2026 Central Regional Winter Meeting
5:00 PM Feb 18 - 2:00 PM Feb 20, 2026
2026 Central Regional Winter Meeting
5:00 PM Feb 18 - 1:00 PM Feb 20, 2026
February 18-20, 2026
Toronto Metropolitan University
Theme: Together Under One Roof: Building Community for a Stronger Campus Experience
Hotel information
Chelsea Hotel
33 Gerrard Street West
Toronto, Ontario
M5G 1Z4
Rate: $209 plus tax, Queen Bed
Rate deadline is Monday, January 19, 2026.
Contact at the Chelsea should any questions arise: Justine Davidson justine.davidson@chelseatoronto.com
- The rate is available only for individual reservations either made by the booking link or by the guest calling in directly to the hotel's reservation department.
- Guests calling in must identify themselves as part of CUCCOA Regional Conference or Group ID: TMU021826 to take advantage of your special rate. The telephone number is toll free 1-800-CHELSEA (243-5732) or 416-595-1975.
- A valid credit card must be provided at time of reservation to guarantee the room.
- All reservations must be cancelled 48 hours (2 days) prior to arrival by 1600 hours (4PM EST). Cancellations made within 48 hours of arrival will result in charges of 1 nights' stay plus taxes.
- Check In: 3:00pm Check Out: 11:00am
Booking Link: Please click the link to CUCCOA Regional Conference
Program
Wednesday, February 18 (Pre-Conference)
5:00 PM – 8:00 PM | Registration
6:30 PM – 9:30 PM | Welcome Dinner Location: Joey's Eaton Centre Kick off the conference with great food and even better company at one of downtown Toronto's staples.
Thursday, February 19 (Day 1)
8:00 AM – 9:00 AM | Registration & Welcome Breakfast
9:00 AM – 9:15 AM | Opening Remarks An overview of our theme, “Together Under One Roof,” and the goals for the next two days.
9:15 AM – 10:15 AM | Keynote Address Topic: All Under One Roof: Why Collaboration Breaks Before It Starts
Speaker: Dr. Mathieu Yuill, Founder, Leading With Nice
Even in organizations where teams share the same mission, collaboration across departments can be surprisingly difficult. In this keynote, Dr. Mathieu Yuill explores why silos form and how everyday behaviors shape trust. Through reflection and table discussion, participants will surface practical insights to improve collaboration across housing, food, and conference services.
About the Speaker: Dr. Yuill is the founder of Leading With Nice, a Toronto-based strategy firm. He holds a doctorate in leadership (2025) and brings a practical perspective shaped by experience in journalism, marketing, and higher education.
10:15 AM – 10:30 AM | Networking Break
10:30 AM – 12:30 PM | Round Tables: Housing, Food & Conferences Connect with peers in an open-forum setting focused on the core pillars of campus operations. These collaborative sessions use guided prompts to explore shared challenges and solutions in a relaxed environment.
12:30 PM – 1:30 PM | Hot Lunch
1:30 PM – 2:30 PM | Panel Discussion: Navigating the Future of Campus Communities Housing, Food Services, and Conference Management are the operational engines of campus life—but too often, they operate in isolation. Join us for a candid discussion on how integrated leadership can drive revenue, streamline operations, and elevate the student experience.
- Valerie Bruce, Director, Student Housing & Strategic Partnerships (TMU)
- Marwan El-Chaei, Director, Hospitality Services & President, CUFFSA (TMU)
- Sabrina Coccagna, Assistant Director, Conference & Event Services (UTM)
2:30 PM – 3:30 PM | The Innovation Hour Stay ahead of the curve in this dedicated session exploring emerging trends and disruptive technologies. Discover the latest tools designed to drive operational efficiency and elevate the guest experience.
3:30 PM – 4:45 PM | TMU Campus Tour (Optional) Explore how Toronto Metropolitan University integrates dynamic event spaces into the heart of downtown. Highlights include the iconic Mattamy Athletic Centre (formerly Maple Leaf Gardens), key conference locations, and residence hubs.
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM | Networking Reception
Friday, February 20 (Day 2)
8:00 AM – 9:00 AM | Breakfast & Networking
9:00 AM – 10:00 AM | Central Regional Business Meeting
10:00 AM – 10:45 AM | Central Region Check-in Share what is happening on your campus. In this open forum, members provide brief updates on triumphs, challenges, and upcoming projects. Whether you are navigating new leadership or tackling a renovation, this check-in fosters connection across the region.
10:45 AM – 12:15 PM | Round Tables: Housing, Food & Conferences A continuation of our pillar-based discussions, allowing for deeper dives into specific operational case studies and knowledge sharing.
12:15 PM – 1:30 PM | Closing Lunch & Networking
1:30 PM – 1:45 PM | Closing Remarks Review of key takeaways, thank you notes, and next steps for CUCCOA.
Transportation
Rail: VIA Rail to Union Station. Union is 2km from TMU.
Travel time options
- Subway (TTC):
- Line 1 northbound from Union Station → Dundas Station
- ~5 minutes on the subway + a short walk
- Walking:
- ~20–25 minutes
- Taxi / Uber:
- ~10–15 minutes (traffic dependent)
By Car: Parking available at hotel
By Air: Closest airport is Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ) - 3.5 km (about 2 miles) from TMU
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Registration
Registration Cancellation:
Unless specifically stated on registration materials, the deadline to receive a refund less a $50 administration fee is 10 business days before the event.
If an attendee is unable to attend the Conference based on serious illness or death (of self or a family member), a full refund may be granted. Proof of illness may be requested by the Board of Directors. Requestors shall submit the request in writing to the CUCCOA Office within 15 days of the start of the event. No refund shall be granted for cancelled or missed flights and/or inclement weather.
Substitutions for person attending can be made up to 72 hours prior to event without charge.
CUCCOA regrets that refunds will not be given for no-shows.
In the case of extenuating circumstances (natural disasters, Acts of God, large-scale outages of essential utilities, volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, and other severe and abnormal weather events) that occur within 5 days of the conference, registrants will be refunded 50% of the registration fee.
In the case of declared emergencies (government-declared local or national emergencies, epidemics, pandemics, and public
TESTIMONIALS
CUCCOA is an excellent organization to become involved with to network and learn more about summer accommodations, event planning and campus conferencing. There is a wealth of knowledge in the organization.
Susan MacKenzie (Laurier)