Written by IACP President and MCT member, Brian Galbraith, Esq.

Have you ever attended an IACP Forum? What? You need to go. It is an amazing experience.

The pandemic robbed us of the opportunity to gather together, but that is in our past. People are excited to come together for great fellowship and learning. I recently attended conferences in LA, Orlando and Ontario. There were many hugs exchanged from old friends and excitement to meet new friends. It was just great to share ideas and create new friendships.

The Forum is the conference of the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals (IACP) and brings together collaborative professionals from around the globe. This year, it is in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, from October 19 to 22, 2023. It is a great opportunity for you to take your practice to the next level.

The Forum starts on Thursday with full-day Pre-forum Institutes. These are advanced trainings with cutting-edge professionals from around the globe taking a deep dive into their subject. On Friday and Saturday, we have 33 different workshops. Some are 90 minutes, and others are 3 hours. I always learn new ideas that I can apply immediately in my practice from these workshops.  

The keynote speaker this year is Dr. Brian Goldman. He is a renowned speaker having hosted the radio show on CBC called “White Coat, Black Art” for many years. He is the author of several books, including his most recent entitled “The Power of Teamwork: How We Can All Work Better Together”. Dr. Goldman will describe how teamwork has radically improved practices in several professionals, including his own. Dr. Goldman is a practicing emergency room physician in Canada. 

The educational opportunities are amazing. I come away from each Forum with new ideas that I can incorporate into my practice and feel enriched by the experience.

Equally as beneficial as the educational opportunities are the chances to socialize with like-minded professionals from around the globe. We have meals together where we can connect with new people. We also have a dance on Friday night, which will be a great time to let loose on the dance floor.

An advantage to it being hosted in Canada is the favourable exchange rate. The Canadian dollar is worth about 30% less than the USD so your money goes farther.  Many people plan a vacation before or after the events to enjoy all Canada offers. Toronto itself is a world-class city with great restaurants and entertainment opportunities. Niagara Falls are not far from Toronto and worth the drive. Some practice groups are planning to travel together to see the sites in Canada.

An early bird special rate is available until August 4, so register now. To learn more about the Forum, go to this link . Before you register, log in to the website so you can take advantage of your membership in IACP. If you are not yet a member of IACP, join using this link.  If you have any questions or concerns, email me at Brian@galbraithfamilylaw.com .

Brian Galbraith is the president of the IACP and lives in Barrie, Ontario, Canada. Brian is a collaborative lawyer, trainer and author.  Brian is a member of My Collaborative Team.