About this Event
*THIS EVENT HAS BOTH IN-PERSON AND VIRTUAL ATTENDANCE OPTIONS*
Welcome to The Western Canadian Mental Health & Education Summit: Integrating Indigenous Perspectives and Navigating AI, Digital Literacy & Resilience in a Connected World
On behalf of Jack Hirose & Associates, welcome and thank you for joining us in Calgary, Alberta, for the Western Canadian Mental Health & Education Summit. We are delighted to bring together educators, counsellors, therapists, administrators, healthcare providers, and helping professionals from across Canada for three days of practical, evidence-informed learning.
Calgary is a vibrant city known for its welcoming atmosphere, diverse dining and entertainment options, and proximity to the Canadian Rockies. We encourage you to take advantage of your time here by exploring the city and experiencing everything Calgary has to offer.
Throughout the summit, participants will explore timely issues shaping mental health, education, and professional practice. Through practical strategies, current research, and engaging discussions, the conference is designed to provide new perspectives and tools that can be applied across schools, clinical settings, healthcare environments, and community programs.
We hope you enjoy both the conference and your time in Calgary, and leave feeling inspired, connected, and equipped with practical ideas to support the individuals, families, schools, and communities you serve.
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Education and Clinical Professionals: All education and mental health or healthcare professionals who work with children or youth including, but not limited to K–12 Classroom Teachers, School Counsellors, Learning Assistance/Resource Teachers, School Administrators, School Paraprofessionals including Special Education Assistants, Classroom Assistants and Childcare Workers • All other professionals who support behavioural challenges and complex learning needs including but not limited to: Nurses, Social Workers, Psychologists, Clinical Counsellors, Family Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Speech Language Pathologists, Addiction Counsellors, Youth Workers, Mental Health Workers, Probation Officers and Community Police Officers.
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Day Three – November 6, 2026
5. Navigating the Digital Ecosystem: Fostering Child & Youth Resilience in the Age of Screens, Social Media, and AI
Presented by Ph.D., R. Psych
8:30am - 4:00pm November 6, 2026
WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION
The digital landscape has fundamentally changed child and adolescent development, shifting the clinical and educational focus from merely tracking screen time to understanding complex, immersive digital ecosystems. Engagement-based designs, such as infinite scroll, autoplay, and algorithms, compete for youth attention, often crowding out essential developmental activities like sleep, physical play, and face-to-face connection. Furthermore, the rapid integration of conversational AI chatbots as social companions introduces unique vulnerabilities, including emotional dependency, exposure to misinformation, and the displacement of real-world critical thinking.
This advanced workshop provides a deep dive into the neurobiological, psychological, and systemic mechanisms driving digital harms. Participants will move beyond simple fear-based restriction to embrace Digital Well-Being Literacy, equipping youth to engage with technology in thoughtful, self-regulated ways. Attendees will learn evidence-based clinical frameworks for screen dependency, how to set fair phone rules, and guide youth through healthy screen habits.
6. Supporting Children and Youth Through an Indigenous Trauma-Informed Framework
Presented by Ph.D, OTD, OTR/L
8:30am - 4:00pm November 6, 2026
WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION
Join internationally respected occupational therapist and researcher Dr. Varleisha (Gibbs) Lyons for a transformative one-day workshop exploring how trauma-informed, culturally responsive, spiritually grounded, and strengths-based approaches can better support children, youth, families, and communities.
Drawing upon Indigenous knowledge, contemporary trauma research, neuroscience, and occupational therapy practice, Dr. Lyons will help participants move beyond deficit-based and pathologizing approaches toward a deeper understanding of how trauma influences behaviour, emotional regulation, relationships, learning, and well-being. Participants will examine the impact of experiences such as racism, poverty, sexism, discrimination, violence, and colonialism while recognizing the resilience and strengths children and youth bring to their healing journeys.
Participants will explore practical approaches that help children, youth, families, and communities better understand and respond to daily stressors and triggers while strengthening coping skills, emotional regulation, connection, healing, and resilience. Attendees will also learn how Indigenous perspectives on wellness, spirituality, relationships, and community can enhance trauma-informed practice across educational, clinical, and community settings.
Designed for educators, counsellors, social workers, psychologists, occupational therapists, youth workers, healthcare professionals, and community practitioners, this workshop offers practical tools for creating supportive environments that foster belonging, well-being, and positive outcomes for all children and youth.
Day Three
🕑: 08:30 AM - 04:00 PM
5. Navigating the Digital Ecosystem
Host: Caroline Buzanko, Ph.D., R. Psych
Info: The digital landscape has fundamentally changed child and adolescent development, shifting the clinical and educational focus from merely tracking screen time to understanding complex, immersive digital ecosystems. Engagement-based designs, such as infinite scroll, autoplay, and algorithms, compete for youth attention, often crowding out essential developmental activities like sleep, physical play, and face-to-face connection. Furthermore, the rapid integration of conversational AI chatbots as social companions introduces unique vulnerabilities, including emotional dependency, exposure to misinformation, and the displacement of real-world critical thinking.
This advanced workshop provides a deep dive into the neurobiological, psychological, and systemic mechanisms driving digital harms. Participants will move beyond simple fear-based restriction to embrace Digital Well-Being Literacy, equipping youth to engage with technology in thoughtful, self-regulated ways.
Learning Objectives
Info: Explain how too much screen time affects the brain, social/emotional well-being, and physical health.
Evaluate the psychological risks and developmental paradoxes of persuasive technological design, social media algorithms, and the emerging use of AI chatbots as emotional companions.
Implement evidence-based clinical frameworks to help kids break bad screen habits, handle their emotions, and learn better social skills.
Help families move from strict punishments to teamwork to guide technology use.
Create clear, school-wide phone policies and use effective classroom strategies to improve focus and learning.
Formulate holistic, practical strategies that build offline resilience, prioritize tech-free zones, and promote emotional regulation and face-to-face social connection.
🕑: 08:30 AM - 04:00 PM
6. Supporting Children & Youth Through an Indigenous Trauma-Informed Framework
Host: Varleisha D. Lyons, Ph.D, OTD, OTR/L
Info: Join internationally respected occupational therapist and researcher Dr. Varleisha (Gibbs) Lyons for a one-day workshop exploring trauma-informed, culturally responsive, spiritually grounded, and strengths-based approaches to supporting children, youth, families, and communities.
Drawing on Indigenous knowledge, trauma research, neuroscience, and occupational therapy practice, participants will explore how trauma can influence behaviour, emotional regulation, relationships, learning, and well-being. The workshop examines the impacts of racism, poverty, sexism, discrimination, violence, and colonialism while recognizing the resilience and strengths individuals bring to healing.
Participants will gain practical strategies for responding to stressors and triggers, strengthening coping and emotional regulation, and fostering connection, healing, resilience, and belonging. Indigenous perspectives on wellness, spirituality, relationships, and community will be explored to enhance practice.
Learning Objectives
Info: Describe the historical foundations of intergenerational trauma and its impact on identity, mental health, and community well-being.
Explain the role of spirituality, storytelling, and traditional practices in Indigenous approaches to healing and resilience.
Recognize the importance of cultural identity and belonging in supporting emotional and psychological recovery.
Apply culturally responsive strategies that strengthen therapeutic and helping relationships with individuals and families.
Identify ways to integrate culturally grounded perspectives into clinical, educational, and community-based practice.
Understand the role of youth mentorship and cultural continuity in fostering long-term resilience within communities.
Event venue & nearby stays
Grand Hotel Calgary Airport & Convention Center, 2828 23 Street Northeast, Calgary, Canada
Concerts, fests, parties, meetups — all the happenings, one place.