Note: this event has passed.
JUNE 15 | |
| 9:00 am – 9:15 am | Indigenous Welcome: Kenthen Thomas Weytk-p (hello, everyone), my name is Kenthen Thomas, and I am of Secwepemc descent from a tiny town in the interior of B.C. The former name of this town is Switsmalph, which means the bush of the soapberry. This township is now known as Salmon Arm. A practice we have here in the Secwepemc territories is to acknowledge the ancestors, especially before we share the knowledge that our past relatives helped create. My Kye7es and Sle7es are Dr. Mary Thomas, Vera Johnny, Mark Thomas, and Herbie Johnny. My parents are Phyllis and Gerry Thomas, and I have a son named Susep Soulle. I also have a partner, Melissa. We share her own children; their names are Trystan and Lexxus. For this event I will be sharing a beautiful story called “Sneena,” which in the language of the Secwepemc means owl. This story sees a young boy stolen from his parents and their relentless efforts to recover their child. I will also share a short story that falls directly in line with this theme and my family’s efforts to recover from our own Sneena. Kukstsemc, thank you for sharing this short amount of time and the words and lessons of the ancestors of the Secwepemc’ulucw. |
| 9:15 am – 10:15 am | Opening Comments by Minister of Advanced Education and Skills Training Minister Anne Kang Moving Forward Together: Our Journey So Far The welcome presentation will be followed by a session with Ministry staff that reflects back on the 2019 forum, the topics discussed, and an update of where initiatives are now. Facilitators: – Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Training Gender Equity Office Priorities The Gender Equity Office will provide an overview of some of its recent work. Facilitators: – Gender Equity Office |
| 10:15 – 11:00 am | Bring your Pets: Informal Pet Show and Tell *Optional Session Bring your favourite fur baby to introduce them and tell us something you love about them. |
| 11:00 am – 12:00 pm | Decolonizing Practice and Approaches to Sexual Violence Prevention Keynote Address: – Natalie Clark, associate professor, Thompson Rivers University |
| 12:00 – 1:00 pm | Lunch |
| 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm | Student Voices: Panel Discussion Students have always worked on the front lines of sexualized violence in post-secondary institutions while experiencing most of its direct impacts. This session brings together dedicated frontline student workers to share their perspectives on the ongoing challenges of addressing sexualized violence in post-secondary institutions during the COVID-19 pandemic and how we can move forward to create meaningful solutions for survivors and our communities Facilitators: – Anna-Elaine Rempel (she/her), executive director, Alliance of BC Students Panelists: – Chantelle Spicer, student and co-chair of Students for Consent Culture Canada – Paloma Ponti (she/her), education coordinator, Anti-Violence Project – Tashia Kootenayoo, student, President of UBC Okanagan & British Columbia Federation of Students Indigenous representative – Kenya Rogers (she/her), Advocate and Community-Researcher, University of Victoria |
JUNE 16 | |
| 8:50 am – 9:00 am | Land Acknowledgement and Day Two Welcome |
| 9:00 am – 10:00 am | The Influence of Language: How The Words We Use Shape Our Understanding of Sexualized Violence/Harm, The Actions We Take to Address It, and Those Impacted By It Keynote address: – Ariana Barer (she/they), educator, Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Office, UBC Vancouver |
| 10:00 am – 12:00 pm | Creative Partnerships Conversations This panel will highlight the innovative ways in which community organizations, frontline workers, students, and staff work together to address sexualized and gender-based violence on campus. Panelists will share how such partnerships have grown, how they are maintained, and the positive outcomes that emerge from this kind of creative teamwork. Facilitator: – Kenya Rogers (she/her), Advocate and Community-Researcher, University of Victoria Panelists: – Alicia Oeser (she/her), director, Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Office, UBC Vancouver – Alix Dolson (she/her), agency coordinator, Kamloops Sexual Assault Counselling Centre – Alysha Punnet (she/her), Registered Clininal Counsellor – Dalya Israel (she/her), Executive Director, WAVAW – Jannah Jais (she/her), Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Office, UBC Okanagan – Mary Lobson (she/her), founder and CEO, Respect, Educate, Empower Survivors – Meaghan Hagerty (she/her), Sexualized Violence Prevention and Response Manager, Thompson Rivers University – Shilo St. Cyr (she/her), Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Office, UBC Okanagan |
| 12:00 pm – 12:30 pm | Diversity and Inclusion Where We All Belong: Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion at the BC Public Service *Optional Session Facilitator: – Rishma Thomas, Manager, Diversity & Inclusion |
| 12:30 pm – 1:00 pm | Break |
| 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm | Technology-Facilitated Sexual Violence This session features presentations and a moderated question-and-answer panel on technology-facilitated sexual violence in the B.C. post-secondary sector. Panelists will discuss current research about the nature and prevalence of technology-facilitated sexual violence that occurs at institutions and explore existing resources available in B.C. that could be adapted by the sector. Facilitators: – Chantal Tuprin (she/her), senior legislative analyst, Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Training – Jennifer Kusz (she/her), senior policy analyst, Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Training Panelists: – Lindsey Snaychuck, researcher and laboratory coordinator, Vancouver Island University – Melanie O’Neill, Ph.D., registered psychologist and professor, Department of Psychology, Vancouver Island University – Rhiannon Wong, BC Society of Transition Houses |
JUNE 17 | |
| 8:50 am – 9:00 am | Land Acknowledgement and Day Three Welcome |
| 9:00 am – 10:00 am | COVID-19 Challenges and Opportunities and Lessons Learned: Providing Supports and Resources during the Pandemic This panel will highlight the impacts of the pandemic on survivors of gender-based violence, including access to support and safety. The speakers will also share how they have adapted their services to continue to provide support and possibly address these challenges, and any opportunities that may have emerged. Participants from post-secondary institutions across B.C. will be invited to share and discuss any challenges, adaptations, and opportunities from their own experiences providing supports and resources during the pandemic. Facilitators: – Kate Rossiter (she/her), senior manager of provincial services, Ending Violence Association of BC Panelists: – Aashna Josh (she/her), manager, AMS Sexual Assault Support Centre – Claire Christie, support and advocacy coordinator, AMS Sexual Assault Support Centre – Lexis Linklater, CM.Ed. RCC, Indigenous counsellor and advisor, Vancouver Island University |
| 10:00 am – 10:30 am | Poetry with Betsy Warland *Optional Session Betsy Warland will read “Oscar of Between – A Memoir of Identity and Ideas” and then guide us through a three-minute guided writing exercise and conversation. Equipment: A pen or pencil and some paper. |
| 10:30 am – 11:00 am | Break |
| 11:00 am – 12:30 pm | Learn More About New Sexual Violence Training and Facilitation Guides In this session, learn about new training and facilitation guides for preventing and responding to sexual violence. Learn how to use the facilitation guides, get an overview on each training resource, and participate in a few activities. This is also an opportunity to get your questions answered and provide feedback on support needed for implementation at your post-secondary institution. Facilitators: – Robynne Devine (she/her), project manager, BCcampus – Tasnim Nathoo, Grounded Therapy & Psychological Services – Jewell Gillies (they/them), Aboriginal services, seconded to Student, Graduate and Co-op Employment, Okanagan College – Matty Hillman (he/him), instructor, Human Services diploma, child and youth care specialty, Selkirk College – Meaghan Hagerty (she/her), Sexualized Violence Prevention and Response Manager, Thompson Rivers University – Amber Huva (she/her), Sexualized Violence Prevention and Response Manager (on leave), Thompson Rivers University – Perminder Flora, program coordinator, Ending Violence Association of BC |
| 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm | Lunch |
| 1:30 pm – 2:45 pm | Moving Forward: Continuing the Journey Join us for interactive breakout sessions centred around four themes where participants will brainstorm and discuss the way forward and share recommendations for next steps. The themes are: – Awareness and training – Fostering partnerships and collaboration – Decolonizing practices – Emerging challenges (technology-facilitated sexualized violence, COVID-19, etc.) Closing Remarks Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Training |