2026 Annual Users' Meeting

Program

The program will include:

• Science Highlights - Presentations from the CLS user community showcasing outstanding research and the creativity that continues to move forward despite operational challenges.

• Update from the CEO - Hear about the latest developments for the CLS, and how our strategic priorities align with the focus of Canadian support for science.

Deadlines

• Registration for in-person attendance in Saskatoon - May 7, 2026

• Poster submission - May 7, 2026

• No deadline for virtual attendance

Poster Presentations

Posters submitted by AUM participants will be displayed throughout the day of in-person activities on May 21 in Saskatoon, as well as on this website for the duration of the AUM. Video presentations will also be available on this website for the duration of the AUM, and accessible via a scannable QR code posted next to physical posters.  

Prizes

This year's AUM features more poster prizes than ever! Poster submissions from students or postdocs featuring research done at the CLS will be eligible for poster prizes.

• First Prize: $500 - Awarded to the top overall student or postdoctoral poster

• Pillar Poster Prizes - Prizes recognizing outstanding posters within general research areas identified as strategic pillars at the CLS

  • Best Agriculture Poster: $100

  • Best Health Poster: $100

  • Best Environment Poster: $100

  • Best Materials Poster: $100

• Wildcard Prize: $100 - Awarded to a poster that stands out for originality, innovation, or broad impact from any field

You can enter the poster competition whether you are attending the AUM in-person or virtually. For these prizes, posters will be judged based on:

• Description of the experiment

• Data analysis and expression

• Conclusions

• References & Acknowledgements

• Overall Appearance

• Layout

Submitting a Poster

To submit a poster at the AUM, please register for the AUM and then create a Submission using the same email address used at registration.

Note that submissions can be edited following the deadline. Poster files can be added to submissions closer to the AUM. Poster presenters will be asked to submit:

• a PDF poster file no larger than 76.2cm x 101.6cm (30" x 40")

• a 2-3 minute video presentation of your poster (optional)

If requested, CLS staff will handle the printing of posters using uploaded files. Note that posters exceeding the size parameters will be scaled down. If presenters attend the in-person events in Saskatoon on May 21, they may take their printed posters with them when they leave.

Host the Next CLS AUM!

The CLS Annual Users’ Meeting now follows a new, rotating format, alternating between locations in different regions of Canada and Saskatoon. This approach reflects our geographically broad user community and allows us to better connect with—and showcase—CLS users and research strengths across the country.

Our most recent AUM was hosted in Waterloo, marking an exciting step in this new model.

If you are interested in hosting the 2027 CLS AUM (Spring 2027) at your institution, we would love to hear from you. Hosting the AUM is a great opportunity to highlight your local user community and engage directly with CLS users and staff. Please speak with a member of the CLS team to learn more, or email us at clsuo@lightsource.ca.