Thursday, November 7
10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Thursday, November 7
2:45 – 4:15 p.m.
Friday, November 8
10:15 – 11:45 a.m.
Friday, November 8
12:45 – 2:55 p.m.
Session 1
Thursday, November 7, 2024
10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Adolescent Dating Violence Prevention and Healthy Relationships Promotion in the Alberta Context: The WiseGuyz Program
Speakers: Deinera Exner-Cortens & Kyle Bell
Adolescent dating violence (ADV), or the experience of physical, sexual, psychological, and stalking aggression in romantic and sexual relationships between the ages of 11-18, is a prevalent form of gender-based violence in Canada. Based on national data, approximately 1 in 3 youth in Canada experience ADV. This is concerning as – in addition to immediate impacts of violence (e.g., injury, trauma) – ADV is linked to numerous adverse long-term outcomes, including substance use, depression, and suicidality. There are also strong links between the experience of ADV in adolescence and the experience of domestic violence in adulthood. Thus, understanding and preventing ADV is of critical importance to the primary prevention of family violence, as well.
In terms of prevention, there are now over two decades of global research on preventing ADV. Within this work, recent best practice guidelines point to the promise of gender-transformative approaches for men and boys as a key ADV/domestic violence primary prevention strategy (i.e., stopping the violence before it starts). Gender-transformative approaches work to achieve health equity by targeting norms and roles that promote the use of violence and other forms of gender inequity. For boys, this includes active and critical discussion and deconstruction of common patriarchal masculine norms (e.g., emotional restriction). Strong adherence to these norms has well-documented adverse impacts on the mental and physical health of men and boys. In addition, adherence to these norms is linked to perpetration of violence against women, girls, and other marginalized genders globally.
In Canada specifically, research on ADV prevention is limited, with most research focused on Ontario and Quebec, and almost all taking a gender-neutral approach. To address this gap, since 2010, the Centre for Sexuality in Calgary, AB has worked to iteratively develop and implement a structured, gender-transformative healthy relationships promotion program for adolescent boys, called WiseGuyz. The goal of WiseGuyz is to improve boys’ mental and sexual health and prevent violence, including ADV. For the past 8 years, the Centre has worked in a community-university research partnership with the HOPELab at the University of Calgary, to understand the potential of this Alberta-based program to prevent ADV. To date, we have collected research and practice evidence on this program using quantitative, qualitative, and arts-based methods with over 1000 boys in school and community settings.
Towards the conference goal of understanding emerging trends and current research in the context of ADV prevention, in this presentation, we will provide a comprehensive overview of WiseGuyz from both a research and practice perspective, including 1) core components of the program and a discussion of program adoption and training; 2) key youth research findings to date, with a focus on ADV prevention; 3) implementation recommendations based on research conducted over the past 6 years with service delivery sites in rural, remote, suburban, and urban settings across Alberta; and 4) key considerations for service providers working with boys as part of violence prevention programming. The session will be co-presented by members of both the Centre for Sexuality and HOPELab teams, to exemplify our approach to community-research partnership.
Dr. Deinera Exner-Cortens (she/her) is an internationally-recognized adolescent dating violence researcher. She began working in domestic violence research in 2006, and since then has conducted numerous research projects in the areas of domestic, sexual, and dating violence, holding over $13 million in research funding to date. She works alongside school, community, and youth partners to co-create innovative research on promoting healthy youth relationships and preventing dating violence. Dr. Exner-Cortens holds a PhD in Developmental Psychology and a Master of Public Health. She is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Calgary, and serves as the Scientific Co-Director of PREVNet, Canada’s national youth healthy relationships hub.
Kyle is a WiseGuyz Facilitator with the Centre for Sexuality. He has been facilitating the program for two years in school, community, and youth justice settings including piloting one on one sessions. He is a graduate of Mount Royal University in Psychology and has a passion for masculinities and youth mentorship work.
Adolescent Dating Violence, Healthy Relationships, Prevention, Men & Boys
Family/Domestic Violence Service Providers, Policy Makers
View a full list of Dr. Exner-Cortens’ publications is here.
Dr. Deinera Exner-Cortens
Job Title: Associate Professor and Tier 2 Canada Research Chair (Childhood Health Promotion)
Agency/Organization: Department of Psychology, University of Calgary
Twitter: @D_ExnerCortens
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Kyle Bell
Job Title: WiseGuyz Facilitator
Agency/Organization: Centre for Sexuality
Twitter: @YYCsexualhealth
Barriers to Mental Health service utilization among South Asian Immigrant women survivors of Violence
Speakers: Papiya Das & Ms. Suneeta Jobanputra
Barriers to Mental Health service utilization among South Asian Immigrant women survivors of Violence.
Papiya Das, MSW is a Retired Psychiatric Clinical Social Worker and therapist with over 35 years of varied Social work Practice experience including Child Welfare, Mental Health and Community Development. She has a strong background in individual, and group therapy in interdisciplinary settings. She was awarded the John Hutton Memorial Award from ACSW for her outstanding contribution to the profession of Social Work. She has been on the Boards of many organizations both at the provincial and national level. She has also given workshops on different topics related to mental health and women’s issues.
Ms. Suneeta Jobanputra, MSW, is a Retired Social Worker. She practiced as a Professional Social Worker for over 30 years in areas of Child Welfare, Community Organisation, Education (including Adult Education) and Health (including Palliative Care). She has been on the boards of many community based nonprofit organizations and is spearheading a community based initiative for Mental Health. She has delivered many workshops and educational programs within Alberta Health Services as well as for community based organizations. She is passionate about women’s issues and actively supports the suitable initiatives.
Socialcultural context of Gender based Violence in South Asian communities and Barriers to services.
Policy makers and service providers.
Check back soon!
Papiya Das
Job Title: Retired Social Worker, Board Member of Indo Canadian Women’s Association (ICWA)
Agency/Organization: Indo Canadian Women’s Association
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Ms. Suneeta Jobanputra
Job Title: Coming Soon!
Agency/Organization: Coming Soon!
Predicting and Preventing Male Perpetration of Domestic Violence: Disrupting Trajectories Leading to Domestic Violence
Speaker: Lana Wells
Research into male-on-female domestic violence traditionally focuses on its after-effects, with an emphasis on how victims can keep themselves safe or on the men who have been criminally charged in such incidents. This approach puts the responsibility on the victim to try and protect herself while offering support to the perpetrator only after the violence has occurred to prevent recidivism. This research takes a different approach to understanding points of intervention that might prevent male perpetration of domestic violence from occurring in the first place. Using a robust 10-year dataset supplied by Calgary Police Service (located in Calgary, Canada) the authors explored a trajectory of criminal behaviour and police interactions prior to an eventual charge for a criminal act involving domestic violence in 2019. While preliminary, the data analysis finds a distinct trajectory of increased criminal behaviour among male perpetrators leading up to a charge in 2019. In fact, the data shows a rising number of police interventions related to complaints involving possible acts of domestic violence during that 10-year period. By examining male perpetration trajectories, this approach can help inform legislation, policies, and programs that can not only stop male violence before it starts, but subsequently reduce the suffering of women and their families. This presentation will review the findings from the research study and highlight policy and practice changes that are needed to prevent male violence before it starts.
Lana Wells is a top-ranked and globally respected scholar in the field of social work, public policy and violence prevention. She is a change-maker in advancing gender and social justice, equity, and social inclusion, engaging and mobilizing men in violence prevention while advancing systems and structural change through collaboration and innovative policy approaches. She is currently an Associate Professor and the Brenda Strafford Chair in the Prevention of Domestic Violence in the Faculty of Social Work and a Fellow at the School of Public Policy, University of Calgary.
Alberta continues to have a consistently high rate of male perpetration of domestic violence (DV) and Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) and yet the majority of services and supports available are either directed at victims in response to violence (after it happens) or for perpetrators that have been charged with DV to prevent recidivism. This presentation will focus on why it is important that we focus our prevention efforts on stopping male perpetration before it starts by better understanding opportunities earlier in the criminal trajectory.
Police, human service practitioners, gender-based violence leaders, general community members interested in primary prevention.
Check back soon!
Recognizing and Responding to Human Trafficking
Speaker: Heidi Olson
Human trafficking is happening everywhere and is often hidden in plain sight. Unfortunately, the vast majority of victims go unrecognized due to myths around the issue, lack of awareness, and societal norms that overlook red flags. This presentation will dispel myths, teach you what to look for, what to do when you suspect someone is being exploited or harmed, and recommended treatment for healing from complex trauma. This presentation was created with input from law enforcement, survivors, former sex buyers, and experts in the anti-trafficking movement. We will go through case studies and statistics collected in Alberta, based on a pilot program forensics nurses in Red Deer implemented last year.
Heidi Olson, RN, MSN, CPN, SANE-P is a Certified Pediatric Nurse and Certified Pediatric Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE), she is also the Founder and President of Paradigm Shift Training and Consulting, which equips healthcare workers with skills-based training to be able to identify human trafficking and exploitation. Heidi has a wide range of experience in pediatric and forensic nursing and has taught as an adjunct clinical instructor for the University of Missouri at Kansas City and the University of St. Mary.
Heidi previously managed the SANE Program at Children’s Mercy Kansas City where she performed/reviewed over 1,500 pediatric forensic exams, many of them trafficking cases, communicated with law enforcement, child protective services, and a large multidisciplinary team, as well as educated hundreds of staff members on relevant topics regarding sexual violence. Heidi also serves as an expert witness for the prosecution during trials for victims of sexual assault.
In 2019, Heidi implemented an evidence-based screening process in the Emergency Department, which has resulted in hundreds of vulnerable children being identified as victims of exploitation and trafficking. Heidi has testified in favor of bills that have been passed into law on the state level and testified in a
briefing on Capitol Hill about protecting children online.
Heidi has also done groundbreaking work in sounding the alarm about the role of pornography influencing child-on-child sexual assault. Over the last few years, Heidi has presented hundreds of times internationally about recognizing human trafficking, child-on-child sexual assault, pornography, and exploitation. Heidi is also a facilitator for the Trauma Skills Institute, which provides cutting edge presentations on advocacy, trauma, and handling disclosures.
Heidi has also been featured in several documentaries regarding these topics, including Vulnerable Innocence, which has won 24 awards. Heidi won the Cry Purple award in 2023, which is given to citizens who are doing outstanding anti-trafficking work in their communities.
Human Trafficking – How to recognize and respond to it.
Anyone working in the sector.
Check back soon!
Heidi Olson
Job Title: Forensic Nurse.
Agency/Organization: Founder and President, Paradigm Shift Training and Consulting.
Rethinking Gender Socialization and Associated Identities
Speaker: Carla Bertsch
We will discuss how gender and gender constructs contribute to violence and how we must think differently about these identities. Strict ideas of gender roles and the performance of gender can hurt all people.
- How might these concepts, when left unchallenged, perpetuate and maintain sexism, homophobia, and racism?
- How do these attitudes and beliefs then contribute to acts of sexualized violence?
- We will consider how subscribing to ideas can limit our own health and happiness, play a part in upholding a culture of violence, and how can we help disrupt them?
Conversations about deconstructing culture that leads to misogyny and objectification of women, participants are guided on a gender-transformative journey.
Galvanized to action, participants will leave motivated to create and maintain safe spaces in their social lives that can lead us into a world free from sexualized violence.
Carla Bertsch is a Queer, Cree and Metis, cisgender woman.
Experienced advocate with a demonstrated history of working in the higher education industry. Skilled in Analytical Skills, Crisis Intervention, Therapeutic Crisis Intervention, Facilitation, and Management. Strong support professional with a Master’s degree focused in Social Work from University of Victoria.
Educational lead on diversity and inclusion initiatives as well as delivers workshops on sexual violence, violence prevention, consent, gender equity, and gender socialization to inform and empower those within our community. I support all equity seeking and oppressed communities, knowing that our liberation, equity, and just treatment in all aspects of life, is connected.
Coming Soon!
Coming Soon!
Check back soon!
Carla Bertsch
Job Title: Senior Restorative Practitioner in the Sexual Misconduct Support and Resource Center.
Agency/Organization: Department of National Defence.
Relationships: Healing & Resilience
Speaker: Dawne Clarke
There is growing understanding among those who work with children and families of the Core Story of Brain Development, how a baby’s brain grows through the interaction of genetics and environment from conception through the early years of life. There is also increasing awareness of how Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and resulting toxic stress can negatively impact the development of both a child’s brain and body. What is less understood, is that this is not the end of the story. The first five years are crucial but the child’s future is not set in stone as a result of their early experiences.
In this presentation, we will review the Core Story metaphors and the impact of a range of ACEs and toxic stress on the developing brain and body. However, we will focus our time on considering how the brain itself is resilient and designed to
heal. We will explore the biological and environmental components of resilience and how aspects of the Core Story such as supportive nurturing relationships and building core skills can positively tilt the resilience scale for children and their families.
Dawne Clarke
Coming Soon!
Coming Soon!
Coming Soon!
Check back soon!
Dawne Clarke
Job Title: Coming Soon!
Agency/Organization: Coming Soon!
Website: Coming Soon!
“You serve men?!” How to Operate an All-gender Shelter
Speakers: Jessica Montgomery, Marla Poelzer – Executive Director, Sylvia Ladouceur – Deputy Director, and Genesis Flores – Outreach Cultural Connector
“You serve men? How does that work?” We hear this question all the time. For over 4 years, Jessie’s House has provided safety to survivors of all genders. This includes cis-men and gender-diverse individuals. We find that, in addition to facing barriers to support, the abuse faced by men, nonbinary, and trans individuals is also unique. This session will dive into what a shelter needs to consider before serving all genders: how to prepare & train staff, leadership styles, connecting paradigms, and making a case to your board. We will discuss the experience of being a man in a predominantly female environment, and the experiences of the women who stay in shelter with a dad and their kids. Above all else, we will make the case for why all domestic violence shelters should serve all genders.
Jessica has worked in the nonprofit sector for more than a decade. In her current role, she creates all the communications and marketing content for JMMF. Aside from sharing about gender-based violence and healthy relationships, she is also passionate about creating systems for change. Jessica has an insatiable thirst for knowledge, and this curiosity drives her to push to make the world a better place.
Marla has over 15 years of progressive leadership experience in the nonprofit industry. Marla is a steadfast forward thinker, with a strong passion for building healthy communities. She believes everyone deserves to be treated with kindness, love, respect, and compassion. No matter what their circumstances are. Since joining JMMF in May of 2021, she has led the Foundation’s significant growth to meet the needs of the community, including opening Eileen’s Place – a second stage transitional housing program, developed a robust financial diversification and sustainability plan, and has created positive large-scale change in the way domestic violence is approached, operating from a feminist, intersectional lens. In her spare time, she loves swimming, golfing, bowling, and spending time with her friends and family. Her favorite quote is “alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.”
Sylvia is a registered social worker, and she brings more than 20 years of experience in the domestic violence sector. Her leadership style empowers her team to create award-winning programs. Since joining JMMF in 2021, Sylvia has led the foundation in growing the childcare program, outreach program, and connections with community. She is a committed advocate for our clients, asserting that they are worth it.
Genesis has worked in the domestic violence sector for 5 years, including launching and expanding the Domestic Abuse Response Team in rural hospitals around the Edmonton area. As the Cultural Connector at JMMF, Genesis ensures our clients unique needs are met. She is currently pursuing her Masters in Counselling at Athabasca University.
How do we operate an all-gender shelter? Why it is important to serve all genders.
Shelter directors, staff, board members who want to learn more about how to operate an all-gender shelter.
Check back soon!
Jessica Montgomery
Job Title: Strategic Relationships Advisor.
Agency/Organization: The Jessica Martel Memorial Foundation.
Website: jmmf.ca
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Marla Poelzer
Job Title: Executive Director.
Agency/Organization: The Jessica Martel Memorial Foundation.
Website: jmmf.ca
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Sylvia Ladouceur
Job Title: Deputy Director.
Agency/Organization: The Jessica Martel Memorial Foundation.
Website: jmmf.ca
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Genesis Sanchez
Job Title: Outreach Cultural Connector.
Agency/Organization: The Jessica Martel Memorial Foundation.
Website: jmmf.ca
Session 2
Thursday, November 7, 2024
2:45 – 4:15 p.m.
Violence Against Women in SportsWorld: What We Know and What We Don’t Know
Speaker: Dr. Walter S. DeKeseredy
There was a vibrant surge in the 1980s and 1990s of social scientific investigation into hypermasculine male athletes and their abuse of women. However, this wave receded over the past two decades and eventually disappeared. Even highly seasoned violence against women scholars and activists have not been fleet of foot in dealing with the offline and online abusive acts committed by a sizeable portion of men who play the most popular and profitable sports. Buttressing this claim is the fact that DeKeseredy et al.’s (2023) book Skating on Thin Ice: Professional Hockey, Rape Culture, and Violence Against Women is the first sociologically informed book on the specific relationship between sport and woman abuse published since 1998. It is thus time to go back and examine this topic again. The main objective, then, of this presentation is to describe what we currently know and don’t know about male athletes’ violence against women. Suggestions for policy and practice are also featured in this presentation.
Dr. Walter S. DeKeseredy is Anna Deane Carlson Endowed Chair of Social Sciences, Director of the Research Center on Violence, and Professor of Sociology at West Virginia University. He has published 31 books, over 140 scientific journal articles and close to 120 scholarly book chapters on violence against women and other social problems. He has also received prestigious awards for his research from the American Society of Criminology (ASC) and the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences, including being named a Fellow of the ASC in 2022. Published by University of Toronto Press, his latest book is Skating on Thin Ice: Professional Hockey, Rape Culture, & Violence Against Women (with Montreal Gazette journalist Stu Cowan and sociologist Martin D. Schwartz).
Male athletes’ violence against women.
Policy Makers and Practitioners.
DeKeseredy, W.S., Cowan, S., & Schwartz, M.D. (2023). Skating on Thin Ice: Professional Hockey, Rape Culture, & Violence Against Women. Toronto: AEVO University of Toronto Press. This is one of the Hill Times’ Best 100 Canadian Books of 2023. The Hill Times is Canada’s leading politics and government news source.
Purchase the book here!
DeKeseredy, W.S. (2022). Contemporary Critical Criminology, 2nd ed. London: Routledge.
DeKeseredy, W.S. (2021). Woman Abuse in Rural Places. London: Routledge. Winner of the 2022 Robert Jerin Book of the Year Award, American Society of Criminology’s Division on Victimology.
DeKeseredy, W.S., & Currie, E. (Eds.). (2019). Progressive Justice in an Age of Repression: Strategies for Challenging the Rise of the Right. London: Routledge.
DeKeseredy, W.S., Rennison, C.M., & Hall-Sanchez, A.K. (Eds.). (2019). The Routledge International Handbook of Violence Studies. London: Routledge.
DeKeseredy, W.S., & Dragiewicz, M. (Eds.). (2018). Handbook of Critical Criminology (2nd ed.). London: Routledge.
DeKeseredy, W.S., Dragiewicz, M., & Schwartz, M.D. (2017). Abusive Endings: Separation and Divorce Violence Against Women. Oakland, CA: University of California Press. Winner of the 2017 Robert Jerin Book of the Year Award, American Society of Criminology’s Division on Victimology.
DeKeseredy, W.S., & Corsianos, M. (2016). Violence Against Women in Pornography. London: Routledge.
DeKeseredy, W.S., & Leonard, L. (Eds.). (2015). Crimsoc Report 4: Gender, Victimology & Restorative Justice. Charleston, SC: CRIMSOC.
DeKeseredy, W.S., & Dragiewicz, M. (Eds.). (2014). Critical Criminology. London: Routledge.
Donnermeyer, J.F., & DeKeseredy, W.S. (2014). Rural Criminology. London: Routledge.
DeKeseredy, W.S., & Schwartz, M.D. (2013). Male Peer Support and Violence Against Women: The History and Verification of a Theory. Boston: Northeastern University Press.
DeKeseredy, W.S., & Dragiewicz, M. (Eds.). (2012). Handbook of Critical Criminology. London: Routledge.
DeKeseredy, W.S. (2011). Violence Against Women: Myths, Facts, Controversies. Toronto: University of Toronto Press.
DeKeseredy, W.S. (2011). Contemporary Critical Criminology. London: Routledge. (This book was also translated into Persian by Mir Rouhallah Seddigh in 2012).
DeKeseredy, W.S., & Schwartz, M.D. (2009). Dangerous exits: The abuse of women in rural America. New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press.
DeKeseredy, W.S., & Perry, B. (Eds.) (2006). Advancing critical criminology: Theory and application. Lanham, MD: Lexington Books.
DeKeseredy, W.S., Ellis, D., & Alvi, S. (2005). Deviance and crime: Theory, research and policy. Cincinnati: Anderson Publishing. Cincinnati: LexisNexis Anderson.
DeKeseredy, W.S., Alvi, S., Schwartz, M.D., & Tomaszewski, E.A. (2003). Under siege: Poverty and crime in a public housing community. Lanham, MD: Lexington Books.
DeKeseredy, W.S. (2000). Women, crime, and the Canadian criminal justice system. Cincinnati: Anderson.
Alvi, S., DeKeseredy, W.S., & Ellis, D. (2000). Contemporary social problems in North America. Toronto: Addison Wesley Longman (2000).
DeKeseredy, W.S., & Schwartz, M.D. (1998). Woman abuse on campus: Results from the Canadian national survey. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Schwartz, M.D., & DeKeseredy, W.S. (1997). Sexual Assault on the College Campus: The Role of Male Peer Support. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
DeKeseredy, W.S., & MacLeod, L. (1997). Woman abuse: A sociological story. Toronto: Harcourt Brace.
Ellis, D., & DeKeseredy, W.S. (1996). The wrong stuff: An introduction to the sociological study of deviance, 2nd Ed. Toronto: Allyn and Bacon.
DeKeseredy, W.S., & Schwartz, M.D. (1996). Contemporary criminology. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.
DeKeseredy, W.S., & Hinch, R. (1991). Woman abuse: Sociological perspectives. Toronto: Thompson Educational Publishing.
DeKeseredy, W.S. (1988). Woman abuse in dating relationships: The role of male peer support.
Toronto: Canadian Scholars’ Press.
Dr. Walter S. DeKeseredy
Job Title: Anna Deane Carlson Endowed Chair of Social Sciences, Director of the Research Center on Violence, and Professor of Sociology.
Fellow of the American Society of Criminology.
Agency/Organization: Department of Sociology and Anthropology at West Virginia University.
Canadian and American Intimate Partner Violence Service Providers’ Perspectives for Better Supporting Immigrant Women Survivors
Speaker: Wendy Aujla
In this concurrent session, Dr. Aujla will share service providers’ perspectives for better supporting immigrant women experiencing barriers to accessing intimate partner violence (IPV) services. This presentation will make a practical contribution to understanding service providers’ perspectives given the growing concern to understand how immigrant women are vulnerable and at a high risk of IPV and experiencing many challenges with help-seeking.
Dr. Aujla will address how the research project was conducted in Canada and the United States using an intersectional framework, constructivist grounded theory (CGT), a modified written vignette technique and online surveys. Over 50 service providers in both countries responded to (1) how they would support an immigrant woman like Sarai experiencing IPV and (2) what they personally think needs to occur to better support immigrant women survivors.
The hypothetical vignette about Sarai, an immigrant woman experiencing IPV and seeking services, will be presented along with the findings. This concurrent session will bring awareness to the need for enhanced training, changes to the immigration/legal systems, more community outreach resources, and language, legal, and housing support to aid immigrant survivors experiencing IPV in both countries.
Lastly, attendees will be invited to engage with the scenario and to think aloud about how they, too, might respond from their perspective (e.g., as a police officer, social worker, family violence specialist, victim services advocate, shelter worker, and settlement counsellor). The discussion will allow attendees to identify how they interpret the storyline and context that influences their response.
Wendy Aujla
Coming Soon!
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Coming Soon!
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Wendy Aujla
Job Title: Coming Soon!
Agency/Organization: Coming Soon!
Website: Coming Soon!
“When Other Doors Were Closed, Ours Were Open”: The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Domestic Abuse Survivors and the Domestic Violence Shelters and Staff that Support Them
Speakers: Miranda Pilipchuk & Tosha Duncan
This session will provide an overview of new research from ACWS that studies the long-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on domestic abuse survivors and the frontline service providers who support them. This research combines four years of quantitative data with qualitative data gathered from survivors and service providers across Alberta. Key findings highlight how four years into the pandemic, calls for help are increasing, violence is becoming more severe, children are struggling, and survivors are in need of greater help—while still facing increased systemic barriers amplified by the pandemic. This research demonstrates the structural invisibility of domestic abuse in broader public health systems, and the ongoing structural abandonment experienced by both survivors and the service providers who support them.
Miranda Pilipchuk, Ph.D. (she/her) is a gender-based violence scholar/activist who is passionate about conducting trauma-informed, survivor-centered research that speaks to the intersectionality of gender-based violence. Dr. Pilipchuk is the Research and Evaluation Coordinator at the Alberta Council of Women’s Shelters, where she works with domestic violence shelters and people with lived experience to construct culture-shifting research programs that work to understand and end domestic abuse and gender-based violence.
Tosha has more than twenty years of service delivery experience in the field of intimate partner violence, with a focus on risk assessment, safety planning, crisis management, team development and interagency collaboration. Her practice and her educational background is rooted in a feminist, trauma-informed, harm reduction and intersectional perspective, with fostering resiliency as a central tenet. As a therapist, she has specialized in working with women who have experienced trauma and is authorized to provide psychosocial intervention through the Alberta College of Social Workers, drawing upon the modalities of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) to inform her practice.
The long-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on domestic violence and abuse survivors and the domestic violence sector that supports them.
Family violence sector; public health sector.
Check back soon!
Miranda Pilipchuk
Job Title: Research and Evaluation Coordinator.
Agency/Organization: Alberta Council of Women’s Shelters.
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Tosha Duncan
Job Title: Specialist Advisor: Shelter Services.
Agency/Organization: Alberta Council of Women’s Shelters.
A ‘Made in Alberta’ small town and rural response to preventing gender-based violence
Speakers: Neil Atkinson & Lana Wells
At YWCA Banff, we are dedicated to supporting individuals who have experienced domestic and sexual violence, particularly in non-urban settings. Our comprehensive services are tailored to address the unique challenges faced by vulnerable populations in rural areas, ensuring they receive the necessary support and resources to rebuild their lives. Our latest initiative, “A ‘Made in Alberta’ small town and rural response to preventing gender-based violence,” exemplifies our commitment to innovative, community-focused solutions.
This project will collaboratively address gender-based violence in three rural Alberta communities by building primary prevention capacity to tackle root causes, ensuring that Albertans can confidently remain safe in their community. In partnership with provincial gender-based violence expert Lana Wells, we aim to foster a shared understanding of primary prevention, identify risk and protective factors unique to each community, and map the available services, supports, and programs across the prevention continuum.
Our services at YWCA Banff include emergency shelter, crisis intervention, counseling, and advocacy, all designed to meet the diverse needs of our community.
Our specialized services cater to Indigenous peoples, newcomers, and 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals, acknowledging the intersectional nature of violence and the additional barriers these groups may face. By offering culturally sensitive and inclusive services, we strive to create a safe and welcoming environment for all.
The project with Lana Wells will engage local rural stakeholders across sectors and industries to support the prevention of violence among equity-deserving groups. Each community involved will develop priorities for action and a primary prevention implementation strategy endorsed by their members, setting the stage for similar initiatives in other rural and remote communities across Alberta.
In addition to direct services, YWCA Banff engages in extensive community outreach and education efforts. Our prevention programs aim to raise awareness about the signs of domestic and sexual violence, promote bystander intervention, and foster a culture of respect and equality. Through education, we aim to prevent violence and create a supportive network for survivors.
Operating in a non-urban area presents unique challenges, but it also fosters a close-knit community where individuals can support one another. YWCA Banff leverages this strength, ensuring that our services are accessible and responsive to community needs. Through our dedicated work and the innovative “Made in Alberta” project, we strive to empower survivors, promote healing, and create safer, more inclusive communities.
Our participation in the Diverse Voices Conference is an opportunity to share our insights and experiences, highlight the resilience of those we serve, and underscore the importance of comprehensive support services in non-urban areas. We are honored to contribute to the ongoing dialogue about domestic and sexual violence and look forward to collaborating with other organizations and experts to advance this critical work.
Neil Atkinson is the Manager of Advocacy & Community Programs at YWCA Banff, where he has been working since early 2019. In this capacity, Neil and his team support survivors of domestic and sexual violence, while also coordinating with partners to lead community prevention and response plans. Outside of YWCA Banff, Neil is a board member of the Homelessness Society of the Bow Valley, an organization he has been supporting since its creation in 2021. Prior to arriving in the Bow Valley, Neil worked at Over the Edge Global supporting non-profits in their fundraising as a Senior Business Development Manager.
Lana Wells is a top-ranked and globally respected scholar in the field of social work, public policy and violence prevention. She is a change-maker in advancing gender and social justice, equity, and social inclusion, engaging and mobilizing men in violence prevention while advancing systems and structural change through collaboration and innovative policy approaches. She is currently an Associate Professor and the Brenda Strafford Chair in the Prevention of Domestic Violence in the Faculty of Social Work and a Fellow at the School of Public Policy, University of Calgary.
Our presentation will give an overview of the successes and challenges of doing work in the fields of Sexual and Domestic Violence in a non-urban area.
Those working with folks accessing Residential programs including shelter and housing in non-urban areas.
Check back soon!
Involving men in sexual and gender-based violence prevention education: Positive practices, barriers, and ways forward
Speakers: Miglena S. Todorova
Please Note: The proper description has been updated.
This presentation will share with violence prevention practitioners current interdisciplinary research and debates in the field of sexual violence prevention education targeting boys and men. Drawing from research compiled by educators, sociologists, psychologists, and gender studies experts, the presentation will identify internationally tested positive practices in the field yet address major debates about the role of political and economic context, culture, and socio-historical male identity formation in designing and delivering sexual and gender-based prevention education involving men. Along the way, the presentation will specify effective ways to recruit men for prevention work but also ways to face and overcome resistance to programs or training that undermines patriarchal social norms and threatens male political and social authority. The presentation will further address how facilitators’ and educators’ social position, gender, and worldviews enable, or inhibit impactful prevention education aimed at men.
Miglena S. Todorova is Associate Professor in Social Justice Education, Ontario Institute for Studies of Education, University of Toronto. Her interdisciplinary research, teaching, and publications focus on women studies, sexual violence prevention education, culture and political economy, as well as critical theories related to race, gender, and other differences in Canada and globally. Dr. Todorova is the Director of the Centre for Media, Culture and Education at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto where her research further supports media and cultural literacy education. Todorova’s work has been published in leading academic journals, such as Meridians: Race and Transnational Feminisms, TOPIA: Cultural Studies, Canadian Woman Studies, and Interventions: International Journal of Postcolonial Studies. She is the author of Unequal under Socialism: Race, Women and Transnationalism in Bulgaria published in 2021 by the University of Toronto Press. Dr. Todorova is the co-editor of the book collection Decolonizing the Spirit in Education and Beyond (2019) by Palgrave Macmillan Press. She is the recipient of the Canadian Association for the Study of Women and Education/ Association Canadienne Pour L’étude sur les Femmes et L’éducation (CASWE/ACÉFÉ) 2023 Achievement Award for Outstanding Research and Teaching Contributions to Women and Education in Canada.
social justice principles, enacting anti-oppression relations and services.
Violence prevention practitioners current interdisciplinary research and debates in the field of sexual violence prevention education targeting boys and men.
Unequal under Socialism: Race, Women and Transnationalism in Bulgaria. (2021). University of Toronto Press.
Decolonizing the Spirit in Education and Beyond. (2019). Palgrave Macmillan Press.
Miglena S. Todorova
Job Title: Associate Professor.
Agency/Organization: Social Justice Education Department, OISE, University of Toronto.
Considering Trauma: Building Complainant Connections
Speakers: Morgan Bissegger
The Edmonton Police Service Sexual Assault Section conducts a formal review of sexual violence related investigations with the support of a team of external victim support advocates from SACE. The purpose of the review, conducted multiple times a year, is to identify trends over time, training opportunities, positive practices to promote, and areas where improvement can be made related to survivor care and treatment. The outcomes of the file review process have been overwhelmingly positive for both the EPS and SACE strengthening an already strong and overwhelmingly positive relationship. It has expanded on our ability to work collaboratively to support survivors of sexual violence.
This review process has identified opportunities in the development of training for investigators. It has identified new and improved upon existing best practices, and in the development of support reference material based on the experiences of the SACE advocates and EPS. It has simultaneously improved the SACE advocates ability to support and advocate for the survivors they serve with a better understanding of Police policy, duties, responsibilities, and legal requirements.
One of the early trends observed demonstrated investigators having difficulties and challenges in identifying physiological signs of a trauma response during disclosure. Interviewers often struggle interpreting those signs in a timely fashion and addressing the trauma response in any meaningful way. An inability to address a trauma response during disclosure can often lead to outcomes ranging from survivors being unable to complete a full disclosure interview, providing limited information from a cognitive interview perspective, or total disengagement from the investigative and Criminal Justice process.
In response, the EPS SAS and SACE have collaborated in the development of training for investigators involved in high trauma occurrences focusing on the following:
- How memory is stored and understanding the effects of trauma on memory encoding and recall,
- Identification of observable physiological indicators of trauma response through a relived experience during an interview,
- Identification of strategies and techniques interviewers can utilize to address various trauma responses experienced in disclosure.
The mission of the session is to provide interviewers with a trauma informed understanding and skillset to obtain a more fulsome disclosure of information in as few interviews attempts as possible. This will limit the vicarious trauma and re-victimization effects on the survivor, increase investigator competence with the goal of improved survivor engagement.
Morgan Bissegger is a Registered Psychologist, practicing in Edmonton, Alberta. She has spent the last 17 years supporting individuals impacted by trauma across diverse settings, with her clinical work beginning at the Sexual Assault Centre of Edmonton (SACE) in 2015. She is currently in the role of Clinical Director, where her duties include providing supervision to practicum students and clinical staff, and overseeing the Police and Court Support Program. She additionally facilitates presentations in the community focused on supporting individuals impacted by sexual violence and trauma.
Trauma informed interviewing, the effects of trauma on memory, physiological indicators of a trauma response in disclosure, and grounding techniques to address a trauma response.
Police and professional support workers who conduct interviews or conversations with survivors of high trauma occurrences.
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Morgan Bissegger
Job Title: Clinical Director, Child and Youth Services.
Agency/Organization: Sexual Assault Centre of Edmonton.
Invisible Chains: Understanding and Preventing Cyber Abuse in Domestic Violence
Speakers: Jeff Roth
Cyber awareness is a powerful tool for empowering survivors of domestic violence by giving them the knowledge to protect themselves from technology-based abuse. Abusers often use digital means like online stalking, harassment, and financial control to maintain power, but survivors can regain their autonomy by understanding the risks. By recognizing threats like spyware, GPS tracking, and compromised accounts, survivors can take steps to secure their privacy and protect themselves.
Jeff Roth is a seasoned IT industry professional. With over 25 years of experience, Jeff’s journey from the help desk to launching his own Managed IT Services Company is a testament to his expertise and entrepreneurial drive. Along with various industry specific certifications, Jeff has also earned his MBA in 2018 and is currently pursuing a Masters in Cybersecurity. He is dedicated to staying ahead of the curve in technology and security trends. His client-centric approach emphasizes building strong relationships and delivering top-notch solutions with a focus on security, reliability and personalized service. Jeff’s talk aims to help empower victims and survivors of domestic violence by better protecting themselves from cyber driven abuse and raise awareness on improving their own cyber security.
Helping survivors of domestic violence with the knowledge to protect themselves from technology-based abuse.
This presentation is for survivors of domestic violence and those who work with them to know how to protect them from technology-based abuse.
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Jeff Roth
Job Title: Founder & Business / Management / I.T. Consultant
Agency/Organization: Coming Soon!
Website – Coming Soon!
Session 3
Friday, November 8, 2024
10:15 – 11:45 a.m.
Breaking the Cycle of Violence Against Indigenous Women: The Intersection of Indigenous Rights and Women’s Rights
Speakers: Dr. Patricia Makokis & Janice Makokis
Indigenous women and girls are the backbone of First Nation communities but have been oppressed and marginalized since the arrival of European colonizers. Patriarchy, misogyny, and racism have diminished their traditional roles as decision-makers, knowledge-keepers, and lifegivers. The impact of colonization and patriarchal governance has resulted in high rates of violence against Indigenous women, including the staggering numbers of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls (MMIWG) and the Highway of Tears.
Janice and Patricia bring attention to the intersection of Indigenous rights and women’s rights, addressing the layers of colonialism and oppression that directly and indirectly affect Indigenous women. She sheds light on the urgency to restore access and justice for Indigenous women, so that they can have a voice and contribute to the success of themselves and their children within and outside of their communities. Janice and Patricia advocate for a collective approach to breaking the barriers created through colonial systems of oppression, which affect the lives of every single Canadian.
Join Janice and Dr. Patricia as they share their journey, knowledge and experiences to empower and inspire Indigenous women to rise above the challenges and reclaim their rightful place in society. Together, we can work towards a future where Indigenous women are honoured, respected, and valued for the contributions women bring to their communities, and to the world.
Dr. Patricia Makokis and Janice Makokis stand as two of Turtle Island’s most highly regarded Indigenous leaders and knowledge keepers. As a mother-daughter pair and the matriarchs of the Makokis family, their synergy creates a powerful force for advocacy, healing, and transformation within Indigenous communities across Turtle Island.
Together, Dr. Patricia and Janice Makokis share an unprecedented and unique perspective, drawing from their extensive experience across two different generations and the wisdom of their ancestors. They blend the truth of the past with insights into how we arrived at our present situation. Through their guidance, both individuals and organizations can learn what is required to instill hope, restore justice and join them on their journey for change.
Dr. Patricia Makokis‘s stature as one of Canada’s most outstanding Indigenous leaders has grown over two decades. Internationally renowned, she exemplifies a profound connection to the community and Indigenous values, delivering a message infused with hope and healing. Her approach to leadership education and policy development has been instrumental in enhancing equality and justice for First Nation peoples.
Janice Makokis, meanwhile, continues the family’s tradition as a passionate advocate and consultant. Her wisdom transcends boundaries, building bridges between Indigenous history and Western perspectives in Canada. Through her work with the Idle No More movement and the TRC Calls to Action, she creates dialogues that inspire actionable change, breaking down stigmas and stereotypes.
Dr. Patricia Makokis and Janice Makokis share the powers of allyship and unity for action, spreading their message across to different nations and the globe. They unite to bring new awareness and experiences for audiences around Turtle Island through their dedication to justice, equality, and wholeness. By advocating for a more inclusive and compassionate world, they build bridges among communities, peoples, and nations, leading the way on the path to equal treatment, access, and reconciliation.
Breaking the Cycle of Violence Against Indigenous Women.
Professionals and volunteers that services to families experiencing family violence.
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Dr. Patricia Makokis
LinkedIn Tag: @Patricia Makokis
FB Tag: @Patricia Makokis
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Janice Makokis
IG Tag: @creelegaleagle
LinkedIn Tag: @Janice Makokis
FB Tag: @Janice Makokis
Twitter/X Tag: @bearclannation
Life After Abuse
Speaker: Namrata Gill
I had an arranged marriage (difference between arranged and forced marriages) that brought me to Canada in 1991. I believed that my marriage was going to be a fairy tale and that Canada would provide me with opportunities. Upon arrival, I went to work at the small corner grocery store for my husband. I was discouraged from pursuing my dream of further education and forced pregnancy, though that was the best thing that ever happened to me. Slowly, the marriage turned into a nightmare, with first my husband abusing me. My mother-in-law and sister-in-law not only encouraged the abuse but also joined in, especially after the birth of my daughter. How I got the courage to speak to my family about what was happening after nearly 6 years. With the help and support of my family, the Indo-Canadian Women’s Association, and the Edmonton Police Service, I was able to flee and go to the WIN house. It was important for me to make sure my daughter knew that she was not a second-class citizen and that marriages were supposed to be abusive. I also wanted to provide my daughter and I a good life.
This session touches on my dream to be a police officer, how I worked towards making my dream come true and the challenges that I faced in my journey. I believe that the hardest and the most dangerous thing/time is to leave an abusive relationship; however, once you have the courage to do it and face the challenges that arise, the life one builds for oneself and the children is the best and most rewarding.
Namrata Gill
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Namrata Gill
Job Title: Coming Soon!
Agency/Organization: Coming Soon!
Website: Coming Soon!
Restraining Orders
Speakers: Christina Riddoch & Gwen May
One of the first steps recommended after a victim of family violence has reached out for help, is to apply for a protection order against the abuser. If the victim is applying for an EPO, there are supports in place to help with this process, such as the police, Children & Family Services and Legal Aid Alberta. In circumstances where an EPO is denied or the victim does not qualify for an EPO, there are alternative protection orders available through the courts. These alternatives, however, can be confusing and overwhelming to a victim as they often do not come with the same supports as provided to EPO claimants.
In this session, we will break down the different types of orders available (Restraining Orders and their sub-categories, King’s Bench Protection Orders and Peace Bonds). We will take participants step by step through obtaining the application, how to fill in, where to file, what to expect from Court and how to serve. Once the process is de-mystified, social and support workers will see they have the power and ability to help their clients through this process.
Christina is a staff lawyer with Legal Aid Alberta.
Gwen has been a duty counsel lawyer for Legal Aid for almost 10 years. Her area of expertise is Emergency Protection Orders and other orders related to preventing family violence.
Step by step guide to obtaining a restraining order or other civil protection orders.
Professionals in social services (social workers, support workers, advocates).
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Christina Riddoch
Job Title: Lawyer.
Agency/Organization: Legal Aid Alberta.
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Gwen May
Job Title: Duty Counsel.
Agency/Organization: Legal Aid Alberta.
2SLGBTQQIA+ Perspectives in Edmonton Based Sex Work: Safety and Empowerment
Speakers: Mars & Carrie Ellinger
This engaging presentation addresses critical challenges and opportunities in the Adult Entertainment Industry from a municipal perspective, focusing on safety, harm reduction, and financial empowerment. Centering the voices of queer individuals with lived experience in sex work, our presenters will highlight best practices for creating safe work environments and implementing effective harm reduction strategies.
The discussion will include one speaker’s personal journey as a queer person working in the sex work industry, sharing insights on the violence faced alongside the empowerment gained, and the invaluable support received from the community throughout their years as a provider. Participants will learn how being a sex worker has transformed the speaker’s life and explore key strategies for navigating the field safely.
Join us to discover actionable recommendations for local policymakers and community organizations that can foster stronger support networks and promote financial literacy, leading to a safer, more equitable landscape for all workers in the adult entertainment sector.
Mars (they/them) is a local Alberta sex worker, student, and advocate for harm reduction services and the sex worker industry.
They have been in SW for almost three years, a part of ANSWER Society since 2022, and have participated in multiple talks and panels about being a queer, neurodivergent sex worker in Alberta.
Carrie Ellinger is the Team Lead for Community Safety Initiatives with the City of Edmonton, where she oversees the Adult Entertainment Support Team as well as various portfolios, including Transit Safety, Recreation Centres, and the Healthy Streets Operations Centre. Prior to her current role, Carrie led the efforts of the Adult Entertainment Support Team for nine years, focusing on the implementation of recommendations from the Body Rub Centres Task Force and other City Council-approved reports.
In her work, Carrie emphasizes the importance of incorporating the voices of individuals with lived experience in the adult entertainment industry to inform policy, process, and bylaw decisions. She is dedicated to ensuring a municipal focus on harm reduction strategies that support the welfare of all community members, fostering a safer and more inclusive environment for individuals in the adult entertainment sector.
Sex work, 2SLGBTQQIA+, Adult Entertainment Industry, Safety, Harm Reduction, and Financial Empowerment.
Discover actionable recommendations for local policymakers and community organizations that can foster stronger support networks and promote financial literacy, leading to a safer, more equitable landscape for all workers in the adult entertainment sector.
Policymakers, Community Organizations, 2SLGBTQQIA+ Community
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Honouring Diverse Narratives: Addressing Ethnocultural Elder Abuse in Family Violence Prevention
Speaker: Dr. Rose Joudi
This presentation explores the critical intersection of ethnocultural perspectives and elder abuse within the broader context of family violence prevention. As part of the Diverse Voices Family Violence Conference, our focus extends beyond traditional frameworks to address the nuanced challenges faced by diverse communities, particularly in Western Canada. Ethnocultural elder abuse, shaped by factors such as race, ethnicity, language, and immigration status, demands a tailored approach to intervention and support. Through this presentation, we delve into the complexities of identifying and addressing ethnocultural elder abuse, navigating cultural barriers, and fostering culturally responsive interventions. Drawing on best practices and community-led initiatives, we highlight strategies for empowering service providers to effectively engage with diverse communities and strengthen our collective response to family violence.
Dr. Rose Joudi (Ph.D. in Psychology) brings over 15 years of expertise as an Aging and Ethnic Diversity Consultant. She is currently the Research Lead on an ethnocultural elder abuse awareness project with Carya (Calgary, AB). Rose contributes valuable insights to the field through her background in academia and research. Dr. Joudi collaborates with stakeholders to address the unique needs of older adults in diverse populations. Committed to enhancing seniors’ quality of life, she actively promotes educational strategies and facilitates training sessions including elder abuse awareness, ageism, trauma-informed care and cultural competence and compassion when working with diverse populations. Dr. Joudi is also a board member of the Canadian Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (CNPEA) and serves as an advisor for the Ministry of Seniors, Community, and Social Services in Alberta, Canada.
Ethnocultural Elder Abuse: Understanding, Challenges, and Culturally Responsive Approaches.
The presentation is directed towards professionals and stakeholders in the fields of family violence prevention, older adult (seniors) services, social services, community development, and multicultural advocacy.
Joudi, R. (2020). Refugee Rights: Essential for Positive Peace. In the Palgrave Handbook of Positive Peace. (Eds. Standish, K., Devere, H., Suazo, A., and Rafferty, R.). NY: Springer.
Dr. Rose Joudi
Job Title: Research Lead – Ethnocultural Elder Abuse.
Agency/Organization: Carya.
“I’ll never do it the same way again!”: How to Build Capacity in Anti-Violence Work by Learning to Design and Deliver More Engaging and Effective Education and Information Sessions
Speaker: Kiara Mikita
Do you work in a sector that fuels your passion for change — work that is as motivating as it is exhausting because of all that it asks you to do? Does your work involve not just difficult everyday work in violence prevention, intervention, and/or response, but also the challenges of trying to educate and inform others about it too? Is education and engagement something you do off the side of your desk without any formal training? Do you find yourself throwing sides together from old decks hoping these reconfigurations will make sense in their new context? Do you struggle with knowing how and what to say in ever shrinking windows of time and space with increasingly higher stakes? If your answer is yes to any of these questions, this capacity-building learning opportunity is for you! This interactive and dynamic session offered by Sexual Violence Educator Kiara Mikita, PhD, will provide you and your teams with practical and applicable strategies and tools that can be used in your everyday work to engage and help educate others in our shared efforts to prevent, intervene upon, and best respond to sexual- and gender-based violence. With dual expertise in sexual violence and in the scholarship of teaching and learning, Kiara will draw upon her years of experience designing and delivering sexual violence education to demonstrate how to offer anti-violence education and information to the public, to other professionals, and to others we present to in compelling and inviting ways. Using a handful of essential tips and tricks, Kiara will draw from examples of work she has done for and within local and provincial not for profit, anti-violence organizations to make visible and visceral how transformative and powerful well-delivered information and education can be. Among other things, this learning opportunity will grow your capacity-building skills by exploring: how to approach education/presentation design and delivery (where to start and why); how to determine structure and content (how to avoid dropping an anvil of information by knowing how to decide what to cover and what to let go of); the importance of thinking about how to reach people instead of just what to teach people (the difference between instruction and learning paradigms, and when to attend to cognitive and affective considerations); when and why to deploy statistics, definitions, and laws in education sessions (it might not be when and why you think you should); and, a handful of dos and don’ts that will help you and your teams offer enduring, meaningful, and engaging material. Participate in this learning opportunity and you’ll join others in saying that you can no longer look at or experience anti-violence education the same way again!
Kiara Mikita (she/her), PhD, is the Sexual Violence Educator at the University of Calgary and Alberta Health Services. Kiara has worked at several universities, with the Association of Alberta Sexual Assault Services, with urban and rural sexual assault centres, with the Sexual Assault Investigative Unit at the Calgary Police Service, and with Alberta Justice and Solicitor General. A playful educator, Kiara has delivered a “Last Lecture” about sexual violence, had her sexual violence course recognized by MacLean’s Magazine as one of its “coolest courses”, and is a Government of Alberta Inspiration Award recipient for Leadership in Sexual Violence work.
This session is about how to reach people and not just teach people by designing engaging and effective anti-violence education. The topic/theme is capacity-building in anti-violence work by empowering all those who educate and/or inform others to do it by meaningfully connecting with them.
Anyone and everyone who must present others with information (whether via education offerings, presentations, information relay, etc.)
Trauma-Sensitive Patient Interactions – Universal Engagement Practices, Kiara Mikita, PhD, Sexual Violence Educator, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary and Medical Affairs, Calgary Zone, Alberta Health Services
Resources for Incorporating EQUITY, DIVERSITY, INCLUSIVITY, and ACCESSIBILITY in LEARNING DESIGN (2022), Curated by Kiara Mikita, PhD
Kiara Mikita
Job Title: Sexual Violence Educator.
Agency/Organization: University of Calgary and Alberta Health Services.
Session 4
Friday, November 8, 2024
2:45 – 4:15 p.m.
The power of community: Testing a brain injury rehabilitation program for survivors of intimate partner violence
Speaker: Karen Mason
Almost half (44%) of women in Canada will experience violence at the hands of a partner in their lifetime. Research indicates as many as 92% of those women may also suffer a brain injury (BI) from concussion or strangulation as part of the abuse. That amounts to tens of thousands of women every year. Brain injury can cause a range of short, long-term and chronic physical, emotional and psychological challenges, making it difficult for survivors to parent, retain employment, secure safe, affordable housing, and survive within, leave, or thrive after leaving, a violent relationship. Yet, despite this, and the scope of the issue, BI from intimate partner violence (IPV) remains an understudied and under recognized public health crisis that is overdue for attention and action. While things like aerobic exercise, mindfulness/meditation, and challenging cognitive activities have been shown to support brain healing after concussion in other populations, there are currently no rehabilitation programs in Canada specifically designed to meet the unique needs of survivors of BI from IPV. In partnership with University of British Columbia Okanagan, Supporting Survivors of Abuse and Brain Injury through Research (SOAR) helped design, deliver, and evaluate a pilot project offering survivors of IPV-BI targeted brain injury rehabilitation. This session will provide an overview of IPV-BI, and share how the Community Support Network (CSN) intervention incorporated trauma and violence-informed principals to offer meaningful BI rehabilitation and other support for survivors IPV. This session will include details on how the CSN was developed, along with lessons learned and successes achieved along the way.
Karen Mason (she/her) is co-founder and executive director of Supporting Survivors of Abuse and Brain Injury through Research (SOAR), and former executive director of Kelowna Women’s Shelter in Kelowna, British Columbia. SOAR is a registered charity, and the only organization in Canada with a singular focus on brain injury (BI) from intimate partner violence (IPV). A seasoned non-profit leader, communicator, and community collaborator, Mason brings 35+ years of experience in the private, public, and non-profit sectors to her work advocating for survivors, conducting knowledge translation and mobilization activities, and supporting research, development, and dissemination of promising practices. Mason has training in trauma-informed practice and advanced strangulation prevention.
Targeted rehabilitation for survivors of brain injury from intimate partner violence.
Gender-based violence sector, health care, brain injury support and community workers.
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Karen Mason
Job Title: Executive Director.
Agency/Organization: Supporting Survivors of Abuse and Brain Injury through Research.
The Intersection of Pornography, Child Sexual Abuse, and Exploitation
Speakers: Heidi Olson
Recent reports and research acknowledge that not only is child-on-child sexual assault on the rise, but in several countries, children now make the majority of perpetrators who are sexually assaulting other children.
Historically, professionals often thought that if a child was sexually harming another child, they had been victimized themselves. However, current trends are showing this is not always the case. In fact, in many cases of child-on-child sexual assault, the child acting out has been influenced by repeated exposure to online pornography. Many children are initially unintentionally exposed to online pornography through their devices.
Mainstream pornography (what most children will see online) is extremely violent. To be exposed to sexual violence at a young age is traumatic and the trauma is compounded on multiple levels when children sexually harm, especially within families. Research is bearing out the correlational and causational relationship between porn use and sexual violence, especially as a child’s brain is not fully developed and is particularly susceptible to explicit content.
Professionals are also sounding the alarm on how pornography exposure is creating vulnerabilities in children being groomed into creating child sexual abuse materials and are subsequently experiencing exploitation and sextortion online. Pornography is currently the #1 sex educator for kids, and they are not learning about consent or mutuality through this content. Instead, there is a rise in strangulation among teens, filming sex acts, and sexual violence that kids are accepting as the norm.
This presentation is an honest discussion about the way pornography is affecting our kids and how we can mitigate the harm being done through best practices.
Heidi Olson, RN, MSN, CPN, SANE-P is a Certified Pediatric Nurse and Certified Pediatric Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE), she is also the Founder and President of Paradigm Shift Training and Consulting, which equips healthcare workers with skills-based training to be able to identify human trafficking and exploitation. Heidi has a wide range of experience in pediatric and forensic nursing and has taught as an adjunct clinical instructor for the University of Missouri at Kansas City and the University of St. Mary.
Heidi previously managed the SANE Program at Children’s Mercy Kansas City where she performed/reviewed over 1,500 pediatric forensic exams, many of them trafficking cases, communicated with law enforcement, child protective services, and a large multidisciplinary team, as well as educated hundreds of staff members on relevant topics regarding sexual violence. Heidi also serves as an expert witness for the prosecution during trials for victims of sexual assault.
In 2019, Heidi implemented an evidence-based screening process in the Emergency Department, which has resulted in hundreds of vulnerable children being identified as victims of exploitation and trafficking. Heidi has testified in favor of bills that have been passed into law on the state level and testified in a
briefing on Capitol Hill about protecting children online.
Heidi has also done groundbreaking work in sounding the alarm about the role of pornography influencing child-on-child sexual assault. Over the last few years, Heidi has presented hundreds of times internationally about recognizing human trafficking, child-on-child sexual assault, pornography, and exploitation. Heidi is also a facilitator for the Trauma Skills Institute, which provides cutting edge presentations on advocacy, trauma, and handling disclosures.
Heidi has also been featured in several documentaries regarding these topics, including Vulnerable Innocence, which has won 24 awards. Heidi won the Cry Purple award in 2023, which is given to citizens who are doing outstanding anti-trafficking work in their communities.
The rise of children sexually harming other children and evidence-based solutions.
It’s applicable to anyone working with children or caring for children.
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Heidi Olson
Job Title: Founder and President.
Agency/Organization: Paradigm Shift Training and Consulting LLC.
Responding to Disclosures
Speaker: Carla Bertsch
Sexual violence is an umbrella term used to encompass many acts of unwanted sexual attention or harassment from sexist jokes, to sexual harassment, stalking, or a violent sexual assault. All forms of sexual violence attack a person’s sense of self-worth, their sexuality, their body, and/or their feeling of safety. Participants will discuss and define sexual violence and how the many forms are connected and upheld via unchallenged beliefs and attitudes. Why are reporting rates of sexually violent crimes so low in both formal and informal settings? Participants will learn about what victim-blaming is and its effect on survivor’s/victims’ ability to come forward.
Have you ever wondered what you would say if someone close to you told you they had experienced sexual violence? In this interactive session, come learn the do’s and don’ts of responding to disclosures. Participants will gain knowledge on how to effectively respond to disclosures assisting people’s ability to resolve and heal from the trauma of sexual violence.
Participants will leave with common resources and referral options to support a victim/survivor’s autonomy and healing so you can be well equipped to become a support in your community.
Carla Bertsch is a queer, Cree and Metis, cisgender woman.
Experienced advocate with a demonstrated history of working in the higher education industry. Skilled in Analytical Skills, Crisis Intervention, Therapeutic Crisis Intervention, Facilitation, and Management. Strong support professional with a Master’s degree focused in Social Work from University of Victoria.
Educational lead on diversity and inclusion initiatives as well as delivers workshops on sexual violence, violence prevention, consent, gender equity, and gender socialization to inform and empower those within our community. I support all equity seeking and oppressed communities, knowing that our liberation, equity, and just treatment in all aspects of life, is connected.
Coming Soon!
Coming Soon!
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Carla Bertsch
Job Title: Senior Restorative Practitioner in the Sexual Misconduct Support and Resource Center.
Agency/Organization: Department of National Defence.
Masculinity Crisis or Caring Masculinity? Exploring the Role of Household Technology in Breaking the Norm of “Women in the Domestic Sphere” Among Ethio-Canadian Immigrants In Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Speakers: Anduamlak Takele
Global research on “toxic masculinity” and family violence has increasingly shown the enduring nature of domestic violence against women perpetrated predominantly by their partners. However, research that documents how transnational migration, technology, and gender equality/inequality are connected among equity-deserving communities like African-Canadian women is almost non-existent. Despite such a knowledge gap, African-Canadian immigrant married women have been victims of the traditional norm:” women in the domestic sphere and men are in the public sphere.” In this proposed session, I aim to illuminate how access to household technology transforms Ethio-Canadian married immigrants’ perspective of putting the task of household chores for “women only” and how it prevents potential family violence in a family structure that has a patriarchal notion. Mainly, I want to present how immigrating into an egalitarian Canadian society helps break the deep-rooted norm of the “women in the domestic sphere” notion and explore the dynamic in redefining the household division of labor among these couples through the lens of technology and gender. My central research question is how technology invisibility enables the formation of an egalitarian family norm and prevents the repercussions of domestic violence against these married women in Edmonton, Canada. Hence, I am to contribute to the existing body of knowledge in the area of gender equality reform in Canada and support the Canadian government’s policy for zero- tolerance to domestic violence, which I think my proposed talk will help to magnify the underrated role of technology in gender equality among equity deserving ethnic-communities such as Ethio-Canadian communities in Alberta, Canada.
Anduamlak Takele is currently pursuing a Doctoral degree in the Department of Sociology at the University of Alberta. During this time, he has been actively engaged in teaching and research at Debre Markos University, one of the public universities in Ethiopia.
Anduamlak’s academic journey at the University of Alberta led him to enroll in the “Sociology of Gender and Family Studies” course, which has significantly enriched his understanding of women’s rights in the context of the Global South-North encounter, specifically on the nexus transnational migration, masculinity crisis, technology, and gender equality among Ethio-Canadian immigrants residing in Edmonton, Canada.
A central area of interest for him is examining how technology (assisting a couple’s division of labour in the household in seemingly patriarchial Ethio-Canadian immigrant families) negotiates gender inequality in a Canadian egalitarian mainstream family system.
In addition to my academic pursuits, Anduamlak has delved into studying the lived experiences of female adolescents transitioning from non-traditional childcare to emerging adulthood, as well as their subsequent reintegration experiences in Ethiopia. This line of inquiry provides insights into the challenges faced by marginalized women in such vulnerable circumstances.
Complementing my academic endeavours, I have also been a student volunteer in one of the Ethiopian churches residing in Edmonton in the Refugee Sponsorship and Resettlement Program areas since January 2022.
Gender, Technology and Work-Family Conflict.
Children and Family Services.
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Anduamlak Takele
Job Title: Doctoral Student.
Agency/Organization: Department of Sociology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.
Alberta’s Electronic Monitoring Program
Speakers: Thomas Kuperus & Lukasz Herba
This session will showcase the Government of Alberta’s new, proactive approach to supervising offenders, including those involved in domestic violence. This modernized approach to supervision aims to complement existing community supervision methods and enhance overall offender accountability. Individuals subject to court-ordered electronic monitoring condition will be required to wear a Global Positioning System (GPS) tracking device on their ankle, monitored 24/7 by a centralized monitoring unit within Alberta Correctional Services. Alberta is fulfilling a mandate commitment and providing the courts an additional tool for enhancing supervision of individuals under community supervision.
During this session, participants will hear information on how Electronic Monitoring, when Ordered by the courts, will complement other forms of community supervision. Discussions will include insights into how the program will provide supervision for individuals on bail, or community sentenced orders.
Thomas Kuperus is the Director of the Electronic Monitoring Program. His career with the Government of Alberta began in 2012, encompassing various roles within the Correctional Services Division. Including Correctional Peace Officer,
Correctional Service Worker and Correctional Service Worker III. His transition to Community Corrections saw him serve
as Probation Officer, Senior Probation Officer, where he was also part of the implementation of the Mobile Monitoring Unit. More recently he held the position of Manager at the Edmonton East Community Corrections Office. He has also contributed as a Strategic Workforce Analyst in the Correctional Planning and Innovation Branch, playing key roles in the various transformational projects. Tom is a Sessional Instructor at MacEwan University in the Correctional Services Program. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Justice Studies and a Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies.
Lukasz Herba is a Supervisor with the Electronic Monitoring Program. He earned his Bachelor of Social Work from the University of Calgary and worked as a family violence public educator before starting his career with the Correctional Services Division in 2012. He has been a member of the Edmonton Domestic Violence Committee and co-chair of the Diverse Voices Family Violence conference; as well as a valuable addition across various roles in Community Corrections, including Youth Probation. Lukasz was also involved as part of the implementation team at the Mobile Monitoring Unit and brings experience in project implementation and development.
Proactive approach to supervising offenders, including those involved in domestic violence.
In context of family violence, the presentation is directed towards professionals in the criminal justice sector including law enforcement, social workers, probation officers and domestic violence advocates.
Check Back Soon!
Thomas Kuperus
Job Title: Senior Manager, Electronic Monitoring Program.
Agency/Organization: Government Of Alberta, Public Safety and Emergency Services.
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Lukasz Herba
Job Title: Coming Soon!
Agency/Organization: Coming Soon!
Working with Male Victims Who Experienced Domestic Abuse
Speaker: Kyle Ho
This session introduces the Male Domestic Abuse Outreach Program at the Calgary Counselling Centre. It will cover facts and figures on male victims, information about different types of abuse, the effects on males when they are victims, how to assess potential male victims, and skills to support them.
Kyle Ho is the coordinator of the Male Domestic Abuse Outreach Program at the Calgary Counselling Centre. As a registered social worker with a bachelor of social work from the City University of Hong Kong and a master’s of narrative therapy and community work from the University of Melbourne, Kyle provides support to men and their families who are experiencing any form of domestic abuse, including physical, emotional, verbal, sexual or financial. Services provided by this outreach program may include safety planning, domestic violence education, emotional support, counselling, referrals to housing, legal aid and financial support, and community education regarding the issue of domestic abuse against men.
Introducing our program and the approach to work with Male Victims Who Experienced Domestic Abuse.
Professionals and volunteers that work in domestic violence or family field.
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Kyle Ho
Job Title: Male Domestic Abuse Outreach Coordinator.
Agency/Organization: Calgary Counselling Centre.
Thursday, November 7
10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Thursday, November 7
2:45 – 4:15 p.m.
Friday, November 8
10:15 – 11:45 a.m.
Friday, November 8
2:45 – 4:15 p.m.