About:
As we convene for the 9th annual Cracks in the Concrete conference, themed "A Celebration of Community Wellness”, we are presented with a unique opportunity to engage in collaboration, creativity, and curiosity. Over the course of the weekend, we will delve into a diverse array of topics, from surviving addictions to navigating challenges with accessing over-the-counter medication. Through interactive workshops, thought-provoking discussions, and networking opportunities, we aim to spark interest in under-researched areas, strengthen research and education networks, and foster inclusive dialogue within our communities. Together, we hope to ignite a collective movement towards holistic wellness, empowering each other to thrive physically, mentally, and emotionally.
Our lineup of speakers, comprised of individuals with lived experiences and expertise in various fields, will offer invaluable insights and perspectives. From personal journeys of resilience to innovative approaches to wellness, each session promises to inspire and empower attendees to prioritize their physical, mental, and emotional well-being.
Sponsors:
Conference Highlights
Speakers
Michelle Good
Michelle Good is a Cree writer and a member of the Red Pheasant Cree Nation in Saskatchewan. After working for Indigenous organizations for twenty-five years, she obtained a law degree and advocated for residential school survivors for over fourteen years. Good earned a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing at the University of British Columbia while still practising law and managing her own law firm. Her poems, short stories, and essays have been published in magazines and anthologies across Canada, and her poetry was included on two lists of the best Canadian poetry in 2016 and 2017. Five Little Indians, her first novel, won the HarperCollins/UBC Best New Fiction Prize, the Amazon First Novel Award, the Governor General’s Literary Award the Rakuten Kobo Emerging Writer Award, the Evergreen Award, the City of Vancouver Book of the Year Award, and Canada Reads 2022. It was also longlisted for the Scotiabank Giller Prize and a finalist for the Writer’s Trust Award, the Ethel Wilson Fiction Prize and the Jim Deva Prize for Writing that Provokes. On October 7, 2022 Simon Fraser University granted her an Honorary Doctor of Letters. Her new work, Truth Telling: Seven Conversations about Indigenous life in Canada was released May 30, 2023, was a number one bestseller the next day and on October 4 2023 was a finalist for the Writers Trust Balsillie Prize for Public Policy.
Tiffany Joseph
ŚW̱,XELOSELWET (Tiffany Joseph)–meaning “Camera Lady” in SENĆOŦEN–is a trained filmmaker, an experienced environmental steward and advocate, a SENĆOŦEN language learner, a writer, a teacher, and an astrologer. The history of W̱SÁNEĆ people’s self-advocacy has inspired her to learn and practice the W̱SÁNEĆ ways of life her elders and ancestors fought for her, while also doing whatever she can to provide those same opportunities to her children and future W̱SÁNEĆ generations.
Rose Henry
Rose Henry is originally from Tla’amin Nation. She is a residential school survivor, and her family has resided in Victoria for the past 34 years. Eight months in Saanich and thirty-two years between North Park, Quadra Village, Cook Street Village and Fernwood.She has spent her time here attending school and helping build a better community by contributing to participating at round table discussions and getting involved with multiple board of directors for public community service agencies like Together Against Poverty, The Victoria Native Friendship Centre, Vancouver Island Human Rights Coalition and the Capital Region Race Relations.
Joni Oldhoff
Joni is an Indigenous woman of Michel Callihoo Nation, Cree, and Haudenosaunee. She is an Early Childhood Educator with over a decade of experience. She is also the Founder and Administrator for Gentle and Connected Parenting of Victoria BC and a Full Spectrum Advocate. Dedicated to decolonizing learning spaces and creating accountability in the education sector, Joni has advocated for children and families throughout her career. She is passionate about creating bridges for marginalized families within our communities as well as addressing systemic racism in early learning.
Joni is deeply invested in Indigenous kinship and sees the well-being of families as the cornerstone to cultural revitalization and Indigenous sovereignty
Souie Gorup
Souie is Mi’kmaq from Cape Breton Island and has been living on the traditional lands of the Coast Salish peoples for approximately 20 years.
Souie is a Geographer having studied at McGill University and is certified in Conflict Resolution from the Justice Institute of BC. She has a broad range of experience working in community with Inuit in the Eastern Arctic and First Nations communities, Parks Canada and more recently with the Provincial Government’s Ministry of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation. Souie has volunteered with several different boards including Indigenous Tourism BC and the North West Indigenous Council, a voice for off-reserve Indigenous peoples. She is passionate about building relationships and giving her time to Elders and youth.
Souie was part of the 60’s Scoop and found her Mi’kmaw family. She is learning her traditional, cultural and ceremonial practices and is a women’s helper in the lodge. Souie’s daughter Woolode died in April 2022 by toxic drug poisoning and as a parent has lots of experience in the failing health and justice systems. She is a strong advocate for people at risk.
Didier Vincent
Raphael (Didier) Vincent from Port-Au Prince Haiti, grew up as the middle child in a family of five brothers. The family left Haiti when he was at the age of 10, arriving in Victoria in the spring of 2008. Growing up, Raphael was inspired by his father, Alain Vincent, a hard working pharmacist and business owner who would paint during his downtime. Didier works for his family’s non-profit organization “The Daily Dose Society”. The main focus of the organization is to lessen the impact of the overdose crisis by collaborating within our social service network to promote continuity of care for people who are Unhoused, Physically Disabled, Elderly or who suffer from Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders.
Dustin Leavitt
Dustin has spent twelve years in federal institutions, has lived experience on the street, was both a cocaine and heroin addict for close to twenty years but is now fourteen years clean
as well as a Manager of three supportive housing buildings for CoolAid. His experience with addiction, homelessness and incarceration has shaped the way he works. In 2010 he did his Mental Health and Addictions worker training and has worked front line for Unlocking the Gates, Look Out, CoolAid and also created a not for profit called RISE (ReIntegration Support and Empowerment Society) assisting Federal parolees.
Martin Girard
Martin moved to BC from Quebec in 2011. Martin was homeless for five years and volunteered at Our Place for three years. Nowadays, he’s an advocate and blogger, with multiple affiliations such as Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users and Moms Stop the Harm.
Priya Sian
Priya is a recent graduate from the University of British Columbia and CREAN’s Placement Coordinator. Priya’s passion for community outreach and giving back has motivated her to volunteer with several non-profit organizations over the years. She is currently taking a gap year to work before pursuing medical school. As someone who has always been passionate about research, education, and advocacy, she was immediately drawn to CREAN and its mission.
Kecia Larkin
Kecia Larkin is from the Kwa'Kwa'ka'wakw & Pikanii Nations. She has lived in Unceded
Territory of the local first people, off and on since 5 years of age. She is a 50 year young
mother of two adult children. Kecia spent over 3 decades on the frontlines of HIV and
related issues, as an educator, support and resource. In the past 10 years Community
Based Research has been part of her learning, work and knowledge translation. She is
involved as a knowledge keeper in one project right now and enjoys learning. Kecia has
enjoyed keeping plants alive, learning cultural arts and crafts has been a few of her
COVID coping mechanisms.
Sarah Ravensbergen
Sarah Ravensbergen works as the research manager with CREAN. She has a background in geography and has worked across Canada on collaborative land use projects that respectfully blend Indigenous Knowledge and science (for example, working with Elders and scientists to measure water quality near mines using a combination of measures from both worldviews). She is passionate about ethical, anti-racist research that supports diverse and racialized peoples, and is very excited to be contributing to CREAN's community-based research projects.
John Adams
John Adams has been collecting and telling Victoria’s stories for many years. He is widely recognized as Victoria’s foremost authority on the city’s dark past and haunted present. John is currently writing a book about the history of Victoria’s chinatown.