Speakers

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

Elizabeth Smart

Elizabeth Smart became known worldwide following her 2002 abduction and remarkable recovery after nine months in captivity. Since then, Elizabeth has become a leading advocate for child safety, recovery, and prevention, helping advance initiatives including the National AMBER Alert and the Adam Walsh Child Protection & Safety Act. Through public speaking, advocacy, and her bestselling memoir My Story, she continues to inspire hope and empower survivors everywhere.

Fallon Farinacci

Fallon Farinacci is a proud Red River Métis Speaker, Survivor, and Advocate for MMIWG (Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls). Through her online platform and community work, Fallon shares her family’s story, raises awareness for Indigenous causes, and advocates for change for Indigenous women, girls, and 2S+ across Turtle Island.

Chris Prochut

Chris Prochut is a nationally recognized mental health advocate and suicide prevention trainer who has spent more than 15 years working with First Responders across the United States and Canada. Having presented to over 18,000 police, fire, and EMS professionals, Chris is known for his honest, engaging approach to suicide prevention, stigma, and officer wellness. Blending real-world experience with humor and authenticity, he challenges the culture of silence and reminds audiences that asking for help is a sign of courage.

Superintendent, Marcel Beaudin, Ontario Provincial Police, Indigenous Policing Bureau

Superintendent Marcel Beaudin has served with the Ontario Provincial Police since 2003, holding a range of key operational and leadership roles throughout his career. Since 2021, he has been a senior leader within the OPP Indigenous Policing Bureau, overseeing the Provincial Liaison Team, Indigenous Awareness Training Unit, Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Team, and the Ontario First Nations Policing Agreement.

Marcel co-chairs both the OPP Major Incident Management Group and the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police (CACP) Policing with Indigenous Peoples Committee and serves on CACP committees addressing hate‑motivated crime and police liaison training. He has represented the OPP before several public inquiries and reviews, including the Public Order Emergency Commission and the House of Commons’ Standing Committee on Indigenous and Northern Affairs study of Indigenous policing and public safety. Recognized nationally for his expertise in the police response to demonstrations and civil unrest, Marcel was a key developer of the CACP National Framework for Police Response to Demonstrations and Assemblies and the National Police Liaison Officer Training Course.

Marcel is a member of Henvey Inlet First Nation. He is a graduate of the Global Policing Innovation Exchange Leadership Program and the Rotman School of Management Police Leadership Program. He is a strong advocate for culturally informed policing, community trust, and meaningful partnerships that strengthen public safety and support Indigenous communities across Ontario.

Karen Bellehumeur

Karen Bellehumeur served as a Crown prosecutor in Ontario for twenty-three years where she specialized in cases involving vulnerable victims including children. She founded Bellehumeur Law in 2018. Her practice focuses on trauma informed representation of complainants in criminal proceedings, human rights claims, and sport-related complaint and discipline matters. She was counsel to the complainant, E.M., in the high-profile criminal trial of five world junior hockey players.

In 2023, Karen earned her PhD from Western University’s Faculty of Law, where her research centered on law reform to better protect and support survivors of sexual violence.

Lauren Bernardi

Lauren Bernardi holds a B.A. in Psychology from Laurentian University and an LL.B. from Osgoode Hall Law School, and was called to the Ontario Bar in 1992. She is a recognized leader in workplace respect, harassment, and violence, conducting complex investigations in policing, fire services, municipal government, athletics, and First Nations contexts.

Lauren specializes in sexual harassment, psychological harassment, systemic discrimination, and complaints based on race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, and family status. She also provides training and workplace culture assessments, and has investigated elected officials and sexual assault allegations against coaches.

A thought leader in psychological health and safety, Lauren authored the Bernardi white paper Transforming Workplace Culture in the Police Service and developed the Bernardi certificate program Investigating Workplace Harassment in Policing. She chairs and teaches multiple workplace‑investigation and mental‑health law programs, is a board member with Mindful Employer Canada, and has written the leading text Powerful Employment Policies as well as numerous articles and media‑quoted commentary on HR and employment law.

Dr. R. Nicholas (Nick) Carleton, Ph.D., R.D. Psych., FCAHS, FRSC

R. Nicholas Carleton, Ph.D., is a Professor of Clinical Psychology at the University of Regina, Director of the Psychological Trauma and Stress Systems Lab, and a registered clinical psychologist in Saskatchewan. His work focuses on supporting the mental health of first responders and other public safety personnel.

Nick served as founding Scientific Director of the Canadian Institute for Public Safety Research and Treatment until 2024 and has published over 300 peer‑reviewed articles and book chapters on anxiety‑ and trauma‑related disorders. He has delivered 600+ national and international conference presentations and secured more than $110 million in competitive external funding as principal or co‑principal investigator.

He leads the RCMP Longitudinal PTSD Study and its Saskatchewan extension study for public safety personnel, and co‑leads the Federal Internet Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Program for public safety personnel. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences, and has received multiple awards including the Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation Mid‑Career Award and the Royal‑Mach‑Gaensslen Prize for Mental Health Research.

Elder James Carpenter

James Carpenter is a recognized Indigenous Traditional Healer and Oshkabewis (Helper). His First Nations Ancestry is from the Anishnaabek/Mississauga First Nation of Alderville, Chippewa ancestry from the Traditional territory around the Great Lakes, Oneida ancestry from Upper New York State, and the Cree Nation from the shores of James Bay. He continues to reclaim his Anishnaabek/Chipewyan and Cree languages.

James specializes in providing Indigenous Traditional Healing Services and Sacred Indigenous Ceremonies to children, families, and communities.

Deputy Chief, Julie Craddock, Anishinabek Police Services

Deputy Chief Julie Craddock began her policing career in 1994 with the Ontario Provincial Police and joined the Halton Regional Police Service in 1995, serving in a wide range of operational roles from Constable to Inspector. In 2020 her team received the OACP Traffic Safety Initiative of the Year Award for using side‑camera technology to enhance road safety in Halton.

She became the first female Deputy Chief of the Sarnia Police Service in 2023, leading the Community Support Division and working closely with Aamjiwnaang First Nation to develop a community‑led policing model. In September 2024 she joined the Anishinabek Police Service as Deputy Chief, where she has advanced projects such as online reporting, body‑worn cameras, and ALPR technology while driving operational efficiency and technological integration.

Julie is a member of Beausoleil First Nation and a graduate of the CACP Executive Global Studies Program, with a BA in Equity, Diversity and Human Rights and a minor in Indigenous Studies from Laurentian University. She sits on the OACP Victim Assistance Committee and the Women in Indigenous Policing Planning Committee, and has championed comprehensive wellness programs and trauma‑informed, culturally grounded support for officers serving Indigenous communities.

Dr. Heidi Cramm

Dr. Cramm is an occupational therapist and professor at Queen’s University dedicated to better understanding the mental health and wellbeing of military, veteran, and public safety families. As a spouse in a first responder family herself, she brings personal insight to her research, which she leads through the Families Matter Research Group.

Tanya Debassige, Liaison Program Coordinator, Family Indigenous Liaison Unit, Ministry of the Attorney General

Tanya Debassige is Ojibwe, Odawa, and Potawatomi from Mnidoo Mnising (Manitoulin Island), born and raised on Robinson Huron Treaty territory. As the granddaughter of residential school survivors and a former Indian Day School student, her lived experience shapes her resilience and deep connection to family, community, and culture.

Widely recognized for her advocacy for Indigenous Peoples, Tanya ensures Indigenous ways of knowing remain central in all her work. She currently serves as Liaison Program Coordinator with the Family Information Liaison Unit in the Indigenous Justice Division of the Ministry of the Attorney General, supporting families and survivors of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people.

Tanya was part of the team that received the 2019 Amethyst Award in the Ontario Public Service for its impactful work. In her free time, she enjoys cooking for her family and spending time on the land to recharge, reflect, and reconnect.

Lisa Delaney

Lisa is an occupational therapist who leads the Garnet Families Network, supporting defence and public safety families and those who serve and support them. With years of experience in child and family health, she builds partnerships to strengthen community wellbeing. Being part of a veteran family, Lisa understands the unique experiences and demands military life places on families.

Nicole Lagimodiere, Program Liaison, Family Indigenous Liaison Unit, Ministry of the Attorney General

Nicole Lagimodiere is a proud Métis woman from Thunder Bay, Ontario, with Métis heritage on her father’s side from Winnipeg, Manitoba. Her family history includes her sixth great‑grandfather, Jean‑Baptiste Lagimodiere—grandfather of Métis leader Louis Riel—and the namesake of Lagimodiere Boulevard.

Nicole’s professional background is rooted in supporting Indigenous families. Whether helping families navigate the child welfare system, connecting them with Ontario programs, or supporting families of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples, she is a strong and dedicated ally to the Indigenous community.

Chief Superintendent, Gary Maracle, Ontario Provincial Police, Indigenous Policing Bureau

Chief Superintendent Gary Maracle has dedicated more than three decades to service with the Ontario Provincial Police. Serving as the Commander of the OPP Indigenous Policing Bureau since 2021, he provides strategic leadership to support effective First Nations policing and advance the health, safety, and well-being of Indigenous communities across Ontario. In this role, he leads the Provincial Liaison Team, Indigenous Awareness Training Unit, Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Team, and the Ontario First Nations Policing Agreement. Gary is an active contributor to policing initiatives at the provincial, national, and international levels. He serves on the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police (CACP) Policing with Indigenous Peoples Committee and its Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Sub-Committee. He is an associate member of both the Indigenous Police Chiefs of Ontario and the First Nations Chiefs of Police Association and serves as Chair at Large of the International Association of Chiefs of Police Indian Country Law Enforcement Section. A member of the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte, Gary’s leadership is grounded in partnership, respect, and meaningful engagement. Committed to advancing reconciliation, he champions excellence in trauma-informed and culturally responsive policing, working closely with Indigenous communities and partners across Ontario to foster strong relationships, support shared goals, and advance collaborative approaches to public safety and community well-being.

Jacqueline Michell, Executive Director, Vancouver Aboriginal Community Policing Centre

Jacqueline Michell is an Indigenous community leader, advocate, and Executive Director of the Vancouver Aboriginal Community Policing Centre, where she advances justice, safety, and equity. Proudly We Wai Kai, Namgis, Haida, and Salvadoran, she brings over a decade of experience in Indigenous justice, community advocacy, and systemic reform. Her work focuses on dismantling institutional barriers through culturally grounded, trauma‑informed practices and building respectful partnerships between Indigenous communities and public institutions. She provides frontline legal advocacy, supports families of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG2S+), and co‑creates community‑led safety initiatives. Jacqueline serves on several advisory bodies, including the Vancouver Police Department Indigenous Advisory and SisterWatch Committees, the Metro Vancouver Transit Police Chief’s Community Council, and the Downtown Community Court Advisory Committee, and is committed to decolonizing the justice system and building safer, more inclusive communities.

David Mitchell

David Mitchell is a retired Ontario public servant with 34 years’ experience and a long record of community leadership. He served as Chair of Toronto Community Housing Corporation and founded and led the Association of Black Law Enforcers (A.B.L.E.), where he advanced advocacy, community engagement, reflective recruitment, and government consultation. Under his leadership ABLE developed policy positions on racial profiling and organized two international conferences for Black police and peace officers in Toronto. He currently serves as Senior Director of Operations at YAAACE and Co‑Chair of the Durham Regional Police Diversity Advisory Committee, and has received awards including the Harry Jerome Award and the African‑Canadian Achievement Award.

Teresa Nahwegahbow

Teresa Nahwegahbow, a proud member of Whitefish River First Nation, previously worked as the Community Mobilization Assistant with Lighting the Fire Within. Here, she provided a forum to support the provision of culturally sensitive and trauma informed services to UCCM Anishnaabe Police Service personnel.

Recently, Teresa assumed the role of Cultural Coordinator. She is committed to ensuring that UCCM Anishnaabe Police Service’s goals of embedding cultural wellness competency and traditional-based wellness within the organization is achieved. Her work involves the implementation of traditional healing practices, Anishnaabe culture, protocols, and knowledge systems all while addressing the spiritual needs of UCCM Anishnaabe Police Servicepersonnel.

Jenny Prochut

Jenny Prochut (pro-hut) graduated from Lewis University in Illinois in 1999 with a Social Work Degree. These studies assisted her career in Juvenile Social Services and Rape Crisis Advocacy. Upon the birth of their first child in 2004, Jenny left the workforce and became a stay-at-home mom. In 2010, after moving to Hartford, WI, Jenny became very involved in volunteering for the Hartford School District.

Shortly thereafter, she was hired as a part-time Teaching Assistant Specialist for students with special needs. Jenny and Chris have been married for 28 years.

Acting Sergeant, Aman Samra, Vancouver Police Department

Acting Sergeant Aman Samra brings 24 years of policing experience with the Vancouver Police Department, having served in a wide range of frontline and investigative units. He has taken on leadership roles as a trainer, mentor, and senior actor across these assignments.

Aman now serves in the Diversity, Community and Indigenous Relations Section as the Neighbourhood Police Officer at the Vancouver Aboriginal Community Policing Centre (VACPC). In this role he supports Indigenous‑led arts, sports, and youth programs such as the Blue Eagles Cadet Program in partnership with Transit Police.

He is committed to building trust between Indigenous communities and the police, and participates in VPD‑led committees including SisterWatch and the Indigenous Advisory Committee to help address community‑centred issues.

Joel Syrette

Coming soon