Featured Speakers
2024 Plenary Addresses
Dr. Leroy Little Bear
Leroy Little Bear is a Blackfoot researcher, professor emeritus at the University of Lethbridge, founding member of Canada's first Native American Studies Department, and recognized leader and advocate for First Nations education, rights, self-governance, language and culture.
Keynote Address, June 21st, 2024
Title: Indigenous Ways of Knowing in Mental Health, Wellness, and Healing
Psychology, as an academic discipline and a science is about 150 years old. The change in recognition as a science came about at a time when the enlightenment era was in full bloom. The enlightenment era can be interpreted as a rebellion by the ‘commoners’ against the church and the divine rule of kings. The church and the monarchs were the educated: they knew how to read and write, and they were the ones with libraries. The ‘commoners’ rebellion was the age of reason….’we don’t need those libraries: we can come to know anything and everything through pure reasons.’ the notion of pure reason as a source of knowledge is, of course, based on the interpretive template for reality structuring carried around and embodied by ‘western thought’. (I use ‘western thought only because it is the dominant interpretive template at the present time but it is losing its power and impact) a different culture like Blackfoot has a different interpretive template and a different reality structuring process. Western psychological practitioners cannot simply come from the frame of mind that a human is a human is human. There are big differences depending on the cultural aspects of the interpretive template. To be effective, western psychology, as a science, must be aware of the different interpretive templates of different cultures.
As one of Canada’s most respected Indigenous academic voices, Dr. Leroy Little Bear was made an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2019, received the University of Lethbridge Ingrid Speaker Research Medal in 2017, was awarded the Alberta Order of Excellence in 2016 and holds honorary doctorates from the University of Lethbridge and the University of Northern British Columbia. He is also an honorary Eminent Scholar at Red Crow Community College. Little Bear holds a Juris Doctor from the University of Utah, a BA from the University of Lethbridge, and an Associate Arts Degree in Forestry from Wenatchee Valley College.
Little Bear has been a mentor and consultant on Indigenous matters at local, provincial, national and international levels, and helped establish the Native American Studies program at the U of L. His writings and work have greatly influenced legal and policy realms including the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, the re-establishment of the Blackfoot Confederacy and the First Nations Buffalo Treaty. He is the author of several esteemed publications and was the first Indigenous person to be quoted by the Supreme Court of Canada. Little Bear was born and raised on the Blood Reserve (Kainai First Nation) west of Lethbridge.
Dr. Eleanor Gittens
Professor, Georgian College. CPA President 2023-24
Presidential Address
Title: A Year in the Life of CPA’s First Black Female President: Advancing Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging
This address seeks to encapsulate my journey as the Canadian Psychological Association’s (CPA) inaugural Black female president while I navigated the complexities of leadership while championing equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging (EDIB) within the organization. Over the course of a year, I have strategized and implemented initiatives aimed at dismantling systemic barriers , fostering a culture of inclusivity, and amplifying marginalized voices within the CPA community. Through collaborative efforts, I sought to enhance representation, cultivate safe spaces for dialogue, and promote opportunities for underrepresented groups. Facing both triumphs and challenges, I persevered and remained committed to affecting meaningful change during my presidency. I hope that my term serves as a catalyst where there is a shift to a more inclusive future for the CPA and the broader field of psychology.
Eleanor Gittens, Ph.D. is a professor in the honours bachelor’s degree in Police Studies and a program coordinator in the Addictions: Treatment and Prevention program in the Department of Human Services and Community Safety at Georgian College. She has taught courses in Contemporary Social Movements, Psychology for Policing, Research Methods for Policing, Community Policing, Cybercrime, Mental Health Issues in Policing, Cross-Cultural Communications and Addictions and Mental Health. Dr Gittens is an avid researcher who spearheads student-based research with various community partners. She has carried out research on the spatial behaviour of offenders, criminal careers, violent offences, and violent offenders. Her current research interests lie in diversity training, diversity hiring, the development of criminal behaviour and the progression of the criminal career; evidence-based policing; and community policing. She takes pleasure in working closely with other program areas and values the ability to collaborate. Dr Gittens is an advocate and an activist who works tirelessly in the pursuit of equity, human rights, and social justice. She is an active member of the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) and currently serves as the President and Chair of the CPA Board of Directors.
The Honourable Jean Augustine, P.C., C.M., O.Ont, C.B.E.
In 1993, Jean Augustine made history as the first African-Canadian woman to be elected to the Canada’s House of Commons as the Member of Parliament from the Greater Toronto area
Honourary Presidential Address
Title: Lifting Voices: Black Lives and Experiences
“STEADFAST – Perseverance in Pursuit of a Better Canada”
The Honourable Dr. Jean Augustine, the first Black Woman ever elected to Canada's Parliament and sponsor of the historic Black History Month Motion shares reflections in advance of the screening of the film of her personal story of perseverance despite adversity in pursuit of social justice. This inspiring keynote presentation will offer insight on the Canada she made her home as a young trained teacher and domestic worker in the early 1960s; the progress achieved over the years on diversity, equity, inclusion and ally-ship as we wind up the United Nations' International Decade for People of African Descent 2015-2024; and the way forward in pursuit of that Canada we want to be for generations to come.
Hon. Dr. Jean Augustine P.C., C.M., O.Ont., C.B.E. is the first African-Canadian woman to be elected to the House of Commons. She was elected in the riding of Etobicoke-Lakeshore in 1993 and sat in Parliament until 2006. During this time, she served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister, Minister of State and Deputy Speaker.
In 2007, Dr. Jean Augustine was nominated by the Government of Ontario as Fairness Commissioner, a position created to advocate for Canadians with foreign credentials. Dr. Augustine retired from the position of Fairness Commissioner in March 2015.
Today, Jean Augustine continues in the work to help improve the human condition. Along with her frontline involvement through the Jean Augustine Centre for Young Women’s Empowerment, she continues providing her expertise nationally and internationally as relevant.
Dr. Augustine has been honoured extensively for her work. She has received Honourary Doctorate degrees from the Universities of Toronto, York, McGill, Guelph, Windsor, Trent and Ryerson. She is a Senior Fellow at Massey College and a Fellow of Centennial College.
Amongst hundreds of other earned awards are the YWCA Woman of Distinction Award, the Kaye Livingstone Award, the Ontario Volunteer Award, the Rubena Willis Special Recognition Award, the UNIFOR Nelson Mandela Lifetime Achievement Award; the Toronto Lion’s Club Award; the University of the West Indies’ Luminary Award; and the Women’s Executive Network naming her one of Canada’s Most Powerful Women.
Today her name is borne by The Jean Augustine Secondary School in the Peel District School Board in Brampton, Ontario; The Jean Augustine Girls’ Leadership Academy of the Toronto District School Board; the Jean Augustine Centre for Young Women’s Empowerment; the Jean Augustine Park on Toronto’s Lakeshore Boulevard; and the City of Vaughan has named the Jean Augustine Complex and the Jean Augustine District Park.
In 2009, Jean was appointed as a Member of the Order of Canada for her extensive contribution to Canadian society as a politician, educator and advocate for social justice. In 2012, she received the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal. In 2014, she was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire for her services to education and politics. In 2020 she was appointed to the Order of Ontario.
Today, Jean remains involved with community activities including co-chairing the 100 Accomplished Black Canadian Women recognition and database, and the Jean Augustine Centre for Young Women’s Empowerment. She also funds three annual scholarships – at George Brown for single mothers; at Centennial College for young entrepreneurs; and at Humber College for students in the community studies program.
Jean Augustine is the proud mother of two daughters, and grandmother to two grandsons.
Dr. Jiaying Zhao
Canada Research Chair in Behavioural Sustainability, and Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology and the Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability at the University of British Columbia
Plenary Keynote Address, June 23rd, 2024
Title: How can psychological science contribute to sustainability?
A significant challenge in environmental programs and policies is the lack of a deep understanding of human behaviour. Thus, there is an immense space in which psychology can contribute to the successful transition to a more sustainable world. In this talk, I will demonstrate how psychological insights can be leveraged to design effective behavioural solutions to address sustainability challenges. In a series of experiments, we designed and tested a number of behavioural interventions to increase climate and pro-environmental action. These findings not only provide useful insights on how to courage impactful behaviour change, but also help inform the design and implementation of environmental policy.
Dr. Jiaying Zhao is the Canada Research Chair in Behavioural Sustainability, and Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology and the Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability at the University of British Columbia. Dr. Zhao is also a faculty affiliate with the Center for Effective Global Action at University of California, Berkeley, and an invited researcher at J-PAL at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dr. Zhao a Killam Research Prize recipient and the UBC Sauder Distinguished Scholar. She uses psychological principles to design behavioural solutions to address financial and environmental sustainability challenges.