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OCTOBER 7-8, 2026

Schedule
Rachel Weldon

Rachel Weldon

Director, Debaser (ON)

Rachel Weldon is music curator, creative producer, and founder and director of non-profit presenter organization Debaser and its signature festival Pique. Since founding Debaser in 2013, Rachel has led the development of the organization from its origins as a volunteer-run DIY collective into a leading festival and event producer recognized for presenting diverse underground and independent artists in thoughtfully-curated and care-oriented event experiences. Rachel was a 2024 Keychange Innovator, and a 2025 Creative Producer in Residence at the National Arts Centre.  Before working full-time at Debaser, Rachel was a programmer at artist-run centre SAW, and has worked various roles in artist and festival management, project management, and industry and export development over the past 12 years.

Speakers

mathieu grondin

Mathieu Grondin

Canada’s first Nightlife Commissioner,
City of Ottawa’s Nightlife Office (ON)

ariel palitz

Ariel Palitz

Founding Director, New York City Mayor’s Office of Nightlife | Nighttime Governance & Hospitality Advisor, All Hours NYC

Luc

Luc Gwiazdzinski

Doctor of geography Professor at ENSA (école d’architecture et formations supérieures) Toulouse, Jean Jaurès University, Toulouse (FR)

andreina seijas

Andreina Seijas

Founder, Night Tank, expert in nighttime urban governance (ES)

will straw

Will Straw

James McGill Emeritus Professor of Urban Media Studies, McGill University (QC)

shulie smolyanitsky

Shulie Smolyanitsky

Operations & Education Manager, Wavelength Music (TO)

marc andré robertson

Marc-André Robertson

Co Founder, HocheLab (QC)

Jon Weisz

Jon Weisz

Founder & Executive Director, Les SMAQ (QC)

brian block

Brian Block

President, Sound City Planning, Austin (USA) and Board Treasurer, Nighttime Economy Culture and Policy Alliance (NITECAP)

farid dagher

Farid Dagher

Founder, CITY AT NIGHT, ANNX & GRIDWRKS (ON)

corey poole

Corey Poole

Music Sector Development Coordinator, City of Mississauga (ON)

cathy wong

Cathy Wong

Borough Mayor, Le Plateau-Mont-Royal, City of Montreal (QC)

romain dumoulin

Romain Dumoulin

Acoustician and Project Director, WSP Canada (QC)

Melanie Brulee

Melanie Brulée

Executive Director, Ottawa Music Industry Coalition (ON)

jean françois ouellet

Jean-François Ouellet

Professor of entrepreneurship and innovation, HEC Montréal (QC)

erin benjamin

Erin Benjamin

Executive Vice President, Advocacy and Strategy, Ottawa Board of Trade (ON)

veronica farmer

Veronica Farmer

Chief Marketing Officer, Wesley Clover International (ON)

xavier roy

Xavier Roy

Senior Vice President, Membership Engagement and Advancement, Canadian Chamber of Commerce

Nate Sabine

Nate Sabine

Director of Business Development, Blueprint (BC)

marie pier tessier de l’étoile

Marie-Pier Tessier De L’Étoile

Co Founder and General Director, Aire Commune (QC)

kelleagh alexander

Kelleagh Alexander

Director of Experience Development, Ottawa Tourism (ON)

sarah hill

Sarah Hill

Senior Project Manager, Culture Business Development, City of Hamilton (ON)

sarah jarvis

Sarah Jarvis

Community Engagement, Destination Toronto (ON)

jane talbot

Jane Talbot

President and CEO, Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Area (Downtown Van) (BC)

chetna misra

Chetna Misra

Founder & Principal, Lightbahn

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Cory Crossman

Music Industry Development Officer, London Creative City of Music Focus (ON)

barbara filion

Barbara Filion

Program Officer for Culture, Canadian Commission for UNESCO

athena foyer

Anthea Foyer

Sector Development Officer, City of Toronto (ON)

jenn goodwin

Jenn Goodwin

Focal Point, Kelowna City of Gastronomy (BC)

Celia Benhocine

Celia Benhocine

Policy Analyst, OECD

Annabelle Cloutier

Annabelle Cloutier

President & CEO, National Arts Centre

Anna Rubin

Anna Rubin

Manager of the OECD Global Forum on Local Development Comment end

Tashiina Buswa

Tashiina Buswa

Artist & Nonprofit Professional, (QC)

Chrissy Dicks

Chrissy Dicks

Executive Director, Lawnya Vawnya Festival (NL)

Travis Van Wyck

Travis Van Wyck

Project Manager, Night Economy, City of Toronto (ON)

Megan Lynch

Megan Lynch

Senior Manager, Nordicity (ON)

Maude

Maude Théroux-Séguin

Borough Mayor of Ahuntsic-Cartierville & Associate Councillor for Citizen Engagement, Gastronomy and Nightlife, Ville de Montréal (QC)

Rachel Weldon

Rachel Weldon

Director, Debaser (ON)

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Location

National Arts Centre, Fourth Stage
1 Elgin Street, Ottawa Canada

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signal 2026 08 18 14 33 45 556 002
ottawa
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