2026 BC Public Interest Environmental Law Conference (IN-PERSON)

Co-hosted by the Environmental Law Centre (ELC) and the Environmental Law Club (ELClub) at UVic, the BC Public Interest Environmental Law Conference brings together students, practitioners, scholars, artists, and community members for an exploration of this year’s theme: Law Rooted in Land and Relationships.

Day 1 — Thursday, February 26 (3:30–8:00 p.m.)
Location: Indigenous Law Wing and David Lam Auditorium
This opening event, organized by the Environmental Law Club, features an art and film showcase and dialogue that engages with land, law, and relationship through creative expression.

Day 2 — Friday, February 27 (9:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.)
Location: Indigenous Law Wing
The main conference day includes four interdisciplinary panels on current and emerging issues in public interest environmental law. Morning panels are available to watch on Zoom with registration.

Full panel details to follow.

REGISTRATION:

Day 1 - Thurs, Feb 26 (in person): https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/2026-bc-public-interest-environmental-law-conference-art-film-showcase-tickets-1981550864979?aff=oddtdtcreator

Day 2 - Fri, Feb 27 (in person): Please register using the page you are currently on.

Day 2 - Fri, Feb 27 (Zoom registration): https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2026-bc-public-interest-environmental-law-conference-virtual-tickets-1982389775182?aff=oddtdtcreator

Who should attend?
This conference is intended for anyone interested in public interest environmental law, including students, legal professionals, policymakers, academics, artists, and community members. By centering law within land-based and relational contexts, the conference aims to foster thoughtful, grounded conversations about how environmental law can respond to contemporary challenges while remaining accountable to place and community.

About your hosts

The ELC is a non-profit society that collaborates with the University of Victoria, Faculty of Law to operate the ELC Clinic Program, a program through which a team of law students, staff lawyers, and legal professionals provide over 6,000 hours of pro bono legal assistance each year to communities across BC. The ELC’s goal is to attain and support strong laws that protect air, land, and water, through both Indigenous and state authority.

The ELClub is a student-run club at the University of Victoria, Faculty of Law. The ELClub is one of the largest and longest running student clubs at UVic Law. Our mission is to promote awareness and education regarding environmental challenges and to approach this work from an anti-colonial perspective, recognizing the intersection between environmental stewardship and Indigenous legal orders.

Info: A showcase of local art on display all day

Info: Moderated by Oliver Brandes, POLIS Project on Ecological Governance. This panel will be in-person and available to view on Zoom. Please see the separate EventBrite registration page to sign up for Zoom attendance.

Info: Moderated by Oliver Brandes, POLIS Project on Ecological Governance. This panel will be in-person and available to view on Zoom. Please see the separate EventBrite registration page to sign up for Zoom attendance.

Info: A catered lunch will be provided with vegan and gluten-free options

Info: Wise Words on Working Responsibly with Indigenous Communities. Moderated by Deborah Curran, Environmental Law Centre.

Info: Moderated by Patricia Weber, Environmental Law Centre

Info: Please join us for a beverage, snacks and chats!

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

University of Victoria, Faculty of Law, Indigenous Law Building, 1 McGill Road, Victoria, Canada

Concerts, fests, parties, meetups - all the happenings, one place.

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