The Canadian Society for Chemistry (CSC) held its annual Canadian Chemistry Conference and Exhibition (CSC 2025) from June 15-19, 2025, at the Rogers Centre Ottawa, drawing over 2500 attendees from across Canada and beyond.
Plenary Sessions
Each day of the conference involved a variety of workshops, meetings, and plenary lectures. The plenary speakers included Dr. André K. Isaacs, Hon. Kirsty Duncan, Dr. Barbara Imperiali, Dr. Tsun-Kong (T.K.) Sham, and Dr. Paul Smith.The topics of the presentations reflected each presenter’s unique perspective and varied journey as a chemist.
Social Events
CSC 2025 featured a wide variety of social events throughout the week. There was something for everyone to enjoy. On Monday, June 16, the CIC hosted its first-ever francophone social, Franco Chimie en Fête, which was a resounding success with over 50 attendees.
The following evening, there was a Women in Chemistry and Friends dinner. This dinner united a vibrant community of participants.
On Wednesday, June 18, Gilead Sciences hosted a Pride Mixer. This night was a space for networking and celebration. Together, these events showcased the diversity of the chemical sciences community and highlighted the importance of creating inclusive spaces for everyone.
On-Site Workshops
The Transitions Program was responsible for putting on various workshops during the conference. Monday, June 16, the Transitions Program, put on a public speaking workshop. The workshop focused on how forming connections in today’s workforce is extremely important and a viable skill to learn.
Cooking with Chemistry was the highlight of Wednesday, June 18. Participants gathered in the CrEATe Kitchen Studio in the Rogers Centre Ottawa. This workshop investigated the science behind food. Some of the experiments looked at eggs, the mysteries behind chocolate, as well as the Maillard reaction. Participants were able to discover and learn how the textures and flavours of food can be altered through heat, as well as different methods of food preparation.
Awards Night
On the evening of Wednesday, June 18, the CIC and CSC celebrated their award recipients at the official awards reception. Among the honourees were Dr. Tsun-Kong (T.K.) Sham, recipient of the prestigious CIC Medal, and Dr. Paul Smith, who was awarded the Montreal Medal. The evening highlighted the outstanding achievements and contributions of all the award winners, recognizing their lasting impact on the chemical sciences community.
Looking Forward to x2026 in Toronto
CSC 2025 wrapped on Thursday, June 19, marking a hugely successful conference. We’re deeply grateful to all our attendees, exhibitors, speakers, CIC and CSC board, CSC 2025 organizing committee, and the sponsors who made this possible.
We look forward to hosting you again in Toronto at the x2026 concurrent conference – from May 24-28, 2026. The theme of the conference is “Erasing Boundaries” and will be the at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. The conference will maintain the distinct identities of both the CSC and the CSChE, while bringing them together under one roof.
Stay tuned and follow the x2026 page for the latest updates!