Announcing our 2026 CMA National Virtual Summit, Redefining Ethical Authority

Press Release

May 6, 2025

The Canadian Museums Association (CMA) is excited to announce the theme for its upcoming virtual summit, Redefining Ethical Authority .

Rather than deferring to established institutions, entrenched technologies, or traditional gatekeepers, join us as we question and reshape who holds the power to set, interpret, and enforce ethical practices and standards.

We hope to encourage analysis and discussion that will:

• Question Established Power by examining which voices have long dominated ethical conversations and who has been left on the margins.
• Broaden Participation to include smaller organizations, equity-seeking communities, and Indigenous peoples in defining what ethical practice should look like.
• Adapt to New Contexts as emerging technologies, shifting social landscapes, and climate justice demand fresh or expanded ethical frameworks.
• Foster Collective Ownership through co-creation, ensuring that ethical guidelines are comprehensively defined rather than handed down from a single authority.

This summit supports CMA’s initiative to reenvision its own Ethical Guidelines and has been developed to complement the ICOM Code of Ethics within a Canadian context.

Content will be filtered through three streams of Governance, Technology and Collections, guided by the core threads of Indigenous self-determination, climate justice, and equity. Special consideration will be made for participants from small museums and francophone perspectives to be able to engage tailored content.

Join Us

The Redefining Ethical Authority summit will take place virtually, over one day in mid-February 2026 (exact date TBC).

Call for Volunteers

The Canadian Museums Association (CMA) is seeking up to three (3) members-at-large to volunteer for the Summit planning committee.

The Committee will be tasked with developing and refining the Summit theme, program streams, and schedule in alignment with CMA strategic priorities as well as integrating CMA partner perspectives, fostering an interactive environment of ethical reflection and co-learning and actively participating in and facilitating Summit activities.

Volunteers should have an interest and some grounding in the concept of ethics and/or experience in educational experience development.

How to Apply

CMA Members (individual members, CMA Fellows, and/or voting representatives of institutional members) in good standing are invited to review the Terms of Reference and submit a self-nomination (no more than 1 page) along with an updated resume or LinkedIn profile to conferences@museums.ca.

Applications will be accepted until 5:00 PM (ET) on Friday, June 6th, 2025.

Please direct any questions to the Committee Chair and CMA Senior Manager of Engagement, Stephanie Danyluk, at conferences@museums.ca.

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