It is possible to create a Drawing Canvas in MS Word then copy/paste into MS PowerPoint. However, as Steve Rindsberg answered, there does not appear to be native support for creating these in MS PowerPoint. However, the editing experience is not ideal / equivalent. For example, I can move/edit shapes on the canvas, but I can't seem to create new ones in there while in MS PowerPoint -- instead have to do it all in MS Word then copy back, which is cumbersome.