Overview

The 2025 Canadian Conference on Tobacco and Nicotine (CCTN25) is Canada’s leading interdisciplinary knowledge exchange event focused on reducing the harms associated with commercial tobacco and nicotine use. Taking place virtually, CCTN25 will convene public health professionals, researchers, policymakers, clinicians, educators, and advocates from across the country and beyond.

Through interactive plenaries, symposia, panel discussions, and networking forums, participants will examine the current landscape of commercial tobacco and nicotine use; explore emerging evidence and trends; consider the potential implications of emerging alternative nicotine products; and share policy, practice, and community-led innovations. With a continued focus on reaching less than 5% tobacco use prevalence by 2035, the conference will support critical dialogue and cross-sector collaboration to accelerate progress toward a tobacco- and nicotine-free future.

CCTN25 is designed to support real-time dialogue and collaboration—equipping attendees with the knowledge, connections, and momentum needed to accelerate progress toward a tobacco- and nicotine-free future.

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DECLARATION OF INTERESTS

Please note that transparency is a condition of participation at the 2025 Canadian Conference on Tobacco and Nicotine (CCTN25). Registrants with ties to any tobacco or vaping product entity will be excluded from the conference.

Important dates:

Call for Submissions Launch: 17 July
Call for Submissions Deadline: 14 August
Submitters notified of the results: 5 September
Preliminary Program Launch: 9 September
Final Program Launch: 3 October
Virtual Conference Platform Launch: 29 October
Canadian Conference on Tobacco and Nicotine: 5-6 November

Conference Goals

CCTN25 will:

Facilitate multi-directional knowledge exchange among researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and community partners to strengthen efforts to prevent and reduce the harms of commercial tobacco and nicotine use across sectors and jurisdictions.
Profile innovative, evidence-informed strategies to prevent and reduce the harms of commercial tobacco and nicotine use in Canada.
Advance health equity by examining the disproportionate impacts of tobacco and vaping on structurally disadvantaged populations, including but not limited to Indigenous Peoples, racialized communities, 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals, youth, and people with lived and living experience.
Strengthen collaboration and systems leadership across public health, clinical care, education, advocacy, and policy to drive transformative action at the local, provincial/territorial, and national levels.

learning objectives

By participating in CCTN25, delegates will be better equipped to:

Describe the current and emerging state of commercial tobacco and nicotine use in Canada and identify key policy, practice, and research developments.
Apply evidence-informed, equity-focused approaches to reduce tobacco and nicotine use and mitigate associated harms, including through policy, clinical, and community-based interventions.
Recognize the lived experiences of people who use tobacco or nicotine products and incorporate these perspectives into program and policy development.
Identify and address commercial, structural, and social determinants that shape tobacco and nicotine-related health outcomes.
Build new partnerships and strengthen existing collaborations to advance shared goals in reducing the harms of tobacco and nicotine use.
Identify knowledge gaps and emerging trends that require coordinated research, surveillance, and policy attention.

Steering Committee

Ian Culbert, Canadian Public Health Association (Chair)
Les Hagen, Action on Smoking & Health
Rob Cunningham, Canadian Cancer Society
Sarah Butson, Canadian Lung Association
Flory Doucas, Coalition québécoise pour le contrôle du tabac
Manuel Arango, Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada
Rebecca Love, Indigenous Health Unit, Ontario Health
Laurie Zawertailo, Institute for Mental Health Policy Research, CAMH
Cynthia Carr, Manitoba Tobacco Reduction Alliance
Leslie Phillips, School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University
Michael Chaiton, Ontario Tobacco Research Unit
Shae Wale, Respecting Tobacco, First Nations Health Authority
David Hammond, University of Waterloo

Virtual Platform

The Virtual conference platform will allow participants to:

Stream live sessions and connect with speakers via live Q&A.
Interact with other participants directly, share contact information, and connect via chat or in small groups.
Engage in live discussion forums where participants can ask and answer questions.
Export session notes and contacts that participants meet in the platform.
View session recordings post-conference.

The only equipment necessary for participants is an electronic device with an internet connection. The virtual platform works on computers, tablets and smartphones. The platform is optimized for viewing using Chrome.

Scientific Program

Registered participants will have access to all virtual sessions and post-conference recordings.

Sessions

The virtual conference will feature many of the same program elements as the planned in-person event. Participants will be able to ask questions and up-vote others’ questions. Presenters will be able to answer live during the session or provide a written answer that all participants can view, event after the conclusion of the session.

Plenary sessions will feature either a keynote address or a panel discussion with a live question and answer period.
Concurrent sessions, including symposia, workshops, and oral presentations, will be comprised of live and/or pre-recorded presentations, and interactive elements, such as polling, breakouts, and live Q&A periods.
Discussion forums [networking rooms]
- Suggest a topic or theme and moderate an open dialogue to gather feedback on a particular topic or community project.
- Engage in focussed conversations where attendees can work together in real-time.

Timing

As CCTN25 welcomes participants from all over the country, we want to ensure participants are engaged and avoid screen fatigue. Sessions are presented from 11:00-16:30 (Eastern) daily with breaks between each session block.

Networking

We understand that networking is an important part of forum participation and our virtual platform allows for the interaction of all registered participants and presenters through the networking space. The networking options allow participants to:

See a list of all registered participants and initiate conversations;
Create a private chat or in small groups other participants; and
Engage in the discussion forums to explore pertinent topics.