Hosted by CBA National Family Section in Alberta from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm on April 16, 2026

Link: https://www.cbapd.org/details_en.aspx?id=na_na26law02a

Hearing from Children in Family Dispute Resolution: What we have learned, current practice and emerging best practices

Hearing from children in Family dispute resolution is ‘best practice’. Whether practicing as a lawyer, mediator, arbitrator, judge, or policy maker, legal professionals should all be building our knowledge and competencies in the why, when, and how to hear from children in Family dispute resolution. Access to Family justice necessarily includes children. Canada has ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child which includes the obligation to ensure children’s rights and well-being are respected in every legal action affecting a child. Family Law in Canada is premised on the Best Interests of the Child as the legal framework in which Family matters involving children are resolved. This webinar explores what we have learned, current practice and emerging best practices in amplifying children’s voices in Family dispute resolution processes.

Speakers

Dr. Lorri Yasenik, PhD, RPT-S, RPC-Arbitrator, Co-Director of the International Centre for Children and Family Law and Director of the Rocky Mountain Play Therapy Institute (Alberta and Australia)

Dr. Rachel Birnbaum, PhD, RSW, LLM, Distinguished Professor Emerita and Adjunct Research Professor at King’s University College at Western University (London, ON)

Suzette Narbonne, KC, Narbonne Law Office (Sechlet, BC)

Moderator:

Tracy C Brown JD, Brown Law Group, Chair of the CBA Family Law Section (Edmonton, AB)