After careful consideration of the current state of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, we have once again made the decision to postpone the conference rescheduled for September to June 2-4, 2021.  The health and safety of all our attendees and speakers is of the upmost importance.  This is uncharted territory and we want to proceed with an event that people can feel secure in booking and attending.

We are in the processing of confirming our program for the new dates, and will release updated schedules and information as it becomes available.

Our national conference is designed for healthcare professionals, caregivers, and individuals living with acquired brain injury. Join us for pre-conference workshops and learn from dynamic speakers from across Canada. 

New : Conference workshops

Wednesday, June 2, 2021

This year, we've added something new to our conference - workshops run by some of our speakers! These workshops will take place at the Ottawa Conference and Events centre and cover a wide range of topics.

Update: Due to the rescheduling of the conference for June 2021, we are in the process of confirming the workshop schedule. Information will be updated as it becomes available.

8:30 – 10 am | Constructing and Re-Constructing an Identity Following Brain Injury: Becoming the Me I Want to Be

Workshop administrator: Tim Feeney, Ph.D., Chief Knowledge Officer, Belevedere Health Services

10:30 – 12 pm | When Love Hurts: Understanding traumatic brain injury in intimate partner violence

Workshop administrators: Dr. Paul van Donkelaar & Karen Mason

1 – 2 pm | Traumatic brain injury: sex and gender implications for clinicians, patients, and their significant others

Workshop administrators: Dr. Tatyana Mollayeva & Sara Hanafy, Ph.D student

2:30 – 4 pm | LoveYourBrain: Experience the benefits of Yoga & Meditation, without leaving your chair

Workshop administrator: Kate Durie, Ottawa instructor for the LoveYourBrain Yoga program at PranaShanti Yoga Centre, brain injury survivor

Full workshop descriptions

Conference Schedule

Navigating the trends of brain injury

Thursday, June 3, 2021, 8am - 4pm

Update: Due to the rescheduling of the conference for June 2021, we are in the process of confirming the presenter schedule. Information will be updated as it becomes available.

8:00am | Registration

8:30 - 8:45am | Opening Remarks

8:45 - 9:30am | We All Belong to Each Other: Rehabilitation as a Social Imperative

Tim Feeney, Ph.D., Chief Knowledge Officer Belvedere Health Services Albany, NY The Mill School Essex Junction, VT

9:30 - 10:15am | Bridging Between Obstacles:  Surviving the ABI Journey from Acute to Community Care

Judith Johnston, brain injury survivor and;Shanda Hunter-Trottier,  B.A., M.S., CCC-SLP, Reg. CASLPO - Director and Founder of S.L. Hunter SpeechWorks.

10:15 - 10:45am | Break and visit exhibit tables

10:45 - 11:30am | Objective Assessment and Monitoring of Cognitive Function in Coma,  Vegetative State, and Concussion: Assisting Healthcare from Hospital to Home

John Connolly, PhD. Professor, Department of Linguistics and Languages, McMaster University,  Co-Director, Language, Memory and Brain Lab, McMaster University.

11:30 - 12:15pm | New Normal: What does it mean to recover?

Ovey Yeung - brain injury survivor

12:15 - 1:15pm | Lunch and visit exhibit tables

1:15 - 2:00pm | Moving Ahead. Exploring Incidence, Consequences, and Supports for Women Survivors of Traumatic Brain Injury in Intimate Partner Violence

Paul van Donkelaar, Ph.D. -  Co-founder and Principal Investigator for SOAR (Supporting Survivors of Abuse and Brain Injury through Research), and;Karen Mason - Co-founder for SOAR (Supporting Survivors of Abuse and Brain Injury through Research)

2:00 - 2:45 | Sex and gender implications for clinicians attending to patients with traumatic brain injury

Tatyana Mollayeva, MD, RPSGT, RST, PhD - Postdoctoral research fellow (Occupational Sciences and Occupational Therapy), University of Toronto, and;Sara Hanafy, PhD Candidate, University of Toronto

2:45 - 3:15pm | Break and visit exhibitor tables

3:15 - 4:00pm | Cannabis and brain injury: help or harm?

Dr Mark A. Ware MBBS MSc; Chief Medical Officer, Canopy Growth Corporation; and Associate Professor of Family Medicine and Anesthesia, McGill University

4:00 - 4:45pm | Building bridges and enhancing capacity: Improving client outcomes through collaborative programming between community rehabilitation and acute hospital settings

Presenters: Stacie Dertinger M.ADS, BCBA and Jane Savage MSW RSW, Head Injury Rehabilitation Ontario

Healthy brain and well-being

Friday, June 4, 2021, 8am - 1pm

Update: Due to the rescheduling of the conference for June 2021, we are in the process of confirming the workshop and presenter schedule. Information will be updated as it becomes available.

8:00am | Registration

8:30 - 8:45am | Opening remarks

8:45 - 9:15am | Challenging your limits

Shanda Hill, Ultra-athlete and brain injury survivor

9:15 - 9:55am | How nutrition can positively impact cognition, depression and anxiety following a TBI

Kylie James, B.Sc. (OT), CNP, RNCP

9:55 - 10:20am | Break and visit exhibitor tables

10:20 - 11:00am | Quieting the Mind: Natural Brain-Changing Treatments for Anxiety, Trauma and Sleep

Tom Diamond, PhD, Certified Neurofeedback Specialist, Registered Clinical Counsellor

11:00 - 11:40am | Discovering Day-to-Day Living Following a TBI

Pauline Hoffman, Certified Professional Organizer, Cleaning Specialist

11:40 - 12:05pm | Break and visit exhibitor tables

12:05 - 12:45pm | Yoga and meditation for brain injury: evidence, innovations, and ways forward

Shilo Zeller, RYT-200, Love Your Brain

Thank you to our sponsors

Platinum level

Gold level

Silver level

Lunch sponsor

Snack sponsor

Exhibitors

Accessible Design GroupAllevio Pain Management ClinicAnchor Rehabilitation Support Services Inc.Brain Injury Association of the Ottawa ValleyBridgepoint Financial ServicesBroadview Spine and Health CentreeyeDOCSFleming FitnessFunctionAbility Rehabilitation ServicesHelius Medical Technologies IncIris Technological DesignMcNally Gervan Personal Injury and Insurance LawyersMG Law Personal Injury LawyersLifeMark PhysiotherapyOntario Brain Injury AssociationOpticalm Visual Stress SolutionsRehab FirstSwanson & AssociatesVista Centre Brain Injury ServicesVoxNeuro, Inc.

This conference is supported in part by: