The Family Business Symposium 2025
Program Overview
Sunday
May 25
NxG
Dinner
Monday
May 26
NxG
Retreat
FEA
Workshop
FEYA
Celebration
Tuesday
May 27
Symposium
Programing
Dine
Arounds
Wednesday
May 28
Symposium
Programming
Symposium
Ends
Program Timeline
Sunday, May 25
7:00 PM ADT
NxG Dinner
NxG Members of Family Enterprise Canada are encouraged to arrive early and join the NxG dinner the night before Symposium begins.
Room: Acadia B & C
Monday, May 26
7:30 AM ADT
NxG Breakfast
Start your day with a nutritious breakfast among your fellow NxG Members.
Room: Nova Scotia Ballroom A, B, C & D
FEA Breakfast
FEAs are encouraged to kick off their Symposium program with this nutritious meal among other members of the FEA community.
Room: Nova Scotia Ballroom A, B, C & D
8:30 AM ADT
FEA Workshop: Integrating FEA Into Your Practice (IFP)
Designed specifically for our FEA community, this latest workshop will strengthen your family enterprise advising approach in your work with business families.
Facilitator: Kathy Bright, MBA, FEA
Room: Halifax Ballroom C
10:00 AM ADT
NxG: Redefining Wealth & Personal Accountability
This interactive workshop invites NxG Members to redefine wealth beyond financial metrics, embracing a more holistic framework based on the five forms of capital to explore personal accountability in nurturing these dimensions of wealth.
Facilitator: Vincent Valeri, MBM, FEA
Room: Acadia B & C
11:30 AM ADT
Lunch
Grab a nutritious lunch with other members of the family enterprise community before we come back for our next sessions.
Room: Acadia A
12:30 PM ADT
NxG: The Next Gen & Shaping the Future of Family Philanthropy
As the next generation of wealth inheritors steps into their roles, they bring fresh perspectives and innovative approaches to generosity. This session will explore how families can use charitable giving to strengthen their legacy, nurture shared values, and build stronger connections across generations.
Facilitator: Serena Hak, MFA-P
Room: Acadia C
4:00 PM ADT
The Family Enterprise of the Year Awards (The FEYAs)
Since 1986, the FEYAs have celebrated the achievements of Canadian family businesses and their significant contributions to both local communities and the national economy.
Room: Nova Scotia Ballroom A, B, C & D
6:00 PM ADT
Cocktail Hour
Enjoy the closing hours of our first day with a beverage, some catching up with friends and networking with members of the family enterprise community in Canada.
Room: Halifax Ballroom A & B
Tuesday, May 27
7:30 AM ADT
Continental Breakfast
Start your first full day of Symposium 2025 with a delicious breakfast to energize you for the sessions ahead.
Room: Nova Scotia Ballroom A, B, C & D
8:30 AM ADT
Indigenous Welcome
More details coming soon.
Room: Nova Scotia Ballroom A, B, C & D
9:00 AM ADT
Symposium 2025 Opening Remarks
More details coming soon.
Room: Nova Scotia Ballroom A, B, C & D
9:15 AM ADT
An Inspiring Family Business Story
More details coming soon.
Room: Nova Scotia Ballroom A, B, C & D
10:30 AM ADT
Break
Enjoy a refreshing coffee break to network and recharge.
Room: Nova Scotia Ballroom Foyer
11:00 AM ADT
Fatherhood Unlocked
Fatherhood is the biggest rite of passage in a man’s life. It's also our biggest opportunity to grow up, wake up and to learn who we actually are. This session is intended to be a lightning rod to call men to action, to create community, and to set a new tone and standard for what fatherhood means.
Speaker: Dan Doty
Concurrent session.
Room: Halifax Ballroom A
Aligned and Accountable: Thriving in a Family Enterprise
How do you create an environment where every family member thrives based on their contributions? Join this workshop to discover how to foster a culture that empowers family members to excel, builds accountability and strengthens the business while maintaining family harmony.
Speaker: Shauna Trainor, FEA, MACP
Concurrent session.
Room: Halifax Ballroom B & C
12:30 PM ADT
Lunch
Grab a nutritious lunch with other members of the family enterprise community before we come back for our next sessions.
Room: Nova Scotia Ballroom A, B, C & D
2:00 PM ADT
Workshop: Scaling Impact Through Collaboration
More details coming soon.
Room: Nova Scotia Ballroom A, B, C & D
3:30 PM ADT
Break
Enjoy a refreshing coffee break to network and recharge.
Room: Nova Scotia Ballroom Foyer
4:00 PM ADT
Ownership Responsibilities
More details coming soon.
Speakers: Liz McBeth, Karen Alko, Aaron Gillespie, John Nicola, John McFall and Jessy Brotz
Room: Nova Scotia Ballroom A, B, C & D
6:30 PM ADT
Dine Arounds
Groups will 'dine around' at various restaurants within walking distance of the Halifax Marriott Harbourfront hotel.
Location: Various restaurants within walking distance
Wednesday, May 28
7:30 AM ADT
Breakfast
Start your second day of Symposium with a delicious breakfast to energize you for the sessions ahead.
Room: Nova Scotia Ballroom A, B, C & D
8:30 AM ADT
Opening Session and Community Update
More details coming soon.
Room: Nova Scotia Ballroom A, B, C & D
9:00 AM ADT
An Inspiring Family Business Story
More details coming soon.
Room: Nova Scotia Ballroom A, B, C & D
10:30 AM ADT
Break
Enjoy a refreshing coffee break to network and recharge.
Room: Nova Scotia Ballroom Foyer
11:00 AM ADT
Workshop: Stop Frankensteining It
Based on a “real life” estate planning scenario that's adaptable to different jurisdictions and audiences, this workshop will explore a case study that illustrates how well-intentioned estate plans can turn into “monsters”. We will also explore how to get better outcomes for families.
Speaker: Cindy Radu
Concurrent session.
Room: Halifax Ballroom A
The Enterprising Family Series — Understanding Wealth and Wealth Continuity
Learn about the frameworks, models and tools that help families understand their wealth and contribute to wealth continuity.
Speakers: Kieran Young, FEA, Judi Cunningham, MA, FEA, ICD.D, CEPA
Concurrent session.
Room: Halifax Ballroom B & C
12:30 PM ADT
Lunch
Grab a nutritious lunch with other members of the family enterprise community before we come back for our next sessions.
Room: Nova Scotia Ballroom A, B, C & D
Chair Reception
More details coming soon.
Room: Acadia B & C
2:00 PM ADT
Keynote: Honey, I Wrecked The Kids!
Misbehaving children always make us question if we are parenting properly. We feel like we are messing up our kids. Learn the four misbehaviour dances we do with our children, why punishment and reward no longer works with this generation, and the effective discipline techniques to feel more confident and positive about parenting.
Speaker: Alyson Schafer, B.Sc, MA Counselling, OACCPP
Room: Nova Scotia Ballroom A, B, C & D
3:00 PM ADT
Community Talks Sessions
Community members will share personal insights in the style of 'TED-like' Talks.
Room: Nova Scotia Ballroom A, B, C & D
3:45 PM ADT
Symposium 2025 Closes
Thank you so much for attending our biggest event of the year!
Have Questions?
If you have questions about Symposium, or your registration, please email us at events@familyenterprise.ca.