Human Rights and Equity Conference 2025
BCNU's human rights and equity conference will take place on Tuesday, Nov. 18 at the Pan Pacific Vancouver hotel, situated on the traditional, ancestral and unceded territories of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh nations.
This year's conference, entitled Gender and Care – Change Through Collective Action, will explore how gender-based violence (GBV) is upheld by systems of colonialism, patriarchy, racism (including Indigenous-specific racism) and transphobia - shaping how power and harm are distributed across society.
Join your colleagues for this day-long event and hear from survivors, advocates, researchers and community leaders as they share experiences and discuss collective strategies to confront these systems and drive meaningful change.
This is a salary replaced event. The deadline to apply is Thursday, Sept. 11 at 5 p.m. PDT.
Ivan Coyote is a renowned writer and storyteller from Whitehorse, Yukon, and the author of thirteen books, four films, six stage shows, and three albums. Their acclaimed works - including their most recent book, Care Of - explore gender identity, family, class, and queer liberation with wit and compassion. Recognized with honorary doctorates from Simon Fraser University and Yukon University, Coyote’s work blends personal truth with collective storytelling.
Dr. Balbir Gurm, RN, BSN, MA, EdD (Leadership & Policy) is an award-winning nursing leader, educator, and social justice advocate. A Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Nursing, she founded the Network to Eliminate Violence in Relationships (NEVR) and co-edited Making Sense of a Global Pandemic. Dr. Gurm consults widely on anti-racism, cultural safety, and inclusion, delivering impactful workshops and shaping policy. Her leadership has earned numerous awards, including two YWCA Women of Distinction Awards and the BC Achievement Community Award.
Angela Marie MacDougall is an activist, educator, and organizer with over 30 years dedicated to gender, racial, and social justice. As executive director of Battered Women’s Support Services, she has advanced intersectional feminist, trauma-informed approaches to policy and services. MacDougall co-authors national reports, speaks widely on systemic change, and is a founding member of Feminists Deliver and the Intersectional Feminist Justice Collaborative. Recognized as a Remarkable Woman by the City of Vancouver, she continues to inspire collective action for equity.
Additional speakers coming soon