"Joe Pavelka has immense talent in facilitation of projects that engage community stakeholders, propelling them to exceed their potential.

Dr. Pavelka’s business acumen and industry savvy allows a co-creation of economically viable solutions with his clients that transform destinations and projects to sustainable success!" - Laura Ell, MA

 

SPEAKING
Free Time and Work theme - broad audience What if we did nothing? The future of free time, work and leisure Work is rapidly changing bringing us into the future and past. Economists have explained what the new world of AI and the second tech revolution is likely to bring but what’s missing is what does mean to us and our way life. This session makes sense of current dialogue around work and free time and places it squarely into real life. Travel and leisure represents the largest industry sector on the planet. Leisure has permeated most every part of daily life of the average North American. There is little doubt we are living in a new leisure society though not the one we expected previously with too much free time and no chores. Today’s leisure is rooted in lifestyle, identity, consumption and lifestyle politics. This keynote presentation is ideal for just about any audience and gathering but may be of greatest interest to business and social service audiences. Leadership theme - broad audience Lessons from the Amazon and more… If your meeting is keen on a leadership session but not the same old lesson you may want to hear the story of Canadian canoes in the Peruvian Amazon and the amazing leadership lessons that made it all happen. Oh, and it comes with a multi-award winning short film. In 2015 Joe Pavelka brought 19 canoes to the Peruvian Amazon along with 15 university students, 4 assistants and a film crew. The reason was the Canoes for Peru project. The project was hatched years earlier (and continues today) by his Amazon partner group with the aim of getting ‘Canadian’ canoes into the jungle to reintroduce canoeing to local communities. But nothing ever goes as planned and this multi-layered project tested Joe and his crew of expedition leaders to the max and along the way many lessons were learned about leadership, group work, self awareness, community, and the power of youth. This keynote session is delivered with a compelling narrative and multi-award winning images and film. This is a great keynote for any conference group wishing to inspire leadership thinking from a different perspective. Joe has delivered various versions of this session at conferences throughout Canada.
Leadership theme – closing your conference with a punch Where to from here? How do you close your conference or meeting? Innovation and leadership are key themes in this session and directly support participants as they are closing and heading back home. This keynote is about just that, ‘keeping the momentum alive’ after the conference. Joe weaves insight and humour into a session that provides your audience with a desire and tools to bring home with them to keep your messages alive. Joe draws on years of diverse experience, including that of university educator and consultant to bring out simple and practical ways to incorporate new messages into life back home.
Tourism theme - broad audience Tourism, Borders and Global Turmoil One of the most contentious places on earth today is the border. The border is central to the refugee crisis, labour mobility, protectionism, nationalism, trade, and of course tourism. The world equally craves and fears mobility and tourism has found itself in the midst of this tug-o-war. This keynote presents tourism within the context of global turmoil and it role within contemporary mobility. The aim is re-position the ideas of the border, travel and mobility to better make sense of some of what we are witnessing today. This keynote fits with travel or business meetings with a global perspective. Recreation theme Revisiting Public Recreation Public recreation in North America is experiencing of a crisis of identity. As the world changes it is being pulled in every direction to keep relevant in the midst of an ever-growing commercial leisure sector. Public recreation agencies are told to be innovative while maintaining core services, to deal with stagnant budgets while addressing needs of vocal community groups. It’s a tough business but not without options. In this keynote session Joe Pavelka presents the present landscape of demands facing public recreation and options to address this situation that shows no sign of abating. This keynote is perfectly suited to the target group of public recreation and parks gatherings.
Travel / Adventure Humorous with Life Lessons – Broad audience It seemed like a good idea at the time… Joe has spent about 35 years of his life traveling the world and backcountry only to realize he’s not particularly good at it. In this keynote presentation Joe combines engaging stories, images and film to reveal some of the many lessons learned over in some of the most out of the way places. Lessons such as where there’s smoke there really is fire, and just because you avoid Starbucks does not mean you’re a local. But the real lessons are about gaining the clarity to pursue goals and overcome challenges. This keynote presentation fits with just about any conference or meeting wishing to inspire with a little humour.
SPEAKING
Free Time and Work theme - broad audience What if we did nothing? The future of free time, work and leisure Work is rapidly changing bringing us into the future and past. Economists have explained what the new world of AI and the second tech revolution is likely to bring but what’s missing is what does mean to us and our way life. This session makes sense of current dialogue around work and free time and places it squarely into real life. Travel and leisure represents the largest industry sector on the planet. Leisure has permeated most every part of daily life of the average North American. There is little doubt we are living in a new leisure society though not the one we expected previously with too much free time and no chores. Today’s leisure is rooted in lifestyle, identity, consumption and lifestyle politics. This keynote presentation is ideal for just about any audience and gathering but may be of greatest interest to business and social service audiences. Leadership theme - broad audience Lessons from the Amazon and more… If your meeting is keen on a leadership session but not the same old lesson you may want to hear the story of Canadian canoes in the Peruvian Amazon and the amazing leadership lessons that made it all happen. Oh, and it comes with a multi-award winning short film. In 2015 Joe Pavelka brought 19 canoes to the Peruvian Amazon along with 15 university students, 4 assistants and a film crew. The reason was the Canoes for Peru project. The project was hatched years earlier (and continues today) by his Amazon partner group with the aim of getting ‘Canadian’ canoes into the jungle to reintroduce canoeing to local communities. But nothing ever goes as planned and this multi-layered project tested Joe and his crew of expedition leaders to the max and along the way many lessons were learned about leadership, group work, self awareness, community, and the power of youth. This keynote session is delivered with a compelling narrative and multi-award winning images and film. This is a great keynote for any conference group wishing to inspire leadership thinking from a different perspective. Joe has delivered various versions of this session at conferences throughout Canada.
Leadership theme – closing your conference with a punch Where to from here? How do you close your conference or meeting? Innovation and leadership are key themes in this session and directly support participants as they are closing and heading back home. This keynote is about just that, ‘keeping the momentum alive’ after the conference. Joe weaves insight and humour into a session that provides your audience with a desire and tools to bring home with them to keep your messages alive. Joe draws on years of diverse experience, including that of university educator and consultant to bring out simple and practical ways to incorporate new messages into life back home. Tourism theme - broad audience Tourism, Borders and Global Turmoil One of the most contentious places on earth today is the border. The border is central to the refugee crisis, labour mobility, protectionism, nationalism, trade, and of course tourism. The world equally craves and fears mobility and tourism has found itself in the midst of this tug-o-war. This keynote presents tourism within the context of global turmoil and it role within contemporary mobility. The aim is re-position the ideas of the border, travel and mobility to better make sense of some of what we are witnessing today. This keynote fits with travel or business meetings with a global perspective. Recreation theme Revisiting Public Recreation Public recreation in North America is experiencing of a crisis of identity. As the world changes it is being pulled in every direction to keep relevant in the midst of an ever-growing commercial leisure sector. Public recreation agencies are told to be innovative while maintaining core services, to deal with stagnant budgets while addressing needs of vocal community groups. It’s a tough business but not without options. In this keynote session Joe Pavelka presents the present landscape of demands facing public recreation and options to address this situation that shows no sign of abating. This keynote is perfectly suited to the target group of public recreation and parks gatherings.
Travel / Adventure Humorous with Life Lessons – Broad audience It seemed like a good idea at the time… Joe has spent about 35 years of his life traveling the world and backcountry only to realize he’s not particularly good at it. In this keynote presentation Joe combines engaging stories, images and film to reveal some of the many lessons learned over in some of the most out of the way places. Lessons such as where there’s smoke there really is fire, and just because you avoid Starbucks does not mean you’re a local. But the real lessons are about gaining the clarity to pursue goals and overcome challenges. This keynote presentation fits with just about any conference or meeting wishing to inspire with a little humour.
SPEAKING
Free Time and Work theme - broad audience What if we did nothing? The future of free time, work and leisure Work is rapidly changing bringing us into the future and past. Economists have explained what the new world of AI and the second tech revolution is likely to bring but what’s missing is what does mean to us and our way life. This session makes sense of current dialogue around work and free time and places it squarely into real life. Travel and leisure represents the largest industry sector on the planet. Leisure has permeated most every part of daily life of the average North American. There is little doubt we are living in a new leisure society though not the one we expected previously with too much free time and no chores. Today’s leisure is rooted in lifestyle, identity, consumption and lifestyle politics. This keynote presentation is ideal for just about any audience and gathering but may be of greatest interest to business and social service audiences. Leadership theme - broad audience Lessons from the Amazon and more… If your meeting is keen on a leadership session but not the same old lesson you may want to hear the story of Canadian canoes in the Peruvian Amazon and the amazing leadership lessons that made it all happen. Oh, and it comes with a multi-award winning short film. In 2015 Joe Pavelka brought 19 canoes to the Peruvian Amazon along with 15 university students, 4 assistants and a film crew. The reason was the Canoes for Peru project. The project was hatched years earlier (and continues today) by his Amazon partner group with the aim of getting ‘Canadian’ canoes into the jungle to reintroduce canoeing to local communities. But nothing ever goes as planned and this multi-layered project tested Joe and his crew of expedition leaders to the max and along the way many lessons were learned about leadership, group work, self awareness, community, and the power of youth. This keynote session is delivered with a compelling narrative and multi-award winning images and film. This is a great keynote for any conference group wishing to inspire leadership thinking from a different perspective. Joe has delivered various versions of this session at conferences throughout Canada.
Leadership theme – closing your conference with a punch Where to from here? How do you close your conference or meeting? Innovation and leadership are key themes in this session and directly support participants as they are closing and heading back home. This keynote is about just that, ‘keeping the momentum alive’ after the conference. Joe weaves insight and humour into a session that provides your audience with a desire and tools to bring home with them to keep your messages alive. Joe draws on years of diverse experience, including that of university educator and consultant to bring out simple and practical ways to incorporate new messages into life back home. Tourism theme - broad audience Tourism, Borders and Global Turmoil One of the most contentious places on earth today is the border. The border is central to the refugee crisis, labour mobility, protectionism, nationalism, trade, and of course tourism. The world equally craves and fears mobility and tourism has found itself in the midst of this tug-o-war. This keynote presents tourism within the context of global turmoil and it role within contemporary mobility. The aim is re-position the ideas of the border, travel and mobility to better make sense of some of what we are witnessing today. This keynote fits with travel or business meetings with a global perspective. Recreation theme Revisiting Public Recreation Public recreation in North America is experiencing of a crisis of identity. As the world changes it is being pulled in every direction to keep relevant in the midst of an ever-growing commercial leisure sector. Public recreation agencies are told to be innovative while maintaining core services, to deal with stagnant budgets while addressing needs of vocal community groups. It’s a tough business but not without options. In this keynote session Joe Pavelka presents the present landscape of demands facing public recreation and options to address this situation that shows no sign of abating. This keynote is perfectly suited to the target group of public recreation and parks gatherings.
Travel / Adventure Humorous with Life Lessons – Broad audience It seemed like a good idea at the time… Joe has spent about 35 years of his life traveling the world and backcountry only to realize he’s not particularly good at it. In this keynote presentation Joe combines engaging stories, images and film to reveal some of the many lessons learned over in some of the most out of the way places. Lessons such as where there’s smoke there really is fire, and just because you avoid Starbucks does not mean you’re a local. But the real lessons are about gaining the clarity to pursue goals and overcome challenges. This keynote presentation fits with just about any conference or meeting wishing to inspire with a little humour.
SPEAKING
Free Time and Work theme - broad audience What if we did nothing? The future of free time, work and leisure Work is rapidly changing bringing us into the future and past. Economists have explained what the new world of AI and the second tech revolution is likely to bring but what’s missing is what does mean to us and our way life. This session makes sense of current dialogue around work and free time and places it squarely into real life. Travel and leisure represents the largest industry sector on the planet. Leisure has permeated most every part of daily life of the average North American. There is little doubt we are living in a new leisure society though not the one we expected previously with too much free time and no chores. Today’s leisure is rooted in lifestyle, identity, consumption and lifestyle politics. This keynote presentation is ideal for just about any audience and gathering but may be of greatest interest to business and social service audiences. Leadership theme - broad audience Lessons from the Amazon and more… If your meeting is keen on a leadership session but not the same old lesson you may want to hear the story of Canadian canoes in the Peruvian Amazon and the amazing leadership lessons that made it all happen. Oh, and it comes with a multi-award winning short film. In 2015 Joe Pavelka brought 19 canoes to the Peruvian Amazon along with 15 university students, 4 assistants and a film crew. The reason was the Canoes for Peru project. The project was hatched years earlier (and continues today) by his Amazon partner group with the aim of getting ‘Canadian’ canoes into the jungle to reintroduce canoeing to local communities. But nothing ever goes as planned and this multi-layered project tested Joe and his crew of expedition leaders to the max and along the way many lessons were learned about leadership, group work, self awareness, community, and the power of youth. This keynote session is delivered with a compelling narrative and multi-award winning images and film. This is a great keynote for any conference group wishing to inspire leadership thinking from a different perspective. Joe has delivered various versions of this session at conferences throughout Canada. Travel / Adventure Humorous with Life Lessons – Broad audience It seemed like a good idea at the time… Joe has spent about 35 years of his life traveling the world and backcountry only to realize he’s not particularly good at it. In this keynote presentation Joe combines engaging stories, images and film to reveal some of the many lessons learned over in some of the most out of the way places. Lessons such as where there’s smoke there really is fire, and just because you avoid Starbucks does not mean you’re a local. But the real lessons are about gaining the clarity to pursue goals and overcome challenges. This keynote presentation fits with just about any conference or meeting wishing to inspire with a little humour. Leadership theme – closing your conference with a punch Where to from here? How do you close your conference or meeting? Innovation and leadership are key themes in this session and directly support participants as they are closing and heading back home. This keynote is about just that, ‘keeping the momentum alive’ after the conference. Joe weaves insight and humour into a session that provides your audience with a desire and tools to bring home with them to keep your messages alive. Joe draws on years of diverse experience, including that of university educator and consultant to bring out simple and practical ways to incorporate new messages into life back home. Tourism theme - broad audience Tourism, Borders and Global Turmoil One of the most contentious places on earth today is the border. The border is central to the refugee crisis, labour mobility, protectionism, nationalism, trade, and of course tourism. The world equally craves and fears mobility and tourism has found itself in the midst of this tug-o-war. This keynote presents tourism within the context of global turmoil and it role within contemporary mobility. The aim is re-position the ideas of the border, travel and mobility to better make sense of some of what we are witnessing today. This keynote fits with travel or business meetings with a global perspective.
Recreation theme Revisiting Public Recreation Public recreation in North America is experiencing of a crisis of identity. As the world changes it is being pulled in every direction to keep relevant in the midst of an ever-growing commercial leisure sector. Public recreation agencies are told to be innovative while maintaining core services, to deal with stagnant budgets while addressing needs of vocal community groups. It’s a tough business but not without options. In this keynote session Joe Pavelka presents the present landscape of demands facing public recreation and options to address this situation that shows no sign of abating. This keynote is perfectly suited to the target group of public recreation and parks gatherings.
SPEAKING
Free Time and Work theme - broad audience What if we did nothing? The future of free time, work and leisure Work is rapidly changing bringing us into the future and past. Economists have explained what the new world of AI and the second tech revolution is likely to bring but what’s missing is what does mean to us and our way life. This session makes sense of current dialogue around work and free time and places it squarely into real life. Travel and leisure represents the largest industry sector on the planet. Leisure has permeated most every part of daily life of the average North American. There is little doubt we are living in a new leisure society though not the one we expected previously with too much free time and no chores. Today’s leisure is rooted in lifestyle, identity, consumption and lifestyle politics. This keynote presentation is ideal for just about any audience and gathering but may be of greatest interest to business and social service audiences. Leadership theme - broad audience Lessons from the Amazon and more… If your meeting is keen on a leadership session but not the same old lesson you may want to hear the story of Canadian canoes in the Peruvian Amazon and the amazing leadership lessons that made it all happen. Oh, and it comes with a multi-award winning short film. In 2015 Joe Pavelka brought 19 canoes to the Peruvian Amazon along with 15 university students, 4 assistants and a film crew. The reason was the Canoes for Peru project. The project was hatched years earlier (and continues today) by his Amazon partner group with the aim of getting ‘Canadian’ canoes into the jungle to reintroduce canoeing to local communities. But nothing ever goes as planned and this multi-layered project tested Joe and his crew of expedition leaders to the max and along the way many lessons were learned about leadership, group work, self awareness, community, and the power of youth. This keynote session is delivered with a compelling narrative and multi-award winning images and film. This is a great keynote for any conference group wishing to inspire leadership thinking from a different perspective. Joe has delivered various versions of this session at conferences throughout Canada. Travel / Adventure Humorous with Life Lessons – Broad audience It seemed like a good idea at the time… Joe has spent about 35 years of his life traveling the world and backcountry only to realize he’s not particularly good at it. In this keynote presentation Joe combines engaging stories, images and film to reveal some of the many lessons learned over in some of the most out of the way places. Lessons such as where there’s smoke there really is fire, and just because you avoid Starbucks does not mean you’re a local. But the real lessons are about gaining the clarity to pursue goals and overcome challenges. This keynote presentation fits with just about any conference or meeting wishing to inspire with a little humour. Leadership theme – closing your conference with a punch Where to from here? How do you close your conference or meeting? Innovation and leadership are key themes in this session and directly support participants as they are closing and heading back home. This keynote is about just that, ‘keeping the momentum alive’ after the conference. Joe weaves insight and humour into a session that provides your audience with a desire and tools to bring home with them to keep your messages alive. Joe draws on years of diverse experience, including that of university educator and consultant to bring out simple and practical ways to incorporate new messages into life back home. Tourism theme - broad audience Tourism, Borders and Global Turmoil One of the most contentious places on earth today is the border. The border is central to the refugee crisis, labour mobility, protectionism, nationalism, trade, and of course tourism. The world equally craves and fears mobility and tourism has found itself in the midst of this tug-o-war. This keynote presents tourism within the context of global turmoil and it role within contemporary mobility. The aim is re-position the ideas of the border, travel and mobility to better make sense of some of what we are witnessing today. This keynote fits with travel or business meetings with a global perspective. Recreation theme Revisiting Public Recreation Public recreation in North America is experiencing of a crisis of identity. As the world changes it is being pulled in every direction to keep relevant in the midst of an ever-growing commercial leisure sector. Public recreation agencies are told to be innovative while maintaining core services, to deal with stagnant budgets while addressing needs of vocal community groups. It’s a tough business but not without options. In this keynote session Joe Pavelka presents the present landscape of demands facing public recreation and options to address this situation that shows no sign of abating. This keynote is perfectly suited to the target group of public recreation and parks gatherings.
SPEAKING
Free Time and Work theme - broad audience What if we did nothing? The future of free time, work and leisure Work is rapidly changing bringing us into the future and past. Economists have explained what the new world of AI and the second tech revolution is likely to bring but what’s missing is what does mean to us and our way life. This session makes sense of current dialogue around work and free time and places it squarely into real life. Travel and leisure represents the largest industry sector on the planet. Leisure has permeated most every part of daily life of the average North American. There is little doubt we are living in a new leisure society though not the one we expected previously with too much free time and no chores. Today’s leisure is rooted in lifestyle, identity, consumption and lifestyle politics. This keynote presentation is ideal for just about any audience and gathering but may be of greatest interest to business and social service audiences. Leadership theme - broad audience Lessons from the Amazon and more… If your meeting is keen on a leadership session but not the same old lesson you may want to hear the story of Canadian canoes in the Peruvian Amazon and the amazing leadership lessons that made it all happen. Oh, and it comes with a multi-award winning short film. In 2015 Joe Pavelka brought 19 canoes to the Peruvian Amazon along with 15 university students, 4 assistants and a film crew. The reason was the Canoes for Peru project. The project was hatched years earlier (and continues today) by his Amazon partner group with the aim of getting ‘Canadian’ canoes into the jungle to reintroduce canoeing to local communities. But nothing ever goes as planned and this multi-layered project tested Joe and his crew of expedition leaders to the max and along the way many lessons were learned about leadership, group work, self awareness, community, and the power of youth. This keynote session is delivered with a compelling narrative and multi-award winning images and film. This is a great keynote for any conference group wishing to inspire leadership thinking from a different perspective. Joe has delivered various versions of this session at conferences throughout Canada. Travel / Adventure Humorous with Life Lessons – Broad audience It seemed like a good idea at the time… Joe has spent about 35 years of his life traveling the world and backcountry only to realize he’s not particularly good at it. In this keynote presentation Joe combines engaging stories, images and film to reveal some of the many lessons learned over in some of the most out of the way places. Lessons such as where there’s smoke there really is fire, and just because you avoid Starbucks does not mean you’re a local. But the real lessons are about gaining the clarity to pursue goals and overcome challenges. This keynote presentation fits with just about any conference or meeting wishing to inspire with a little humour. Leadership theme – closing your conference with a punch Where to from here? How do you close your conference or meeting? Innovation and leadership are key themes in this session and directly support participants as they are closing and heading back home. This keynote is about just that, ‘keeping the momentum alive’ after the conference. Joe weaves insight and humour into a session that provides your audience with a desire and tools to bring home with them to keep your messages alive. Joe draws on years of diverse experience, including that of university educator and consultant to bring out simple and practical ways to incorporate new messages into life back home. Tourism theme - broad audience Tourism, Borders and Global Turmoil One of the most contentious places on earth today is the border. The border is central to the refugee crisis, labour mobility, protectionism, nationalism, trade, and of course tourism. The world equally craves and fears mobility and tourism has found itself in the midst of this tug-o-war. This keynote presents tourism within the context of global turmoil and it role within contemporary mobility. The aim is re-position the ideas of the border, travel and mobility to better make sense of some of what we are witnessing today. This keynote fits with travel or business meetings with a global perspective. Recreation theme Revisiting Public Recreation Public recreation in North America is experiencing of a crisis of identity. As the world changes it is being pulled in every direction to keep relevant in the midst of an ever-growing commercial leisure sector. Public recreation agencies are told to be innovative while maintaining core services, to deal with stagnant budgets while addressing needs of vocal community groups. It’s a tough business but not without options. In this keynote session Joe Pavelka presents the present landscape of demands facing public recreation and options to address this situation that shows no sign of abating. This keynote is perfectly suited to the target group of public recreation and parks gatherings.
SPEAKING
Free Time and Work theme - broad audience What if we did nothing? The future of free time, work and leisure Work is rapidly changing bringing us into the future and past. Economists have explained what the new world of AI and the second tech revolution is likely to bring but what’s missing is what does mean to us and our way life. This session makes sense of current dialogue around work and free time and places it squarely into real life. Travel and leisure represents the largest industry sector on the planet. Leisure has permeated most every part of daily life of the average North American. There is little doubt we are living in a new leisure society though not the one we expected previously with too much free time and no chores. Today’s leisure is rooted in lifestyle, identity, consumption and lifestyle politics. This keynote presentation is ideal for just about any audience and gathering but may be of greatest interest to business and social service audiences. Leadership theme - broad audience Lessons from the Amazon and more… If your meeting is keen on a leadership session but not the same old lesson you may want to hear the story of Canadian canoes in the Peruvian Amazon and the amazing leadership lessons that made it all happen. Oh, and it comes with a multi-award winning short film. In 2015 Joe Pavelka brought 19 canoes to the Peruvian Amazon along with 15 university students, 4 assistants and a film crew. The reason was the Canoes for Peru project. The project was hatched years earlier (and continues today) by his Amazon partner group with the aim of getting ‘Canadian’ canoes into the jungle to reintroduce canoeing to local communities. But nothing ever goes as planned and this multi-layered project tested Joe and his crew of expedition leaders to the max and along the way many lessons were learned about leadership, group work, self awareness, community, and the power of youth. This keynote session is delivered with a compelling narrative and multi-award winning images and film. This is a great keynote for any conference group wishing to inspire leadership thinking from a different perspective. Joe has delivered various versions of this session at conferences throughout Canada. Travel / Adventure Humorous with Life Lessons – Broad audience It seemed like a good idea at the time… Joe has spent about 35 years of his life traveling the world and backcountry only to realize he’s not particularly good at it. In this keynote presentation Joe combines engaging stories, images and film to reveal some of the many lessons learned over in some of the most out of the way places. Lessons such as where there’s smoke there really is fire, and just because you avoid Starbucks does not mean you’re a local. But the real lessons are about gaining the clarity to pursue goals and overcome challenges. This keynote presentation fits with just about any conference or meeting wishing to inspire with a little humour. Leadership theme – closing your conference with a punch Where to from here? How do you close your conference or meeting? Innovation and leadership are key themes in this session and directly support participants as they are closing and heading back home. This keynote is about just that, ‘keeping the momentum alive’ after the conference. Joe weaves insight and humour into a session that provides your audience with a desire and tools to bring home with them to keep your messages alive. Joe draws on years of diverse experience, including that of university educator and consultant to bring out simple and practical ways to incorporate new messages into life back home. Tourism theme - broad audience Tourism, Borders and Global Turmoil One of the most contentious places on earth today is the border. The border is central to the refugee crisis, labour mobility, protectionism, nationalism, trade, and of course tourism. The world equally craves and fears mobility and tourism has found itself in the midst of this tug-o-war. This keynote presents tourism within the context of global turmoil and it role within contemporary mobility. The aim is re-position the ideas of the border, travel and mobility to better make sense of some of what we are witnessing today. This keynote fits with travel or business meetings with a global perspective. Recreation theme Revisiting Public Recreation Public recreation in North America is experiencing of a crisis of identity. As the world changes it is being pulled in every direction to keep relevant in the midst of an ever-growing commercial leisure sector. Public recreation agencies are told to be innovative while maintaining core services, to deal with stagnant budgets while addressing needs of vocal community groups. It’s a tough business but not without options. In this keynote session Joe Pavelka presents the present landscape of demands facing public recreation and options to address this situation that shows no sign of abating. This keynote is perfectly suited to the target group of public recreation and parks gatherings.