TIME Canada launches mentorship program for Canadian travel industry

A new mentorship initiative aimed at supporting the next generation of Canadian travel professionals has officially launched.

TIME Canada (Travel Industry Mentor Experience), a not-for-profit mentoring program focused on developing and retaining talent across the travel, tourism, hospitality, cruise and aviation sectors, has launched in Canada with the debut of its new website.

The Canadian program is based on a mentorship model founded in Australia in 2009 by travel entrepreneur Penny Spencer.

Through a structured one-on-one mentoring program, TIME has connected hundreds of emerging professionals with experienced industry mentors across Australia and New Zealand.

More than 15 years and 63 cohorts later, many graduates have gone on to lead travel businesses, influence industry policy and return as mentors themselves.

TIME Canada aims to bring that model to the Canadian travel industry as the sector continues to invest in workforce development and leadership.

"Watching TIME grow from one idea into a movement has been one of the greatest privileges of my career. Launching TIME in Canada is both an honour and an exciting new chapter. I can't wait to see a community built on generosity, connection, and mentorship come to life, creating opportunities, lifelong relationships, and inspiring the next generation of travel professionals,” said Penny Spencer, chair and founder of TIME Canada, in a press release.

The organization has also been featured on The Travel Trend Podcast in an episode titled Company Spotlight: TIME Comes to Canada: Building the Next Generation of Travel Leaders.

The podcast explores the origins of the program, its impact and how Canadian professionals can participate as mentors, mentees or partners.

Inaugural event in September

TIME Canada will officially celebrate its launch with an inaugural event on Sept. 23, 2026, in Toronto.

The invitation-only gathering will welcome the program's first Canadian cohort of mentees, along with industry partners, mentors and supporters.

Spencer will travel from Sydney to deliver the keynote address, while graduates from Australia and New Zealand will share their experiences with the mentoring program and its impact on their careers.

"There is something truly special and exciting about building this from the ground up. The Canadian travel industry is full of talented, generous people who want to give back, and emerging professionals who are hungry for connection and guidance. TIME Canada is the bridge between those two groups, and I can't wait to meet this first cohort and see what they go on to achieve,” said Edith Beaudoin, country program manager of TIME Canada.

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