CPA’s 2020 Annual National Convention Cancelled due to COVID-19

The CPA has been continuously monitoring the evolving issues related to the COVID-19 situation in Canada and abroad, inclusive of federal and provincial government decisions taken in the service of community safety.  Experts and all levels of government have warned or advised us about the greater transmission risks posed by large gatherings of people.

While we do not know for how long COVID-19 will remain a public health emergency in Canada, we do know that at this time, the Public Health Agency of Canada recommends that event organizers cancel or postpone in-person gatherings of more than 50 attendees, where proper physical distancing measures would be difficult to implement and maintain, in Canada for the next eight weeks in order to delay and reduce community transmission.  Accordingly, the CPA has taken the decision to cancel our in-person 81st CPA Annual National Convention in Montreal, QC, scheduled for May 28-30, 2020, inclusive of all pre-convention workshops scheduled for May 27th.  We made this decision based on the guidance and directives of experts and governments, and out of concern for the safety and well-being of our members and affiliates, attendees, staff, public and the various teams that support the annual convention.

The CPA will refund full registration costs, with no administrative processing fees, to anyone who has registered for CPA2020.

We are grateful for the hundreds of hours of preparation already invested by our presenters, attendees, and volunteers. We are also appreciative of the CPA staff, who have worked tirelessly to prepare for the convention, and, more recently, to prepare for its cancellation under emergency conditions.

In accordance with our by-laws, the CPA will convene its Annual General Meeting (AGM) virtually; more details will follow shortly.  In addition to the AGM, CPA Convention Staff are working as quickly as possible to consider virtual options where we might convene select CPA convention sessions, Section Business Meetings, and the Section Chairs Annual Meeting.

We appreciate your understanding and flexibility as we remain responsive to the changing nature of this situation, while continuing to serve our members and affiliates, and the broader community of psychological scientists, practitioners and/or educators.

We recognize and appreciate that you are likely experiencing upheaval and disruption in your daily life, both personally and professionally. We wish you strength and patience as you cope with this crisis and hope you will join us for our virtual AGM.  We hope too, to see you in June 2021 in Ottawa for CPA2021.

If you have any questions or want further information, please contact the CPA at convention@cpa.ca.

Take good care and be well.

Ian R. Nicholson, Ph.D., C. Psych.
CPA President (2019-2020)
On behalf of the CPA’s Board of Directors and Convention Committee