Nestled in the heart of Niagara Falls, the Queen Victoria Place Restaurant offers an unforgettable dining experience. Combining breathtaking views of the majestic Horseshoe Falls with a culinary journey that celebrates Canadian and global cuisine, the restaurant boasts a spacious outdoor patio with panoramic vistas and a warm timeless interior. At its helm is Niagara-born Chef Matt Hemmingsen, whose passion for locally sourced ingredients and classical training shapes a menu inspired by the region’s rich heritage. With Chef Hemmingsen’s innovative approach and the stunning ambiance of Queen Victoria Place Restaurant, guests are guaranteed an exceptional experience and cherished summer memories.

Full details here, including accessibility information: https://reg.eventmobi.com/cfnu-convention-2025/pages/fun-night

Please select only one Fun Night option. Both Fun Night events are held the evening of June 3.

If you require more than one guest ticket, please contact the CFNU at convention@nursesunions.ca or call CFNU office at: 1-800-321-9821

Join us for a local culinary wine-pairing experience in the heart of Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, showcasing the best of wine country. This unforgettable evening features two exceptional venues: Wayne Gretzky Estates Distillery, with its relaxed Muskoka cottage-inspired vibe, and Trius Winery, offering a refined and sophisticated ambiance. Known for their outstanding wines and spirits, these sister properties provide the perfect backdrop for celebrating farm-to-table cuisine. Trius Restaurant, a 2024 Michelin Star mention recipient, adds an extra touch of excellence to the event. This outdoor experience invites you to savour distinct food and wine pairings at both venues for an evening of food, fun and friendship.

Full details here: https://reg.eventmobi.com/cfnu-convention-2025/pages/fun-night

Please select only one Fun Night option. Both Fun Night events are held the evening of June 3.

If you require more than one guest ticket, please contact the CFNU at convention@nursesunions.ca or call CFNU office at: 1-800-321-9821

“The Other Wet Floor” is a workshop for individuals who face the psychological and emotional risks of working in helping and caring professions. This workshop takes a ground-up approach to understanding compassion fatigue, secondary trauma, burnout and moral distress; participants are invited to take a look at how their work contributes to the development of each phenomenon and the overall impact to their 
well-being. Most importantly, this workshop honours that those in the helping profession perform challenging emotional work. Participants are encouraged to change the belief that they are to blame for their distress. Instead, they are invited to consider how their experiences are normal and appropriate for the work that they do.

Choosing to retire is one of our most important life decisions, yet many workers feel unprepared for the transition and lack the financial literacy required for retirement. Can you maintain your lifestyle in retirement? How will decisions you make impact your retirement? In this course, we will examine the financial aspects of retirement, including the role of CPP, OAS, pensions, RRSPs, RRIFs and other income sources. We will discuss other considerations in transitioning to retirement, including maintaining our mental, physical and psychological well-being. 

Note: Pre-course preparation: know what type of pension plan you have (e.g., defined benefit, defined contribution, RRSP, collective agreement language, etc.). If you are unsure, please contact your union. 

In this course, participants will explore the connections between yoga and dispute resolution. Participants will participate in yoga practice (using chairs) and contemplate their personal experience. We will discuss how what we learn, our experience and practice on the mat translates to how we navigate our role in managing labour relations and other disputes. The course will examine the science behind how yoga prepares and “repairs” a conflict specialist. The course will also draw on principles of yoga practice to explore three main themes in conflict resolution: settling into discomfort, generating options and managing emotional responses to disputes.

Professional inclusion is essential in creating diverse, equitable and high-performing nursing teams. This workshop will explore the significance of fostering an inclusive work environment where all health care professionals, regardless of their background, feel valued and supported. Participants will discuss the impact of inclusive practices on team dynamics, patient care and overall workplace satisfaction. Through interactive discussions, attendees will learn strategies for promoting diversity, addressing unconscious biases and creating supportive spaces for underrepresented groups within the nursing profession. The session will emphasize the importance of inclusive leadership and how it contributes to improved patient outcomes, team performance and personal wellness.

This workshop will focus on the critical role nurse-patient ratios play in delivering safe high-quality care. Research consistently shows that when nurses are responsible for fewer patients, the risk of medical errors decreases, patient satisfaction improves and health care outcomes are better overall. Conversely, high nurse-patient ratios contribute to burnout, increased stress and compromised care quality. Participants will explore the challenges of maintaining optimal staffing levels. The session will highlight evidence-based strategies for improving ratios, including policy advocacy and innovative care models that support both patients and all health care professionals.

This course examines the critical intersections between climate change and health, specifically tailored for nursing and health care professionals. Participants will explore how environmental changes influence health outcomes, and how you as a nurse can communicate and act concretely to address these challenges. 

This workshop also empowers health care providers to advocate for plant-based sustainable menu options that benefit patients and promote community health. Participants will explore the health advantages of plant-based diets and strategies to enhance patient care, while educating the public on nutritious choices that support environmental sustainability.

When Canadians are polled about their key issues, we consistently find two things: health care is one of their top concerns, and they trust nurses more than just about any other professional. While comforting, this doesn’t mean nurses’ issues will be top of mind for political decision-makers – especially during the chaos of an election campaign. 

We can change that with coordinated and strategic political action. But to do this we need a team of effective nurse activists and influencers. This workshop will help you become one of those influencers. 

This dynamic interactive session will help you gain the skills you need to get your message heard over all the background noise. We will walk through the elements you need to become a more effective advocate, so you can tell your story in a memorable and persuasive way to political party decision-makers, candidates, media and voters.

Emotional intelligence (EI) is vital for nurses and health care workers facing the daily pressures of today’s health care system. This session explores how EI improves communication, strengthens patient care and enhances resilience in demanding environments. Through practical strategies, participants will learn to better manage their own emotions, understand others and build stronger team dynamics. Tailored to health care professionals, this session provides tools to reduce burnout, enhance empathy and inclusion, and promote a positive workplace culture.

Migrant workers face numerous challenges, including precarious working conditions, inadequate access to health care and limited legal protections. Through the lens of the presenters, who collectively have over 50 years working with Migrant Agricultural Workers, this workshop will explore the intersection of labour issues and health care access for migrant workers, with a focus on the unique health risks they face due to poor working conditions, lack of benefits and barriers to care. Participants will examine the role of health care providers in advocating for the health and well-being of migrant workers, addressing the social determinants of health that disproportionately affect them. The session will also highlight ways to navigate health care systems and community resources to support migrant workers more effectively.

“The Other Wet Floor” is a workshop for individuals who face the psychological and emotional risks of working in helping and caring professions. This workshop takes a ground-up approach to understanding compassion fatigue, secondary trauma, burnout and moral distress; participants are invited to take a look at how their work contributes to the development of each phenomenon and the overall impact to their 
well-being. Most importantly, this workshop honours that those in the helping profession perform challenging emotional work. Participants are encouraged to change the belief that they are to blame for their distress. Instead, they are invited to consider how their experiences are normal and appropriate for the work that they do.

Choosing to retire is one of our most important life decisions, yet many workers feel unprepared for the transition and lack the financial literacy required for retirement. Can you maintain your lifestyle in retirement? How will decisions you make impact your retirement? In this course, we will examine the financial aspects of retirement, including the role of CPP, OAS, pensions, RRSPs, RRIFs and other income sources. We will discuss other considerations in transitioning to retirement, including maintaining our mental, physical and psychological well-being. 

Note: Pre-course preparation: know what type of pension plan you have (e.g., defined benefit, defined contribution, RRSP, collective agreement language, etc.). If you are unsure, please contact your union. 

In this course, participants will explore the connections between yoga and dispute resolution. Participants will participate in yoga practice (using chairs) and contemplate their personal experience. We will discuss how what we learn, our experience and practice on the mat translates to how we navigate our role in managing labour relations and other disputes. The course will examine the science behind how yoga prepares and “repairs” a conflict specialist. The course will also draw on principles of yoga practice to explore three main themes in conflict resolution: settling into discomfort, generating options and managing emotional responses to disputes.

Professional inclusion is essential in creating diverse, equitable and high-performing nursing teams. This workshop will explore the significance of fostering an inclusive work environment where all health care professionals, regardless of their background, feel valued and supported. Participants will discuss the impact of inclusive practices on team dynamics, patient care and overall workplace satisfaction. Through interactive discussions, attendees will learn strategies for promoting diversity, addressing unconscious biases and creating supportive spaces for underrepresented groups within the nursing profession. The session will emphasize the importance of inclusive leadership and how it contributes to improved patient outcomes, team performance and personal wellness.

This workshop will focus on the critical role nurse-patient ratios play in delivering safe high-quality care. Research consistently shows that when nurses are responsible for fewer patients, the risk of medical errors decreases, patient satisfaction improves and health care outcomes are better overall. Conversely, high nurse-patient ratios contribute to burnout, increased stress and compromised care quality. Participants will explore the challenges of maintaining optimal staffing levels. The session will highlight evidence-based strategies for improving ratios, including policy advocacy and innovative care models that support both patients and all health care professionals.

This course examines the critical intersections between climate change and health, specifically tailored for nursing and health care professionals. Participants will explore how environmental changes influence health outcomes, and how you as a nurse can communicate and act concretely to address these challenges. 

This workshop also empowers health care providers to advocate for plant-based sustainable menu options that benefit patients and promote community health. Participants will explore the health advantages of plant-based diets and strategies to enhance patient care, while educating the public on nutritious choices that support environmental sustainability.

When Canadians are polled about their key issues, we consistently find two things: health care is one of their top concerns, and they trust nurses more than just about any other professional. While comforting, this doesn’t mean nurses’ issues will be top of mind for political decision-makers – especially during the chaos of an election campaign. 

We can change that with coordinated and strategic political action. But to do this we need a team of effective nurse activists and influencers. This workshop will help you become one of those influencers. 

This dynamic interactive session will help you gain the skills you need to get your message heard over all the background noise. We will walk through the elements you need to become a more effective advocate, so you can tell your story in a memorable and persuasive way to political party decision-makers, candidates, media and voters.

Emotional intelligence (EI) is vital for nurses and health care workers facing the daily pressures of today’s health care system. This session explores how EI improves communication, strengthens patient care and enhances resilience in demanding environments. Through practical strategies, participants will learn to better manage their own emotions, understand others and build stronger team dynamics. Tailored to health care professionals, this session provides tools to reduce burnout, enhance empathy and inclusion, and promote a positive workplace culture.

Migrant workers face numerous challenges, including precarious working conditions, inadequate access to health care and limited legal protections. Through the lens of the presenters, who collectively have over 50 years working with Migrant Agricultural Workers, this workshop will explore the intersection of labour issues and health care access for migrant workers, with a focus on the unique health risks they face due to poor working conditions, lack of benefits and barriers to care. Participants will examine the role of health care providers in advocating for the health and well-being of migrant workers, addressing the social determinants of health that disproportionately affect them. The session will also highlight ways to navigate health care systems and community resources to support migrant workers more effectively.

One banquet ticket for the convention participant is included in the price of registration.

If you require more than one guest ticket, please contact the CFNU at convention@nursesunions.ca or call CFNU office at: 1-800-321-9821