The Canadian Nutrition Society (CNS) 2026 Annual Conference
Sponsored Satellite Program Opportunities
Halifax Nova Scotia
May 7-9, 2026
The Canadian Nutrition Society (CNS) delivers nutrition science and education through a variety of initiatives, including its Annual Conference. All CNS education programming is reviewed and approved by respective CNS committees. As with all sector stakeholders, CNS considers and values industry partner engagement, including during its Annual Conference, while being committed to maintaining responsible and transparent processes with respect to support received from partners/sponsors.
CNS Sponsored Conference Satellite Sessions provide education opportunities for external groups, such as industry, commodity groups, or other relevant stakeholders, to showcase research findings and engage in dialogue with a dedicated nutrition science and practice community, including scientists, healthcare professionals, policy makers, other National Governing Organizations (NGOs), industry and trainees.
Sponsored Satellite Sessions are considered part of the official CNS Annual Conference program, but clearly labelled as organized with sponsors. CNS does not endorse the content presented or their proceedings, publications, etc. CNS also clearly states during all education sessions that the views expressed by speakers are those of the speaker or third-party and not necessarily of CNS.
Learn more:
All conference session proposals, including proposals for Sponsored Satellite Sessions, are reviewed by CNS based on the following criteria:
- Relevance to and advancement of the field of nutritional sciences.
- Balance across basic science, clinical, public health, and regulatory topics.
- Responsiveness to the educational needs of our diverse conference audience.
- Inclusion of practical application and implementation in practice.
- Novelty and innovation (sessions that present new or cross-disciplinary ideas are prioritized).
- Objectivity, scientific rigour, and lack of bias.
- Availability and cedibility of proposed speakers.
- Session descriptions and accompanying materials will be science-based and not promotional in nature.
CNS reserves the right to accept, reject or conditionally accept proposals based on CNS’s sole discretion, for any reason, which need not be disclosed to the applicant(s).
All sessions must comply with the Guidelines for Sponsored Satellite Sessions listed below, as well as the CNS Commitment to working with industry partners and sponsors.
Submitting a Satellite Session Proposal:
Individuals interested in submitting a proposal for a Sponsored Satellite Session must do so via the online CNS Conference Proposal Submission Tool. Each proposal will require:
- Draft session title
- Session description
- Learning objectives
- Explanation of application and implementation in practice
- Description of what is new, novel, and cutting edge about the session
- Recommended speakers (a minimum of two but not more than three speakers). Speakers should be contacted in advance to confirm interest and availability to participate if the session is accepted
- Suggested session chair (should be a CNS member in good standing) *
- Name of other sponsors/partners involved with organizing the session **
Session proposals should be fully developed when submitted (not rough concepts) to allow for accurate review and to ease coordination if accepted.
* The CNS Conference Organizing Committee and/or CNS Ethics/Sponsor Committee will review each proposal and assign a Session Chair. The Session Chair will play an important role in the planning and delivery of the Sponsored Satellite Session. Read more re: Session Chairs below.
** Sponsored Sessions may include a collaboration of up to three sponsors within the session fee. Additional collaborators will have an added surcharge fee. This surcharge fee may be waived if the collaborator engages in other sponsorship activities and / or if two individuals from each collaborating organization will be registering to attend the conference. Sessions with more than one sponsor must provide a logo reflecting all sponsors in one image.
Once the application for a Sponsored Satellite Session has been approved by CNS, the event title, speakers and content may not change without CNS approval. Sponsors are responsible for the coordination of their satellite symposia, with support from the approved Moderator/Chair.
Note that submission of a session proposal does not constitute approval/acceptance of your Sponsored Satellite Session. Individuals will be notified of the outcome of their proposal by approximately December 15, 2025. Note that CNS may reach out with questions during the review period.
Session Chairs
Session Chairs play an important role in the smooth planning and delivery of sessions. CNS relies on Chairs to be fully engaged in the session planning and delivery. Session Chairs represent/coordinate the speakers and serve as CNS' main point of contact. The Planning Committee will choose Chairs for each session carefully and welcomes suggestions via the session proposals. Preference should be on identifying Chairs who are CNS members in good standing and will fully engage in:
- Supporting speakers in the development of their presentations, ensuring that the final presentations match the session title and description as it will appear in the conference program.
- Organizing and facilitating any planning meetings among speakers and/or CNS leading up to the Annual Conference.
- Ensuring that all information and required materials are submitted by the stated deadlines (i.e., names/bios/photos, session descriptions, presentations, AV requirements, etc.).
- Confirming that each speaker has adequately included any disclosures/conflicts of interest in their presentation deck, and that each speaker will thoroughly present this information at the start of their talk.
- Confirming that all speaker presentations appropriately address the knowledge translation/take-away message requirements.
- Serve as a point of contact to CNS staff leading up to and during the conference.
- Moderate the Q and A period during the session.
- Each speaker will be required to include a "Disclosures" slide in the presentation deck; each speaker must verbally mention these disclosures at the opening of the talk in a meaningful way.
- Research findings must not be shared for the purpose of promoting a specific brand/product. Any mention of specific brands/products must be discussed and approved by CNS in advance.
- Speakers/moderators must refrain from mentioning specific company names during a talk, panel discussion or Q & A period. Should a question be submitted that names a company or product, the question should be paraphrased or dismissed.
- Any materials developed by the sponsor to promote the conference session must be approved by CNS.
- Satellite session organizers assume full responsibility for copyright of all images contained within the presentations.
- Research being presented should be primarily from published research. If the research is not yet peer-reviewed, this should be clearly stated in the presentation and pre-approved by CNS.
- CNS will disseminate evaluations electronically following each conference. The evaluation will include the question “Did you perceive, or were you affected by, any commercial bias during the session.”
- CNS webinars, conference sessions, podcasts or other educational events will include the following disclaimer: The views expressed by speakers or other third parties in CNS webinars, events and/or conferences are those of the speaker or third-party and not necessarily of CNS.
- October 17, 2025: All Conference session proposals, including Sponsored Satellite Session proposals are due. Proposals must be submitted via the online CNS Conference Proposal Submission Tool.
- Approx. December 15, 2025: Individuals will be notified if their sponsored Satellite Session proposal has been accepted.
- Approx. January 15, 2026: Accepted Satellite Sessions will be notified of their time slot and location within the conference program.
The scheduling of satellite symposia is at the discretion of the CNS Conference Planning Committee. The following draft time slots have been identified for Sponsored Satellite Sessions. The actual placement and time allotment will be determined when establishing the overall program. The time slots have been identified during meal time periods. Program space is limited. CNS reserves the right to adjust Sponsored Satellite Session times to accommodate the overall conference program schedule.
|
Date *
|
Time*
|
Fee**
|
| Friday, May 8, 2026 |
7:30am - 8:40am ET |
$22,500 |
| Friday, May 8, 2026 |
12:30pm - 1:40pm ET |
$22,500 |
| Saturday, May 9, 2026 |
7:30am - 8:40am ET |
$22,500 |
| Saturday, May 9, 2026 |
12:30pm - 1:40pm ET |
$22,500 |
* Time slots are estimates and are likely to change as the final program is developed.
** Sponsored Session fees may include a collaboration of
up to three sponsors. Additional collaborators will have an added $2,500 surcharge fee. This surcharge fee may be waived or reduced if the collaborator engages in other sponsorship activities or exhibit space. At least one individual from each collaborating organization must register to attend the conference. Sessions with more than one sponsor must provide a logo reflecting all sponsors in
one image.
*** See list of inclusions/exclusions below. Packages can also be created to include other conference sponsorship opportunities. Please contact
Andrea Grantham to discuss.
✓ The Sponsored Satellite Session Fee includes:
- Satellite session listed in the conference program (web and print)
- Session promotion via CNS’ website, on eblasts, in conference promotional materials, online mobile program and to pre-registered conference attendees
- Conference registration for up to two Speakers. Additional speakers will be billed extra
- Standard audio-visual set-up
- Pre-set Function space
- One (1) professionally produced session sign (produced by CNS) outside the room in which the event will take place
- One sponsor logo to be profiled. In the case of a session collaboration with more than one sponsor, a logo must be supplied to CNS reflecting the session sponsors in one image*
- A basic food and beverage meal will be ordered by CNS - Sponsored Satellite Sponsors have the opportunity to supplement the meal offering for an additional fee
- Session recordings are available for an additional fee. Recordings will be posted in the CNS Educational Portal post conference and can be available for free to the sponsor's network (with promo code)
- Dedicated promotions (i.e., eblast) can be included for an additional fee
X The Sponsored Satellite Session Fee does NOT include:
- Speaker travel, accommodations and related reimbursements. Speaker travel, accommodations and reimbursements must be coordinated directly between the speakers and the sponsor(s) (not CNS)
- Speaker honoraria. If honoraria is provided, speakers must disclose this at the start of their talks
- Satellite Session Sponsors and their guests are expected to register as a full conference or 1-day attendee registration. No “passes” for the session will be provided. In the case of sessions with more than one participating sponsor, each participating sponsor is expected to register to attend (minimum one attendee per sponsor organization)
- Meeting agenda/handouts or distributing and preparation of materials
- Session recordings are not included but can be offered for an additional fee
Use and placement of the sponsor logo must be approved by CNS. No product/brand promotion is allowed on promotional materials, educational materials or verbal/print materials. If there is a need to mention an industry, product or brand during the session presentation (i.e. methodology, transparency,) this needs to be explained to the session Chair and approval received from CNS.
Room set up will be dictated by available space. Typically, rooms are set in classroom and/or rounds. Room set and capacity limits are subject to change. Specific requests for room set up must be submitted in writing no later than February 13, 2026, are subject to approval and additional room set fees, and are not guaranteed. CNS will strive to provide satellite session organizers with access to rooms at least 30 minutes prior to the start of the program. A prompt exit of the satellite organizers and speakers after the program will be required due to the program schedule.
Function space will be set with CNS’ standard meeting room audio visual equipment: LCD projector, screen, laptop, one aisle microphone, head table with 1 table microphone, lectern with 1 microphone, laser pointer. Due to time and cost constraints, equipment cannot be moved, disconnected or reset. Requests for additional equipment must be submitted in writing no later than February 13, 2026, are subject to approval and are not guaranteed. Sponsor will be responsible for expenses for any additonal equipment that is ordered. Video recording can be made available for an additional fee.
CNS will coordinate all food and beverage requests. The sponsorship fee will cover a basic Food & Beverage order. Any additional requests will be at the expense of the Sponsored Satellite Sponsor to be either billed additionally by CNS or be billed via the host facility. CNS will facilitate introductions to the key contacts for food and beverage services.
Session promotion will take place via CNS’ website, on eblasts, in printed conference materials, online mobile program and to pre-registered conference attendees. CNS is not responsible for attendance/audience generation and does not guarantee attendance levels at Sponsored Satellite Sessions.
The Canadian Nutrition Society (CNS) name, logo, or other identifying marks may not be used in signs, advertising, or promotions in any media, or on product literature without the CNS’ prior approval and express written permission. CNS will supply approved Sponsored Satellite Program promotional language and branding that can be used by organizers.
CNS must review and approve all promotional materials produced in conjunction with the Sponsored Satellite Sessions prior to their dissemination. CNS has the right to reject such promotional materials at its sole discretion. A minimum of three (3) business days are required for CNS review of promotional materials. Requests should be sent to CNS Executive Director
Andrea Grantham.
CNS will provide one promotional sign to be displayed onsite. Signage will include “Program Title: Sponsor Name”. Design and placement of additional signs by satellite organizer is subject to CNS and venue approval. A minimum of three (3) business days are required for CNS review.
One sponsor logo to be profiled. In the case of a session collaboration with more than one sponsor, a logo must be supplied to CNS reflecting the session sponsors in one image.
Shipping and receiving of materials, and all associated expenses will be the responsibility of the satellite session organizer. No materials should be shipped to CNS’ attention without prior approval. CNS will provide shipping instructions by March 16, 2026.
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