Meet Our Speakers
For its 10th anniversary, the Symposium on Child and Youth Trauma returns to Montréal on May 12–13, 2027! This annual conference brings together professionals, researchers, and people with lived experience from across Canada and beyond, with a shared goal of improving how we understand and respond to trauma in children and youth.
Join us for two days of inspiring keynote presentations, engaging sessions, and meaningful opportunities to connect. Whether you work in mental health, child welfare, education, research, or community services, you'll gain fresh perspectives, practical insights, and new ideas to bring back to your work.
Attend in person at the Palais des congrès de Montréal or join us virtually and be part of the conversation shaping more trauma-informed practices and services.
Explore the program
The 2027 Symposium brings together renowned experts and leading voices in child and youth trauma to explore the complex realities of trauma and advance knowledge and practice.
This year's keynote speakers include Dr. Gabor Maté, internationally renowned for his work on trauma, who will explore how early experiences of loss and emotional disconnection shape development, health, and relationships; Dr. Cindy Blackstock, a leading advocate for the rights and well-being of First Nations children and families; and Nancy Audet, journalist, author, and founder of the ÉKIP Foundation, who will share an inspiring perspective on the power of connection, mutual support, and helping young people thrive.
Through concurrent sessions, the program will:
- Deepen understanding of how trauma shapes children's development, relationships, and well-being, including the effects of early adversity and intergenerational experiences.
- Explore approaches to healing and relational repair, from attachment-based interventions and parent–child relationships to supporting children and families facing complex circumstances.
- Examine the broader contexts of childhood trauma, including family violence, racial trauma, migration, and the policies and systems that influence children's lives.
- Bridge research and practice by exploring evidence-informed interventions, practical strategies, and the challenges of implementing trauma-informed approaches across clinical, educational, and child welfare settings.
Participants
For practitioners, policy makers, researchers and students working with children and anyone interested by the subject.
Translation
All presentations are simultaneously translated in English and French and all materials are available in both languages.
Recordings
Presentations are broadcasted live, with recordings available to participants for 3 months after the event.
Certificates
Certificate of attendance provided to all participants, recognized as CE credits by many orders.
Event Details
When
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