Photo Journey Through LABCON2026 in Vancouver
PHOTOGRAPHY: COURTESY CSMLS
This spring, CSMLS hosted LABCON2026 in beautiful Vancouver. Attendees from across the country came together for three days of learning and networking. And they reminded us why LABCON is the best place to immerse ourselves in medical laboratory science — more than 90 per cent of delegates in our post-event survey reported achieving their learning goals. There is no other event that offers practical knowledge, helps build relationships with peers and industry experts, and fosters a sense of belonging and pride in the national #MedLab community.
Here are some highlights of the event:
This year's theme was “Diverse Voices, Shared Vision,” and the Opening Ceremonies were a taste of what was to come in the following days. On stage, CSMLS CEO Christine Nielsen thanked delegates for joining us from across Canada and the world. Yes, we welcomed delegates from Iceland!
Elder Lorelei Hawkins, an Indigenous advocate, educator and artist, led attendees through a land acknowledgement.
Later in the day, Hawkins led a workshop on “Traditional Medicine Tie Making.” During this session, delegates were introduced to the concept of Two-Eyed Seeing, which explores how Indigenous and Western ways of knowing can be held together in balance. Attendees made their own traditional medicine ties using tobacco and sage.
Valentino (Tino) Villatoro took the stage as the first Latino Chair of the CSMLS Board of Directors and delivered part of his speech in Spanish, honouring his Salvadoran heritage. “My career in the laboratory and in education has been enriched by this community. I am very grateful for the opportunity to be here, in front of you, as the first Latino president of this organization.”
The first plenary speaker was Dr. James Talbot. The former Chief Medical Officer of Health for Alberta and Nunavut inspired attendees with a powerful presentation emphasizing how lessons learned in the laboratory can be applied as strategies to combat misinformation in a world where science, expertise and evidence-based decision-making are under threat. Delegates continued their afternoon by attending breakout sessions on topics including virtual simulation practices, the role of the lab in Alzheimer’s disease and systems thinking in the medical lab.
The delegates also networked with over 60 companies at the Exhibitor Lunch, where they connected and learned about the latest innovations designed to facilitate laboratory operations.
The BC Ballroom at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver welcomed members of the community who explored fresh perspectives, discussed the advantages of cutting-edge technology and developed future collaboration opportunities. Participants discovered technologies that can help them practically. They explored better ways to use their lab equipment and learned about key developments in the lab world.
Dr. Lucy A. Perrone closed on Friday with her plenary session, “Quality Management in the Laboratory”, which focused on what MLPs need to know about quality management and the accreditation process for clinical laboratories. Later that evening, delegates participated in our optional social events.
The Lost Souls of Gastown tour walked participants through historic Gastown, and told haunting tales of the city’s darkest days, when fires, smallpox and gold dust fever swept through the streets, while the Vancouver Brewery Tour introduced them to interesting local craft breweries. LABCON is also about having fun and creating valuable memories that last a lifetime!
PHOTOGRAPH: COURTESY OF CSMLS MEMBER NIEL DEL SOCORRO
LABCON delegates woke up to a sunny Vancouver morning on Day Two, which opened with Dr. Marthe Charles’ plenary session “Copy That? The Perks and Pitfalls of Molecular Diagnostics.” She took attendees on a journey through the strengths and limitations of modern molecular tools, demystifying PCR, RT‑PCR, and sequencing. Saturday was a day of breakout sessions, designed to give attendees freedom to choose topics that interested them most. Some highlights of the day include discussions on AI and leadership in the lab, burnout and mental well-being, clinical teaching and POCT in rural areas.
We closed Saturday with the LABCON Gala, an opportunity to hang out and celebrate with friends and colleagues. Participants were able to connect and build new relationships — LABCON style. It was also a perfect opportunity to celebrate our Leaders of Tomorrow award winners — students and MLPs who were recognized for their early dedication to the medical lab profession. Congratulations to Julien Barredo, Chedy Olela, Chioma Chimeluogo Ezenwa, Tharshni Jeevaratnam, Danika Paquet, and Ashlyn Zeilke!
After dinner, the live band Side One took the stage to get attendees out of their seats and onto the dance floor. Thanks to everyone for bringing such a positive and festive atmosphere to the Gala.
VIDEO: COURTESY OF CSMLS MEMBER, REAN PORTEA.
To celebrate mothers, we invited delegates to join us for a Mother’s Day Brunch on Sunday. Thank you to everyone who showed up ready to celebrate with a fancy hat or fascinator.
At the closing ceremonies, we expressed our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who made this event possible, including volunteers, staff members, delegates, and every sponsor, exhibitor, and speaker who participated. Congratulations to Carolanne Lamy, the Indigo Lab Coat winner and to Chedy Olela for winning the CSMLS swag bag.
We hope all attendees enjoyed their time at LABCON — we certainly did! The conference continues to be a growth-focused event for many medical lab professionals across Canada, whether they’re just starting their career journey or exploring different roles and paths. Our post-event survey indicates over 97 per cent of respondents would recommend LABCON to others and we couldn’t be happier to hear that! Looking forward to seeing you in Ottawa for LABCON2027.