October 18–19, 2025 | Hybrid (Calgary + Online)

Get ready to be inspired, informed, and galvanized at Puppet Power 2025, a dynamic two-day conference exploring immigration through the transformative lens of puppetry. This unique hybrid event brings together international and local artists, educators, social workers, and community members to engage with complex global issues in imaginative and meaningful ways.

Organized by Calgary’s WP Puppet Theatre, Puppet Power is now in its 13th iteration and continues to grow as a powerful platform for applied puppetry — puppetry that’s used not just for entertainment, but as a tool for education, social change, and personal transformation.

A Focus on Immigration
This year’s theme tackles the timely and layered topic of immigration. Puppet Power 2025 will explore the journeys, challenges, and triumphs of newcomers through storytelling and performance. The conference seeks to:

• Raise awareness of the global and local forces that shape immigration experiences.
• Provide space for immigrants and those working in immigrant-serving organizations to share their personal stories.
• Offer practical tools and inspiring ideas for applying puppetry in classrooms, therapy rooms, community centres, and beyond.

Puppetry’s power to engage empathy, bridge language barriers, and safely explore difficult topics makes it an ideal medium to address this pressing issue through heartfelt stories, bold interventions, and creative breakthroughs.

What to Expect
Puppet Power 2025 is designed as an accessible and engaging mix of professional development and community-building. The hybrid format ensures both in-person and online participants can benefit from the full experience. Highlights include:

• Five live-streamed watch parties featuring curated presentations and interactive puppet-making activities from around the world.
• Hands-on master workshops in puppet construction and performance techniques.
• A puppet-infused Rapid Ideation Generation session, where Calgary social agencies working with immigrants will partner with puppetry experts to co-create potential project ideas.
• An evening community celebration with dinner, professional puppet performances, and time to network and connect.
• Post-conference access to session recordings and resources to keep the inspiration going.

Whether you’re a teacher looking for new ways to engage your students, a therapist exploring expressive tools, a social worker wanting to deepen your practice, or simply a puppetry enthusiast, Puppet Power 2025 has something for you.

Join the Movement
Puppet Power has always been more than a conference — it’s a call to action. It invites participants to reimagine what puppetry can do and who it’s for. With a focus on creativity, connection, and community impact, the event supports mental health and wellness while sparking new ideas and partnerships.

Early bird rates and bursaries are available to help make this experience as accessible as possible.

Learn more and register today at wppuppet.com/puppet-power — and be part of a global conversation where puppets have the power to open minds and have positive social impact.