Lethbridge takes centre stage in nursing education

By Lethbridge Herald on March 25, 2026.

By Joe Manio

Lethbridge Herald 

The University of Lethbridge and Lethbridge Polytechnic will put Lethbridge at the centre of a key conversation in Canadian health care later this spring, co-hosting the 2026 Western North-Western Region Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing conference from April 26 to 28 at the Sandman Signature Lethbridge Lodge.

The three-day gathering, Bridging Practice and Possibility: Advancing Nursing Education for the Future, will bring together nursing educators, researchers, students and front-line professionals from across Western Canada to explore how the field is evolving—and what comes next.

Through a mix of research presentations, teaching showcases and collaborative sessions, the conference will dig into the ideas shaping nursing education today, from classroom innovation to real-world practice. Organizers say it’s also about building stronger connections between institutions at a time when demand for skilled health-care workers continues to grow.

The event aims to highlight emerging scholarship, give participants experience presenting and engaging professionally, and strengthen ties among nursing programs—while also showcasing Lethbridge as a hub for health-care education and workforce development.

Together, the University of Lethbridge and Lethbridge Polytechnic play a key role in training the region’s nursing workforce through their collaborative Bachelor of Nursing program, which graduated more than 300 students in 2025.

Conference organizers say the theme is intentionally forward-looking, focused on connection and possibility.

“We are very excited to be co-hosting…a large regional nurse educator conference,” said Gillian Comchi, co-chair of the conference planning committee and instructor in the Centre for Health and Wellness at Lethbridge Polytechnic.

“Like our bridge, our conference theme, Bridging Practice and Possibility, invites attendees to build meaningful connections with colleagues from across Western Canada, connect with exciting innovations and possibilities of nursing education and connect with the land and culture of beautiful southern Alberta.”

The conference will also feature keynote presentations from leading voices tackling some of the most pressing and complex issues in the field.

Opening the event on April 27 is Heather Bensler of the University of Calgary, whose research examines white settler identity in nursing education and uses participatory theatre to help students and practitioners recognize and challenge anti-Indigenous racism in both learning environments and clinical practice.

On April 28, Marian Luctkar-Flude of Queen’s University School of Nursing and Jane Tyerman of University of Ottawa will examine the growing role of simulation-based learning—an increasingly important tool in preparing nurses for real-world scenarios—as leaders with the Canadian Alliance of Nurse Educators using Simulation (CAN-Sim).

Registration is now open, and organizers are encouraging educators, students and health-care professionals to take part in what they hope will be a collaborative and energizing few days. Those interested can find full program details and register through the conference website, with early registration recommended as space is limited.