— FROM PETER KATZ’ S NEWEST SINGLE

ISPA MEMBERS EXPERIENCED a rare“ first” during the Day Three Power Session when Juno Award-nominated singer-songwriter Peter Katz opened his keynote with a moment of true exclusivity— performing a brand-new song for the first time. With lyrics reflecting life’ s most profound and everyday moments, he set the stage for a session that was both deeply personal and universally resonant.

Katz shared a pivotal moment from 2013: Seven years into his career, performing 150 shows annually, he found himself at a breaking point. He recalled telling a friend“ It’ s not working” and collapsing to his kitchen floor, overwhelmed with doubt. But a small-theatre gig in Alberta changed everything. The sold-out show, organized by Faces, a youth character-building program, introduced him to a new purpose. His experience with Faces became transformative, leading him to help run its summer mountaintop retreats, fostering personal growth in young people.

Through his personal story, Katz urged attendees to reflect on their own.“ You may not be songwriters, but you have missions and values,” he said.“ Your story needs to be celebrated— and it needs to be celebrated in the right way.” He emphasized the power of ritual and consistency, illustrating with a personal example: reconnecting with his siblings for the first time in 27 years through intentional storytelling.

Katz also shared stories from ISPA members he had connected with during the first two days of Conference, including a heartfelt account of a leader who handled a difficult employee termination with compassion. Quoting

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