The 2025 League1 Canada Converge – presented by Johan Cruyff Institute – will stage 11 different insight sessions for leaders, innovators, and practitioners in Pro-Am soccer.
The event will be taking place across Saturday, November 22 and Sunday, November 23 at Cambridge Hotel and Conference Centre in Cambridge, Ontario.
Plenty of topics are set to be discussed over the weekend, including four key subjects that are targeted to all attendees:
1. Shaping the Next Era of Canadian Soccer
2. The Activation Engine: Sponsorship Fulfillment & Broadcasting on a Budget
3. The Future of League1 Canada and Beyond
4. World Cup 2026 – Leveraging Momentum for Club Growth
The rest of the weekend’s sessions have been split up into one of three focus tracks – Executive & Strategic Leadership, Team Operations & Game Day Management, and Marketing & Communications – and will take place across a range of formats from toolkit labs to fireside chats.
There will be short breaks throughout the weekend for attendees to meet and network, enabling them to take away actionable tools, strategic insights, and meaningful connections into the new year and beyond.
Please continue below for the detailed schedule and confirmed speakers.
Saturday, November 22
9:30-10:00am
Shaping the Next Era of Canadian Soccer
Introducing the League1 Canada Converge, outlining the League1 Canada 2025-26 vision, and highlighting priorities to be implemented and executed by clubs across the provinces.
Session Type: Presentation and Q&A
Confirmed Speakers: Dino Rossi (L1) and Johannes Regier (Johan Cruyff Institute).
10:15-11:45am
Advanced Brand & Supporter Journey Lab
Track: Marketing & Communications
Session Type: Interactive workshop
Confirmed Speakers: Aaron Fedora (Unity FC) and Paul Hamilton (Sudbury Cyclones), with moderator Carlyle Fiset (The League1 Ontario Show).
Complete Game Day Setup & Experience Workflow
Track: Team Operations & Game Day Management
Session Type: Workshop and roundtable
Confirmed Speakers: Elizabeth McCaw (Pickering FC), Cam Vassallo (Railway City), Lorin Berballa (L1), with moderator Andrew Pedersen (L1 MDOC).
Financial Leadership & Strategic Club Growth
Track: Executive & Strategic Leadership
Session Type: Toolkit lab
Confirmed Speakers: Mickael Rougette (Cambridge United) and Danyal Sardar (Canadian Soccer Business), with moderator Alf De Blasis (multimedia professional).
12:00-1:00pm
Digital Ad Blitz & Fan Conversion Toolkit
Track: Marketing & Communications
Session Type: Toolkit Lab
Confirmed Speakers: Bruno Ferrante (CDK Sports) and Josh Vatcher (L1), with moderator Carlyle Fiset (The League1 Ontario Show).
Volunteer Optimization & Team Leadership
Track: Team Operations & Game Day Management
Session Type: Workshop and peer discussion
Confirmed speakers: Elizabeth McCaw (Pickering FC) and Katryna Indewey (Oakville SC), with with moderator Andrew Pedersen (L1 MDOC).
Culture by Design: Building Identity Through People
Track: Executive & Strategic Leadership
Session Type: Fireside chat and workshop
Confirmed speakers: Joey Lombardi (Hamilton United), Paul Ballard (Unity FC), and Johannes Regier (Johan Cruyff Institute), with moderator Aizaz Sheikh (The League1 Ontario Show).
2:30-3:45pm
The Activation Engine: Sponsorship Fulfillment & Broadcasting on a Budget
Learn how to activate sponsors effectively across digital and broadcast, and discover production techniques for professional streaming at low cost.
Session Type: Panel & Toolkit Lab
Confirmed Speakers: Samantha Stewart (Burlington SC), Shayne Griffin (Scrosoppi FC), Vancho Cirovski (Windsor City), and Mickael Rougette (Cambridge United), with moderator Alf De Blasis (multimedia professional).
4:00-5:30pm
Post-Match Video & Social Content Workflow
Track: Marketing & Communications
Session Type: Toolkit lab and demonstration
Confirmed Speakers: Josh Vatcher (L1) and Santiago Almada (Cloud North TV), with moderator Aizaz Sheikh (The League1 Ontario Show).
Compliance & Systems Roundtable
Track: Team Operations & Game Day Management
Session Type: Roundtable
Confirmed Speakers: Emma MacKinnon (L1), Lorin Berballa (L1), Jonathan Cheng (L1), with moderator Andrew Pedersen (L1 MDOC).
Municipal Partnerships & Grant Strategy
Track: Executive & Strategic Leadership
Session Type: Workshop and fireside chat
Confirmed Speakers: Matt Greenwood (Pickering FC), with moderator Alf De Blasis (multimedia professional).
Sunday, November 23
9:30-11:00am
Leadership Panel – The Future of League1 Canada and Beyond
Exploring the strategic evolution of League1 Canada beyond 2026, and actionable insights to strengthen club alignment with national goals.
Session Type: Panel and Q&A
Confirmed Speakers: Dino Rossi (L1), Costa Smyrniotis (Canadian Premier League), and Johannes Regier (Johan Cruyff Institute), with moderator Aizaz Sheikh (The League1 Ontario Show).
11:15-12:45pm
World Cup 2026 – Leveraging Momentum for Club Growth
Learn from WC26 leader Sandra Gage about how to capitalize on the global spotlight, and have the tools to build a club-level activation plan involving events, sponsors, and media.
Session Type: Action planning panel and workshop
Confirmed Panel: Sandra Gage (FIFA World Cup 2026 – CANADA), with moderator Dino Rossi (L1).
12:45-1pm
Conclusion
Wrapping up the 2025 League1 Canada Converge.