Program Overview

9:00 a.m. to 9:15 a.m.
Welcome and Introduction
Land Acknowledgement

 9:15 a.m. to 10:15 a.m.
Keynote Address, Anna Maria Tremonti
Anna Maria Tremonti is a long-time journalist who has travelled Canada and the world covering societal change, political upheaval, and armed conflict. She has worked in radio and television for decades, mostly with the CBC. She was the founding host of CBC Radio’s flagship current affairs program The Current for 17 years. Her latest podcast “Welcome To Paradise” explores her own story of intimate partner violence and the long-term consequences of such abuse. Her longform conversation podcast “More” was released by CBC in early 2020.

10:15 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Breaking the Silence: Insights into the Lived Experiences of Family Violence Among Racialized Immigrant Youth
Archana Medhekar, Certified Family Law Specialist, Accredited Family Mediator- Arbitrator, Toronto, Ontario. Canada.
Dr. Bethany Osborne, Program Coordinator & Professor of Social and Community Development, Sheridan College, Ontario, Canada.

Derived directly from the voices of racialized immigrant youth, this presentation will delve into research findings centered on the narratives and recommendations of youth who encountered significant levels of conflict or family violence (FV) during childhood. By foregrounding the voices of these youth, the presentation aims to dissect the complex interplay between FV and their intersecting identities, particularly within the context of their racialized backgrounds, while also scrutinizing the impact of institutional responses. These research insights will contribute to a deeper understanding of the social context in FV cases to assist family service professionals to identifying early indicators of risk and trauma in racialized children experiencing FV and facilitating the development of holistic support plans.

 11:00 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.
Morning Break

11:15 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.
Family Violence Considerations in Making Appropriate Parenting Arrangements
Dr. Peter Jaffe is a psychologist, Professor Emeritus, and one of the founding Directors of the Centre for Research and Education on Violence Against Women & Children in the Faculty of Education at Western University (London Ontario, Canada)
Dr. Katreena Scott, Professor of Applied Psychology, Western University, Academic Director of the Centre for Research & Education on Violence Against Women & Children

Family violence (child abuse and intimate partner violence) and coercive control are recognized in legislation as critical factors to consider in determining children’s best interests in making appropriate post-separation parenting arrangements. Professional practices have also changed to better recognize family violence as an intersectional issue. This talk will highlight tools, resources and a framework to help guide assessment of family violence and incorporate this understanding into legal proceedings.

12:45 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Lunch
(included in registration fee) 

1:30 p.m. to 1:45 p.m.
Presentation of the Dena Moyal Award

1:45 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Parental Alienation as a Defence to IPV claims: Are the courts, parenting assessors and family law professionals really so easily blinded?
Professor Nicholas Bala, Faculty of Law at Queen’s University
Professor Rachel Birnbaum, King’s University College at Western University

An increasing number of high conflict separations involve parents making conflicting claims of parental alienation and family violence. Advocates for victims of IPV call for a ban on the use of the “pseudo-scientific” concept of parental alienation in family proceedings, on the basis that it is excessively used by abusive fathers – and accepted by the courts – to counter and discredit claims of family violence made by mothers and children.

But is that really so? In this presentation, Professors Nicholas Bala and Rachel Birnbaum will present the results of their study of 172 reported Ontario family law cases in Ontario involving allegations of parental alienation. They will also report on their recent retrospective study of six Ontario cases (2010-2022) where children were found to be alienated by a parent and were the subject of a custody reversal order. What they found will most certainly surprise and give you food for thought…

3:00 p.m. to 3:15 p.m.
Afternoon Break

3:15 p.m. to 3:45 p.m.
Trauma-informed Courts Research Project, Presentation of Results
Laura Spivach, MSW
Professor Michael Saini, AFCC President Elect, Factor-Inwentash Chair in Law and Social Work, University of Toronto

Michael and Laura will present the results of their research about the beliefs, attitudes, and expectations of trauma-informed principles as a potential framework for the family courts.

3:45 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Caselaw update
Aaron Franks, Partner at Epstein Cole LLP

Join Aaron as he provides a summary of the most recent and important family law case law.

5:00 p.m.
Closing remarks