To the HOSA Canada Leadership,

We, the post-secondary members of HOSA Canada, respectfully express our deep concern regarding the recent announcement that the 2026 Spring Leadership Conference (SLC) will be offered online only for university students due to early capacity limitations.

As post-secondary students and dedicated competitors, this decision significantly impacts our educational experience, skill development, and opportunities to participate fully in the HOSA community.

We are requesting that HOSA Canada reconsider the format for post-secondary students, provide alternative in-person accommodations, or offer clearer pathways for equitable participation.

While we acknowledge the external constraints (FIFA-related venue limitations, scheduling restrictions, and early capacity issues), the outcome disproportionately impacts post-secondary members and undermines the value and recognition of our involvement in HOSA.

For many of us, SLC is not simply a competition, it is:

A professional development opportunity
A networking environment for future healthcare leaders
An event we spend significant time, money, and energy preparing for
A space where university chapters feel acknowledged and included
Converting SLC to an online-only format significantly reduces the quality and impact of these opportunities, limiting the experiential, networking, and hands-on components that are central to the post-secondary HOSA experience.

We respectfully request that HOSA Canada:

Reassess the feasibility of offering ANY in-person programming for post-secondary, even if in a reduced-capacity format (e.g., single-day event, symposium, or split venue).
Provide transparency about how capacity was allocated and whether waitlist or reallocation options exist.
Ensure that students or chapters who submitted payment prior to capacity closure or formal notification are granted fair accommodation or alternative access options, in recognition of their timely registration.
Commit to improved priority scheduling and equitable accommodation for post-secondary students in future years.
Engage in direct consultation with university chapters about how decisions affecting us are made.
We believe these steps are necessary to ensure that post-secondary students, who represent the future of Canada’s healthcare workforce, remain engaged, valued, and supported within HOSA Canada.

We appreciate your consideration and look forward to meaningful dialogue.

Sincerely,

Post-Secondary Members of HOSA Canada