Gall Conference 2013

Gall Conference 2013: The State of Economic Rights in Canada

What is the Gall Conference?
In memory of the late Gerald L. Gall, O.C., one of the founding fathers of the John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Human Rights, the Gall Conference provides a forum for critical debate and discussion on the state of human rights in Canada with a focus on issues prevalent Alberta.

The Conference is a full day format held on International Human Right Day (December 10th) with an additional half day (December 11th) for those committed to engaging in constructive dialogue and strategy development. This year's Gall Conference will begin at 9am (registration at 8am) in the Maple Leaf Room, Lister Centre (11604 87 Avenue). 

What makes the Gall Conference unique?
The Gall Conference brings together a diverse group of people who are working on the ground, including academia, bureaucrats, elected officials and youth, to reflect and discuss human rights issues that concern them and establish possibilities for collaborative change.

What is the theme of the Gall Conference 2013?
This year’s theme is the state of economic rights in Alberta. We will challenge our perceptions on poverty, homelessness, economic development and employment while looking at the specific experiences of persons living with disabilities, Aboriginal Peoples, newcomers, youth and much more.

This year’s Conference highlights include:

Morning Keynote
Edgar Schmidt, retired General Counsel from the Department of Justice Canada

Edgar will discuss the claim he has brought to the Federal Court of Canada, which asks the Court to clarify the duties of the Minister and Deputy Minister of Justice to vet proposed legislation for conformity with the Charter.

Afternoon Keynote
Jim Gurnett, local poverty advocate

Jim will speak about the past and present day realities in relation to economic rights. Mr. Gurnett will draw on his diverse and rich experience as a past Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, Executive Director of the Edmonton Mennonite Centre for Newcomers (2001-2009), and as an important poverty advocate in Edmonton and abroad for over twenty years.

Evening Keynote
Howard Sapers, Correctional Investigator of Canada and former MLA for Edmonton-Glenora

As Canada's Ombudsperson to our Federal Corrections system, Howard will discuss who is in Canada's penitentiaries and some of the prominent issues in our federal system related to Aboriginal Peoples, women and mental health.

Panels and Discussions
Working the Margins: Edmonton Poverty Elimination Initiative
The Right to Work: Employment for Persons Living with a Disability
The Kids aren’t Alright: The Realities and Challenges of Child Poverty
Today’s Misnomer: Equal Access to Justice?

How to register: Registration is available here: http://www.gallconference.eventzilla.net 

View the working program here.

Gall Conference location: Maple Leaf Room, Lister Centre- University of Alberta (11604 87 Avenue)

Human Rights Awards location: Timms Centre, University of Alberta (87 Avenue 112 St NW)

The John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Human Rights would like to thank the City of Edmonton and the University of Alberta's Office of Safe Disclosure and Human Rights as our supporters for this year's Gall Conference. We would also like the thank the Bank of Montreal as a silver level sponsor of the Gall Conference.

For any inquires about the Gall Conference or registration, please contact info@jhcentre.org