Transforming Practices Conference 2026

This experiential workshop offers front line service providers and clinicians practical land-based tools for both supporting those they serve, and their own self-care when working with people who have experienced acute trauma, and those who've experienced complex trauma and attempted genocide. Dr. Fellner will engage attendees in some basic tools that can support them in their work, drawing on decades of community-driven Indigenous research and national reports, as well as ancient iyiniwak (Indigenous peoples') approaches to wellness. Participants will learn how to begin restor(y)ing colonial narratives of pathology using Indigenous counter narratives of survivance, resilience, resistance, and resurgence that move Indigenous people and communities toward individual and collective wellness, balance, and harmony. Land-based tools for wellness will be introduced, including how to bring an “all my relations,” land-based, strength-based, culturally responsive, holistic, and historically sensitive approach to front line work, and how to take care of themselves and their families in this often difficult work.

The ALERT Northern Alberta Internet Child Exploitation Unit welcomes everyone to attend an information session regarding the realities of Internet child exploitation in Alberta, and strategies to navigate these issues in an open and collaborative way with children. Some of the topics we will discuss include: who we are and what we do, child luring and sextortion, artificial intelligence, the commodification of sexual interactions, our partner agencies, and how we can all work together to keep kids safe online.

Here For you HQ: Building a Culture of Care in Post-Secondary Education

The CS 101 Presentation will provide you with an overview of the Child Intervention System, including Child Intervention Legislation and responsibilities. There will also be a focus on threshold for involvement, decision making in Child Intervention and the different services to children in care. Lastly, there will be information shared about the duty to report.

Child abuse is a critical issue that affects millions of children worldwide, manifesting in various forms, including physical, emotional, sexual, domestic violence, the internet and neglect. This presentation aims to educate attendees on the key signs and symptoms of child abuse, emphasizing the importance of early detection and intervention. We will explore behavioral indicators, physical signs, and emotional symptoms that may suggest a child is experiencing abuse. Additionally, the presentation will cover the legal and ethical responsibilities of professionals and community members in reporting suspected abuse, including guidelines of reporting child abuse.  Ultimately, this presentation seeks to empower individuals to recognize the signs of abuse and take proactive steps to ensure the safety and well-being of children in their care.

Part 1: Paedophilia, Child Molestation, and Cross-associated Paraphilia
This session contains sensitive contents; law enforcement strongly preferred. 

When life or work is shaken by loss or disruption, how do we find our footing again? This contemplative and creative workshop invites professionals to explore resilience, connection, and renewal through guided writing and storytelling.
Participants will reflect on experiences of isolation, reconnection, and rebuilding; considering both personal responses and the ways these insights can strengthen their work with children, families, and colleagues. Through shared stories and structured reflection, attendees leave with renewed perspective, practical strategies, and a deeper understanding of how to navigate challenging situations with clarity and compassion.

The presentation will highlight how the Alberta Centre to End Human Trafficking in Persons is working collaboratively with communities across Alberta to disrupt and prevent human trafficking, while ensuring survivors have prioritized access to coordinated, comprehensive supports. The presentation will also feature a survivor’s powerful story of resilience and recovery, tracing her courageous journey from victimization and exploitation to becoming an advocate dedicated to supporting other survivors of human trafficking.

Trauma doesn’t just affect the mind — it lives in the body and nervous system. In this talk, Dr. Joelle Johnson explores how physical, emotional, and chemical trauma can impact the nervous system, influencing posture, movement, reflexes, and overall health. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of concepts such as vagal tone, stress responses, and the re-emergence of primitive reflexes, and learn why the body’s reactions are protective rather than broken. This session offers an empowering, compassionate explanation of how the nervous system adapts — and how healing begins.

This experiential workshop offers front line service providers and clinicians practical land-based tools for both supporting those they serve, and their own self-care when working with people who have experienced acute trauma, and those who've experienced complex trauma and attempted genocide. Dr. Fellner will engage attendees in some basic tools that can support them in their work, drawing on decades of community-driven Indigenous research and national reports, as well as ancient iyiniwak (Indigenous peoples') approaches to wellness. Participants will learn how to begin restor(y)ing colonial narratives of pathology using Indigenous counter narratives of survivance, resilience, resistance, and resurgence that move Indigenous people and communities toward individual and collective wellness, balance, and harmony. Land-based tools for wellness will be introduced, including how to bring an “all my relations,” land-based, strength-based, culturally responsive, holistic, and historically sensitive approach to front line work, and how to take care of themselves and their families in this often difficult work.

In recent years, the importance of trauma-informed care has gained recognition across various sectors, including education, healthcare, and social services. This presentation explores the foundational framework of trauma-informed environments, highlighting the four pillars—realize, recognize, respond and resisting re-traumatization—and the seven guiding principles that underpin effective trauma-informed practices. We will discuss how these elements work synergistically to create spaces that not only recognize the prevalence of trauma but actively promote healing and resilience. Participants will gain insights into implementing these principles in their own organizations, while moving from being reactive to a proactive setting while fostering environments that prioritize emotional and psychological safety. Through case studies and interactive discussions, attendees will leave with practical strategies for enhancing their trauma-informed approaches, ultimately improving outcomes for individuals and communities affected by trauma.

The ALERT Northern Alberta Internet Child Exploitation Unit welcomes everyone to attend an information session regarding the realities of Internet child exploitation in Alberta, and strategies to navigate these issues in an open and collaborative way with children. Some of the topics we will discuss include: who we are and what we do, child luring and sextortion, artificial intelligence, the commodification of sexual interactions, our partner agencies, and how we can all work together to keep kids safe online.

The CS 101 Presentation will provide you with an overview of the Child Intervention System, including Child Intervention Legislation and responsibilities. There will also be a focus on threshold for involvement, decision making in Child Intervention and the different services to children in care. Lastly, there will be information shared about the duty to report.

Lesley Marriott
Femicide in the Canadian Context
Femicide, defined as the intentional killing of women and girls with gender-related motivations, remains a critical national crisis in Canada. Driven by systemic discrimination and unequal power relations, an average of one woman or girl is killed every 48 hours. This presentation examines the pervasive nature of gender-based violence, from the historical legacy of the École Polytechnique massacre to the ongoing tragedy of the Highway of Tears, where Indigenous women face disproportionately high rates of violence.
Central to this discussion is the movement to #CallItFemicide by making the victims visible. We move beyond statistics to remember the women and girls killed by violence, insisting that we "say their names" to ensure their lives are never forgotten. This commitment to visibility informs the analysis of Bill C-16 and the "Bail Gap," which advocates for legislative changes—such as criminalizing coercive control—to prevent future tragedies. By referencing 2026 cases like those of Tadjan’ah Désir and Laura Gover-Basar, this session underscores the urgency of legal reform and the use of tools like Clare’s Law to dismantle the patterns of misogynist terrorism persisting in our society.
 
Julianne Simpson
Trauma, Attachment, and Sexual Agency: A Psychological Analysis of Intimacy in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo 
This paper presents a psychological analysis of themes such as trauma, sexual coercion, harassment, gender identity and roles, and sexual behaviour in the film The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, directed by David Fincher, focusing on the developing relationship between the main characters, Lisbeth Salander and Mikael Blomkvist. Rather than evaluating the film narratively, this analysis applies theoretical frameworks from research on human sexual behaviour to interpret patterns across these themes. The central thesis is that Salander’s sexual behaviour and relational engagement are best understood through the interplay of trauma-related attachment disruption, misogyny, and the restoration of agency following sexual coercion and victimization. This analysis also interprets Salander’s guarded autonomy and selective intimacy in her sexual encounters not as evidence of promiscuity or detachment, but as regulated expressions of control and boundary testing following chronic abuse and betrayal. Examining the relationship between Salander and Blomkvist, this analysis shows how it departs from conventional cinematic sexual scripts by depicting negotiated consent, non-possessive intimacy, and emotional investment that do not align. Empirical research on trauma and sexuality is integrated to evaluate the psychological realism of the film’s portrayal. Particular attention is given to how qualities such as power, trust, and vulnerability are communicated through behaviour rather than dialogue. The film ultimately illustrates how sexual expression can arise from one’s vulnerabilities and self-protection, with the aim of helping survivors regain agency after trauma. This analysis contributes to understanding the complex relationships among trauma history, attachment processes, and sexual behaviour in adult intimate relationships.
Jessica Hanley 
This presentation examines how cognitive styles, or ways of thinking, shape psychological outcomes following trauma, arguing that it is not the traumatic event itself but the way individuals interpret and think about the experience that determines long‑term well‑being. Through a narrative illustration and a review of contemporary research, the talk contrasts maladaptive cognitive styles—such as brooding rumination, maximizing, and upward counterfactual thinking—with adaptive styles including reflective rumination, problem‑solving, and downward counterfactual thinking. Studies by Zareian et al. (2021), Bruin et al. (2016), Broomhall et al. (2024), and Parikh et al. (2022) demonstrate that maladaptive styles correlate with depression, hopelessness, and poorer mental health, whereas adaptive styles are associated with reduced regret, improved emotional functioning, and lower depressive symptoms. Evidence from resilience‑building interventions, including the Warrior PaTHH program and mindfulness‑based CBT, further shows that cognitive styles can be intentionally reshaped to promote resilience and Post‑Traumatic Growth. Ultimately, this presentation highlights that cognitive framing is central to recovery, and that cultivating adaptive thinking patterns can transform traumatic experiences into opportunities for growth, strength, and renewed purpose.

Marian Young
Indigenous Women’s Survivance and Cultural Guardianship in Contemporary Indigenous Canadian Literature 
This presentation examines the concept of survivance, as coined by Gerald Vizenor, in relation to Indigenous women’s roles in sustaining cultural continuity and resistance in Pemmican Eaters by Marilyn Dumont and The Marrow Thieves by Cherie Dimaline. Survivance is defined as an active rejection of narratives of victimhood, emphasizing agency, resilience, and resistance. Through a comparative analysis, this presentation argues that Indigenous women’s survivance is vital to the endurance of Indigenous families, cultures, and futures.
In Pemmican Eaters, Dumont foregrounds feminine perspectives that connect cultural knowledge, land-based relationships, and intergenerational transmission. Poems such as “With Second Sight, She Pushes” and “Sky Berry and Water Berry” present practices like beading and tool use as active forms of cultural continuity. The passing down of tools and ecological knowledge signifies both survival and resistance, positioning women as central to Métis identity.
Similarly, The Marrow Thieves portrays survivance through characters like Minerva and Wab, who sustain language, care, and community amid ongoing colonial violence. Minerva’s preservation of language and creation of jingles symbolize survivance as lived cultural practice.
Together, these texts show survivance as more than endurance; it is enacted through storytelling, caregiving, art, and land-based knowledge, shaping Indigenous futures.

Haley Morris
My presentation examines how resilience supports post-traumatic growth (PTG), focusing on the psychological processes that enable individuals to experience positive change following trauma. While trauma is commonly associated with distress and dysfunction, research in positive psychology suggests that individuals can also report meaningful psychological growth after adversity. PTG involves transformational changes in identity, relationships, and life perspective, and can occur alongside ongoing emotional distress rather than replacing it.
This presentation explores how resilience, defined as the capacity to adapt and maintain functioning during adversity, creates the psychological conditions that facilitate this growth. Specifically, four key processes are highlighted: meaning-making, confidence, adaptive coping, and positive emotions. Meaning-making allows individuals to integrate traumatic experiences into a broader life narrative, while confidence develops through recognizing one’s ability to endure hardship. Adaptive coping strategies support emotional regulation and adjustment, and positive emotions broaden cognitive flexibility while building long-term psychological resources.
Together, these processes demonstrate that resilience does not eliminate distress, but instead shapes how individuals interpret and respond to trauma. Understanding this relationship has important implications for psychological support and intervention, emphasizing the development of internal resources that promote long-term well-being and growth.

Non‑fatal strangulation is no longer an issue seen only in adult intimate‑partner violence — it is now an emerging and deeply concerning trend among children and youth, appearing in peer‑on‑peer violence, sexual assault cases, high‑risk behaviours, and family‑based abuse. Even when no external injuries are visible, the physiological and neurological consequences can be severe, life‑altering, and sometimes fatal. Because these cases often present subtly, healthcare providers, social workers, educators, and law enforcement all play a critical role in early recognition, documentation, safety planning, and coordinated intervention. Increasing awareness and education across sectors is essential to protect vulnerable young people and prevent escalation to serious harm or homicide.

This session equips healthcare providers, social workers, educators, and law enforcement with the knowledge and tools needed to identify, assess, document, and respond to strangulation in young people. Participants will learn clinical red flags, trauma‑informed assessment strategies, safety‑planning considerations, and best‑practice documentation to support both medical care and legal processes. The goal is to strengthen cross‑sector awareness and ensure that no child experiencing strangulation goes unseen, unsupported, or unsafe.

The presentation will highlight how the Alberta Centre to End Human Trafficking in Persons is working collaboratively with communities across Alberta to disrupt and prevent human trafficking, while ensuring survivors have prioritized access to coordinated, comprehensive supports. The presentation will also feature a survivor’s powerful story of resilience and recovery, tracing her courageous journey from victimization and exploitation to becoming an advocate dedicated to supporting other survivors of human trafficking.

Trauma doesn’t just affect the mind — it lives in the body and nervous system. In this talk, Dr. Joelle Johnson explores how physical, emotional, and chemical trauma can impact the nervous system, influencing posture, movement, reflexes, and overall health. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of concepts such as vagal tone, stress responses, and the re-emergence of primitive reflexes, and learn why the body’s reactions are protective rather than broken. This session offers an empowering, compassionate explanation of how the nervous system adapts — and how healing begins.

NEW ABSTRACT:
For this presentation, we discuss the research on adolescent sexual exploitation to understand the factors that associate with sexual exploitation for both adolescent boys and girls. We assess further if the sexual exploitation of boys is linked with similar risky behaviours as noted among girls. With specific focus on marginalized adolescent boys, we explore the factors that help build their resilience in the face of sexual exploitation victimization.

Please note this session has recently been updated with a new topic and abstract.

This session will provide an overview of the informational lessons that the CACAC is offering to youth groups and schools to counter child exploitation and trafficking. Knowledge is power, and our intention is to provide all youth in Central Alberta information regarding the methods used for online and in person grooming and to recognize the risks. We cover basic ways to keep themselves safe online, and provide students with information to recognize the signs of possible exploitation and trafficking. We encourage them to report to trusted adults if they have any concerns for their own or a peers wellbeing.

The Counter Exploitation and Trafficking information sessions can be adjusted for length to fit the available class times of each school or youth group. We also provide information sessions for staff, parents, and community groups. These sessions will provide basic statistics on the prevalence of trafficking within Central Alberta and information to recognize grooming risks and signs of trafficking in our youth.

The session provides participants play techniques for children that can help lower symptoms related to trauma. Techniques will be shown on the use of sand tray, visual impact techniques and art to help children and teens with trauma process their experience.  The session will further demonstrate how techniques can be modified to help work with children and youth with concerning sexualized behavior. 

In this session, we will discuss learnings to date from a scoping review to examine both the conceptualization and response to problematic sexual behaviour in children under 12 from sector perspectives spanning law enforcement, child protection, mental health, and education. Participants will learn about areas of alignment between these partnering sectors, and areas where we need to develop clarity for a strong, collaborative response to promote child and youth well-being.

The ALERT Internet Child Exploitation Unit welcomes everyone to attend an information session regarding the realities of Internet child exploitation in Alberta, and strategies to navigate these issues in an open and collaborative way with children. Some of the topics we will discuss include: who we are and what we do, child luring and sextortion, artificial intelligence, the commodification of sexual interactions, our partner agencies, and how we can all work together to keep kids safe online.

The CS 101 Presentation will provide you with an overview of the Child Intervention System, including Child Intervention Legislation and responsibilities. There will also be a focus on threshold for involvement, decision making in Child Intervention and the different services to children in care. Lastly, there will be information shared about the duty to report.

During this two-part LE-only session, attendees will learn about exclusive and non-exclusive paedophiles, situational offenders, the role of child sexual abuse material in the paedophilic subculture and cross-associated sexual deviances.

You do not need to attend part 1 in order to attend part 2.
This session contains sensitive content; law enforcement strongly preferred. 

Non‑fatal strangulation is no longer an issue seen only in adult intimate‑partner violence — it is now an emerging and deeply concerning trend among children and youth, appearing in peer‑on‑peer violence, sexual assault cases, high‑risk behaviours, and family‑based abuse. Even when no external injuries are visible, the physiological and neurological consequences can be severe, life‑altering, and sometimes fatal. Because these cases often present subtly, healthcare providers, social workers, educators, and law enforcement all play a critical role in early recognition, documentation, safety planning, and coordinated intervention. Increasing awareness and education across sectors is essential to protect vulnerable young people and prevent escalation to serious harm or homicide.

This session equips healthcare providers, social workers, educators, and law enforcement with the knowledge and tools needed to identify, assess, document, and respond to strangulation in young people. Participants will learn clinical red flags, trauma‑informed assessment strategies, safety‑planning considerations, and best‑practice documentation to support both medical care and legal processes. The goal is to strengthen cross‑sector awareness and ensure that no child experiencing strangulation goes unseen, unsupported, or unsafe.

Child sexual abuse is a profound violation of boundaries, safety, and trust that disrupts development, relationships, and identity. Its impact is not confined to a single event—it unfolds over time, shaping how individuals experience themselves, others, and the world.This session focuses on the specific ways child sexual abuse can shape a girl’s developing sense of gender, power, and relational worth—and how these early experiences carry forward into adolescence and adulthood with clinical, cultural, and political implications.

This youth-led session will explore a framework for youth engagement that was co-developed with youth from across Canada. The framework is intended to support CYACs and researchers to meaningfully engage young people with experiences of child maltreatment to safely share their lived experience, be part of research and advocacy, and build skills to use their voices to shape practice and policy.

On December 05, 2005, members from the Calgary Police Service (CPS) Child Abuse Unit and Homicide Unit initiated an investigation into the suspicious death of two-year-old Blake Douglas HARVEY who died in Calgary .  The original investigative team conducted a thorough criminal investigation into the death of HARVEY but the case eventually went “cold” due to a lack of evidence against the caregiver(s).  In September 2013, the file was reviewed, re-opened, and assigned to Detective M. CAVILLA in January 2014.  

Following is a summary of the 2005 investigation as well the subsequent "cold case" investigation that followed years later (2014/2015). Collaboration between partner law enforcement agencies and medical experts will be highlighted in this case study.

The ALERT Internet Child Exploitation Unit welcomes everyone to attend an information session regarding the realities of Internet child exploitation in Alberta, and strategies to navigate these issues in an open and collaborative way with children. Some of the topics we will discuss include: who we are and what we do, child luring and sextortion, artificial intelligence, the commodification of sexual interactions, our partner agencies, and how we can all work together to keep kids safe online.

This presentation explores the journey of puppies as they develop into confident, capable Facility Dogs. Attendees will learn how thoughtful early training, intentional socialization, and developmental milestones shape a puppy’s future success in working roles. We will discuss how to identify strengths, emerging skills, and potential challenges early on, allowing programs to make informed, welfare-focused decisions about career paths. Practical examples and real-world insights will highlight how early identification and support set the foundation for resilient, reliable Facility Dogs who thrive in their professional roles.

The Child Abuse and Exploitation Prevention and Response Certificate Program will equip professionals with the specialized knowledge, practical skills, and evidence-informed approaches needed to effectively recognize, prevent, and respond to child abuse, exploitation and trafficking. This comprehensive program supports those working with children and youth across sectors.
This session will provide an overview of the program’s four-course structure:

• Building Safe Spaces: Trauma Awareness
• Navigating & Preventing Child Abuse Together
• Protecting Youth in a Digital World
• Not for Sale: Protecting Canada’s Youth from Trafficking

Participants will gain insight into key learning outcomes and explore how the program strengthens individual practice while enhancing coordinated, system-wide responses. Emphasis will be placed on building capacity, increasing confidence in reporting and intervention, and fostering safer environments for children and youth.

Student Engagement in Child and Youth Well-being: Community Service Learning, Applied Study, and Summer Research Initiatives. This will be a showcase of student work, with students presenting on the impact of their community-engaged projects.

This presentation explores the impact of trauma on vulnerable populations, with a focus on enhancing trauma-informed responses across helping professions. The purpose is to equip frontline workers with a deeper understanding of how trauma manifests differently depending on the type (acute, chronic, or complex) and the individual’s context, including identity, age, culture, and systemic exposure. Key concepts such as the fight, flight, freeze, fawn, and friend responses are explained to help decode behavioural reactions often misinterpreted in service settings. Vulnerable populations—including children, Indigenous peoples, 2SLGBTQ+ individuals, newcomers, and those affected by poverty, abuse, or systemic violence—experience higher rates of trauma and face barriers to healing within traditional systems. The session presents practical strategies for frontline workers that emphasize emotional safety, empowerment, cultural humility, and relational care. Findings underscore that trauma is not solely about the event, but about how it impacts the nervous system, relationships, and sense of self over time. Workers who understand the nuances of trauma are more likely to build trust, reduce re-traumatization, and support long-term healing. In conclusion, adopting a trauma-informed approach is not an optional skill but an essential framework for all professionals working in community, health, justice, and education sectors. It transforms service delivery from one-size-fits-all to person-centred, ultimately promoting dignity, resilience, and more effective outcomes for those most at risk.

Most survivors of child sexual abuse do not receive support in childhood. Many begin therapy in adulthood—often decades later—carrying patterns shaped in the absence of safety, recognition, and repair.
This means healing is gradual and relational—requiring repeated experiences of safety and trust that reshape how the brain and body respond over time.