Events and Forums

Forums

We hold forums three times a year (March, June and September). They are online webinars, typically held over the lunch hour.

These quarterly forums allow us to highlight "wicked problems." The presenter delves deep into the situation and shares how they are using social marketing to help address the problem. Past forum presentation topics have included wildfires, plastics, COVID vaccinations, distracted driving, gun violence, and opioid addiction.

The fourth quarter of the year is reserved for our two-day SPARKS conference.

Members have access to recordings of past forum presentations. Click here to access those recordings.

Upcoming Events

July Quarterly Forum - Aging Drivers and Traffic Safety

July 15th, 11:30-1pm

This workshop will dive into the urgent challenge of aging drivers and their disproportionate involvement in serious and fatal crashes—a complex issue that calls for more than traditional outreach and education. Together, we’ll explore how social marketing principles can illuminate the root causes of behavior, identify meaningful audience insights, and inspire strategies that actually shift norms and reduce harm. After a brief problem overview, participants will roll up their sleeves in breakout groups to brainstorm and design behavior change approaches, then share ideas back with the full cohort. Join us to help shape innovative, people centered solutions that support safer mobility for everyone.

Register for Quarterly Forum

 

2026 North American Social Marketing Conference — Ignited by SPARKS (NASMC26) 
October 1-3, 2026
Victoria, British Columbia

Register Now

Join researchers, practitioners, policymakers and changemakers in Victoria, Canada this October for three days of big ideas, practical learning, and meaningful connections across health, environment and safety.

Register early to secure discounted rates — and there’s an added bonus this year:
All delegates who

  • Register during the Early Bird period, AND
  • Book their stay at the official conference hotel

will be entered into a prize draw, with THREE attendees receiving complimentary room upgrades during the conference.

Pre-conference training workshops are also now open for booking, including specialist sessions designed to build practical behaviour change and social marketing skills.

Register Now

Past Events

8-9 Dec 2025 SPARKS 2025 Conference
18 Jun 2025 June 18th PNSMA Forum: The Traffic Safety Guy on the Communications Funnel
19 Mar 2025 Reducing Gun Violence & Death: A Social Marketing Approach
9 Dec 2024 SPARKS 2024 Conference
16 Oct 2024 Opioid Updates
12 Jun 2024 Community Based Social Marketing at Oberlin College
20 Mar 2024 Equity in Social Marketing 2.0 – Going Deeper
4 Dec 2023 SPARKS 2023 Conference
20 Sep 2023 PNSMA Fall Forum: Reducing Gun Deaths & Injuries: A Social Marketing Approach
13 Jun 2023 Using Positive Culture Framework in Traffic Safety
15 Mar 2023 Best Practices for Applying DEI Principles to Marketing Communications and Engagement