Join us for a future-focused, cross-border conference organized with partnering organizations including: Mediate BC, CoRe Conflict Resolution Society, and the ADR Section of the Washington State Bar Association (WSBA). This conference will explore the wide range of ways in which individuals, organizations, and nations create artificial borders that lead to, intensify, and prolong conflict. Presenters will be drawn from both sides of the Canada/US border as we seek commonalities and opportunities for greater knowledge exchange across practice areas and lived experiences.

Come prepared for a wide-ranging exchange of ideas and perspectives on the ways in which lawyers and other conflict resolution professionals can break down patterns of dichotomous thinking that lead to intransigent conflict—whether in interpersonal conflict or in nation-to-nation conflict.

The event will kick-off with an opening night presentation on Wednesday, October 20^th at 6:00 pm followed by two full days of dynamic and engaging speakers.

In line with the conference theme of deconstructing artificial borders, the conference format itself will challenge the divide between virtual and in-person conferences. The entire conference will be available to all attendees online and recorded segments will allow participants to view (or re-view) sessions that run concurrently for two weeks. As a consequence, the entire 32+ hours of content will be available to everyone: you do not have to choose between learning about the mediation of environmental disputes, approaches to  trauma-informed conflict resolution practice, Indigenous law, and the impacts of geopolitical and metaphorical borders on a wide range of practice areas. You will have access to all topics that interest you.

US Registration info available soon!

Ideas for short form presentation due Aug 31

for more on the call for proposals:  https://www.mediatebc.com/mediator-blog/conference-2021-proposal