The Western Canadian Mental Health & Education Summit (Calgary, AB)

Integrating Indigenous Perspectives and Navigating AI, Digital Literacy & Resilience in a Connected World
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 One – November 4, 2026
1. AI in Action: Transforming Education and Therapy for Every Learner
Presented by DCP, CCC, CCS

8:30am - 4:00pm November 4, 2026

WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION

Artificial intelligence is rapidly changing how educators, therapists, and mental health professionals support learning, wellbeing, communication, and intervention. This practical and thought-provoking workshop brings together professionals from education, counselling, psychology, occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, physical therapy, and related fields to explore how AI can be used responsibly, effectively, and ethically in professional practice.

Moving beyond headlines and hype, participants will examine real-world applications of AI that can be implemented immediately to enhance learning, improve accessibility, support individualized interventions, streamline administrative tasks, and foster creativity and engagement. Through demonstrations, case examples, and hands-on discussion, attendees will gain practical strategies for integrating AI into their work while maintaining professional standards and human-centred care.

The workshop will also engage participants in some of the most pressing ethical and societal debates surrounding AI. Topics may include the growing use of AI as a source of companionship for young people, the environmental implications of large-scale AI technologies, concerns about privacy and data security, and the evolving role of AI in educational settings. Rather than focusing solely on detecting AI use by students, participants will explore approaches that acknowledge AI as an emerging reality and learn strategies for incorporating it into teaching, learning, and assessment in meaningful and constructive ways.

For mental health professionals, the workshop will include demonstrations of ethical AI-assisted case conceptualization and treatment planning, highlighting both the potential benefits and the important limitations of these tools. Throughout the day, participants will critically examine how AI can support professional judgment without replacing the relational, ethical, and human dimensions that remain central to education and therapy.

Participants will leave with practical tools, concrete examples, and a balanced understanding of both the opportunities and challenges AI presents, equipping them to navigate this rapidly evolving landscape with confidence, curiosity, and professional integrity.

2. Walking the Medicine Wheel to Holistic Wellness, Personal Growth & Healing
Presented by Ph.D.

8:30am - 4:00pm November 4, 2026

WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION

The Medicine Wheel offers a holistic framework for understanding wellness, healing, and our connection to ourselves, our communities, and the world around us. Rooted in Indigenous teachings, the Medicine Wheel reminds us that healing is not simply the absence of illness but the ongoing process of nurturing balance among the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual aspects of our lives.

This interactive six-hour workshop invites participants to explore the Medicine Wheel as a guide for personal reflection, healing, and growth. Through discussion, storytelling, experiential activities, and self-reflection, participants will examine the impact of life experiences, relationships, and intergenerational influences on well-being. The workshop emphasizes practical ways to reconnect with traditional teachings, strengthen resilience, and cultivate a deeper understanding of holistic wellness.

Participants will leave with a renewed appreciation for Indigenous perspectives on healing and practical strategies for fostering balance, connection, and personal growth.

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 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 One

🕑: 08:30 AM - 04:00 PM
1. AI in Action: Transforming Education and Therapy for Every Learner
Host: Lisa Porter, DCP, CCC, CCS

Info: Artificial intelligence is rapidly changing how educators, therapists, and mental health professionals support learning, wellbeing, communication, and intervention. This practical workshop explores how AI can be used responsibly, effectively, and ethically across education, counselling, psychology, and allied health settings.

Moving beyond headlines and hype, participants will examine real-world applications of AI to enhance learning, improve accessibility, support individualized interventions, streamline administrative tasks, and foster creativity and engagement. Through demonstrations, case examples, and discussion, participants will explore key ethical issues including privacy, data security, AI companionship, environmental impacts, and the evolving role of AI in teaching and assessment.

Participants will leave with practical tools, concrete examples, and a balanced understanding of AI’s opportunities, limitations, and ethical considerations in professional practice.

Learning Objectives

Info: • Explain the capabilities, limitations, and current applications of artificial intelligence within education and clinical practice.
• Apply AI tools to enhance learning, accessibility, intervention planning, administrative efficiency, and professional practice.
• Critically evaluate AI-generated content to support sound professional judgment and evidence-informed decision-making.
• Analyze ethical, legal, and professional considerations associated with the responsible use of AI in educational and therapeutic settings.
• Develop practical strategies for integrating AI into professional practice while maintaining ethical standards, human connection, and professional integrity.

🕑: 08:30 AM - 04:00 PM
2. Walking the Medicine Wheel to Holistic Wellness, Personal Growth & Healing
Host: Cynthia Wesley-Esquimaux, Ph.D.

Info: The Medicine Wheel offers a holistic framework for understanding wellness, healing, and our connection to ourselves, our communities, and the world around us. Rooted in Indigenous teachings, the Medicine Wheel reminds us that healing is not simply the absence of illness but the ongoing process of nurturing balance among the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual aspects of our lives.

This interactive six-hour workshop invites participants to explore the Medicine Wheel as a guide for personal reflection, healing, and growth. Through discussion, storytelling, experiential activities, and self-reflection, participants will examine the impact of life experiences, relationships, and intergenerational influences on well-being. The workshop emphasizes practical ways to reconnect with traditional teachings, strengthen resilience, and cultivate a deeper understanding of holistic wellness.

Learning Objectives

Info: Explore the role of physical activity, nutrition, traditional foods, and herbs in supporting health and healing.
Examine the impacts of excessive sugar, alcohol, and other harmful substances on overall well-being.
Recognize the value of lifelong learning through listening, reading, dialogue, and engagement with Elders, family, colleagues, and mentors.
Deepen understanding of emotions, how they function, and how internal experiences and external stressors affect emotional well-being.
Explore healthy forms of emotional expression that support healing of the heart, mind, and spirit.
Examine the ongoing impacts of Indian Residential Schools, intergenerational trauma, emotional repression, and discrimination.
Identify pathways toward healing, resilience, cultural connection, and holistic well-being.

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.

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.