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Tuesday, May 31, 2016
Wednesday June 1st, 2016
8:00am-5:30pm |
VRA National Conference |
8:00am – 9:00am |
Breakfast Mt. Kidd Foyer |
9:00am – 10:00am |
Plenary Session Todd Hirsch-Chief Economist ATB Financial & Author of The Boiling Frog Dilemma Presented by ATB Mt. Kidd Ballroom The Boiling Frog Dilemma: Saving Canada from Economic Decline
What creates wealth? Well, the answer may surprise you. Economic wealth isn’t created by oil and gas molecules in the ground, nor by an auto assembly plant. It isn’t created by tax credits or subsidies. It isn’t even created by economic development programs. Wealth starts with one thing: an idea. In this presentation, based on the book he wrote with ATB Financial colleague Rob Roach, Todd claims that Canada in the 21st century is at risk of falling behind internationally. We need to seriously “up our game” in terms of creativity, innovation, risk taking, entrepreneurialism, cosmopolitanism, community and re-thinking environmental stewardship—or risk becoming economically irrelevant on the global stage. Todd HirschChief Economist ATB Financial![]() Todd Hirsch is ATB Financial's Chief Economist. He holds a BA Honours in Economics from the University of Alberta and an MA in Economics from the University of Calgary. For over 20 years he’s worked as an economist at Canadian Pacific Railway, the Canada West Foundation and the Bank of Canada. For almost a decade, Todd taught economics at the University of Calgary. He released his first book, The Boiling Frog Dilemma: Saving Canada from Economic Decline in 2012. Todd provides economic commentary for several Canadian media outlets and is a regular columnist for the Globe and Mail. He currently serves on the University of Calgary Board of Governors and is the chair of the Calgary Arts Academy. Todd recently received the U of A’s Alumni Honour Award. He also writes an economic update that is sent to thousands of subscribers around the world everyday. Its called The Owl and you can subscribe at atb.com/economics. About ATB Financial ATB Financial is the largest Alberta-‐based financial institution, with assets of over $37.7 billion. It provides Retail Financial Services, Business and Agriculture Financial Services, Investor Services, and Corporate Financial Services to more than 676,000 Albertans in 242 communities. It provides service through almost 200 branches and over 100 agencies, telephone and Internet banking, a Customer Contact Centre, and Automated Banking Machines. ATB has been named one of Canada's 50 Best Employers by Maclean's Magazine and one of Canada's Top 100 Employers and Alberta's Top 55 Employers by Mediacorp Canada Inc. |
10:00am – 10:30am |
Coffee Break Mt. Kidd Foyer |
10:30am – 12:00pm |
Breakout Session Viki Scott-RTW in Unionized Environments Room: Nakiska Breakout Session Mark Wafer –Inclusive Employment From An Employer Perspective Room: Wildflower ![]() Ms. Viki ScottRC (c); BSc OccHealth; RRP; CHRM; MBA; ADR (c)Viki Scott is the President and Principal Consultant of Scott & Associates Inc. Viki has an extensive history with both the public and private sectors, primarily in unionized environments. She has lead significant change management initiatives for major public, non for profit and private sector organizations. Her leadership positions include the Ontario Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services, Workplace Health and Safety Agency, OPSEU and Extendicare, Canada In addition, she was a National Practice Leader at Watson Wyatt Worldwide and a Senior Manager with KPMG LLP where she directed and lead a high performance team supplying direct technical consulting services to Employers concentrating in the areas of labour management relations, occupational health & safety, absence and attendance and human resource management consulting practice. She also, has had the privilege of being a Chief of Staff and Senior Advisor to an Ontario Cabinet Minister where she influenced the appointment of the first Employment Equity Commissioner for the Province of Ontario. Viki has a particular expertise in labour management relations, with both employer and union sided experience, and has been successful in introducing workplace interest based consensus models for managing identified areas of conflict. She has established a reputation for the effective work she has lead resulting from her Transformational Mediation skills she brings to the parties for resolving conflict. She has developed strong working relationships with the various government Labour Agencies and has an in-depth knowledge of federal and provincial workplace statutes. She has presented cases before the Workers Compensation Appeals Tribunal, Labour Relations Board, Grievance Settlement Board, Pay Equity Commission and the Human Rights Commission. Viki lead the Employment Equity initiative for a major public sector union and successfully negotiated and implemented various Employment Equity Plans with the OPS and BPS Sector Employers. She also led a provincial Pay Equity Negotiation Team responsible for negotiating well over 400 Pay Equity Agreements. As a Rehabilitation Specialist, Viki has been very successful with supporting workplace parties in developing strategies for meeting their return to work and workplace accommodation obligations. Viki has also worked with various employers in meeting Occupational Health and Safety due diligence compliance in Canadian (Provincial and Federal), U.S.A., and European jurisdictions. She has developed standardized assessment and diagnostic tools that are used for identifying and minimizing risks. One of her many accomplishments is that in her capacity as the Senior Development Officer with the Ontario Workplace Health and Safety Agency, she was responsible for the development and implementation of the Occupational Health and Safety Certification Training Program. In addition, during her tenure with the Ontario Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services she received a number of commendations for her leadership during a provincial strike, SARS and the provincial “blackout”. Viki has worked with a wide range of Bargaining Agents such as CAW, OPSEU, CUPE, AMAPCEO, CEP, USWA, OPSSU, ASU, UFCW, PSAC, LIUNA, PAO, AJC, ONA, OLBEU, SEIU, UNIFOR and the Teamsters Union. Viki has an MBA with a concentration in Human Resource Management and a Bachelor of Science, in Occupational Health. Viki also holds post graduate degrees in Alternative Dispute Resolution from York University and in Human Resource Management. She also has an Advanced Certificate in Board Governance. She is a Registered Rehabilitation Professional operating under license #SCOV0381-R. Viki has held Associate Professorship positions with the Rehabilitation Services Program, Seneca@York, and the Transformational Leadership Program for Women at Atkinson College, York University and in the Disability Management Program for the National Institute for Disability Management and Research. She currently is a Professor with the Seneca@York Government Relations Post Degree Program and the Public Relations -Corporate Communications Post Degree Program. She is also an Adjunct Professor with the Ryerson University Center for Labour Management Relations. Viki has received Order in Council Appointments (Ontario Cabinet) for the North York Board of Health, and the Toronto Hospital Community Advisory Board, held Executive positions with the Canadian Association of Rehabilitation Professionals, the Ontario Association of Rehabilitation Professionals and the Canadian Association for Disability Management Coordinators. She is a member of the Human Resources Professionals Association of Ontario, the Society for Human Resources Management, the ADR Institute of Canada, the Ontario Bar Association ADR Section (Affiliate), the ADR Institute of Ontario, the Canadian Industrial Relations Association, the Association for Conflict Resolution, the Conflict Resolution Network of Canada, the Association for International Arbitration, the International Association on Workplace Bullying and Harassment, the National Association Safety Professionals, the Canadian Society of Safety Engineering, the National Case Management Network, the Case Management Society of America (CMSA), the Vocational Rehabilitation Association of Canada, the Vocational Rehabilitation Association of Ontario, the Canadian Association of University Teachers, the International Federation of University Women, the Canadian Federation of University Women, the Canadian Pain Society, the Women’s Executive Network, an Associate Member of the Canadian Society of Medical Evaluators and an inducted Member of the Women of Influence. She is a past Member of the Humber River Regional Hospital Board of Directors and Quality Assurance Committee. She is also a member of the Toronto Board of Trade, the Government Relations Institute of Canada, the Public Affairs Association of Canada, and the Institute for Public Administration of Canada. ![]() Mark WaferFranchise Owner , Tim HortonsMark Wafer is the owner of six Tim Hortons restaurants located in Toronto, Ontario. In the past 18 years Mark and his wife Valarie have hired 85 people with disabilities in meaningful and competitively paid positions and currently employ 36 people with disabilities in all aspects of the business including entry level positions, logistics, customer service, production, administration and management. Mark is not only a leading advocate for people with disabilities in the area of employment but also the lead business champion on the rotary at work initiative, a member of Ontario's Lieutenant Governors accessibility team, an inaugural inductee into Ontario's Champions league and one of four members of the Federal governments panel on opportunities for people with disabilities in the workforce. Mark lives with his wife Valarie in Ashburn, Ontario. In his spare time, Mark is a motorsports enthusiast, a race car driver and a former amateur race car champion. |
12:00pm – 1:30pm |
VRA Canada AGM & Lunch Mt. Kidd Ballroom |
1:30pm – 2:30pm |
Plenary Session LeRoy Brower, Assistant Information and Privacy Commissioner Ethics Mt. Kidd Ballroom ![]() LeRoy BrowerAssistant Information and Privacy Commissioner-EthicsLeRoy Brower is a leader in the areas of access and privacy law and information management, with particular expertise in access to information, privacy risk assessment and policy development. He has 20 years of experience in overseeing, implementing and providing policy options related to access and privacy law and information management within two Commissioner Offices, Alberta Health, Municipal Affairs, Environment and Energy, and Family and Social Services. LeRoy was a child abuse investigator for Social Services prior to becoming involved in the field of privacy in 1995. LeRoy is currently the Assistant Information and Privacy Commissioner for Alberta. In this role, LeRoy advises the Commissioner in the development of strategic planning, priorities and procedures for the office, and leads planning and direction for the Intake and Case Review unit, Mediation and Investigation and the Compliance and Special Investigations teams. |
2:30pm – 3:00pm |
Coffee Break Mt. Kidd Foyer |
3:00pm – 4:00pm |
Breakout Session Micheal Pietrus-“Changing How We See Mental Illness.” Room: Nakiska Breakout Session Kevin Lippold (PASC) and Sean McEwen - Inclusive Employment: Successes and Learning Room: Wildflower Micheal Pietrus![]() Director, MHFA & Opening Minds• Director of Mental Health First Aid and the Mental Health Commission of Canada’s international award winning anti-stigma initiative Opening Minds. In February 2015, Opening Minds received the Innovator Award from the organizers of the 7th Together Against Stigma Conference in San Francisco as the “…program which creates a major impact through new approaches that inspire new possibilities and/or disrupts prevailing views.” • Under Micheal’s leadership, the Commission launched Opening Minds, its 10-year anti-stigma/anti-discrimination initiative which is the largest systematic effort to reduce the stigma of mental illness in Canadian history. He was appointed Director of MHFA in July 2015 • Micheal is a founder of the Global Anti-stigma Alliance, which is composed of more than 20 international organizations working to reduce the stigma associated with mental illness • He is a former member of the Board of the Alberta Lieutenant Governor’s Circle on Mental Health and Addictions and is a member of the advisory committee for the Centre for Dignity, Recovery and Empowerment, San Francisco, CA. • Micheal was also a Director with the Alberta Mental Health Board. Kevin Lippold![]() Resource Coordinator at Progressive Alternatives Society of Calgary (PASC)PASC was established in 1985 as a supportive employment program for adults with intellectual disabilities. PASC’s primary operating practices include personalized planning, one on one supports, collaborative partnerships and responsiveness to evolving employer, workforce and participant needs. Kevin Lippold, MBA-International Marketing Experience: • Connecting with Employers to fill their organizational needs • New Staff Orientation • Program Planning/Caseload Management • Intake • Planning meetings • Areas outside of employment – housing, medical, food etc. • Administration – yearly government paper work, scheduling, vacation requests • Staff supervision • Staff evaluations ![]() Sean McEwenSean McEwen is currently Director of Employment Services at Calgary Alternative Support Services. He has over 30 years of experience working with people with disabilities in a variety of settings. For the past 18 years Sean has been working in Supported Employment and Supported Entrepreneurship service delivery and design. As a Senior Consultant at RealEyes Capacity Consultants, Sean engages with service providers and business to build their capacity in Workplace Diversity and Inclusion. An avid proponent of Social Innovation, Sean has helped developed social media networks and regional networks dedicated to the Employment Inclusion of people with disabilities. He has also co-developed and facilitated provincial curriculum in Supported Employment and Career Counsellor Training through the Alberta Council of Disability Services. Sean’s educational background is in Youth Services and Emotional Disturbance. He is a Certified Employment Specialist and has chaired the board of directors for both the Alberta Association for Supported Employment, as well as the Canadian Association of Supported Employment. Both of these associations have utilized ‘Best Practice Documents’ authored by Sean. He also blogs about work in the sector on a weekly basis. Sean has presented on a range of topics pertaining to employment inclusion and business development for persons with disabilities at numerous provincial and national conferences – as well as at a number of colleges and universities. When not working, Sean’s attention is directed to family, friends, mountain-biking and snow-boarding. |
4:00pm – 5:00pm |
Plenary Session Ruben Nelson – The Future of Your Profession Mt. Kidd Ballroom ![]() Ruben NelsonRuben is much sought-after as a speaker and consultant. He also has a strong background in public policy and as an advisor to both elected officials and bureaucrats. He works in every region and sector of Canada. He is at home in corporate board rooms and church basements. Ruben studied at Queen’s University (Philosophy, Politics & Theology), lived in India and worked in Ottawa. Ruben is active in the community. In 1989, he conceived of Calgary as an Information Port and chaired the first phase of the Calgary InfoPort initiative. For eight years Ruben facilitated the Prosperity South process. He has also served as a Governor of the Calgary Economic Development Authority. Ruben was honoured by Rotary International in 1997, when he was named a Paul Harris Fellow. Today, he is a board member of The Enviros Wilderness School Association. Ruben Nelson is the only Canadian who is a fellow of the World Business Academy, the World Academy of Art and Science and the Meridian International Institute for Leadership, Governance, Change and the Future. He is also President of Square One Management Ltd. and The Alliance for Capitalizing on Change. In the late 1980s, Ruben directed Canada’s only research project into our transition to a post-Industrial society and economy. He has advised CEOs and Cabinet Ministers from Victoria to Halifax. Ruben also has a rich experience with voluntary organizations – at both the practical and policy levels. |
7:30pm – 10:30pm |
Cocktail Reception Hosted by VRA Alberta Mt. Kidd Ballroom ![]() ![]() Leading his ensemble on flugelhorn and trumpet, Ben Miles and his trio complement social gatherings with their light and lyrical musical stylings and are a regular feature at private events where conversation and mingling are on the agenda. The Ben Miles Quartet will be presenting a collection of well-known and recognizable swing, cool jazz and song standards from the 40’s through to the 70’s. |