Emily Plihal
Local Journalism
Initiative Reporter
It’s a day dedicated to women, and the sold-out crowd in Peace River showed just how much they appreciated Community Futures Peace Country’s efforts putting on the Women in the North Conference.
“Peace River sold out a month in advance, and we had a record turnout in Manning with attendees coming from as far as High Prairie,” says Community Futures Peace Country’s general manager Sherry Crawford.
“The energy was great and attendees were engaged all day,” she adds. “The shift to four focused workshops that catered to both teams and individuals went over well, and our speakers brought a great mix of knowledge, personality, humour, and really relevant content.”
Crawford says the atmosphere in both Manning and Peace River was electric, and she says the people, the workshops, and the connections all contributed to two really great conferences.
“If I had to highlight one aspect, it would be the workshops and our surveys show they were well-received, with an average of 93.2 per cent of participants indicating that they found the sessions useful and beneficial,” she adds, noting there will be another WIN conference next year for anyone who couldn’t attend this year.
“In our event survey, we asked participants to describe the event in three words, here are a few of the common responses to that question: educational, insightful, exciting, informative and inspiring. One person said, ‘So much fun.’”
Crawford says her team all worked together to play various roles ensuring the event was a success. She adds there was a lot of care, planning, and attention to detail that went into the two conferences and she feels that was reflected in the feedback they received.
“Based on the success and feedback this year, we’d like to continue with the team theme and offer multiple sessions again,” Crawford says of next year’s conference.
“In the fall, we’ll be inviting input through our Facebook page and email list so we can shape next year’s conference around what people really want and need. We’re committed to providing women in the north with meaningful opportunities for both personal and professional development. Building strong women and strong workplaces builds strong communities and that’s what we, Community Futures Peace Country is all about – growing communities.”
The conference featured several guest speakers, including Glenys Reeves-Gibbs, Jason Bacon, Andrew Kiedyk, and Jennifer Ireson. The topics included 16 Personalities, use of ChatGPT, Self Defence, and Conflict Resolution.
“I attended the Women in the North Conference hoping to gain a better understanding of how to navigate different personalities and manage conflict,” says attendee Amber Drouin.
“The sessions on the 16 Personality Types and Conflict Resolution were by far my favourites. Discovering my own personality type and its traits helped clarify so many things, and I was genuinely surprised how accurate the results were,” she adds.
The four hands-on workshops allowed attendees to learn about themselves and their staff, learning how to appropriately navigate various situations in the workplace.
“I have not had the opportunity to attend the WIN Conference for several years due to scheduling conflicts, so I was extremely excited to have the chance to participate this year,” says Northern Sunrise County Family and Community Support Services director Amber Houle.
“Upon reviewing the agenda, I was pleasantly surprised to see a shift in focus from entrepreneurship to personal development. The presentations were relatable to women from all walks of life, covering topics such as understanding personality traits, enhancing AI prompts, self-defence, and conflict resolution.”
Town of Peace River Councillor Shelly Shannon was full of praises for the organizers and the quality of the conference.
“The women who organize this conference have a remarkable gift for anticipating topics that are not only timely, but deeply relevant to women,” says Shannon.
“It’s especially impressive that, despite being in a remote area, they consistently bring in high-quality speakers and presenters. I look forward to this event every year,” she adds.
The consensus between all attendees was Chateau Nova provided a welcoming atmosphere, offering a variety of snacks and extensive lunch options.
Community Futures Peace River also provided goody bags to every attendee filled with local products showcasing the community’s entrepreneurs. The conference also provided the opportunity to network and connect with women from the region.
“Thank you to everyone who joined us for this year’s Women in the North Conference,” concludes Crawford. “Your presence, energy, and willingness to engage made the event a success. Be sure to let us know what you’d like for WIN 2026 and check out the photo gallery, you’ll find a link on the Women in the North website.”
