Program & Registration

Conference Program Outline - Leading the Way, Together

For details or for online registration please scroll down, or download the 2018 OARTY Conference Brochure and Registration Form (pdf).  

Wednesday June 6th

11:00 AM - 1:00 PM - Registration
Pick up your Conference delegate bag and your name badge.  You can also purchase tickets for the 50/50 draw (3 for $5, or 7 for $10). 

2:00 PM - 4:00 PM - Session 1
The Healing Power of Relationships and Connection
Dr. Jean Clinton, Associate Clinical Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University
This session will address the impact of trauma on the brain. It will include how we understand trauma and how relationships and a sense of belonging, connection, meaning and hope can help heal and support new trajectories. The actual brain changes that trauma can inflict will be discussed. More importantly, strategies to recognize trauma triggers, and ways of building relational bridges with young people will be fully explored.  

6:30 PM - 7:30 PM - Opening Reception
Network with other delegates - create new relationships and building on existing ones.  The 50/50 raffle will be drawn at the end of the reception.

7:30 PM - 9:00 PM - Opening Dinner

9:00 PM - 10:00 PM - Opening Dinner Keynote, Jamil Jivani
Award Winning Activist and Lawyer
Jamil Jivani tackles some of the biggest challenges in the world as a lawyer, community organizer, and teacher. A visiting professor at Osgoode Hall Law School, Jamil focuses on issues that impact youth, immigrants, and low-income families. He is also the founder of the Citizen Empowerment Project, a public education organization leading initiatives related to policing, racial profiling, democratic participation, voter turnout and economic development.

10:00 PM - 12:00 AM - Late Night Networking

Thursday June 7th

8:30 AM - 9:30 AM - Breakfast

9:00 AM - 5:00 PM - Trade Show
The tradeshow features products and services that assist residential service providers in the valuable work that they do!

10:00 AM - 11:00 AM - Session 2 
The Impact of the Indian Residential School System
Dr. Tricia Logan, National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation
This session will focus on the lasting legacy of residential schools, as well as the policies and beliefs that created that system. Using the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action, as well as the United Nations Declaration of Rights of Indigenous Peoples as a framework, we will discuss the roles that young people and their caregivers play in contributing to reconciliation and healing. 

11:00 AM - 11:15 AM - Networking Break

11:15 AM - 12:15 PM - Breakout Sessions

Session 3-A 
Giving All You Have: Tools and Strategies to Deal with Compassion Fatigue and Vicarious Trauma
Jamie Tyrell, Compassion Fatigue Educator, Tyrell Consulting
The nature of the work of caregivers and residential service professionals can lead to compassion fatigue and vicarious trauma, contributing to declining morale and when left too long, can result in individuals leaving their profession.  With the increase in caseloads and client needs, it is more important than ever to ensure we are caring for ourselves properly, and avoiding burnout and moral distress.  This session will highlight warning signs for caregivers, and offer strategies to both help prevent and deal with compassion fatigue and vicarious trauma in ourselves and others.  The calling to be in the helping field has its tolls, let’s make sure we have the proper tools to help ourselves. 

Session 3-B 
Education as Social Capital: What Works and How Learning Leads to Thriving
Dr. Kim Snow, Associate Professor, School of Child and Youth Care, Ryerson University
Building social capital with young people in and out of care has been shown to improve outcomes. This session will explore the mechanisms of engagement that foster incremental skills development and promote mastery, which in turn builds capacity and primes for intrinsic motivation. Proven methods such as, rituals that foster a culture of discovery, offer opportunities for practice and repetition and celebrate achievement. 

12:15 PM - 1:15 PM - Lunch

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM - Breakout Sessions

Session 4-A
Creating Authentic Spaces:  LGBT2SQ Inclusion in Employment, Youth and Service Spaces
Rogue Witterick, Youth Advocate, The 519 and Camryn Harlick, Youth Representative
This dynamic session will be co-facilitated by a member of the Education and Training team at The 519 and by a young person with relevant lived experience and equity based facilitation and leadership experience.  The session will draw on a free online toolkit developed by The 519 called Creating Authentic Spaces and on the Out and Proud Affirmation Guidelines -- Practice Guidelines for Equity in Gender and Sexual Diversity (2012) developed by the Children’s Aid Society of Toronto. It will be a safe space to begin a review of your professional practice to ensure that you are delivering accurate, health promoting service, fostering a workplace aligned with legislative requirements and offering resources and opportunities to children, youth and families that align with current and credible research in affirmation of gender and sexual diversity.  Delegates will leave encouraged to continue transformative conversations within their agencies to create positive change toward inclusion.

Session 4-B
HR and Employment Law – A Year in Review With a Focus on Best Practices
Thomas A. Stefanik, Torkin Manes LLP
2017 was a year of significant legislative activity that has resulted in many new compliance obligations that employers cannot ignore. This session will review the key developments in labour and employment law for 2017, will highlight employment law trends to watch for in 2018, and will outline best practices for employers to meet new compliance obligations and reduce workplace risks. The session will draw on experience with and understanding of the residential services sector to ensure that the content is relevant to your agency. 

2:15 PM - 2:30 PM - Networking Break

2:30 PM - 4:00 PM  - Session 5
Achieving Better Outcomes for Youth in Care
Jane Kovarikova, Founder of Child Welfare Political Action Committee Canada and Former Foster Child 
A cultural shift beyond child protection is required to ensure children raised in state care have bright and successful futures. This talk will review cutting edge research on youth outcomes after care. The  evidence points to risk factors as well as systemic factors that affect youth life trajectories in predictable ways. Tailored or  smart' interventions and evidencebased policies can improve lives. The solutions to better life outcomes are in the data,  however, building political will is key to real systemic change.

6:30 PM - 9:00 PM - Reception, Silent Auction & Dinner
Network around the Silent Auction tables and enjoy great food, company and conversation. Interested in donating an item to the Silent Auction?  Download the Silent Auction Donation Form (pdf) or contact the OARTY Office at info@oarty.net by May 30th.

9:00 PM - 10:00 PM - An Evening of Laughter
Freddy Proia, Comedian
Freddy Proia has an honest love for performing and it is clearly evident each time he steps on stage, whether it be for an audience of two hundred at a local fundraising event, or two thousand in a New York City Theatre.

Freddy is a seasoned professional and has performed to adoring audiences throughout North America. His high energy performance combined with an array of celebrity impressions has made Freddy an audience favourite for almost 20 years. Freddy continues to delight fans by drawing his humour from life experiences and his Italian heritage. 

Freddy is a true entertainer who genuinely has fun on stage. His energy and love for performing is contagious, and will keep you buzzing long after the show is done.

10:00 PM - 12:00 AM - Late Night Networking

Friday June 8th (Members' Only)

8:30 AM - 9:30 AM - Breakfast

9:30 AM - 10:30 AM - Session 6
Reputational Risk: Crisis Management
John Ratchford, Navigator, Principal & General Counsel, Toronto
In the modern media and social environment, organizations and the individuals that lead them, must be prepared to handle issues that may impact their reputation.  This session will explore the critical steps necessary to mitigate a crisis and address how organizations can be prepared to control potential reputational damage.  The session will also present methods for recovering from a crisis and getting an organization back on track.

10:30 AM - 10:45 AM - Networking Break

10:45 AM - 11:15 AM
OARTY Annual General Meeting
The AGM provides an opportunity for the Board and staff to share important information with members, including the audited financial statements, and to elect the leadership that will govern the Board throughout the next year.

11:15 AM - 1:00 PM - Session 7
OARTY Talks (Full Members Only)
OARTY Talks is a moderated open dialogue between OARTY members on timely and relevant issues.  The forum will include a discussion on dealing with crises in residential settings, along with an opportunity to respond to and explore topics based on questions from OARTY members.  Members are encouraged to share best practices and to explore alternate approaches to issues and opportunities with their colleagues.

1:00 PM - Lunch, Closing Remarks, Evaluation

Program and Speakers subject to change.

Conference Refund Policy

Refunds will be provided based on the following schedule:

• 100% refund for cancellations up to and including March 31st
• 50% refund for cancellations up to and including April 30th (the Early Bird deadline). 

 No refunds will be provided for cancellations from May 1st onwards.

Conference Registration