CALGARY — The Calgary TELUS Convention Centre (CTCC) is hosting the International Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (ISPCAN) Aug. 28-31. Calgary was shortlisted against Dubai for this bi-annual conference, which will bring 1,200 to 1,500 attendees to the city. Held every two years, the congress has taken place in Istanbul, Turkey (2012), Honolulu, in the U.S. (2010) and Nagoya, Japan (2014). ISPCAN last visited Canada in 1984, when Montreal hosted.
The Calgary TELUS Convention Centre worked with the University of Calgary to secure the business, which took more than four years to finalize. There was community support for the bid, which included the Alberta Association of Services for Children and Families, Child Welfare League of Canada, Calgary Counseling Centre, Prairie Child Welfare Consortium, Sheldon Kennedy Child Advocacy Centre and Woods Homes.
The 2016 theme is, “Protecting our Children, Protecting our Future” and the co-chairs for the congress are Dr. Jackie Sieppert, Dean of Social, University of Calgary, and Assistant Deputy Minister Mark Hattori, Ministry of Human Services, Government of Alberta.
“Within the theme, we will discuss three main issues that we believe are core to achieving significant progress in preventing child abuse and neglect,” says Dr. Jackie Sieppert. “Restoring Aboriginal families and communities, incorporating the social determinants of health into stopping intergenerational violence, and promoting interdisciplinary and community collaborations.”
“The centre is a place where people come to network, share ideas and explore opportunities. The international scale of this event will increase awareness that Calgary can host the world and is a great place to meet,” says Heather Lundy, Acting General Manager Calgary TELUS Convention Centre.
Founded in 1977, ISPCAN is the only multidisciplinary international organization that brings together a worldwide cross-section of committed professionals to work toward the prevention and treatment of child abuse, neglect and exploitation globally.
The Calgary TELUS Convention Centre is Canada’s most established and busiest convention centre, featuring meeting spaces that enhance social networking and promote interaction.
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