Mainstage speakers have been identified! 
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Our Headlining Speakers

Dr. Cindy Blackstock June 6, 2024

It's been 10 years since Dr. Blackstock presented at our conference! So much has happened since that time, we can't wait to hear her!

A member of the Gitksan First Nation with 25 years of social work experience in child protection and indigenous children’s rights. She is the director of the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of Canada and a professor of Social Work at McGill University and the University of Alberta.

Dr. Blackstock’s research interests are indigenous theory and the identification & remediation of structural inequalities affecting First Nations children, youth & families.

​An author of over 50 publications & a widely sought after public speaker, Dr. Blackstock has collaborated with other Indigenous leaders to assist the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child in the development and adoption of a General Comment on the Rights of Indigenous children. Recently, she also worked with Indigenous young people, UNICEF & the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues to produce a youth friendly version of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of the Child.

Her promotion of culturally based & evidence informed solutions has been recognized by the Nobel Women’s Initiative, the Aboriginal Achievement Foundation, Frontline Defenders and many others. 

Dr. Michael Ungar 
June 7, 2024

​If you heard him speak at our conference in September 2023, you won't want to miss this session!

Dr. Ungar is equally well known as the author of books for parents and caregivers as he is for his world-renowned research on the topic of resilience. As a writer he has adapted ideas from his research and clinical practice into best-selling works like his newest release Change Your World: The Science of Resilience and the True Path to Success. Other popular titles include Too Safe For Their Own Good: How Risk and Responsibility Help Teens Thrive and I Still Love You: Nine Things Troubled Kids Need from Their Parents. In total,

Dr. Ungar has published 17 books and over 250 peer-reviewed scientific articles and book chapters. When not on the road and back at his home in Halifax, Canada, He is the Canada Research Chair in Child, Family and Community Resilience at Dalhousie University, and the founder and Director of the Resilience Research Centre. 

As both a family therapist and professor of Social Work, he has helped to identify important factors that influence the resilience of children and adults during periods of transition and stress. In 2012 Dr. Ungar was the recipient of the Canadian Association of Social Workers National Distinguished Service Award.

About the Office of the Child and Youth Advocate

We represent the rights, interests and viewpoints of Alberta children and youth who receive intervention services or who are involved with the youth justice system. The Child and Youth Advocate Act provides the mandate for our work with vulnerable young people in Alberta.
​Advocacy at the OCYA includes a number of activities that are aimed at ensuring the rights, interests and viewpoints of Alberta’s vulnerable children and youth are affirmed and acted upon. These activities include:
  • Providing education on the rights, interest and viewpoints of children and youth,
  • Reporting to Alberta’s Legislature on any matter related to the rights, interests and well-being of children and youth involved in designated services,
  • Communicating on the work of the office, including systemic issues that are affecting vulnerable children and youth,
  • Engaging with children and youth, their communities and others to collaborate on ways in which to address issues affecting children and youth,
  • Conducting research related to improving designated services,
  • Conducting investigations into systemic issues arising from the serious injury to or death of a child or youth receiving designated services,
  • Advocating on behalf of individual children and youth receiving designated services,
  • Providing legal representation to children and youth receiving services under the Child, Youth and Family Enhancement Act or the Protection of Sexually Exploited Children Act.