*Click on the session title to register*

The Symposium events are open to the public. Anyone is welcome and encouraged to attend!

Registration for Theme 2 closes at 4:00pm EST November 22, 2022.

Registration for Theme 3 closes at 4:00pm EST November 29, 2022.

If there is a problem with your registration, contact cmereg@mcmaster.ca

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THEME 1: Families and Loved Ones of MST Survivors

Wednesday, November 16, 2022 

10:00 am–12:00 pm ET 

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This virtual event is a healing space for people with lived experiences to share their experiences in a safe environment. It will help strengthen communication and support outside of the CAF and VAC giving survivors a voice and healing alongside others.  

 

Part 1 – Exploring the lived experiences of members impacted by sexual misconduct in the CAF: Impacts and the threat of secondary harm. 

In this session, an expert speaker will discuss their findings in the area of diversity, inclusion, and human rights, with a focus exploring the lived experiences of members impacted by sexual misconduct in the CAF: Impacts and the threat of secondary harm. This keynote will be followed by a panel discussion with PWLE. 

 

Moderator: Dr. Stacey Silins, PhD

Dr. Silins is the recipient of The Major Sir Frederick Banting Award for the research “Exploring the lived experiences of members impacted by sexual misconduct in the CAF: Impacts and the threat of secondary harm”.

Dr. Silins graduated from the University of Ottawa in 2013 with specializations in health and community psychology. She joined the Department of National Defence (DND) in 2014 as a civilian defence scientist for Director General Military Personnel Research and Analysis (DGMPRA), working in the area of psychosocial health and conducting studies on mental health and peer support for CAF members, veterans, and families impacted by operational stress injuries. In 2017 she began working in the field of diversity, inclusion, and human rights, where she has been conducting research to enhance support for individuals affected by sexual misconduct in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF), and promoting meaningful engagement and trauma-informed approaches in research. This work was recognized with a Public Service Award of Excellence in 2020, and the Major Sir Frederick Banting Award for Military Health Research in 2021. Her research and expertise have also informed a number of key initiatives in the department, including the Declaration of Victims’ Rights, and the CAF’s Survivor Support Strategy and Restorative Engagement Program for individuals impacted by sexual misconduct.

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Part 2 – Making military families in Canada a research priority

In this session, an expert speaker will share their program of research which involves the mental health of military families, Veterans and their families, and public safety personnel; health system access and navigation for military families and Veterans; and trauma. There will also be a panel of PWLE and their loved ones as they discuss initiatives that have helped in their healing. 

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Moderator: Dr. Heidi Cramm, Head of Family Research Strategy, Canadian Institute for Military and Veteran Health Research

Trained as an occupational therapist, Dr.Cramm is an associate professor in the School of Rehabilitation Therapy at Queen’s University. Her program of research involves the mental health of military families, Veterans and their families, and public safety personnel; health system access and navigation for military families and Veterans; and trauma.

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Guest Speakers:

Benoit Bisson

Angela Court

Sam Samplonius

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Part 3 - Audience Q&A

Speakers will be joined by people with lived experience to answer audience questions.  

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THEME 2: The Role of External Service Providers and the Media 

Wednesday, November 23, 2022 

10:00 am–12:00 pm ET 

 

Part 1 - The Role of Media in reporting the MST Crisis

In this virtual session, speakers with lived military sexual trauma experience will engage with participants from the media to discuss their experiences coming forward in the press/offer guidance to the media on how to approach MST survivors/stories through a trauma-informed lens. We will hear both sides of the experience so that media partners and PWLE can create a dialogue that paves the way for learning and change. Discussion will be followed by a live audience Q&A.

 

Moderator: MaryAnn Notarianni, Deputy CEO and Vice President, Knowledge Mobilization at the Atlas Institute for Veterans and Families

In her role, MaryAnn oversees initiatives to support the uptake of research evidence and the implementation of evidence-based practices to improve supports and services for Veterans andtheir Families across Canada. 

 

Media Speakers:

Annie Bergeron Oliver, Reporter for CTV NATIONAL NEWS' Parliamentary Bureau

Mercedes Stephenson, Global News' Ottawa Bureau Chief and the host of the network's flagship national political affairs program The West Block.

 

Guest Speakers:

Dawn McIlmoyle

Ann Dickey Gaudet

Lt. Heather MacDonald

 

Part 2 - The Role of Service Providers in helping PWLE and Families navigate the complexities of MST

In this virtual session, speakers with lived military sexual trauma experience will engage with frontline service providers to discuss their experiences and identify where gaps exist and potentially, ideas to help fill those gaps in service and care for PWLE who wish to pursue care both within and outside of DND/CAF/VAC. We will hear both sides of the experience so that service providers and PWLE can create a dialogue that paves the way for learning and change. Discussion will be followed by a live audience Q&A.

 

Moderator: Ashlee Mulligan, Director, Partnerships and StakeholderEngagement at the Atlas Institute for Veterans and Families.

Ashley works to promote engagement and collaboration with Veterans and Veteran Families towards ensuring that their lived experience and expertise are embedded into the programs, priorities and networks led by the Atlas Institute.

 

Guest Speakers:

Major Carra Greenhorn, Canadian Forces Health Services

Melanie Baron, NCR Regional Manager – Response and Support Coordination program, Sexual Misconduct Response Centre

Julie Drury, Director, Mental Health, Veterans Affairs Canada

Carolyn Hughes, Deputy Director - Veterans Services, Legion Services Bureau

Dr. Nicole Elliott, Psychologist, St. Joseph’s Operational Stress Injury Clinic

Mikaela Norton, Manager of Client Supports, The Dragonfly Centre

Deanna Wilson

Captain (Retired) Sy MacDougall

Ingrid Walker

Lieutenant Commander Raymond Trotter  

 

THEME 3: Change from All Sides

Wednesday, November 30, 2022 

10:00am–12:00pm ET

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Part 1 – MST and Critical Conversations

In this virtual session, expert speakers share research and outcomes of work done to date that recognizes the ripple effects of MST in both the short and long term.

 

Guest Speakers:

Dr. Margaret McKinnon, Professor and Associate Chair, Research in Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University 

Dr. Alex Heber, Chief of Psychiatry, Veterans Affairs Canada and Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, McMaster University 

Dr. Linna Tam-Seto, Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry & Behavioural Neurosciences at McMaster University.

Dr. Lori Buchart, Co-founder/co-chair, It’s Not Just 20K & Chair, Restoring Hearts and Minds Symposium

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Moderator: Amy Van Es, Founding Director & Tech Ethicist @we_are_memo_

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Part 2 – The Role of the Military in owning long-term change

In this virtual panel, Military partners will address culture change, the importance of PWLE being part of the change, the barriers and challenges they continue to face, as well as the successes they’ve had. Plus, we’ll hear about the MST-related initiatives they’re working on now. Afterward, they will be joined by PWLE for a Q&A.

 

Moderators: Dr. Margaret McKinnon and Dr. Alex Heber

 

Guest Speakers:

Major General Marc Bilodeau

Major General Craig Aitchison

Admiral Angus Topshee 

Rear-Admiral Rebecca Patterson  

 

Part 3 - Moderated Audience Q&A

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All events are virtual and hosted by Pheedloop.

Format/themes may vary slightly as planning progresses.