International spirituality conference seeks connection in an age of disruption

It’s rare that people think about a conference as being life-changing, but that’s exactly how UCalgary Social Work professor Dr. Heather Boynton PhD, describes the first spirituality conference she attended in 2005, at the University of Waterloo. “You can’t talk about what it’s like. You just have to go and be in it.” 

She says she immediately felt like she was home. “It was like, ‘Oh my gosh, people are speaking my language!’ I didn’t even know that this existed,” she said. “And now, I want others to find that same experience.”

Since then Boynton has attended or helped to organize nearly every subsequent international spirituality conference, and this year brings the event to the University of Calgary, from June 18–21. She believes the theme chosen for the four-day gathering is perfect for the tumultuous times we find ourselves in. 

“In a world marked by rapid technological change, political division, climate crisis and social fragmentation,” she says, “we’re asking a deceptively simple question: How do we evolve and flourish in an age of disruption?”

A transformational gathering 

Hosted by the University of Calgary’s Faculty of Social Work in partnership with the Canadian Society for Spirituality and Social Work, Boynton promises that this year’s event will be unlike anything most attendees have previously experienced. 

Over its 23-year history the conference has expanded far beyond its original social work roots, to embrace a transdisciplinary vision that welcomes educators, architects, engineers, physicians, community leaders, students, and anyone with a curiosity about the role of spirituality in personal and societal transformation.

“This isn’t about religion, per se,” says Boynton. “It’s about connection — to self, to others, to nature, to a higher power — however you define it. It’s about purpose, empathy, and compassion. It’s about the search we all share as humans: Who am I? Why am I here? What brings me joy? And how can I be of service?”

From contemplative practice to quantum consciousness

The 2025 program is a kaleidoscope of global perspectives, spiritual traditions, scholarly innovations and diverse workshops.

Sessions range from Indigenous and Afrocentric worldviews to contemplative pedagogy, Kundalini yoga, chanting, consciousness, and even spiritual approaches to architecture and urban design. 

One talk will explore quantum physics and consciousness; while another examines how spirituality is being woven into education and medicine to foster resilience, especially in children and youth.

The keynotes alone are worth attending. Dr. Lisa Miller, renowned psychologist and New York Times best-selling  author of The Spiritual Child and The Awakened Brain, will present her groundbreaking neuroscience research on spirituality and mental health. 

In another impactful keynote, Elder Darlene McIntosh, Chancellor of UNBC, will offer an Indigenous perspective on spiritual flourishing and intergenerational healing. 

For those attending the UCalgary event in-person, this year’s lineup even includes celebrated Calgary poet Wakefield Brewster, whose powerful spoken word performance is part of the evening welcome reception of wine and cheese, celebration and connection.

An experience, not just a conference

And connection is one of the most powerful aspects of this conference. As Boynton emphasizes, this conference isn’t just an academic event. It’s a lived experience.  

“What people will take away is connection,” she says. “People often come in feeling alone in their thoughts about spirituality. But here, they find others who speak their language. It’s soul-to-soul, heart-to-heart. It’s energizing. And it stays with you.”

Open to everyone 

The unique aspect of this conference is that you absolutely don’t need a title or a specific degree to attend. As Boynton says, if you have ever wrestled with big questions, if you have felt the world changing around you and longed for grounded, compassionate ways to respond, you belong at this conference.

“It’s for anyone,” she stresses. “You might work in a clinic, a classroom, or a courtroom. You might be a student, a therapist, an artist, a banker, a healer. If you’re seeking something deeper, this is the place.”

Fans of the musical group The Who might hear the echo: this is a call to the seekers. To the people who want more than a to-do list for surviving disruption. This is a space for transformation, for flourishing. For realignment with the values that make us human.

Dr. Boynton likens the conference to an immersive exhibit: “You can’t explain it. You just have to experience it.”

Event details

• Evolving and Flourishing in an Age of Disruption: The Role of Spirituality in Realignment and Transformation
• Dates: June 18–21, 2025
• Location: University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada (Taylor Institute, MacKimmie Tower, 7th floor)
• Register and learn more