About
Convening in Complexity is a facilitator training program designed to help participants build practical skills in designing, hosting and facilitating impactful conversations that bring people together, inspire collective action, and address increasingly complex issues in community.
What you'll gain
Through hands-on activities, coaching, peer learning, and guided conversations, participants will develop their facilitation skills and techniques for managing group dynamics, facilitating inclusive processes, and creating meaningful and actionable outcomes.
By the end of the program, participants will be familiar with a range of tools for engaging diverse audiences and learn how to identify, apply, and adapt these tools in practice.
What to expect
- A 3-day, immersive, and hands-on learning experience designed to help you practice and refine your facilitation skills in a creative and supportive learning environment.
- Curriculum that builds upon well established facilitation practices as well as unique approaches to facilitating in the face of complexity.
- Introduction to systems thinking and complexity theory with facilitation tools and techniques that are grounded in collaborative practice.
- Opportunities to apply what you’ve learned in real scenarios through role-playing exercises and reflective practice.
Who should attend
This training is for leaders and facilitators in the non-profit, social and public sectors who are interested in building their skills in effective facilitation and hosting impactful conversations. The program is most relevant to those who are in roles that require designing, convening and facilitating group processes with audiences from diverse backgrounds, sectors and lived experience.
To participate, organizations must:
- Be willing to send 2-3 people from their organization; specifically those in leadership positions and those tasked with hosting and/or facilitating conversations.
- Commit to attending all 3 days of the training
Program details
Dates, Time & Location
Your choice of cohort date:
- 2026 - October 14, 15, 16
- 2027 - February 3, 4, 5
Location:
- Trico Changemakers Studio at Mount Royal University (Google Maps)
The sessions will be run from 9am - 4pm
Registration
- Coffee, tea, snacks, refreshments and lunch during training days
- Paid parking at MRU
- A copy of the Convening in Complexity Facilitator Toolbox
- 1:1 coaching following the program
- Access to a supportive network of fellow facilitators
** In order to provide accessible programing and remove barriers, alternative fee options and scholarships are available. Please select the option that best suits your needs on the registration page, or reach out if you have any questions.
Registration for the October 2026 Session closes October 7th.
Seats are limited, secure your spot.
“ You all did an incredible job of making the space feel safe and for everyone to engage. I really valued so much of this session both to reinforce current practices, re-invigorate practices that have been lost and to learn new ways of doing things.
Program Participant
“ Really grateful for this learning experience. It reframed facilitation from something I do at work to a lifelong practice I can engage in.
Program Participant
“ I am so grateful for the opportunity to learn from your incredible team! I learned and practiced more in these three days about facilitating groups and systems change than I did in my university degree.
Program Participant
Lori DeLuca
Learning Hub Manager
Questions?
Contact Lori De Luca at ldeluca@mtroyal.ca
Thanks to the Calgary Foundation for their generous support!