November 29th, 2023

EAPO Annual Virtual Conference Series, 2023

Inclusive Voices, Collective Power

Sessions: Welcome and Opening Remarks | Speaker: Debra Sayewich

Keynote Session: Understanding the role of governments in femicide prevention: Recognition, accountability, and education | Keynote Speaker: Myrna Dawson

Welcome and Opening Remarks Speaker: Debra Sayewich

Founder & Consultant, Age-Friendly Consulting

Debra has a lived experience of 30+years in Management and Business Development, she has inspired many collaborative and innovative partnerships. Every path you take leads to a greater understanding. Debra has been providing positive results-oriented facilitation including Communication – Every conversation starts with good listening. A great reputation for implementing innovative solutions.

Volunteering over 15+ years, past Co-Chair with Prevention of Elder Abuse York Region. Debra is excited to share that she has recently launched OAKS – Older Adults Knowledge Sharing. Like a mighty OAK tree, OAKS is Planting the seeds of empowerment, education, wisdom and sharing.

Debra is a member of the Wasauksing First Nation on the beautiful shores of Georgian Bay. She resides in Richmond Hill with her spouse of 40+ years. Mother of 2 grown children and a grandmother of 6. Debra enjoys her family time, hiking, spending time on the Georgian Bay, spending quality time on the Pow Wow trail with her mom. Debra has also recently started Hand Drumming.

She truly believes that we enter this world in a good way and to live each day to the fullest. Her vision is to be part of the change building relationships with respect, trust, and commitment. It takes a community to support an individual.

Keynote Speaker: Myrna Dawson

Professor and Research Leadership Chair, University of Guelph

Myrna Dawson is a Professor of Sociology and Research Leadership Chair, College of Social and Applied Human Sciences, University of Guelph. She is the Founder and Director of the Centre for the Study of Social and Legal Responses to Violence (www.violenceresearch.ca) and the Canadian Femicide Observatory for Justice & Accountability (www.femicideincanada.ca).   Her research examines responses to violence against women and children.

She is Co-Founder and Co-Director of the Canadian Domestic Homicide Prevention Initiative with Vulnerable Populations (www.cdhpi.ca) and a former Canada Research Chair in Public Policy in Criminal Justice (2008-2018). She has spent over two decades researching violence prevention with emphasis on violence against women, children, femicide and filicide.