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ASSOCIATION OF JUSTICE AND TREATMENT PROFESSIONALS

Presents

Vulnerable Populations and Complex Needs Conference

Spring Edition - Virtual

May 2^nd – May 8^th, 2025

This conference brings together a diverse group of stakeholders from areas where justice, treatment and community intersect to address issues affecting individuals with complex needs and intersecting needs. This conference explores legal, policy, treatment and social issues facing vulnerable populations and persons with complex needs.

Planning Committee

Justice K. Barnes, Ontario Superior Court, Chair – Association of Justice and Treatment Professionals.

Chirayu Tiwari, BA Honors Candidate Ontario Tech University

Register via the additional info link below.

TOPICS: ALL TIMES ARE EASTERN

FRIDAY, May 2nd

Pre-conference Plenary

1.15 – 2.15 PM

Indigenous over-representation in the Criminal Justice System – Case law primer

MONDAY, May 5^th

Opening Remarks

11.50 – 12.00 PM

Plenary1:

12:00 PM – 1.00 PM

From substance use/abuse to DTC Program Coordinator – The Resilience of Human Spirit

Plenary 2:

1:05 PM - 2:05 PM

Metis Nation of Ontario Advocacy Program

Plenary 3:

2:15 PM – 3:15 PM

Seamless Pathways for Mental Health and Addictions Care: A Collaborative Model for Recovery at Lakeridge Health
TUESDAY, May 6^th

Plenary 4:

12:15 PM – 1.15 PM

Connecting the Dots for Individuals Living with Acquired Brain Injury and Complex Needs

Plenary 5:

1:20 PM - 2:20 PM

SocialRe-entryofBlackGayTransNon-binary&Same-GenderLovingPeople

Plenary 6:

2:30 PM - 3:30 PM

Supporting Justice-Involved Individuals with/Dual-Diagnosis on Community Supervision
WEDNESDAY, May 7^th

Plenary 7:

12:15 PM – 1.15 PM

ProposaltoImproveAccesstoCourtSupportServicesfor Justice-Involved Individuals in Bradford Courthouse

Plenary 8:

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Treatment Court Best Practices

Plenary 9:

2:30 PM - 3:30 PM

ComplexparticipantsinaDrugTreatmentCourt(DTC)–integratingtherapeuticand evaluative approaches.
THURSDAY, May 8th 

Plenary 10:

12:15 PM – 1.15 PM

The Sentencing of Fentanyl Traffickers with Addictions

Plenary11:

1:20 PM - 2:20 PM

Vulnerable Youth and the Criminal Justice System

Plenary12:

2:30 PM - 3:30 PM

Establishing a Public Trustee Program in York Region

DETAILED CONFERENCE AGENDA and SPEAKER BIOS:

PRE CONFERENCE PLENARY

Friday, May 2nd

1.15 – 2.15 PM

Indigenous over-representation in the Criminal Justice System – Case law primer.

 This panel will discuss important decisions in Canadian jurisprudence seeking to address the vexing problem of the overrepresentation of Indigenous persons in the criminal justice system.

Speaker: Peter Aadoson is a lawyer with the National Judicial Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Peter Aadoson has been counsel in the Digital Education department at the National Judicial Institute since 2017. He was called to the Ontario Bar in 2016, after clerking for the Superior Court of Justice (Ontario). He holds a B.A. (hons), an M.A. in English Literature, a J.D., and an L.L.M., all from the University of Ottawa. His L.L.M. research explored how plain language in judicial writing can enhance access to justice. Peter practiced as a family lawyer before joining the NJI and teaches courses on Legal Writing at the University of Ottawa. Outside of work, Peter enjoys reading and exploring Canada's national and provincial parks with his family.

Moderator: 

Abdul Gilzay, Ph.D. (Candidate), MSW, MA, BSW, B.Com, RSW
Addiction Service Counsellor, St. Joseph’s Health Centre

Abdul Gilzay is a Ph.D. candidate at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE), University of Toronto, with over 30 years of professional experience in social work and more than 16 years as an educator in higher education. He brings a deep commitment to working with marginalized populations, drawing on a wealth of experience across health, community, and academic settings. Abdul has over 16 years of experience in addiction services and currently serves as an Addiction Service Counsellor at St. Joseph’s Health Centre. Prior to this, he worked for more than 17 years with the City of Toronto’s Community and Social Services division.

As an educator, Abdul has taught social work and related courses at the University of Windsor, Toronto Metropolitan University, George Brown College, and Seneca College. His teaching is grounded in a strong commitment to social justice, community engagement, and critical pedagogy. Born in Afghanistan, Abdul brings a global and intersectional perspective to his work, shaped by his lived experiences and academic journey across continents.

Monday, May 5^th

OPENING REMARKS

11.50 – 12.00 PM

PLENARY 1:

12:00 PM – 1.00 PM

From substance use/abuse to Coordinator of a DTC Program Coordinator – The Resilience of Human Spirit

The coordinator of a Drug Treatment Court (DTC) shares her lived experience. This DTC practitioner describes how this justice and treatment partnership called DTC provided the structure and opportunity for her to transform from a person overcome by the ravages of substance abuse and addiction to a person who has overcome and reclaimed her precious life.

Speaker: Susan Sebulsky, Drug Treatment Court Coordinator, Therapeutic Courts, Ministry of Justice and Attorney General, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada

Born into a stable middle-class family, Susan was an adopted only child navigating the complexities of life with a mother who battled mental health challenges stemming from her own turbulent upbringing. Despite a seemingly ordinary childhood, the pull of substance abuse came early—by the age of 14, Susan had already begun experimenting with drugs and alcohol, leading to treatment at just 15 years old.

Rather than marking an end to addiction, this was only the beginning of a deeper struggle. Over the years, substance use escalated, spanning everything from cocaine and crack to ketamine, ecstasy, and methamphetamine. As addiction tightened its grip, so too did a cycle of crime—fraud, arrests, and associations with individuals well known to law enforcement.

At 17, Susan welcomed a daughter, Shaye, into the world, but the weight of addiction prevented them from providing the stable life she deserved. When Susan's parents took custody, hope flickered, yet addiction’s hold remained firm. At 12, Shaye returned to live with Susan, unknowingly stepping into a chaotic world of instability—hotel rooms, life on the run, and exposure to unpredictable environments. After five years of uncertainty, she was once again under the care of her grandparents.

As addiction persisted, so did the dangerous lifestyle—until everything came to a breaking point. At 34 years old she was arrested and incarcerated at Pine Grove Correctional, Susan also learned they were expecting another child. It was within those prison walls that the journey of redemption truly began. Determined to break free from addiction’s grip, Susan sought entry into drug court, taking the first vital steps toward a future of stability and responsibility. Cole was born 2 months after she was released from prison.

Through resilience, accountability, and a commitment to transformation, Susan reclaimed their life—emerging as not only a responsible citizen but an inspiring figure of hope and perseverance. Today, their journey stands as a testament to the power of second chances, proving that even in the darkest moments, redemption is possible. Today Susan draws on her lived experience to support individuals navigating addiction and incarceration.

A graduate of the Regina Drug Treatment Court, Susan’s journey from addiction to leadership is a testament to resilience, accountability, and transformation. Having once battled substance abuse, crime, and instability, she rebuilt her life through honesty, responsibility, and service. Over the years, she has worked extensively with at-risk youth, incarcerated individuals, and those seeking to exit gang life, offering mentorship and support to those committed to change.

In addition to her professional role, Susan is a passionate mentor, and advocate for recovery programs. She believes deeply in the power of second chances and works tirelessly to help others reclaim their lives. Her work in therapeutic courts allows her to pay forward the guidance she once received, ensuring that those in the justice system are met with compassion, resources, and a pathway to healing.

Drug Treatment Court Coordinator, Therapeutic Courts, Ministry of Justice and Attorney General, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada

Moderator: Judie Birns
Manager, Regina Drug Treatment Court.

PLENARY 2:

1:05 PM - 2:05 PM

Metis Nation of Ontario Advocacy Program

The panel will discuss:

• Indigenous over-representation in the criminal legal system
• Restorative Justice, Criminal Diversion, why these models are effective
• MNO Advocacy Program (i.e., Diversion)
• Current obstacles to the advancement of restorative justice initiatives

Speaker:
Maria Guiho has a Master of Arts in Social Justice and Equity Studies from Brock University (focusing on the impacts of Diversion programs on Indigenous peoples/communities), and a French Bachelor of Social Work with a certificate of Intervention with Women from Laurentian University. She is a Registered Social Worker with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers, and is currently working as a Métis Community Diversion Coordinator for region 7 at the MNO.

Conlin Delbaere-Sawchuk  is a proud Métis-Ukrainian originating from the Red River settlement, and a Métis Nation of Ontario Citizen. He holds a Bachelors in classical singing performance from the University of Ottawa and a Juris Doctor from the University of Toronto Faculty of Law. Conlin Articled at The Biking Lawyer LLP, a firm specializing in plaintiff-side civil litigation for injured cyclists, and was called to the Ontario Bar in June 2023. Conlin is a passionate advocate for Indigenous rights and social justice issues.

Moderator: Tafadzwa McConnell, 

Supervisor – Court Support, Legal and Court Services Department, Court and Tribunal Branch

PLENARY 3:

2:15 PM – 3:15 PM

Seamless Pathways for Mental Health and Addictions Care: A Collaborative Model for Recovery at Lakeridge Health
Lakeridge Health, one of Ontario’s largest providers of mental health and addictions services, has developed an integrated system of care that streamlines client access to essential services, ensuring individuals receive the right level of care at the right time. In collaboration with Durham Mental Health Services (DMHS), Pinewood Addiction Services, and community partners, we have created a model that supports seamless transitions across services, effectively meeting clients’ needs along their recovery journey.

Our approach includes the integration of DMHS services and the implementation of Central Connect, a single point of access for all services. This centralized system ensures clients are swiftly connected to the right services, enhancing their experience of care and improving outcomes.

Speakers :Mandi D. Burshaw  is  an Outpatient Program Manager DMHS Crisis at Lakeridge Health, Oshawa, Ontario Canada

Mandi started off her Mental Health and addictions career back in the 90’s with Canadian Mental Health Association, Peterborough as the ACTT case Manager.  Over the past 28 years, Mandi has spent most of her work in management – starting with Community Care Durham – where she managed the Mental Health program for all of Clarington along with Managing the PCSP (psychogeriatric community support program) partnered with Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences for the entire Durham region.

Mandi now works for Lakeridge Health – Durham Mental Health Services as the Crisis Services Manager for outpatient crisis.

Mandi is a strong advocate for Mental health and addictions clients along with a passion for the work she does.

Mandi believes in fostering healthy teams to ensure the most effective client care possible.

 Angela Buffett

I have been a registered nurse for over 25 years, working with vulnerable populations across the lifespan. I began my career at SickKids Hospital in the Burns, Plastics, and Urology department. In 2011, I obtained my Master of Nursing and pursued an education role at Lakeridge Health on the Integrated Stroke Unit.

Throughout my career, I have held various leadership and clinical roles. As a Clinical Practice Lead in Complex Continuing Care and Medical-Surgical units, I supported newly hired nursing staff and provided educational opportunities tailored to individual learning needs. My experience as a Geriatric Emergency Nurse deepened my understanding of community resources available to seniors striving to maintain independence at home.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, I had the opportunity to manage the inpatient COVID-19 vaccine team, ensuring access to vaccinations for hospitalized patients facing barriers to community-based care, including those within mental health and older adult populations.

For the past 18 months, I have served as the Manager of Pinewood Residential Withdrawal Management Services (RWMS), Pinewood Addiction Support Services (PASS), and Rapid Access Addiction Medicine (RAAM). This role has given me a deeper understanding of how substance use intersects with the social determinants of health and has reinforced my commitment to improving access to care for individuals facing addiction and mental health challenges.

Moderator : Dan Bolton

LSO licensed as a paralegal out of St. Thomas,  Co-chair of Local Justice Pillar.

Lived experience partner with AMHO, Mental Health Partners, Elgin Mental Health and Addictions Coalition, the Poverty Coalition, and the Ontario Health Team Elgin.

Founder of The Homeless Coalition of St. Thomas, now an incorporated not-for-profit.

Homeless from 15 to 23 on Yonge Street in Toronto.

8 years clean from alcohol and crack this time, and 31 years clean in total.

Peer support work for the last 8 years.

An active housing and harm reduction advocate.

He has been involved in many initiatives to save lives. 

PLENARY 4:

Tuesday, May 6^th

12:15 PM – 1.15 PM

Connecting the Dots for Individuals Living with Acquired Brain Injury and Complex Needs

Ontario is the only Province in Canada to utilize Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) System Navigators.  Supporting all geographic areas of Ontario, they serve as contacts for people with lived experience, caregivers, front line staff, physicians, researchers, policy makers and program developers.  Aside from their work in the field of brain injury, they connect with those involved in the field of mental health, addictions, justice, homelessness, and intimate partner violence, at a regional, provincial and national level.  ABI Navigators not only share education and resources, they also act as a ‘middle-person’ helping to bring key contacts to discussions in an effort to address gaps and barriers, and are strong advocates for the needs of those living with ABI.  Yet despite the diversity of their work, many are not familiar with the role or the work our provincial ABI Navigators do,

This session will introduce you to the many areas of impact where Navigators across the Province have made a difference.  Participants will be provided with practical ways they can be a part of the larger process and will leave with a better understanding of who their local ABI Navigator is, the work they are involved in and how to become a part of it, and how ABI Navigators can be a conduit to connect and promote the work you do.

Participants will learn about the intersection between brain injury and other co-morbidities such as addictions, mental health, justice, domestic violence, and homelessness. 

They will be introduced to THE CENTRAL LINK ABI Resource Library, a holistic resource that considers these co-occurring factors, and will learn how this resource can be a beneficial tool when working with individuals who have history of known or suspected brain injury.  An introduction to some of the resources available within the library will be explored, to help providers learn of ways they can adapt their services to better serve brain injury survivors in an effort to achieve more positive outcomes.

Speakers:  Cathy Halovanic, M.Sc., Central Acquired Brain Inury System Navigator

Cathy Halovanic is the Acquired Brain Injury System Navigator for the Central Region of Ontario and provides Intake Services to Community Head Injury Resource Services (CHIRS) in Toronto. She has worked in the field of brain injury since 1995 and has experience on the front-lines as well as behind the scenes. She provides education on brain injury to various front-line workers who work in addictions, mental health and justice, and supports caregivers and health-care workers assisting those with lived experience, to find appropriate resources. In addition, she is involved in a number of Provincial Committees looking to improve the opportunities for individuals who have sustained a brain injury on both an individual and system level.

Connie Coburn, RN, BScN, Certified Life Care Planner (Canada), Champlain Acquired Brain Injury System Navigator

Connie Coburn is a Registered Nurse who has focused her practice in Acquired Brian Injury (ABI). With a background as a case manager for catastrophic injuries, Connie has transitioned into the role of System Navigator for Acquired Brain Injury with Ontario Health at Home in the Champlain region. In this capacity, Connie passionately advocates for individuals affected by ABI, aiming to enhance their quality of life through education and support, serving as a resource for navigating the complexities of ABI, offering guidance with complex case management and identifying systemic gaps and barriers.

Connie is committed to raising awareness about ABI, empowering patients, caregivers, healthcare professionals and community partners with the knowledge and tools to navigate the challenges associated with ABI effectively.

Moderator: Tafadzwa McConnell, 

Supervisor – Court Support, Legal and Court Services Department, Court and Tribunal Branch

PLENARY 5:

1:20 PM - 2:20 PM

Social Re-entry of  Black Gay Trans Non-binary & Same-Gender Loving People

Recidivism is a significant problem for those leaving federal prisons in Canada. About a quarter of people leaving federal prisons re-offend within two years. Community re-entry fails evenbeforeincarceratedpersonsleaveprison.ThisisexacerbatedforBlacksamegenderloving, gay, trans, gender diverse, nonbinary, and bisexual adults incarcerated in Canadian jails and prisons. Incarceration-related disruption of social ties can affect all forms of social re-entry. This the first project in Canada to investigate the re-entry experiences of Former Federally Incarcerated (FFI) Black Gay Bisexual Transgender Queer Men (BGBTQM), Black Men Who Have Sex with Men (BMSM) and Black Same-Gender Loving Men (BSGLM) into their respective communities.

Speaker: Dr. Wesley Crichlow, PHD, is a professor and scholar activist whose work dovetails at the intersections of Critical Race Theory, Intersectionality, Theories of Enslavism, Understanding the Structural Scourges of anti-Blackness, Decolonizing Black Freedom, Trans and Black Same- Gender Love.

Moderator: Tafadzwa McConnell, 

Supervisor – Court Support, Legal and Court Services Department, Court and Tribunal Branch

PLENARY 6:

2:30 PM - 3:30 PM

Supporting Justice-Involved Individuals with/Dual-Diagnosis on Community Supervision

This session will discuss innovated ways in which community supervision can be adjusted for justice involved clients with dual diagnosis to increase success rates and reduce recidivism; challenges in supporting this clientele from the perspective of a Probation and Parole Officer; discuss unique challenges and systemic factors faced by justice involved clients with dual diagnosis; provide an overview of the overrepresentation within Ontario’s justice system, and worldwide, of people with developmental disabilities

Speaker: Brittany Botelho is a Probation and Parole Officer in Cambridge, Ontario.
Brittany Botelho is a Probation and Parole Officer in Cambridge, Ontario for 13 years. She has an  Honours Bachelor of Arts Degree in Legal Studies and Sociology from the University of Waterloo. Prior to her career in Corrections,  she worked as a support worker for a young adult diagnosed with a global developmental disability. In addition, she  worked at Community Living Cambridge, which is an organization that supports adults with developmental disabilities, as well as coached the Cambridge Special Olympics Basketball Team.

Moderator : Dan Bolton

LSO licensed as a paralegal out of St. Thomas,  Co-chair of Local Justice Pillar.

Lived experience partner with AMHO, Mental Health Partners, Elgin Mental Health and Addictions Coalition, the Poverty Coalition, and the Ontario Health Team Elgin.

Founder of The Homeless Coalition of St. Thomas, now an incorporated not-for-profit.

Homeless from 15 to 23 on Yonge Street in Toronto.

8 years clean from alcohol and crack this time, and 31 years clean in total.

Peer support work for the last 8 years.

An active housing and harm reduction advocate.

He has been involved in many initiatives to save lives. 

Wednesday, May 7^th

PLENARY 7:

12:15 PM – 1.15 PM

Proposal to Improve Access to Court Support Services for Justice-Involved Individuals in Bradford Courthouse

This session will explore the barriers that justice-involved individuals in South Simcoe face in accessing court support services and propose innovative, practical solutions to bridge these gaps. The presentation will highlight challenges such as lack of transportation, limited awareness of available services, and language barriers, particularly among marginalizedpopulations.Participantswillgaininsightintosystemiclimitationsand evidence-based interventions, including enhanced courthouse outreach, transportation assistance, and multilingual support services. The discussion will emphasize the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration between legal, treatment, and community stakeholders to ensure equitable access to justice.

Jalal Mortazavi, RP, MA, IMG – Clinical Supervisor, ASCO (Expertise in mental health and addiction support).

Silvia Araica, MSW–Court Support Case Manager, ASCO (Experience in legal advocacy and case management).

Moderator: 

Abdul Gilzay, Ph.D. (Candidate), MSW, MA, BSW, B.Com, RSW
Addiction Service Counsellor, St. Joseph’s Health Centre

Abdul Gilzay is a Ph.D. candidate at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE), University of Toronto, with over 30 years of professional experience in social work and more than 16 years as an educator in higher education. He brings a deep commitment to working with marginalized populations, drawing on a wealth of experience across health, community, and academic settings. Abdul has over 16 years of experience in addiction services and currently serves as an Addiction Service Counsellor at St. Joseph’s Health Centre. Prior to this, he worked for more than 17 years with the City of Toronto’s Community and Social Services division.

As an educator, Abdul has taught social work and related courses at the University of Windsor, Toronto Metropolitan University, George Brown College, and Seneca College. His teaching is grounded in a strong commitment to social justice, community engagement, and critical pedagogy. Born in Afghanistan, Abdul brings a global and intersectional perspective to his work, shaped by his lived experiences and academic journey across continents.

PLENARY 8:

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Treatment Court Best Practices

Treatment Courts are courts characterized by various degrees of integration of legal case processing with rehabilitative efforts aimed at combating various determinants of criminal behavior, and individual and societal dysfunction. This presentation shall discuss some of the best practices of Treatment Courts.

Kendal Friend

Senior Management Consultant, National Centre for State Courts, Williamsburg, Virginia, United States
Kendall Friend, MA, MPA, is a Senior Court Management Consultant in the Court Consulting Division. Since joining the NCSC in 2024 her project work has focused on Adult Treatment Court state-based technical assistance and outcome evaluation. She earned a Masters in Criminal Justice from Slippery Rock University of PA, a Masters in Public Administration from Murray State University, a Grant Writing Certification from Temple University, and a Bachelors in Criminal Justice and Psychology from Lycoming College. Prior to NCSC, Kendall was a Project Director at All Rise for five years where she managed the state conference planning project and served as a subject matter expert in Adult Treatment Court standards and community supervision. She began her career in treatment courts in 2014 as an adult probation officer at Fayette County Court of Common Pleas in Uniontown, Pennsylvania, where she had the opportunity to supervise veterans court and mental health court intermediate punishment participants. She transitioned to a position as the court coordinator of Fayette County’s mental health court and veteran’s court. In that role, she worked with community partners to implement Fayette County’s adult drug court. In 2018, she became the court coordinator for Pierce County District Court’s adult drug court and veterans’ treatment court programs in Tacoma, Washington, where she helped the treatment court team implement a veterans treatment court. 

PLENARY 9:

2:30 PM - 3:30 PM

Complex participants in a DrugTreatmentCourt(DTC)–integrating therapeutic and evaluative approaches.

ThepresenterswillidentifythecomplexneedsthatDTCparticipantspresentwithalong with the barriers to engagement and success that can be created by these needs. The sessionwilldescribetherapeuticinterventionsandstrategiestoeffectivelysupportpeople with complex needs and how data can contribute to understanding those needs to inform good practice. Examples of both successful and challenging outcomes will be shared.

Irene Hoffart ,MSW,RSW, Director Synergy Research Group

Synergy Research Group(SRG)is a distinguished consulting practice, with expertise and knowledge in addressing the contemporary challenges faced by the non-profit sector.

Establishedin1992,SRGworkspansawidespectrumofnon-profit,government,and

fundingorganizationswithinCalgaryandthroughoutAlberta,providingrobustsupportto a diverse array of client groups.

Irene is adept in developing and implementing action-based, participatory, and developmentalresearchmethodologies.Sheblendstheseapproacheswithtraditional researchtechniques,tailoringherstrategiestomeettheuniquerequirementsofeach project and its stakeholders.

Irene'soverarchingfocusisoncultivatinglearningorganizationsthatembodyashared vision, systems thinking, team learning, and the attainment of both individual and organizationalgoals.Sheemphasizestheimportanceofintegratingagencyinformation gathering through common tools, methodologies, and reporting practices, thereby

enhancing organizational effectiveness and coherence.

IrenehasbeenprovidingevaluationandresearchsupporttotheCalgaryDrugTreatment Court Since its inception in 2007, helping shape the program's impact, growth and development.

Teresa Winfield, MSW, RCSW

TeresaistheclinicalleadwiththeCalgaryDrugTreatmentCourtprogram.Herworkasa

therapistspansovertwodecadesofexperiencewithdiverseages,cultures,andexperiences of clients who have complex mental health and substance abuse issues. She has worked in individual and group formats unfolding interventions to support them to move forward, using their skill base as a foundation. All of these clients have the experience of trauma in common, though its impact is unique to each individual. Her focus is on taking a

collaborativeteamapproachtocreatingindividualizedcaseconceptualizationsforeachof the participants in CDTC using relevant information from the evidence base, drawing on key community partnerships, and finding creative ways to address complex problems.

While both behavioral and therapeutic interventions are key to individual treatment planning,theymustbeappliedwithconsiderationforthewholepersonandtheirunique story.

Thursday, May 8th 

PLENARY 10:

12:15 PM – 1.15 PM

The Sentencing of Fentanyl Traffickers with Addictions

The session about “The Sentencing of Fentanyl Traffickers with Addictions” will be delivered by Ania Staniszewski, a student completing her final year at Osgoode Hall Law School. This session will discuss how it is unjustified to impose lengthy custodial sentences for individuals who engaged in low-level fentanyl trafficking to sustain their addictions. First, the session will explore the ineffectiveness of these sentences in deterring fentanyl offences. Second, the session will examine how these sentences will not reduce recidivism. Third, the session will delve into how these sentences stray from the necessary individualized approach to sentencing, due to the absence of a meaningful analysis of the influence of addiction and the minimal weight given to rehabilitative efforts. Finally, the session will explore how these sentencing practices violate the principle of restraint and how conditional sentences may be appropriate for individuals who trafficked fentanyl to sustain their addictions.

Speaker: Ania Staniszewiki, JD Candidate, Osgoode Hall Law School, York University, Toronto, Ontario

Ania is a law student who just completed her final year at Osgoode Hall Law School. During her time at law school, she actively pursued criminal law. She was a Dean's Fellow in Criminal Law and an executive member of Osgoode's Criminal Law Society. She participated in the Osgoode Criminal Law Intensive Program through which she completed a placement with the judiciary at the Superior Court of Justice in Brampton. Ania spent her second-year summer at the provincial Crown, where she will return for articling. During her studies, she took a keen interest in sentencing for drug offences, about which she wrote various papers.

Moderator: Marie Dufort

Marie Dufort was called to the Bar in 1999 (Quebec, 2002 (Ontario), after having clerked for the Quebec Court of Appeal. She then joined the Federal Prosecution Service of the Department of Justice – Canada as Special advisor to the Assistant Deputy Attorney General – Criminal Law, where she also worked as Counsel for the Internal Assistance Group (Extradition Unit) before joining the Ontario Crown Attorney’s Office (Haileybury) in 2003. Since 2005, she has worked as an Assistant Crown Attorney with the Ottawa Crown Attorney’s Office where she has dealt with various types of cases. For the last five years, she has been the Regional Mental Health Crown, and working in the Ottawa Mental Health and Drug Treatment Courts, and Crown coordinator for the Ontario Review Board in Ottawa and is a Director of the Crown Mental Health and the Law Course. Marie has lectured on various topics in Criminal and Mental Health Law.

PLENARY 11:

1:20 PM - 2:20 PM

Vulnerable Youth and the Criminal Justice System

This session will discuss components of the Youth Criminal Justice System in the context of a discussion of why a separate system has been established for young persons
.

Speaker: Honourable Mr. Justice Brock Jones, Judge of the Ontario Court of Justice, Toronto, Ontario
Justice Brock Jones was appointed a judge of the Ontario Court of Justice on December 30, 2021. Prior to his appointment, Justice Jones was an Assistant Crown Attorney in the Scarborough Crown Attorney’s office. From 2012-2018 he was also an adjunct professor at the Faculty of Law, University of Toronto, where he taught a course on the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

He is a co-author of Prosecuting and Defending Youth Criminal Justice Cases, and Modern Criminal Evidence, from Emond Publishing.

In 2016, he won the Ontario Bar Association's Heather McArthur Memorial Young Lawyers’ Award. In 2020 he won the Ontario Bar Association’s Award for Excellence in Criminal Justice.

Moderator: Marie Dufort

Marie Dufort was called to the Bar in 1999 (Quebec, 2002 (Ontario), after having clerked for the Quebec Court of Appeal. She then joined the Federal Prosecution Service of the Department of Justice – Canada as Special advisor to the Assistant Deputy Attorney General – Criminal Law, where she also worked as Counsel for the Internal Assistance Group (Extradition Unit) before joining the Ontario Crown Attorney’s Office (Haileybury) in 2003. Since 2005, she has worked as an Assistant Crown Attorney with the Ottawa Crown Attorney’s Office where she has dealt with various types of cases. For the last five years, she has been the Regional Mental Health Crown, and working in the Ottawa Mental Health and Drug Treatment Courts, and Crown coordinator for the Ontario Review Board in Ottawa and is a Director of the Crown Mental Health and the Law Course. Marie has lectured on various topics in Criminal and Mental Health Law.

PLENARY 12:

2:30 PM - 3:30 PM

Establishing a Public Trustee Program in York Region

York Region lacks a dedicated public trustee program, unlike Toronto, where a system of trustee vendors is in place. This absence leaves vulnerable populations without essential services to manage their financial and legal affairs. Vulnerable groups, including seniors, youth receiving Ontario Works (OW), individuals facing mental health and addiction issues, those exiting homelessness, and individuals in rental arrears at risk of eviction, could benefit from such a program.

A public trustee program would protect assets for individuals at risk of exploitation or mismanagement, addressing gaps in services currently offered by family members or overburdened community organizations. This program would ensure financial security and legal support for those unable to manage their affairs independently, reducing the risk of homelessness, financial instability, and legal complications. By providing oversight, financial planning, and direct intervention, when necessary, this program would enhance economic stability and social well-being across the region.

This session will highlight the impact of financial mismanagement on housing stability and legal outcomes, outline best practices from existing trustee programs, and propose a scalable model for York Region. Additionally, it will underscore the long-term cost savings and increased efficiencies that such a program would provide to the social services sector, legal system, and healthcare infrastructure in York Region.

Jalal Mortazavi, RP, MA, IMG – Clinical Supervisor, ASCO (Expertise in mental health, addiction support, and housing-first initiatives).

Michelle Calleja, BSc (Hons), RSSW – Case Manager, Housing First ASCO (Experience in eviction prevention and financial planning for vulnerable populations).

Moderator: Marie Dufort

Marie Dufort was called to the Bar in 1999 (Quebec, 2002 (Ontario), after having clerked for the Quebec Court of Appeal. She then joined the Federal Prosecution Service of the Department of Justice – Canada as Special advisor to the Assistant Deputy Attorney General – Criminal Law, where she also worked as Counsel for the Internal Assistance Group (Extradition Unit) before joining the Ontario Crown Attorney’s Office (Haileybury) in 2003. Since 2005, she has worked as an Assistant Crown Attorney with the Ottawa Crown Attorney’s Office where she has dealt with various types of cases. For the last five years, she has been the Regional Mental Health Crown, and working in the Ottawa Mental Health and Drug Treatment Courts, and Crown coordinator for the Ontario Review Board in Ottawa and is a Director of the Crown Mental Health and the Law Course. Marie has lectured on various topics in Criminal and Mental Health Law.

 

3:30 PM

CONCLUSION
Register via the additional info link below.