This document provides summaries of the keynote speakers and workshops at the "Mothers as a Catalyst of Change: Inspiration from around the World" conference held by HIPPY Canada and the BC Association of Family Resource Programs from November 25-27, 2015 at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver. The keynote speakers will discuss topics like the impact of early childhood development programs on sustainable communities, the shifting status of women globally, and grassroots movements for social change. Workshop topics include indigenous parenting approaches, the leadership of grandmothers, resilience in families, creating welcoming spaces for indigenous women, and supporting isolated immigrant families.

1. Dr. Adrián Cerezo
Keynote Address: “Breastfeeding the
Biosphere: How Nurturing Young Children
Drives Global Sustainable Development”
Policies and programs intended to ensure that
young children reach their full potential, also
have an immediate, cost-effective, long-term
impact on the sustainable development of a
community. Using innovative tools such as visual
analytics, translational research and policy
sciences, Dr. Cerezo maps these complex interre-
lations in order to provide insights that support
the field of early childhood development, as well
as international sustainable development.
Dr. Cerezo holds a Doctorate of Philosophy, with
a focus on Social Ecology and Developmental
Science from Yale University (School of Forestry and Environmental Studies). He is
Chief Constructive Innovation Officer for CRIAStudio.org, a translational research
and institutional innovation hub. He is also consultant for UNICEF early childhood
programs, fellow at Yale University’s Zigler Center, trustee for HIPPY USA, and
Adjunct Professor of International Sustainability Policy at the University of Missouri.
Sally Armstrong
Keynote Address: “Uprising: A new age
is dawning for every mother’s daughter”
The earth is shifting under the status of
women. This shift is affecting intractable
files such as poverty, conflict and violence.
The role you play in the shift is pivotal for
your daughters and your sons.
Human rights activist, journalist and award-
winning author Sally Armstrong has covered
stories about women and girls in zones of
conflict all over the world. She has received
the Amnesty International Media Award three
times, was a member of the International
Women’s Commission, a recipient of eight
honorary doctorate degrees and is a
Member of the Order of Canada.
Judge Marion Buller
Keynote Address: “Moving Forward”
We need to know our histories in order to
understand how we got here and to avoid
making the same mistakes. Building on the
strength and courage of those who have gone
before us, let’s talk about new visions for our
families and communities. Let’s find real
opportunities for change.
Judge Buller is a member of the Mistawasis
First Nation in Saskatchewan. She was appointed
the first woman First Nations judge in British
Columbia in 1994. She spearheaded the First
Nations Court in B.C., and is now advancing the
approach of restorative justice for sentencing on
criminal and family court matters. The courts take
a holistic and aboriginal approach to sentencing.
Thank You to Our Conference Sponsors
Al Etmanski
Keynote Address: “The Sacred
Headwaters of Social Change”
Women who spring into action when
someone or something they care deeply
about is threatened are the source of some of
the most powerful and enduring solutions to
injustice. These “passionate amateurs” are an
extraordinary force for change. Al’s stories of
women he encountered while researching his
latest book will provoke, delight and inspire you.
Al Etmanski is a community organizer, social
entrepreneur and author. His new book, Impact:
Six Patterns to Spread Your Social Innovation has
just been published. He is co-founder of Social
innovation Generation (SiG) and BC Partners for
Social Impact. Previously he co-founded the family led Planned Lifetime Advocacy
Network (PLAN) which has spread to more than 40 locations around the world.
Al is an Ashoka fellow, and most recently was awarded the Order of Canada.
KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
Butterflies in Spirit
Dancers: Lorelei Williams, Maranda Johnson, Billie Jeanne Sinclair, Madelaine McCallum, Carrie Phillip.
Singer: Garett Dan
Butterflies in Spirit is a dance troupe made up mostly of family members of Missing and Murdered Indigenous
Women that raises awareness of violence against Indigenous women and girls across Canada.
The President of the Native Women’s Association of Canada, Dawn Lavell Harvard, Ph.D., will also speak about
the progress made towards a national inquiry into Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Girls.
For more information: dgage@hippycanada.ca Conference Web Page: http://bit.ly/1Mxz2ty

2. Mothers as a Catalyst of Change:
Inspiration from around the World
Conference
HIPPY Canada and the
BC Association of Family Resource Programs
present the
November 25, 26 & 27, 2015
Simon Fraser University (Downtown Campus)
Vancouver, BC

3. Thank You to Our Conference Partners
SCHEDULE AT-A-GLANCE
Wednesday, November 25 – SFU Segal School of Business – 500 Granville St.
Opening Night Event featuring host Pamela Martin & keynote
address by Sally Armstrong plus panel presenters
Special award presentation to Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond
(B.C.’s Representative for Children & Youth)
6:00pm – 6:30pm
(Conference
Registrations)
6:30– 9:00pm
(Main Event)
Segal School of Business
500 Granville St
Corner of Granville & West
Pender St, Vancouver.
Thursday, November 26 – SFU Harbour Centre – 515 West Hastings St.
Opening Welcome – Debbie Bell, HIPPY Canada
& Sue Khazaie, FRP-BC
9:00am – 9:15am Plenary Room #1400
Keynote Address – Honourable Judge Marion Buller 9:15am – 10:15am Plenary Room #1400
Butterflies in Spirit & Native Women’s Association of Canada 10:15am – 10:45am Plenary Room #1400
Break 10:45am – 11:00am
Workshop 1: Bringing Tradition Home: Using Indigenous
Parenting Approaches
11:00am –12:30pm Room #1315
(Bank of Nova Scotia Room)
Workshop 2: Hidden Power of Grandmothers in
Community Change
11:00am –12:30pm Plenary Room #1400
Workshop 3: Stories of Resilience 11:00am –12:30pm Room #1600 (Canfor Policy Room)
Workshop 4: Creating Welcoming Spaces for Aboriginal Women
and Families
11:00am –12:30pm Room #1520
(Placer Dome Room)
Workshop 5: Love 2 Learn: Families Learning Together 11:00am –12:30pm Room #2245
(McCarthy Tetrault Room)
Lunch (on own) 12:30pm – 1:30pm Invitesomeonenewtolunchwithyou!
Theregistrationdeskcanhelpyou
findaplacetoeattosuityourtaste.
Workshop 6: Pathways to Leadership: A Woman-Centred Approach
to Community Engagement
1:30pm – 4:30pm Room #2245
(McCarthy Tetrault Room)
Workshop 7: Building Relationship, Building Results: Innovative
Approaches for Working with Isolated Immigrant Families
1:30pm – 4:30pm Room #1600 (Canfor Policy Room)
Workshop 8: Empowering Mother’s Mental Wellness 1:30pm – 4:30pm Plenary Room #1400
Workshop 9: Aunty Poverty: Our Inherent Responsibility to Take
Care of One Another
1:30pm – 4:30pm Room # 1315
(Bank of Nova Scotia Room)
Workshop 10: Teen Moms, the “Real Reality”: Learning from BC’s
Young Parent Programs
1:30pm – 4:30pm Room #1520
(Placer Dome Room)
Friday, November 27 – SFU Harbour Centre – 515 West Hastings St.
Opening Remarks – Sue Khazaie, Association of Family Resource
Programs of BC
9:00am – 9:15am Plenary Room #1400
Keynote Address – Adrian Cerezo 9:15am – 10:15am Plenary Room #1400
Presentation: The Motion of Change – Debbie Bell, HIPPY Canada 10:15am – 10:45am Plenary Room #1400
Break 10:45am – 11:00am Plenary Room #1400
Keynote Address – Al Etmanski 11:00am – 12:00pm Plenary Room #1400
Official Closing 12:00pm – 12:30pm Plenary Room #1400
Note:Theworkshopsarenotpre-registered.PleaseselectthetwoworkshopsyouwouldliketoattendonThursday,andshowuppromptlytoensureaseat.
Vancouver Native
Health Society

4. Workshop 1: Bringing Tradition Home: Using Indigenous
Parenting Approaches with First Nations Families
Mary Burgaretta, MA (CYC) is the Program Manager/Aboriginal
Child Care Advisor for the BC Aboriginal Child Care Society.
There are 600 First Nations in Canada with diverse languages,
dialects, cultural beliefs and practices. With this in mind, an Indigenous
program must be flexible to include cultural content that is relevant
to each community. The foundation for the successful delivery of the
program draws upon the inclusion of Elders and Knowledge Keepers
with local cultural knowledge and spiritual practice.
Workshop 2: The Hidden Power of Grandmothers in
Community Change
Andrea Krombein is the Literacy and Seniors Outreach Coordinator
for the Marpole neighbourhood in Vancouver.
Carol Chu has over 9 years of experience working with Marpole
Oakridge Family Place.
Grandmothers are change makers in their own families, leading
and influencing their children, grandchildren and the community.
Participants of this workshop will engage in a practical experience
of the “Grandparents Learn and Lead Program” through the use
audiovisual media and role plays. At the end of the workshop
participants will be able to create a program for grandmothers
and support them to develop their leadership, peer support,
self-confidence and community building skills.
Workshop 3: Stories of Resilience
Donna Gannon previously managed a Family Centre at Chilliwack
Community Services. She is a retired social worker, and has an
extensive background in family support.
Resilience refers to the ability to spring back from setbacks and to
weather life’s struggles. The more resilient a family is, the quicker
they can “bounce back” from life’s challenges and get back on a
positive track. This workshop will help participants to better under-
stand resilience from the perspective of families. In particular, if you
deal with mothers’ mental health and issues for newcomers in work,
you will find information and insights that can inform your practice
and assist you to promote more resilience for the families you
work with.
Workshop 4: Creating Welcoming Spaces for Aboriginal
Women and Families
Diana Day is an Indigenous First Nations from the Oneida Nation. She
is an education and social justice advocate and community organizer.
Linda Day is the Executive Director of the Aboriginal Mother Centre
Society, and a member of the Oneida First Nation, Wolf Clan.
Doing our part for creating welcoming spaces for Aboriginal
women and families is important. In order to be effective in
planning, developing and delivering programming to this sector
of the community we must be inclusive in very specific ways that
recognize the history and current context of Aboriginal communities.
Aboriginal people are often underserved by community programs,
even though they represent a large portion of the population many
organizations are trying to serve. As individuals and as decision-
makers in organizations we can do things that will create more
inclusiveness of Aboriginal women and families and provide
opportunities for input, direction, support and collaboration.
Workshop 5: Love 2 Learn: Families Learning Together
Joan Exley is the Literacy Outreach Coordinator in Nelson.
This interactive workshop will introduce you to Love 2 Learn (L2L),
a community literacy program for parents and children aged 3-5
that is based on the belief that parents are a child’s first and most
important teacher. L2L helps parents support their children’s early
learning and includes program resources, lesson plans and other
tools which extend ideas and activities into the home.
Workshop 6: Pathways to Leadership – A Woman-Centered
Approach to Community Engagement
Rosa Palacios, is the Intergenerational Coordinator at Frog Hollow
Neighbourhood House.
This workshop will introduce participants to the “pathways to leader-
ship model”, which works with immigrant women to take ownership
for creating inspirational civic engagement projects, and the lasting
impacts this level of participation has on the lives of the participants.
Techniques and approaches that can be applied in other programs
will be explored and resources will be shared.
Workshop 7: Building Relationship, Building Results: Innovative
Approaches for Working with Isolated Immigrant Families
Alba Correa is the Program Coordinator of HIPPY Vancouver
at MOSAIC.
Suzanne B. Hale is the Training Coordinator of HIPPY Ottawa at
Vanier Community Services.
Wazi Kapenda is the National Manager of Multicultural Programs
with HIPPY Canada.
Creating real and lasting change for vulnerable, low-income or isolated
families is a complex task. HIPPY Canada has used some successful
approaches over the years, which can be transferred and adapted
by other programs, particularlythose who want to reach isolated
immigrant families in new and innovative ways. This workshop will
help participants to explore some new approaches for supporting
families to increase literacy, prepare children for success in school,
connect with community resources and integrate into life in Canada.
Workshop 8: Empowering Mother’s Mental Wellness
Kate Wilton is a Licensed Practical Nurse, Registered Yoga Teacher,
and Coordinator of Born Healthy, a Canada Prenatal Nutrition
Program project the Ladysmith Resources Centre Association.
This workshop is for those working in facilitated group settings,
early childhood programs, family support services, free-play
environments and for those interested in supporting, maintaining
and improving mental wellness in themselves and others.
Workshop 9: “Aunty Poverty” - Our Inherent Responsibility to
Take Care of One Another
Diana Elliott is Provincial Advisor – Aboriginal Infant Development
Programs of B.C.
Joan Gignac is Executive Director – Aboriginal Head Start
Association of B.C.
“Aunty Poverty” is a movement that is also a call to action for all
women, to help address poverty in our families, communities and
neighbourhoods. How many children in one school go hungry? How
many families have to choose rent over food? We call upon all Aunties
from all cultures to join this cause! We will share stories of women
who have come together to help address poverty whether big or
small. As “Aunties” we can all make a difference and we can come
together to address poverty in our programs and support
services. Let’s talk about how!
Workshop 10: Teen Moms, the ‘Real’ Reality”: Learning from
BC’s Young Parent Programs
Maria Cargnelli is the Program Supervisor of New Beginnings
Young Parent Program in Abbotsford B.C.
Kirsten Bevelander is the Senior Supervisor at YWCA Emma’s
Early Learning and Child Care Centre.
Kerry Watts works with the BC Council for Families as a
Program Coordinator.
This engaging and interactive two-part workshop begins with a
unique opportunity to listen to the firsthand accounts of three
young mothers as they share their experiences of early age
parenting. Next, program leaders from two of the province’s largest
and longest standing Young Parent Programs will help participants
build skills and strategies for creating safe, inclusive and welcoming
spaces for pregnant and parenting youth.
WORKSHOPS