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 Two – November 5, 2026
3. Reclaiming Childhood and Adolescence in a Technology-Saturated World: Indigenous Perspectives on Development, Connection, Community, and Resilience
Presented by Ph.D.
8:30am - 4:00pm November 5, 2026
WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION
Children today are growing up in a rapidly changing world where technology, artificial intelligence, social media, and digital entertainment have become central parts of daily life. While these advancements offer many opportunities, they have also raised important questions about their impact on child development, social connection, emotional well-being, and overall health.
Many children now spend significantly less time outdoors, have fewer opportunities for face-to-face social interaction, and are increasingly exposed to online influences, violence, and digital content that may shape their perceptions of themselves and the world around them. Families, educators, and communities are witnessing growing concerns related to social isolation, emotional dysregulation, attention difficulties, anxiety, and challenges in developing empathy, compassion, and meaningful relationships.
This workshop will explore the influence of technology, artificial intelligence, social media, and violence on the healthy development of children and youth. Participants will examine whether modern technology contributes to impaired neurodevelopment and how increasing screen use may affect emotional, cognitive, social, and relational development.
Drawing upon Indigenous perspectives, participants will explore the importance of connection, compassion, empathy, community, culture, and relationships in supporting healthy development. The workshop will highlight the value of land-based learning and experiences in nature as important protective factors that promote resilience, belonging, identity, emotional well-being, and healthy growth.
Participants will be encouraged to critically examine the role technology plays in children’s lives while exploring practical ways to restore balance through relationships, community engagement, cultural connection, outdoor experiences, and opportunities for meaningful human interaction.
Through discussion, reflection, storytelling, and shared learning, participants will gain a deeper understanding of how Indigenous teachings and community-centered approaches can help support children and youth in an increasingly digital world.
4. Integrating Indigenous and Western Healing Strategies and Perspectives
Presented by MSW, RSW
8:30am - 4:00pm November 5, 2026
WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION
This one-day, in-person workshop supports helpers and clinicians to integrate Indigenous-informed healing perspectives with selected Western approaches through a respectful, non-appropriative “both/and” lens. Participants will explore how Indigenous wellness is often heart-centred, relational, and grounded in story, land, and community, rather than primarily head-based or individually focused. We will introduce the Medicine Wheel as a non-diagnostic balance check-in (Physical, Emotional, Mental, Spiritual) to help participants notice “signals” instead of pathologizing “symptoms, and to guide collaborative, consent-based goal setting.
A core emphasis is relational accountability (“All My Relations”): understanding the person within a web of relationships: family, chosen kin, community, ancestors, and land. Participants will practise language and consent scripts that increase cultural safety, and learn how to hold a witnessing stance rather than an expert-fixer role. We will also build a practical stabilization toolkit that includes non-ceremonial land-informed grounding (natural elements as co-regulators) and seasonal awareness to normalize shifts in energy and capacity.
Important boundary: this workshop does not teach or replicate a ceremony. Instead, it supports ethical practice, clear scope, and relational referral pathways (e.g., Indigenous friendship centres, community programs, land-based walking groups, and appropriate cultural supports). Participants will leave with practical tools, worksheets, and an integration plan they can apply immediately, while staying accountable to humility, consent, and community connection.
Day Two
🕑: 08:30 AM - 04:00 PM
3. Reclaiming Childhood and Adolescence in a Technology-Saturated World
Host: Cynthia Wesley-Esquimaux, Ph.D.
Info: Children and youth are growing up in a rapidly changing world where technology, artificial intelligence, social media, and digital entertainment are central to daily life. While these advancements offer opportunities, concerns are growing about their impact on development, social connection, emotional well-being, attention, empathy, and relationships.
This workshop explores how technology, social media, AI, screen use, and exposure to violence may influence the emotional, cognitive, social, and relational development of children and youth. Drawing on Indigenous perspectives, participants will explore the importance of connection, compassion, empathy, community, culture, relationships, and land-based learning in supporting healthy development.
Through discussion, reflection, storytelling, and shared learning, participants will explore practical ways to restore balance through cultural connection, time in nature, community engagement, and strong relationships.
Learning Objectives
Info: Examine the impact of technology, artificial intelligence, social media, and violence on child and youth development.
Explore current research and perspectives regarding technology and impaired neurodevelopment.
Understand how technology and screen-based lifestyles may influence children’s social, emotional, cognitive, and relational development.
Recognize the importance of empathy, compassion, connection, and community in fostering healthy development.
Explore Indigenous perspectives on child development, relationships, belonging, and wellness.
Understand the role of land-based learning and nature experiences in supporting resilience and well-being.
Identify protective factors that promote healthy development in children and youth.
Reflect on practical strategies for balancing technology use with opportunities for connection, culture, community, and outdoor experiences.
Develop approaches for supporting healthy development in homes, schools, and communities.
🕑: 08:30 AM - 04:00 PM
4. Integrating Indigenous and Western Healing Strategies and Perspectives
Host: Samaria Nancy Cardinal, MSW, RSW
Info: This one-day, in-person workshop supports helpers and clinicians in integrating Indigenous-informed healing perspectives with selected Western approaches through a respectful, non-appropriative “both/and” lens. Participants will explore heart-centred, relational approaches grounded in story, land, community, and connection.
The workshop introduces the Medicine Wheel as a non-diagnostic balance check-in across physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual dimensions, encouraging participants to notice signals rather than pathologize symptoms. Emphasis is placed on relational accountability, cultural safety, consent-based practice, and understanding individuals within their relationships to family, community, ancestors, and land.
Participants will develop practical stabilization strategies, land-informed grounding approaches, and seasonal awareness while exploring ethical scope and appropriate referral pathways. The workshop does not teach or replicate ceremony.
Learning Objectives
Info: Describe two-eyed seeing as a “both/and” integration stance and name key cultural safety principles.
Use the Medicine Wheel as a non-diagnostic balance check-in to identify “signals” and strengths.
Explain relational accountability (“All My Relations”) and apply co-regulation concepts beyond individual self-regulation.
Demonstrate consent-based opening and repair language that reduces shame and increases safety.
Practice non-ceremonial, land-informed grounding and seasonal awareness adaptations for stabilization.
Create an ethical integration plan that avoids defaulting to CBT, clarifies boundaries, and strengthens community referral pathways.
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.