Answers to some Frequently Asked Questions
Event & Registration
WHEN AND WHERE IS COLLECTIVE 2026?
Collective takes place at Brock University in St. Catharines, ON, beginning on Wednesday, August 12 to Saturday, August 15, 2026. St. Catharines is in the heart of the Niagara region and Brock University is uniquely placed atop the city on the Niagara Escarpment. Brock is a small campus with great facilities and beautiful scenery ... best of all, Brock loves hosting our events!!!
WHAT DOES IT COST?
The registration fee of $450.00 pays for four nights of housing, meals, facility and programming costs. This fee does not include your travel costs.
WHAT DOES THE REGISTRATION FEE COVER?
The registration fee of $450.00 pays for 3 nights of housing (linens provided), meals, facility and programming costs.
The registration fee does not include travel costs.
WHEN SHOULD I ARRIVE?
Collective registration begins at 1:15p.m. on Wednesday, August 12 at Brock University in St. Catharines, ON. Recreation activities will be offered throughout the afternoon, and we'll gather for the first time over dinner in the DeCew dining hall. The conference will end at noon on Saturday, August 15, immediately following worship when you grab your bag lunch to enjoy outside or on your way home.
Travel
TRAVEL TO THE EVENT (HOW TO GET THERE)
Many congregations, presbyteries, synods, and regions, coordinate the travel of Collective 2026 for participants as a delegation. Contact your minister or the event coordinator for your denomination for more information. The Collective 2026 registration fee does not include any travel costs, but review the details of our Toronto airport shuttle buses.
HOW CAN I GET FROM THE AIRPORT TO BROCK?
To make your travel easier, Collective 2026 is offering shuttle buses from Toronto Pearson International Airport directly to the event venue. On August 12, participants can choose from two convenient departure times—early afternoon and mid-afternoon—to ensure a smooth arrival. After the event concludes on August 15, return shuttles will also be available to take you back to the airport. The cost is only $20 each way.
More details, including exact times and booking information, will be shared soon. For participants from The Presbyterian Church in Canada, this shuttle service replaces the previous event travel rebate program, offering a simple and coordinated way to get to Collective 2026.
Housing
WHAT ABOUT HOUSING?
Participants will be housed in two Brock residence buildings and will be assigned rooms by home Presbytery/Region with consideration options on the registration form. All the rooms in the residence halls are singles with a shared bathroom between two.
Youth Stream participants will have Youth Leaders on their floors to offer support, do nightly check-in, and be available in emergency situations. Young Adults will be housed on their own floors with access to the Community Life team for emergencies.
WHAT WILL BE PROVIDED? LINENS, TOWELS, (EM)BRACELETS, ETC.
Collective 2026 provides all the necessities for a week away. You are provided with sheets for your bed and towels in your washroom. You’ll receive an (em)bracelet for all meals, and a key to lock your residence room; Brock Residence Services staff are available 24/7 should you have a concern. Collective 2026 residence rooms are singles with one bathroom between two rooms.
Other questions
WHAT ABOUT ACCESSIBILITY AND OTHER ACCOMMODATIONS FOR PARTICIPANTS?
Most of the residences at Brock University and all the classrooms and meeting spaces that Collective use are accessible to persons with disabilities. Please indicate on the registration form the participant's accommodations and we will do all that we can to meet those needs. Brock’s dining hall is excellent at providing alternative meal options for folx. All we need to do is give them preparation time. Please indicate your dietary needs on the registration form. Brock Chefs are always willing to meet with participants to ensure the best menu options are available. We will have an event sensory room and take-away resources available as well.
WILL I BE WELCOME? I’M A TRANSGENDER OR NON-BINARY PERSON
Yes indeed, you will be welcome at the event! Each Collective participant can identify any special considerations on the registration form, with non-gendered options and housing preferences on the registration form. IF requested, a Collective Coordinator will reach out to you for conversation and will work with the Community Life Mentors for support.
WHAT IF I’M FEELING A LITTLE NERVOUS ABOUT ATTENDING THIS EVENT?
You might be the only one from your congregation attending the Youth Stream but you are going to meet other young people really quickly. Plus, you’ll be introduced to Conference Leadership as soon as you arrive at Collective and they will be able to help you get acquainted and settled into the Collective community. You will be part of a Discipleship Group (your small group) with other folx from across the country and will meet with them every day. You’ll worship with hundreds of new friends and have lots of opportunities for fun recreation events and interesting workshops.
CAN MY FRIEND COME IF THEY’RE NOT PRESBYTERIAN OR UNITED?
As a ministry of The Presbyterian Church in Canada and United Church, most Collective participants will be from congregations of the PCC and UCC. We have some guests from other churches who participate in shared youth groups or who are in partner ministries. Occasionally, participants invite friends or family from other traditions and that’s good with us. God welcomes all and so do we!
WILL MY YOUTH LEADER BE THE ONLY ONE WATCHING OUT FOR ME AT COLLECTIVE?
Whether your youth leader from home is at the event or you've come on your own or you're a young adult, a skilled Community Life team is recruited and will be available throughout Collective 2026. This team is responsible for the safety and well-being of all participants and includes adults in the Youth Leader Stream, Mentors, Crisis Counsellors, and Health Centre staff. Each team member will provide a Vulnerable Sector Screening, has been trained in Leading with Care/Duty of Care, and focused on meeting folx where they are at during Collective 2026.
IS WORSHIP BORING? IS WORSHIP A ROCK CONCERT?
Worship at Collective is a dynamic response to God’s love, goodness, and continued work in our lives. Worship at Collective is interactive and engages all the senses. Worship at Collective is diverse and uses all kinds of different music, words of worship, and long-held rituals. Worship at Collective is filled with moments of enthusiasm as well as moments of contemplation and reflection. All the elements of worship experienced at Collective can be used in any home congregation.
IS IT OKAY FOR ME TO LEAVE COLLECTIVE DURING THE WEEK TO...
Visit a friend in St. Catharines
Visit Niagara Falls
Shop at the outlet malls
To catch an early flight home
Well...not really....
Collective is the full-meal-deal. It has a beginning, a middle and an end that are all important. There is an hour of open space each afternoon, where folx can go offsite nearby, but need to connect with Conference Leadership beforehand, so we know who is onsite and who is not. Should you need to leave for an extended time during the event, please contact a Collective 2026 Coordinator.