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Supporting Survivors of Sexual Abuse Conference

"Navigating the System"

Jellinek Ellis Gluckstein Lawyers is proud to host our 1st Annual Supporting Sexual Abuse Survivors Conference themed "Navigating the System." Join us on October 20, 2022, from 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM in person or online to hear from survivors, health care professionals, and legal specialists who all play an essential role in caring for people who have experienced sexual abuse.

Anyone can experience sexual assault - male or female, young or old. Sadly, many survivors of sexual abuse feel like they cannot speak their truth because of threats, or they feel guilty, have fear, and/or shame. For some, the thought of seeking justice is daunting, and the system feels overwhelming. Together, the two factors often are enough to prevent survivors from coming forward to seek justice for these crimes against their sexual offender(s).

This conference aims to change that. It aims to help survivors feel empowered and confident in seeking justice by demystifying various legal processes and offering an overview of care resources available to survivors. A survivor's journey to healing is very personal to them, and their unique circumstances will play a role in what they choose to do and when they decide to do it and this conference aims to honour that.

At the same time, the conference also aims to raise awareness in persons who provide care and assistance to childhood sexual abuse and adult survivors. Our goal is to help others understand how to best support survivors of sexual abuse by exploring treatment resources and legal options available for the survivor to move forward in their healing journey. We hope also to offer education to healthcare and legal professionals to understand how to help their clients more effectively.

In the morning sessions, we will dive into a discussion around vicarious trauma. Daniel Pugh will focus his talk on the resources available to healthcare professionals to prevent and address workplace stress and burnout. Ivanna Iwasykiw will discuss how healthcare providers should take clinical notes and records to best assist survivors both in receiving care and in ways that support them in possible future legal cases.

A panel of health care professionals specializing in sexual trauma will join us to discuss resources and treatment options that can help the victims of such traumatic events and who require support.

The legal panel includes Justice Darla Wilson of the Superior Court of Justice, Civil Litigator Erin Ellis, Crown Counsel Mareike Newhouse, College Prosecutor Natasha Danson, a Legal Aid, and a worker from the Victims Witness Services Program. It will focus on how the judicial system can help survivors of sexual abuse.

Conference Details

Date: October 20, 2022

Time: 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Location: Hybrid

  • In-Person: Atrium on Bay, 595 Bay Street, 11th Floor, Toronto, ON, M5G 2C2 - Earth and Sky Conference Rooms
  • Virtual: A link will be provided

Cost: Complimentary

Target Audience

Survivors of Sexual Abuse: Navigating the System is a survivor focused Conference that aims to support survivors, and family members and educates lawyers, health care practitioners, and others who wish to understand the nuanced aspects of sexual abuse claims.

Conference Highlights

  • Hear from specialized legal and healthcare professional in the field
  • Engage in targeting learnings
  • Hybrid Conference
  • CPD Accredited

Presentations Include

  • Secondary Trauma, Daniel Pugh
  • Clinical Notes and Records, Ivanna Iwasykiw
  • Keynote – Colleen Cardinal-Hele
  • Healthcare Panel
  • Legal Panel
  • Family Law and Violence – Erin Ellis

Keynote Speaker

Our keynote speaker, sîpihkopiyesiw/Colleen Hele-Cardinal, is nehiyaw iskwew (Plains Cree) from Saddle Lake Cree Nation, AB but was adopted and raised in Sault Ste Marie, ON. Colleen also speaks publicly and candidly about MMIW2SG and the impacts of the 60's Scoop, drawing critical connections between colonial child welfare removal policies and her lived experiences and those of women in her family. She is the author of the Ohpikiihaakan-ohpihmeh (Raised somewhere else): A 60s Scoop Adoptee's Story of Coming Home and spearheading the GIS mapping initiative Mapping the 60s Scoop Diaspora, and being awarded the Ontario Premiers Award for Outstanding Community Service. Currently, Colleen is a crisis counsellor at the Hope for Wellness Crisis Line and a Criminology student at Carleton University.

Quiet Room

For those attending in person, we understand that the conference may be overwhelming when discussing such traumatic and triggering subjects as sexual violence. We are always sensitive to your mental health, well-being and safety. A quiet room will be set up for those who need to step away from the conference.

Registration: 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM

Seminars: 10:00AM – 3:00PM

Lunch & Keynote: 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM

In-Person Conference: 

Atrium on Bay

595 Bay Street, 11th Floor, Toronto, ON, M5G 2C2

Earth & Sky Conference Rooms

Please note that in-person attendance is capped at 50 people.

Virtual Conference:

To provide an accessible experience for all, we will be live-streaming the conference.

You must register to receive a link to the seminar. 

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