From Conference to Catalyst

Industry

Posted By Meghan Haukaas , May 20, 2026

Destination Canada’s Legacy & Impact Study is the strongest proof yet that events don’t just happen—they leave lasting economic, social, and environmental ripples. In Saskatoon, this national story hit home in a big way through the 11th International Conference on Isotopes (11ICI). Hosted here in 2023 and now spotlighted as a standout case study, 11ICI shows how a global scientific gathering can ignite long-term change when it plugs into a city’s strengths and future ambitions.

Today marks an important milestone for Saskatoon. With the release of Destination Canada’s Legacy & Impact Study, we now have evidence-based recognition of something we’ve long believed: business events don’t just come to Saskatoon, they help shape our future.

Conducted over three years, the study examined 15 international business events hosted across Canada between 2018 and 2025. Its conclusion is clear: when events are intentionally designed, supported and sustained over time, they generate impacts that extend far beyond delegate spending and hotel nights. They influence policy, attract investment, strengthen sectors, build community capacity, and elevate a destination’s global profile.

For Saskatoon, that national story became deeply local through the 11th International Conference on Isotopes (11ICI), hosted here in 2023. Featured as a case study in the report, 11ICI shows how a global scientific gathering can create a chain reaction of long-term impact when it aligns with a destination’s existing strengths and ambitions.

What 11ICI Helped Set in Motion

According to the study, 11ICI helped advance Saskatchewan’s nuclear ecosystem in several important ways. It strengthened scientific knowledge exchange through programming, technical tours, a Leaders Summit, and a Summer School for students. It raised the visibility of local expertise, showcasing the capabilities of the Sylvia Fedoruk Canadian Centre for Nuclear Innovation, the University of Saskatchewan, and Saskatchewan’s broader isotope sector.

The impacts were tangible. The event contributed to the creation of two university chairs, opening the door to new programs, courses, research opportunities and talent development. It supported expanded partnerships, including Indigenous collaboration in conference planning and programming. It also helped catalyse new investment, including a $410,650 investment from Prairies Economic Development Canada for isotope product development, and an agreement between the Fedoruk Centre and Canadian Nuclear Laboratories to increase the production of Actinium-225, a rare medical isotope used in cancer treatment.

Just as importantly, 11ICI helped strengthen Saskatoon’s story on the global stage. The conference positioned our city and province as serious contributors to the future of nuclear medicine and isotope innovation. In doing so, it showed how business events can do more than just convene experts, they can sharpen a destination’s identity, attract future opportunities and build long-term credibility in sectors that matter.

Why This Matters for Saskatoon

For Saskatoon, this validation matters. It confirms that when global events align with local expertise, they become catalysts for lasting change. They support talent attraction, strengthen research ecosystems, opens doors to investment, and reinforce the sectors that define a destination’s future.

It also challenges us to think differently about what event success really means. Yes, delegate numbers and visitor spending matter. But the Legacy & Impact Study makes a strong case for looking beyond the event itself and toward the partnerships formed, the knowledge shared, the policy influence generated, and the reputation built over time.

That is especially important for destinations like Saskatoon, where business events can amplify local strengths in powerful ways. When we host with purpose, we are not just filling rooms or calendars. We are helping shape sectors, strengthen communities and contribute to solutions that reach far beyond our city.

Looking Ahead

We’re proud to see Saskatoon featured in this national study not only as a host city, but as a place where ideas, partnerships, and expertise create lasting impact. The story of 11ICI is proof that business events leave a legacy well beyond conference week, and it reinforces the opportunity in front of us: to continue attracting events that align with our strengths and help shape a better future.

Saskatoon is not just hosting events. We are driving innovation, strengthening communities and contributing to global progress.