Annual Lecture and Dialogue Series

The Lecture and Dialogue Series began in the Fall of 2008 in partnership with the Department of Criminology at Douglas College and the Correctional Service of Canada (New Westminster Community Corrections).

A committee comprised of representatives of the School of Criminology, the Correctional Service of Canada, and the Department of Criminology at Douglas College choose forum topics based on their relevance, popularity, and significance for the field of corrections, particularly community corrections.

These events are free and open to anyone interested, with each three-hour session consisting of a keynote lecture followed by responses from distinguished panelists leading to an open dialogue with audience members. The events are usually held at Douglas College in New Westminster for easy access to transit, including Skytrain. They have consistently drawn large crowds, with audiences regularly exceeding 150 people.

Past events have focused on topics such as restorative practices in parole, public confidence in the justice system, mental health and corrections, and circles of support and accountability for sex offenders.

PAST LECTURES AND DIALOGUE SERIES

2013-2014 Series

October 2013 – Key Issues in Social and Justice Policy and Practice - Smart Justice Roundtable in Vancouver
November 2013 – Third Annual Liz Elliott Memorial Lecture: A New Way Forward in Correctional – Keynote Speaker: Karen Joseph, Executive Director, Reconciliation Canada

2012-2013 Series

November 2012 – Second Annual Liz Elliott Memorial Lecture and Dialogue – Restorative Punishment: Reconciling Restorative Justice with Imprisonment – Keynote Speaker: Theo Gavrielides, Independent Academic Research Studies, London, England
January 2013 – Key Issues for Aboriginal Corrections – Keynote Speaker: Howard Sapers, Correctional Investigator for Canada
March 2023 – Gangs & Gangs Members: Issues and Challenges for the Correctional System – Keynote speaker: Hugo Soss, Psychologist, Correctional Services of Canada Mission Institute

2011-2012 Series

November 2011 – First Annual Liz Elliott Memorial Lecture and Dialogue: The Call of Restorative Justice: Tapping, Focusing And Sustaining The Moral Energy – Keynote speaker: Howard Zehr.
January 2012 – Segregation, Prison Overcrowding and the Challenges for Corrections – Keynote Speaker: Howard Sapers, Correctional Investigator for Canada.
March 2012 – FASD: Best Practices in Corrections – CSC Panel.

2010-2011 Series

October 2010 – Women in Corrections: New Directions – Keynote speaker: Kelly Hannah-Moffatt, Professor of Sociology, University of Toronto.
November 2010 – Restorative Justice: Reflections of the Past, Present and Future – Keynote speaker: Rev. Dr. Pierre Allard, Formerly Assistant Commissioner, Community Engagement, Correctional Service of Canada
January 2011 – Addictions and Corrections – Keynote speaker: Dr. Gabor Mate, author of “In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts”
March 2011 – Population Aging and the Challenges for Corrections – Keynote speaker: Howard Sapers, Correctional Investigator for Canada.

2009-2010 Series

June 2010: Awkward Conversations on the Contested Community – Keynote speaker: Harry Mika, Central Michigan University. Honorary professor, School of Law, Queens University Belfast

School of Criminology