Packaging Your Imagination (PYI) Conference 2026
Join us at PYI IN PERSON on Saturday, October 24 at Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute in downtown Toronto .
OR
Can't go in person? PYI LIVESTREAM on Saturday, October 24 brings you there in real time.
Canada's community of children's writers, illustrators, performers and publishers gathers annually for PYI. CANSCAIP has hosted this highly regarded professional development conference for more than 40 years. We invite you to join us for this inspiring day of craft, business, and networking.
Photos from PYI 2023 by Caroline Fernandez | PYI IN PERSONLi Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, Toronto Saturday, October 24, 2026 PYI LIVESTREAM (new!)Saturday, October 24, 2026 PYI RECORDED Registration opens in September |
Pick Your Own PYI: Two Terrific Options in 2026!PYI IN PERSON and PYI LIVESTREAM on Saturday October 24One-to-One evaluations can be added to both options!When you register for either PYI IN PERSON (in downtown Toronto) or for PYI LIVESTREAM (in real time on your computer), At no extra charge, attendees for both PYI options get recordings of all 12 sessions plus the 2 keynotes. (The PYI recordings will be sent in November.) PYI IN PERSON | $250 Members & Friends | $225 non-members PYI LIVESTREAM | $225 Members & Friends | $250 non-members |
ONE-TO-ONE EVALUATIONS @ PYI 2026For an additional $85, you can add a One-to-One to your PYI IN PERSON registration or to your PYI LIVESTREAM registration. A One-to-One is a 15-minute meeting with a publishing professional who has evaluated 1,000 words of your manuscript, or 10 images of your online illustration portfolio. One-to-Ones are verbal evaluations without written notes. We are not able to take requests for specific evaluators. We assign One-to-One evaluators based on the manuscript's reading level (Picture Book, Young Adult, Middle Grade, etc.). Attendees of PYI IN PERSON participate in One-to-One meetings at the conference venue at the end of the PYI day on Saturday October 24, scheduled from 5:00 to 8:30pm ET. Attendees of PYI LIVESTREAM participate in One-to-One meetings via Zoom. The meetings are two weeks after the conference on Saturday November 7, scheduled from 2:00 to 5:30pm ET. PYI IN PERSON ONE-TO-ONE EVALUATORS Saturday October 24, 5:00-8:30pm ET at the PYI venue WRITING Hadley Dyer - Annick Press Erin Haggett - Scholastic Canada Kathleen Keenan – Owlkids Books Khary Mathurin - Annick Press Ali McDonald - 5 Otter Literary Peter Phillips - Tundra Book Group Emma Sakamoto - Goundwood Books Gayna Theophilus - Annick Press Yasemin Uçar - Kids Can Press ILLUSTRATION (sold out) Sara Gillingham - Greystone Books (sold out) PYI LIVESTREAM ONE-TO-ONE EVALUATORS Saturday November 7, 2:00-5:30pm ET via Zoom WRITING Bev Brenna - freelance editor; currently working with Thistledown Press Sarah Howden - Orca Book Publishers Whitney Moran - Nimbus Publishing Katie Scott - Kids Can Press Andrew Wooldridge - Orca Book Publishers ILLUSTRATION Sophie Paas-Lang - Tundra Book Group | PYI 2026 SESSIONS & SPEAKERSOPENING KEYNOTE MORNING SESSIONS (choose one)
MID-MORNING SESSIONS (choose one)
CLOSING KEYNOTE Some of the Books I Have Loved and Why - PATSY ALDANA (The Claire Mackay Memorial Lecture is sponsored annually by the Peter and Eleanor Daniels Charitable Foundation) Funding to Attend PYI Some national, provincial and municipal funders offer grants or cover expenses for creators to attend conferences and other professional development events. CANSCAIP's grants volunteer has complied this helpful list of resources. |
PYI 2026 Hotel InfoPantages Hotel is across the street from the PYI venue. Rooms with a king size bed are available at the special PYI rate of $335 (plus taxes & fees). PYI room nights: Thu Oct 22 | Fri Oct 23 | Sat Oct 24 | Sun Oct 25 WHAT ATTENDEES ARE SAYING"I always come away from PYI having learned something, having been inspired, and feeling more confident about my writing." "Always amazing--I recommend it to EVERYONE." "So well organized with great variety of presenters. I felt welcomed to this writing community as soon as I entered the building." "Thank you so much for this fantastic conference, for the speakers who know their stuff, and for the editors who give their time for the always-valuable One-to-One sessions." | Social Events at PYI 2026 WeekendCANSCAIPers can power up their PYI weekend with these fun and friendly social gatherings. If travelling to Toronto, make it a PYI long weekend! Friday October 23 from 7:00 to late is PUB NIGHT at the Firkin on Yonge (2 blocks from the PYI venue). Everyone is welcome to enjoy this informal gathering with drinks, food, and conversation. The pub gives individual checks to each person. Saturday October 24 afternoon from 12-1:30 is a NETWORKING LUNCH at the PYI venue, with activities and opportunities to connect with other conference goers. You'll have time to get lunch from nearby restaurants—or you can bring lunch from home. Saturday October 24 evening from 6:00 to late is a POST-PYI PIZZA PARTY at a location easily reached by subway and free to attend. If you're scheduled for a One-to-One, come for pizza after your evaluation meeting! Sunday October 25 at 11:00 is a BRUNCH BUFFET at the famous Hothouse Café in the historic heart of Old Toronto, at Church and Front Streets. The legendary buffet ($37.50 per person) has plenty of hot and cold options, carving stations and desserts by the dozens! Monday October 26 (TBC) is the BOOK AWARDS GALA presented by the Canadian Children's Book Centre. Many Canadian kidlit colleagues attend this informal evening event. |
CANSCAIP
Canadian Society of Children's Authors, Illustrators and Performers
Davisville Centre | 1920 Yonge Street, Suite 241 | Toronto, Ontario M4S 3E2
Email: office@canscaip.org
Phone: 1-416-515-1559