The Niagara Conference is an annual event organized by the Cántaro Institute. The 2026 conference, Creation Ex Nihilo, will explore the biblical doctrine of creation and its implications for theology, science, and the Christian worldview.
Niagara Conference 2026
Join us on November 13–14, 2026, as we explore the biblical doctrine of creation ex nihilo and consider its far-reaching implications for theology, science, and the Christian worldview. This year’s Niagara Conference will equip believers to think clearly and faithfully about origins, authority, and the foundations of truth in every sphere of life.
Featuring Astronaut Barry Wilmore, Dr. Jerry Bergman, Rev. Steven R. Martins, Joe Owen, and Calvin Smith.
Conference Details
Location:
Worldview Campus,
6727 S. Chippawa Rd., Wellandport, ON. L0R 2J0
(Parking on-site)
Ticket Price:
$40 Early Bird Rate (until June 1/26)
$60 General Rate
Schedule:
FRIDAY
6:30PM – Doors Open
7:00PM – Session 1 – Cpt. Barry Wilmore
8:30PM – Session 2 – Steven R. Martins
9:30PM – Doors Close
SATURDAY
9:00AM – Doors Open
9:30AM – Session 3 – Calvin Smith
11:00AM – Session 4 – Jerry Bergman
12:00PM – LUNCH
1:30PM – 2:30PM – Q&A Panel (Cpt. Barry Wilmore, Dr. Jerry Bergman, Calvin Smith, Joe Owen, Steven Martins)
3:00PM – Session 5 – Joe Owen
4:30PM – Session 6 – Cpt. Barry Wilmore
7:30PM – Closing
Speaker Bios
Cpt. Barry Wilmore
Captain Barry “Butch” E. Wilmore is a retired U.S. Navy officer and NASA astronaut who completed three spaceflights totaling 464 days in space and 32 hours of spacewalks, along with more than 8,000 flight hours and 21 combat missions. After being selected by NASA in 2000, he served aboard the International Space Station and most recently endured an extended nine-month mission in 2024–2025 due to Boeing Starliner issues. Highly decorated for his military and space service, Wilmore retired from NASA in 2025 and now uses his passion for astronomy to share the message of God’s Word, serving as an elder at Providence Baptist Church in Pasadena, Texas.
Rev. Steven R. Martins
Rev. Steven R. Martins is the founding director of the Cántaro Institute and founding pastor of Sevilla Chapel in St. Catharines. He holds a Master’s degree summa cum laude in Theological Studies with a focus on Christian apologetics from Veritas International University (Santa Ana, CA, USA). He is the General Editor of La Fuente: Iberoamerican Journal for Christian Worldview, has authored and coedited numerous books, including Studies in Biblical Apologetics for a Christian Worldview, From Creation to the Tower of Babel: Lectures on Genesis 1-11, and Bite-Sized Wisdom: Christian Philosophy. Steven is married to Cindy, and they live in the Niagara region with their four children.
Dr. Jerry Bergman
Dr. Jerry Bergman taught biology, chemistry, and anatomy at Northwest State College in Archbold, Ohio, and served as Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of Toledo Medical College. He holds nine earned degrees—including five graduate degrees and a Ph.D. from Wayne State University—and has produced over 1,800 publications in both scholarly and popular science journals, with his work translated into 13 languages. Author or co-author of 48 books and monographs found in more than 1,400 libraries across 26 countries, Dr. Bergman has spoken over 2,000 times worldwide and has appeared on hundreds of radio and television programs.
Joe Owen
Joe Owen is Director of Languages in the International Outreach department at Answers in Genesis. A former U.S. Navy nuclear propulsion student, he holds a theology degree from Dominican Baptist Seminary and is pursuing a Master of Divinity at Covenant Baptist Theological Seminary. Based in Monterrey, Mexico, he teaches creation and apologetics internationally, has authored and co-authored several books, oversees key translation and outreach efforts in Latin America, and produces widely broadcast media content while mentoring emerging church leaders.
Calvin Smith
Calvin Smith is Executive Director of Answers in Genesis–Canada and has spoken on creation apologetics at church conferences across Canada and internationally for more than 20 years. Known for clearly communicating complex theological and scientific concepts to audiences of all ages, he has appeared in numerous video productions reaching over 15 million viewers. He lives near London, Ontario, with his wife, and is a father of three and grandfather of twelve.