independent, not-for-profit, charitable organization governed by a volunteer board of directors. Since its founding in 1988 has built a significant permanent collection that now numbers more than 1,020 works including paintings, sculpture, graphic arts, photographs and new media.

Thank you to our supporters:

• Canada Council for the Arts
• City of Ottawa
• Ottawa Community Foundation
• Hobin Architecture
• Arts Ottawa
• Fairmont Château Laurier

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Ottawa Art Gallery
10 Daly Avenue
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