The Biennial Symposium on Violence & Aggression has been a collaborative effort of Correctional Service Canada, the University of Saskatchewan, and other government, public, and academic contributors since 1986.  Targeted to frontline workers, as well as clinicians and other professionals and administrators in criminal justice and forensic mental health, the Symposium translates research and theory into practice and provides an opportunity to highlight excellence and innovation within a variety of correctional and criminal justice environments.

The 21st offering will focus on “Advancing Responses to Violence” and will feature 4 plenary speakers and up to 12 concurrent sessions, involving more than 16 local, national and international presenters. Presenters will share their knowledge and experience on an array of topics including:

• Fontline Respnses to Violence
• Indiginization of Justice Responses
• Current Issues in Violence

Keynote Speakers

Use of Risk Assessment With Indigenous Persons: Too Risky to Use, or Too Risky Not To? - Dr. Mark Olver (University of Saskatchewan) and Dr. Keira Stockdale (University of Saskatchewan)

Moving Women Through the Justice System - Senator Kim Pate 

Relevance Of, and Need For, Indigenous Programming in Prison - Dr. Justin Tetrault (Simon Fraser University)

Concurrent Sessions

Theme 1: Frontline Responses to Violence

Compassion Fatigue and Strategies for Frontline Personnel to Manage It - Shaylee Spencer (Clinical Operations Manager, CIPSRT and PSPNet)

De-Escalating Violence and Strategies for Frontline Service Providers to Sustain Work With Violent Populations - Andrea Kotlar (Executive Director) and Shana Mohr (FASD Network of Saskatchewan)

Women’s Legal Clinic to Fill in Gaps in Legal Services Where Overlapping Issues Are Experienced (e.g., Criminal Law, Family Law, Immigration) - Nicole Obrigavitch (Elizabeth Fry Society) and TBD

Theme 2: Indigenization of Justice Responses

Ten Years Since Spirit Matters: A Roadmap for the Reform of Indigenous Corrections in Canada (2023) – OCI Report - Dr. Leticia Gutierrez (Director of Policy and Research, Officer of Correctional Investigator)

Indigenous Victim Provision and How It’s Interacting With Gladue Principles + Culture as Healing -  Benjamin Ralston (University of Saskatchewan) and Dr. Christie Tetreault (University of Saskatchewan)

Theme 3: Current Issues in Violence

Wildfires and Implications for Public Safety - Ken McMullen (Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs)

Risk Assessment and Parole - Amy Agar (Regional Vice Chairperson, Parole Board of Canada), Rayleen Ballard (Regional Manager, Correctional Release Programs, Parole Board of Canada), and Kelly Benson (Regional Communications Officer, Parole Board of Canada)

Registration for V&A 2026 will open on January 15^th, 2025.

• Dr. Lisa Jewell (Co-Chair), Research Associate, CFBSJS
• Dr. Mansfield Mela (Co-Chair), Director, CFBSJS
• Lilani Samarakoon, Coordinator, CFBSJS
• Dr. Bryce Stoliker, Research Associate, CFBSJS
• Delphine Gossner, Director of Program Integrity and Evaluation, Offender Services, Goverment of Saskatchewan
• Dr. Leslie Anne Keown, Executive Director, Canadian Institute for Public Safety Research and Treatment (CIPSRT)
• Dr.Dena Derkzen, Senior Research Manager, Research Branch, Correctional Service Canada - National Headquarters
• Professor Emeritus Cindy Peternelj-Taylor, Professor Emeritus, College of Nursing, University of Saskatchewan
• Sgt. Nick Smyth, Manager, Regina Violent Crime Analysis Sections, Royal Canadian Mounted Police
• Dr. Natalie H. Polvi, Registered Doctoral Psychologist, Chief Psychologist, Regional Psychiatric Centre, Correctional Service Canada, Prairie Region
• Dr. Kingsley Nwachukwu, Saskatchewan Hospital North Battleford
• Lindsay Wilcox, Manager, Restorative Justice Programs and Branch Services, John Howard Society of Saskatchewan