Ignite Unite Transform
Envisioning our Future ~ Honouring the Past
May 7 & 8, 2025
Sheraton Guildford Hotel, Surrey, BC
15269 – 104 Avenue, Surrey, BC
Wednesday, May 7
Keynote Presentation: Why are We Here? (re)Discovering Happiness at Work
~ Jennifer Moss, Workplace Culture Strategist
Why is work is still so “meh”? We’ve come through a global crisis but it changed us and many workplaces seem to have lost their magic. We’re hungry for purpose and meaning. We want our MOJO back!
In her newest keynote offering, Jennifer Moss offers a solution with 5 key takeaways. How to: (re)Imagine the future, (re)Connect a diverse workforce, (re)Prioritize autonomy, (re)Build belonging, and most importantly (re)Store purpose and meaning.
Jennifer is an award-winning writer, international speaker, and workplace culture strategist. She is the cofounder of the Work Better Institutes, a former member of the Global Happiness Council, in partnership with Gallup and the United Nations, and a contributor to their annual Global Happiness Policy Report.
To learn more about Jennifer, please visit: www.jennifer-moss.com
Keynote Presentation: Trauma, Moral Distress, Compassion Fatigue & Resilience
~ Dr. Jeff Morley, Registered Psychologist
We do the work that we do because it is in our nature to help, but what is the long-term impact of the work that we do? This session will take a deeper dive into the different types of traumas victim services professionals can face, and the different ways these traumas can affect individuals in terms of their physical health, mental health, emotions, behaviours, and even how these types of traumas may affect their worldview and spirituality. The session will conclude with a focus on the latest science and best practices to maintain personal and professional resilience.
Breakout Workshop Sessions – Wednesday, May 7
Breakout Workshop Session A - 1:00 pm - 2:15 pm
Presenters:
- Dr. Benjamin Roebuck: Federal Ombudsperson for Victims of Crime
- Jay Chalke: BC Ombudsperson
The Canadian Victims Bill of Rights (CVBR) provides quasi-constitutional rights to victims of crime throughout their contact with the criminal justice system. When those rights are not respected, victims have the right to file a complaint with relevant provincial or federal complaints mechanisms. This workshop will help participants understand the role of the BC Ombudsperson and Federal Ombudsperson for Victims of Crime in the enforcement of victim rights. It will explore provincial and federal victim rights, the range of available complaint mechanisms, and how Ombuds help to ensure procedural fairness in public services. Both Ombud offices will explain their mandate, limitations, and recent work on individual or systemic complaints from victims of crime. A significant portion of the workshop will be dedicated to Q & A.
About the Presenters:
Jay Chalke was appointed Ombudsperson in May, 2015 and reappointed to a second six-year term starting July 1, 2021. In his role as the Ombudsperson, Jay has led several wide-reaching systemic investigations
Jay has an extensive background in executive leadership, conducting fair and independent investigations and the use of modern approaches to dispute resolution. From 2011 to 2015, Jay led the Justice Services Branch of the Ministry of Justice and was responsible for delivering reforms to justice services and fostering dialogue and collaboration across the justice system.
Prior to his appointment with the Ministry of Justice, Jay was the first Public Guardian and Trustee of British Columbia from 2000 to 2011. During this time, he was instrumental in implementing lasting changes to modernize service delivery, improve collaboration with stakeholders, and enhance public accountability.
Dr. Benjamin Roebuck is an internationally recognized expert in the field of victimology, with over 15 years of experience as a researcher and educator on victim rights. Prior to his appointment as Federal Ombudsperson for Victims of Crime, he was Research Chair and Professor of Victimology and Public Safety at Algonquin College, where he was a founding member of the Victimology Research Centre. He has been the principal investigator for studies exploring resilience and posttraumatic change with survivors of violence, victim service providers, and people with lived experiences of homelessness.
Benjamin previously served on the Board of Directors for Crime Prevention Ottawa and committees focused on restorative justice, mental health, and youth justice. He served as a member of the External Advisory Committee for the Sexual Misconduct Response Centre, which provides support for currently serving and former Canadian Armed Forces members and National Defence public service employees affected by sexual misconduct.
Presenter:
- Dr. Lisa Kyle, University of Northern BC
Presented from a place of personal experience and provide some lessons learned from Lisa’s own time working in Victim Services, this session will provide some contextual information on the differences between crisis intervention and counselling skills, then move into practical tools for grounding techniques within crisis intervention. This session will include some aspects/examples of when these tools are appropriate and when they will not be a fit for the circumstance.
About the Presenter:
Dr. Lisa Kyle is a Registered Clinical Social Worker whose research interests are focused on barriers to mental health services, post-traumatic stress disorder, trauma growth, and trauma-informed practice. Lisa is also an Assistant Professor in the School of Social Work at the University of Northern British Columbia and maintains a small private practice providing therapeutic services to first responders across Northern British Columbia. Lisa was once a Victim Services Caseworker and it was during this time in her career that she was motivated to expand her educational journey into a Master’s of Social Work program, eventually leading her to complete her PhD. Working with people has always remained at the heart of her work.
Presenters:
- Haley Hrymak
- Stephanie Melnyk
Many clients are pulled into overlapping legal matters in the family law system and the criminal system which can become complicated. At the same time, it’s difficult for clients experiencing violence to find protection through legal remedies. Two presenters from Rise Women’s Legal Centre will give an overview of where Family Law and Criminal Law overlap and what legal protections are available to our clients, while highlighting the challenges in these areas. They will share practical considerations for protective orders and the role of PVS in supporting clients. Rise’s Research Lawyer Haley Hrymak has done extensive work looking into Peace Bonds as well as Protection Orders in BC and will address the need for a new specialized process. Stephanie Melnyk is with the Virtual Legal Clinic at Rise and has research to share about additional barriers for clients in rural, remote and isolated communities.
The session will also include a brief overview of Rise written resources.
About the Presenters:
Haley Hrymak is a staff lawyer at Rise Women’s Legal Centre and conducts original research to support Rise’s goal of providing responsive family law services to women and gender diverse people in BC. On behalf of Rise, Haley has led numerous research projects on family violence and its intersection with the family law system. Haley began working at Rise in 2018 and is grateful for the opportunity to work towards systemic change at Rise in her role. In her work she advocates that access to justice for survivors of violence requires everyone working in the legal system to have mandatory and ongoing education on family violence.
Stephanie Melnyk comes to Rise from a victim services program where she supported individuals who had experienced trauma or crisis and walked alongside them through the criminal court system. A common thread in her work has been amplifying the voices of those she supports as well as those she meets in her community volunteer work. Stephanie is a youth soccer coach, a Nordic skier, an active Rotarian, a Roots of Empathy instructor, an avid baker and mother of two boys with her partner.
Presenters:
- BC Hate Crimes Unit
Every person in British Columbia has a right to feel safe and participate in their community. Yet, hate crimes are likely to be among the most underreported offences in the province.
In this session, participants will gain an understanding of:
- Who is BC Hate Crimes
- Statistics
- What happened during the Pandemic- Its impact on our stats
- Hate Crimes Vs. Hate Incidents – their prevalence
- Criminal Code Sections
- What you need to know as a Victim – how to support them
- Why report a Hate Incident
Breakout Workshop Session B - 2:45 pm to 4:00 pm
Presenter:
- Dr. Lisa Kyle, University of Northern BC
Presented from a place of personal experience and provide some lessons learned from Lisa’s own time working in Victim Services, this session will provide some contextual information on the differences between crisis intervention and counselling skills, then move into practical tools for grounding techniques within crisis intervention. This session will include some aspects/examples of when these tools are appropriate and when they will not be a fit for the circumstance.
About the Presenter:
Dr. Lisa Kyle is a Registered Clinical Social Worker whose research interests are focused on barriers to mental health services, post-traumatic stress disorder, trauma growth, and trauma-informed practice. Lisa is also an Assistant Professor in the School of Social Work at the University of Northern British Columbia and maintains a small private practice providing therapeutic services to first responders across Northern British Columbia. Lisa was once a Victim Services Caseworker and it was during this time in her career that she was motivated to expand her educational journey into a Master’s of Social Work program, eventually leading her to complete her PhD. Working with people has always remained at the heart of her work.
Presenter:
- Catherine Bargen
The Canadian Victims Bill of Rights provides that every victim of crime has the right to receive information about the services and programs available to victims including restorative justice programs.
Restorative justice is an approach to justice that focuses on addressing the harm caused by crime and meeting the needs of those involved. In BC, restorative justice approaches can look different depending on the point in the criminal justice process it is accessed, the resources available in one’s community, and the circumstances of the crime.
Using the voices and experiences of victims and survivors gained through the Crime Victims’ Experiences of Restorative Justice: A Listening Project as the backdrop for this workshop, this session will provide an overview of the continuum of restorative justice approaches available and the role of police-victim services in supporting victims and survivors in the restorative justice process.
About the Presenter:
Catherine began her career in 1999 as a mediator, facilitator, and trainer in the nonprofit and education sectors. While training hundreds of students and professionals in restorative approaches, she helped implement restorative practices into policy and practice across the Langley School District in Langley, British Columbia, an experience which influences her approach to systems change to this day. Prior to co-founding Just Outcomes, Catherine served for nearly a decade as the Restorative Justice Coordinator within the Victim Services and Crime Prevention Division of the Government of British Columbia, Canada. To add to this mix, Catherine designed and co-facilitated arts-based dialogue programs among youth involved in international political conflict through her volunteer work with the organization Peace it Together. She has been involved in justice and peacebuilding work as a learner, trainer, or presenter around the world.
About the Presenters:
- Sioned Dyer – Safety and Protection Programs, Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General
- Chantal Reese – Civil Resolution Tribrunal
- Lindsay Lobb – Canadian Centre for Child Protection
The non-consensual distribution of intimate images (NCDII) is a form of technology-facilitated gender-based violence and has caused significant harm to many British Columbians. This session will first provide an overview of the Intimate Images Protection Act as well as two initiatives that support victims of non-consensual distribution of intimate images, the Civil Resolution Tribunal, and the Intimate Images Protection Service. The Canadian Centre for Child Protection will then provide a national context regarding tech facilitated sexual violence issues involving children and youth. Through the operation of Cybertip.ca – Canada’s tipline for reporting the online sexual exploitation of children – the Canadian Centre for Child Protection has an expertise and unique window into child sexual abuse and how technology has impacted victimization. This session will conclude with an overview of Support Services offered by the Canadian Centre and how the coordinated supports between the IIPS and the Centre’s support team to ensure that British Columbians are provided with wrap around supports.
Speaker Bios:
Chantal Reese has a background in policy, investigations and mediation. She completed her Masters of Arts in Dispute Resolution at the University of Victoria’s School of Public Administration in 2014. After a few stints as a policy analyst and a couple years in private practice, Chantal joined the Civil Resolution Tribunal (CRT). She has held a number of different positions at the CRT, including being a Case Manager mediating disputes for a number of years. As a Manager of Facilitation she now oversees the claim resolution process for the Intimate Images Protection Act jurisdiction. She is extremely passionate about access to justice.
Sioned Dyer is the Director of Safety and Protection programs with the Community Safety and Victim Services Branch of the British Columbia Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General. Prior to this role, Sioned was the Executive Director with the North Shore Restorative Justice Society for eight years and has also held several different positions with service agencies across the Lower Mainland. Sioned completed a Masters degree in Urban Studies in 2020 at Simon Fraser University where she focused her capstone research on the City of Vancouver’s policy prioritization of reconciliation.
Lindsay Lobb is the Director of Operations – Support Services at the Canadian Centre for Child Protection (C3P) where she helps lead a team of staff that support the victims of online sexual exploitation who have connected with C3P. Lindsay joined the agency in 2008 as a missing children caseworker, and later was named the case management supervisor. In 2016, Lindsay became C3P’s Policing Relations Liaison, working with law enforcement agencies to implement agreements, deliver training and information sessions, and promote the use of C3P child safety resources. She continues to provide leadership to our missing children support services and to advance policing relations across Canada. Before joining C3P, Lindsay worked as a social worker in child protection in Ontario and Manitoba. She regularly presents across Canada to police, child welfare, and victim services.
Presenter:
- Reanna Shular – Moms Stop the Harm
Moms Stop the Harm (MSTH) is a network of Canadian families impacted by substance-use-related harms and deaths. This workshop session will provide participants with a greater understanding of how to support grieving families, and assist those with loved ones who use or have used substances.
Thursday, May 8
Keynote Presentation: Cultural Agility Over Competence
~ Indian Residential School Survivors Society
Breakout Workshop Sessions – Thursday May 8
Breakout Workshop Session C (10:45 am - 12:00 pm)
Presenter:
- Phil Eastwood – Fiore Group
This workshop will be packed with critical information and usable skills that will instantly improve everyone’s safety at work. After completing this session, participants will find a renewed sense of competence as they are better informed on what to look for and how to handle and respond to situations if/when they crop up.
Presenter:
- Marie Ong – BC Law Institute
This workshop will highlight the barriers that exist for vulnerable adults accessing the justice system, focusing specifically on older adults, adults with disabilities, and individuals who have experienced trauma. It aims to equip participants with tools and practical strategies to support vulnerable victims and witnesses by exploring issues such as:
- Aging, competence, and testimonial capacity
- Trauma and trauma-informed practices
- Supporting vulnerable adults in reference to policy and legislation
- Supports beyond policy and legislation
About the Presenter:
Prior to joining the team at BCLI, Marie spent her first few years of practice at a Vancouver-based national firm where she specialized in medical negligence, class actions, occupiers’ liability, and personal injury claims. She has assisted clients in matters before all levels of court in British Columbia. Marie received her JD from the Peter A. Allard School of Law at the University of British Columbia. During law school, she provided pro bono representation to low-income clients across various criminal, civil, and administrative law matters as a member of the Law Students’ Legal Advice Program and the UBC Criminal Clinic.
About the British Columbia Law Institute (BCLI):
BCLI is a not-for-profit law reform agency, conducting law reform projects in the public interest since 1997. BCLI’s reports, study papers, and tools recommend just and innovative solutions that enhance access to justice and strengthen legal frameworks. Our work often recommends reforms to foundational components of our legal system. The Canadian Centre for Elder Law is our division focused on law and policy issues related to aging. BCLI also houses the Reconciling Crown Legal Frameworks Program which seeks to integrate research and education to support recognition of Indigenous legal frameworks and enable legal pluralism.
Presenter:
- Jessica Wolf – Registered Clinical Counsellor
Sudden traumatic loss is quite different from anticipated non traumatic loss. As First Responders, who are present and witness the immediate aftermath of such an event, being aware of the challenges and needs of those impacted is key. Being able to provide the needed support in such circumstance can play an important impact in the long-lasting, ongoing effects of a person’s grieving journey.
About the Presenter:
Jessica is a Registered Clinical Counselor with 25 years of experience in the clinical field and holds a master’s degree in Family Therapy. As someone who has personally experienced the loss of a loved one to suicide, Jessica has dedicated much of her career to grief therapy, particularly focusing on suicide bereavement. Jessica serves as a Suicide Grief Support Group Facilitator with BC Bereavement Helpline and spent three years as the Bereavement Coordinator for the Crisis Centre of BC’s Bereavement Program.
Jessica’s credentials also include roles as a Crisis Intervention University Instructor and Hotline Supervisor. She is a TED Talk speaker and the author of “Overcoming Suicide Bereavement: The Stories of Those Left Behind.” Additionally, Jessica is a passionate educator in suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention. Drawing from professional and personal experiences, she firmly believes in our ability to transform ourselves and use our suffering as a catalyst for change.
Presenter:
- A/Sgt. Anthony Cameron – RCMP Indigenous Policing
Priority registration given to RCMP-based Victim Services Staff/Volunteers
Breakout Workshop Session D (1:30 pm - 2:45 pm)
Presenter:
- Phil Eastwood – Fiore Group
This workshop will be packed with critical information and usable skills that will instantly improve everyone’s safety at work. After completing this session, participants will find a renewed sense of competence as they are better informed on what to look for and how to handle and respond to situations if/when they crop up.
Presenters:
- Indian Residential School Survivors Society
Presenters:
- Tara George – Correctional Service of Canada
- Lisa Saether – Parole Board of Canada
This session will provide an overview of Correctional Service of Canada’s (CSC) and Parole Board of Canada’s (PBC) trauma-informed services to victims of offenders under federal jurisdiction. It will explore how victims can exercise their rights to information, participation, protection and restitution as the offender moves through the criminal justice system from incarceration to a safe and timely return to the community.
Together representatives from CSC and PBC will share how their agencies work together to fulfill victims’ rights through a trauma informed lens.
Presenter:
- Amandeep Sehmbi – BC First Nations Justice Council
Gladue Reports are not “the easy way out” but instead a tool the court uses to address systemic inequities faced by Indigenous offenders. In the Canadian criminal justice system, judges must take into consideration the individual circumstances of the person before them in court to determine a fit and fair sentence. If an accused identifies as Indigenous and are charged with a crime, the judge must apply Gladue principles. Gladue principles are a way for the judge to consider the unique circumstances (experiences) of Indigenous peoples.
This workshop will provide an overview of what Gladue Reports are and their role in sentencing along with providing an understanding of restorative justice and healing plans. Case studies will highlight successful outcomes and address complex dynamics for ensuring safety and respect for the nation where the victim is Indigenous, and the accused is Indigenous from the same community.
About the Presenter:
Amandeep Sehmbi is a criminal defence lawyer practicing in Vancouver. She completed her articles and practiced at a prominent criminal defence firm with senior counsel on complex criminal files in Yaletown.
Amandeep has experience in all areas of criminal law. She has assisted in managing multiple trial briefs and appeals before the BC Court of Appeal and Supreme Court of Canada.
Amandeep has worked with the B.C. First Nations Justice Council’s Gladue Services Department in different capacities since 2021, first as a legal reviewer and later as a Gladue Report Writer. She recently expanded her role with the B.C. First Nations Justice Council as the Director of Gladue Services Department, where she works to ensure that all Indigenous peoples are able to receive quality and timely Gladue Reports.
Closing Keynote
- Reflections on Why We Do What We Do ~ Dr. Benjamin Roebuck, Federal Ombudsperson for Victims of Crime
- The Healing Power of Sound ~ Terri Jones
Symposium Schedule of Activities
(times are approximate)
| Wednesday, May 7 | Thursday May 8 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 07:30 – 08:30 | Breakfast | 07:30 – 08:30 | Breakfast |
| 08:30 – 09:15 | Welcome Program | 08:30 – 08:45 | Welcome Program |
| 09:30 – 10:30 | Keynote: Jennifer Moss | 09:00 – 10:15 | Keynote: Cultural Agility Over Competence |
| 10:45 – 12:00 | Keynote: Dr. Jeff Morley | 10:15 – 10:45 | Break |
| 12:00 – 13:00 | Lunch | 10:45 – 12:00 | Breakout Workshop Session C |
| 13:00 – 14:15 | Breakout Workshop Session A | 12:00 – 13:30 | Lunch |
| 14:15 – 14:45 | Break | 13:45 – 15:00 | Breakout Workshop Session D |
| 14:45 – 16:00 | Breakout Workshop Session B | 15:00 – 15:30 | Break |
| 16:00 – 16:30 | End of Day Activity | 15:30 – 16:30 | Closing Keynote |
| 17:00 – 18:30 | Meet and Greet (light appetizers provided) |
Registration
| Early-Bird Before April 1 | Regular April 1 onwards | |
|---|---|---|
| PVSBC Member Registration | $395.00 | $450.00 |
| Non-Member Registration | $475.00 | $530.00 |
Accommodations
A limited number of guest rooms are available at reduced rates under the PVSBC Room Block at the Sheraton Guildford. Guest Room rates start at $215.00/night (standard room), $235.00/night (deluxe room).