Innovations in Addressing Gender-Based Violence and Trauma and Violence-Informed Health Promotion: A National Conference
Knowledge Hub Presents Conference: Innovations in Addressing Gender-Based Violence and Trauma and Violence-Informed Health Promotion.
More than 370 people attended the Knowledge Hub (KH) Presents Conference: Innovations in Addressing Gender-Based Violence and Trauma- and Violence-Informed Health Promotion, held in Toronto on October 1–2, 2025.
Practitioners in the gender-based violence (GBV) and health sectors, researchers, policymakers, and students came together to share and learn from innovative programs and research in trauma- and violence-informed health promotion across Canada.
The KH Presents Conference delivered a comprehensive two-day agenda featuring nearly 80 GBV and health promotion presentations, including speaker and project spotlights, interactive workshops, creative sessions, panel discussions, and structured networking opportunities, each designed to advance collaboration and knowledge exchange.
Presentations reflected the breadth of the sector, with contributions from members of the Public Health Agency of Canada–funded Trauma- and Violence-Informed Community of Practice (CoP), mini-presentations from subject matter experts, and poster presentations highlighting student-led research and emerging practices. Collectively, the knowledge shared throughout the conference contributes to informing and strengthening future GBV and health promotion practice in Canada.
The conference featured more than 30 CoP member presentations highlighting learnings from three- and four-year projects engaging individuals and families impacted by family violence. Projects addressed all stages of the lifespan using relevant tools and approaches, including:
- Arts-based interventions for healing and empowerment
- Trauma- and violence-informed parenting and family programming
- Trauma- and violence-informed health promotion
- Collaborative and intersectional strategies addressing intimate partner violence
- Research and programs addressing traumatic brain injuries and systemic inequities
- Digital and virtual innovations
- Interventions promoting healthy relationships and preventing violence.
Presentation recordings and PowerPoint slides are coming soon!
Mini Presentations
More than 50 mini-presentations from experts, service providers, advocates, and changemakers across Canada highlighted work at the intersection of violence, justice, equity, and innovation, addressing urgent issues affecting individuals, families, and communities.
Topics included justice, housing, Indigenous and racialized perspectives, LGBTQ+ inclusion, youth relationships, parenting, elder abuse, coercive control, trafficking, child welfare, programming innovations, substance use, rural responses, digital innovation, military families, ethics in medically assisted death, animal safety in shelter services, and best practices in training and frontline response.
View Recordings and Powerpoint slides from these presentations
An Evidence-Based Elder Mistreatment Prevention and Response Framework in the Community: Partnership Between RISE and EAPO
Presented by David Burnes, Marta Hajek, Laura Ostler
Most Canadian communities lack a dedicated, coordinated response to elder mistreatment. RISE is one of the first evidence-based programs, worldwide, dedicated to the prevention and response of elder mistreatment in the community, recently selected as a top intervention by the World Health Organization. Funded by the Public Health Agency of Canada, and in partnership with Elder Abuse Prevention Ontario (EAPO), the RISE-EAPO framework was developed as a solution to address this systems gap. Grounded in theory, research, and survivor input, RISE addresses harm at Relational, Individual, Social, and Environmental levels. Its four core components are: Repair Harm (restorative approaches), Inspire Change (motivational interviewing), Support Connection (teaming), and Empower Choice (client-centered). This presentation will describe the RISE-EAPO elder mistreatment response framework, highlight findings from a randomized control trial showing significant psychosocial improvements, and share how RISE is being implemented across North America.
