ABOUT THE Conference
Join us for the OCYA's Best Practices in Child Legal Representation Conference on June 9 and 10, 2026, at the River Cree Resort & Casino, proudly located on Treaty Six Territory in Enoch!
This year's Conference is being held in person only.
Recorded sessions will be available after the Conference ends.
Since 2011, the Office of Child and Youth Advocacy (OCYA) has hosted a biennial conference that fosters reflection, collaboration, and professional growth among those dedicated to child advocacy. The 2026 theme, “Promoting Excellence in Child Legal Representation: Elevating Standards, Empowering Voices,” highlights our commitment to empowering young people’s rights.
We invite lawyers, judges, social workers, educators, law students, and Indigenous partners to connect and share insights. Together, let’s amplify the voices of children and ensure their rights are upheld.
SPEAKERS
This year's speaker lineup will be announced as each speaker is confirmed. Look forward to hearing from passionate advocates who are committed to enhancing legal representation for children and youth. Don’t miss the opportunity to be inspired and informed by these impactful voices!
Cadmus Delorme
Justice Cheryl Arcand-Kootenay
Dr. Grant Bruno
Message from the Advocate
Welcome to the Best Practices in Child Legal Representation Conference!
As we mark the 20th anniversary of legal representation within the Office of the Child and Youth Advocate, we celebrate two decades of unwavering commitment to young people.
I am deeply proud of how we continue to stand up for children and youth, making sure their voices are heard, their rights are upheld, and that their perspectives meaningfully shape the decisions that impact their lives.
Thank you for joining us as we reflect, learn, and look forward to the next chapter of advocacy and excellence.
Terri Pelton
Child and Youth Advocate
Message from the OCYA Youth Council
Our youth council is made up of diverse young people from across Alberta who have lived experience with the child intervention or youth justice systems. They provide insight and feedback on our work and share their perspectives on issues affecting young people.
The council amplifies young people’s voices, helps increase our understanding of their lived experiences within systems, and leads positive change.
Their work strengthens our advocacy with and on behalf of young people.
LRCY at 20: Facts & Figures
LRCY established:
April 1, 2006
Locations Served:
All of Alberta
Young People Served:
over 37,000 so far
Roster Lawyers:
72
Land Acknowledgement
We are grateful for the opportunity to gather on Enoch Cree Nation, within Treaty 6 Territory. We respectfully acknowledge the Elders – past, present, and emerging – and the peoples who have cared for and lived on this land since time immemorial.
Alberta is the traditional and ancestral home of many First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples. Treaty 6 is home to the Nehiyaw (Cree), Denesuliné (Dene), Nakota Sioux (Stoney), Anishinaabe Saulteaux), Niitsitapi (Blackfoot), Îyâxe Nakoda (Stoney), and Tsuut’ina Nations, the Metis Settlements, the Métis Nation of Alberta, and the many Indigenous communities who continue to shape this region.
We honour their histories, cultures, and ongoing contributions. We recognize the privilege of being able to work, live, and gather on these lands, and we commit ourselves to learning from and supporting the Indigenous peoples whose ancestors have walked here for generations.
Event details
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