Our Roles in a Culturally
Responsive Environment
May 29 & 30, 2024
Sheraton Guildford Hotel, Surrey, BC
15269 104 Avenue, Surrey, BC
SOLD OUT – Please contact PVSBC at info@policevictimservices.bc.ca
to be placed on a waitlist should additional registrations become available
The communities police-based victim services professionals work within are diverse and oftentimes complex. Victims and survivors of criminal and traumatic incidents come from a diverse array of cultural backgrounds, face different cultural and systematic barriers, and often experience different levels of social inequities. The lived cultural experience of victims and survivors often shape their experiences of trauma and healing.
The needs of victims and survivors are varied and unique. Often when it comes to services, one size does not fit all. Being culturally competent and responsive is critical to providing meaningful and effective support to diverse communities and to recognizing the challenges victims and survivors from diverse communities experience when accessing resources.
Wednesday, May 29: Trauma Informed Justice
~ Myrna McCallum, The Trauma Informed Lawyer
- Emotional Intelligence
- Creating Safety, Connection & Relationship Building
- Power, Privilege, Bias, and Accountability
- What is Cultural Humility
- The Value of Lived Experience and Cultural Humility
- Compassionate Inquiry
- Justice is Traumatizing
- Self-Care, Self-Compassion & Collective Care
Myrna McCallum is a true change-maker, award-winning podcaster, and leading champion of trauma-informed lawyering. She is the host of “The Trauma-Informed Lawyer” Podcast and acts as a subject matter expert on trauma-informed policy, procedure, and process. Myrna also offers training courses on trauma-informed engagement for leaders, policy makers, police officers, lawyers and judges. She is also a highly sought after public speaker.
Myrna received the 2020 Federal Department of Justice Excellence in Legal Practice and Victim Support Award, the 2022 Canadian Bar Association BC Aboriginal Lawyer’s Forum Special Contributor Award, the 2022 Saskatchewan Ombudsman’s Game Changer Award, the 2023 Canadian Bar Association BC Women Lawyers Forum Award of Excellence, and the 2023 Canadian Bar Association Cecilia I. Johnstone Award.
Myrna has co-edited two publications:
Canadian Law, Indigenous Laws and Critical Perspectives published by CanLII as a Criminal Law Open Access eBook and
Trauma-Informed Law: a Primer for Lawyer Resilience and Healing published by the American Bar Association.
Thursday, May 30: Anti-Oppressive De-Escalation Skills Training
~Randene Wejr, Turning Points
Coping with the aftermath of a crime, tragedy, or traumatic event is often a very difficult and stressful experience. For marginalized groups who have experienced historical traumas and systematic discrimination, the impact is often exacerbated.
In this Anti-Oppressive De-Escalation Skills training, we explore ways to center clients and help them in ways that don’t perpetuate or exasperate power inequities. Participants will look at ways to self-regulate, hold space for clients that may be displaying aggressive behaviours, and learn ways to de-escalate intense situations.
Approaching clients in this manner helps nurture and foster relationships where people feel safe, happy, and supported.
Topics covered in this day long training session include:
-
- Centering clients
- Low-intensity situations
- High-intensity situations
- Prevention of escalation
- Relationship building
- Self-awareness
Randene has been the Executive Director of Turning Points since 2017. Under her leadership, the organization has grown in both staff and programs offered. Randene is deeply committed to collaboration and community building and has created strong connections in new communities. As such, she sits on numerous community committees and working groups spanning several communities, ministries, and multiple layers of government.
For the past twenty-two years. Randene has worked in roles supporting and championing marginalized individuals within the Federal and Provincial governments. She’s worked as an executive director for a number of organizations in Canada and internationally (India). She worked in Northern BC for fifteen years and during that time she had the opportunity to work and develop relationships with numerous indigenous bands; from the Haida of the north coast to the Lheidli T’enneh of the central interior.
Thursday, May 30 – Closing Keynote
~ Karen Vadino, LCSW Motivational Speaker, Humorist, Trainer and Consultant
Karen Vadino is a Motivational Speaker, Humorist, Trainer and Consultant. In her thirty-plus years as a human service professional, most of Karen’s experience has been in the field of chemical dependency, both as a licensed clinician and as a certified prevention specialist. She has considerable experience working with children and families, having served as a clinician and supervisor in Children’s Services group homes and a Children’s Psychiatric Hospital. For the past twenty-five years, Karen has been a nationally recognized speaker and trainer sharing her inimitable insights with thousands of people – adults and youth – each year. Karen has been described as “one of those rare people who can make you laugh and cry in the same moment”.
Regardless of the topic, Karen’s workshops and presentations are humorous in nature, reflecting her own insightful approach to dealing with life’s daily challenges. She is well known for her “Vadinoan Theories”, including her exhortation to “release your dolphins” and her firm belief that we should never wait until we are entirely happy before we laugh.
Registration Fees
PVSBC offers several membership options to suit your individual needs:
SOLD OUT – Please contact PVSBC at info@policevictimservices.bc.ca to be placed on a waitlist should additional registrations become available | ||
| PVSBC Member Regular Registration | $400.00 SOLD OUT | |
| Non-Member Regular Registration | $475.00 SOLD OUT |
Symposium Schedule of Activities
(times are approximate)
Wednesday, May 29 | |
07:30 – 08:30 | Breakfast |
08:30 – 09:15 | Welcome Program |
09:30 – 16:30 | Trauma Informed Justice (breaks & lunch included) |
17:00 – 18:30 | Networking / Meet and Greet (light appetizers provided) |
Thursday, May 30 | |
07:30 – 08:30 | Breakfast |
08:30 – 09:00 | Welcome Program |
09:30 – 15:00 | Anti-Oppressive De-Escalation Skills |
15:30 – 16:30 | Closing Keynote – Karen Vadino |