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GALA 2025 Montreal
T
he Globalization and Localization Association (GALA)’s 2025 conference in Montreal, Canada, will likely be remembered as “the one with the unforgettable keynote.” One attendee captured the sentiment perfectly in the post-conference survey: “The opening talk was a defining moment in my professional experience.” Daniel Lamarre, longtime president and CEO of Canada-based Cirque du Soleil, emphasized the vital role of creativity in business and encouraged the audience to bring passion to problem-solving. Lamarre struck an authentic, inspiring tone that made innovation feel not just important, but achievable. It was the perfect way to set the stage for the rest of the conference.
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Breakout sessions followed the conference theme, “Everything in the Age of AI: Experience, Hope, Transformation, and Inspiration.” For many, this event marked a turning point away from uncertainty about AI and toward a pragmatic embrace of its possibilities. GALA Board Chair Jose Palomares commented, “We’ve moved from curiosity and trepidation to real-word applications that harness AI’s positive disruptive potential — that’s progress!” Sessions and hallway discussions alike centered on the rapid integration of AI in localization workflows and the ways companies are using it with growing confidence.
While the conference’s educational content was a major draw, networking emerged as an even greater highlight for many. The GALA community has a well-earned reputation for openness, honesty, and generosity, and those values were on full display in Montreal. The opening reception, sponsored by Crowdin, felt more like a joyful reunion than a formal kickoff; the GALA Dinner, sponsored by Scriptis, was a true celebration of the GALA community. Apart from the structured networking opportunities, informal moments like impromptu conversations in the hallways, late-night chats at the hotel bar, and connections over lunch formed the connective tissue of the event. Though often intangible, these interactions are central to GALA’s unique culture.
Meanwhile, the exhibition hall buzzed with activity as 26 companies showcased their products and services, demonstrated new technologies, and engaged with customers and peers. It’s thanks to the conference’s exhibitors and sponsors that GALA can provide such a high-value experience to delegates. We’re grateful!
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GALA’s annual conference also serves as a time to come together as a member community to reflect, discuss the state of affairs at the association, and look ahead to what’s next. The Tuesday morning plenary session, “What Got Us Here Won’t Get Us There,” presented key GALA data and issued a call to action for member engagement. One especially exciting announcement was that GALA’s next annual conference will be held in Berlin, Germany, on April 12-14, 2026.
To our sponsors, speakers, exhibitors, staff, and most of all, our community: thank you for making GALA 2025 a resounding success! See you in Berlin!
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