Two extraordinary Canadians will keynote during the AWS‑presented Solutions Studios at YMCA World Council 2026, guiding delegates through leadership, transformation, and navigating disruption.

As the global YMCA Movement prepares to gather in Toronto from 19–24 July 2026, World Council is announcing two exceptional keynote speakers for its AWS‑presented Solutions Studios: journalist and public administrator Marie Wilson, and former astronaut and International Space Station Commander Colonel Chris Hadfield, sponsored by George Weston Limited.

The Solutions Studios make up the majority of the Wednesday to Friday programme, designed to equip YMCA leaders with the insight, tools, and collaborative space needed to navigate a world defined by disruption. The Studios guide participants through three thematic lenses - The Shift; The Journey & Response; and The Future & Transformation - helping delegates confront reality, learn from peers, and shape the future of the Movement.

Marie Wilson will open the Solutions Studios as the first plenary on Wednesday, 22 July. As a Commissioner of Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission - a landmark national process examining the legacy of residential schools and advancing reconciliation with Indigenous peoples - she played a central role in one of the country’s most significant moments of reflection and change.

A former senior leader at CBC North, she also helped shape northern Canada’s media landscape, creating the region’s first daily television news programmes to amplify voices and stories often unheard. She will challenge delegates to reflect on leadership, equity, and organisational purpose in a rapidly changing world.

Colonel Chris Hadfield will deliver the second plenary on Thursday, 23 July. One of the world’s most recognised astronauts, he commanded the International Space Station and spent nearly 166 days in space, leading teams in some of the most complex and high-risk environments imaginable.

Since returning to Earth, he has become a global authority on leadership, change, and performance under pressure - drawing on his experiences in space exploration, business, and innovation. At World Council, he will explore how to lead with clarity and courage amid complexity and uncertainty. George Weston Limited sponsors his address.

Alongside plenaries, the AWS-presented Solutions Studios will feature breakout sessions and interactive formats designed to connect leaders across generations, regions, and organisational contexts.