Our conference program
Day 1 – Monday, February 2
Photo from the 2023 CHILD-BRIGHT Conference. Our 2026 conference venue is fully wheelchair accessible and designed without elevations to support ease of movement for all participants.
- 7:15-8:30: Registration & breakfast
- 8:30-9:00: Opening Ceremonies & Remarks
Ceremonial opening (Brenda Johnson)
Land acknowledgment(Jenny Gilbert)
Opening remarks Keiko Shikako, Linda Nguyen & Rachel Martens (Conference Co-Chairs)
- 9:00-9:15 Welcome to CHILD-BRIGHT
Presenter: Annette Majnemer (CHILD-BRIGHT)
- 9:15-10:00: Opening Keynote
Presenter: De-Lawrence Lamptey (Holland Bloorview)
- 10:00-10:15: Health break
Q&A co-moderators: Patrick McGrath & Kent Cadogan Loftsgard
The foundational knowledge, lived experience, and equity-driven approaches that nourish the systems supporting children, families, and communities
- 10:15-11:00: The Roots of Strategic Patient-Oriented Research in Childhood Disability.
Presenters: Annette Majnemer (CHILD-BRIGHT Coaching); Aggie Mazzucco & Bailley Taylor (The Prenatal Opioid Exposure Project); Mike Seed (BRIGHT Pathways for CHD)
- 11:00-11:30: Introducing the BRIGHT RCT (Randomized Coffee Trial) & Health Break
Brewing randomized, evidence-based connections
- 11:30-12:05: Equity in Childhood Disability Research Ecosystems
Presenters: Morteza Soleyman Dehkordi, Alisha Ahmed & Michelle Phoenix (McMaster University); Logan Wong (CHILD-BRIGHT National Youth Advocacy Council), Michelle Phoenix & Samantha Micsinszki (CanChild McMaster Family Engagement in Research Program)
- 12:05-12:30: Extended Discussion Time
- 12:30-13:45: Lunch
Co-moderators: Samadhi Mora & Simonne Collins
Co-moderated by Jenny Gilbert & Lucy Lach
Translating evidence into strong, connected systems
- 13:45-14:35: Lessons from Partnered Implementation and Knowledge Mobilization Research
Presenters: Jessica Green & Stephanie Glegg (CHILD-BRIGHT Parent Voices); Hal Siden, Sharon Hou & Laesa Kim (CHILD-BRIGHT Pain Pathway); Keiko Shikako & Dave Sora (CHILD-BRIGHT Jooay)
- 14:35-15:30: Fruits of the Day
Presenters: Jacob Birchnall (National Youth Advocacy Council; Becky Conia (Engagement Council); Jessica Hanson (Knowledge Mobilization Committee); Janet Curran (Implementation Science Research Co-Lead)
- 15:30-15:45 Health break
- 15:45-17:30 Idea Forest: Dynamic Knowledge Exchange Session
Presenters pitch their research in a minute or less. Attendees circulate for deeper discussion.
- 17:30-18:30: Happy Hour
Canapés & refreshments
Co-moderators: Marie Brossard-Racine & Symon Hay
Day 2 – Tuesday, February 3
- 7:30-8:30: Arrival & breakfast
- 8:30-8:45: Welcome & Launch: Patient-Oriented Research Toolkit
Presenters: Linda Nguyen (University of Calgary), Jenny Gilbert (CHILD-BRIGHT)
The central structures connecting knowledge to action
Presenters: Logan Wong & Sierra Lynne Vanderdeen (National Youth Advocacy Council), Jenny Gilbert (Engagement), Connie Putterman (Knowledge Mobilization), Nomazulu Dlamini (virtual participation) & Samadhi Mora Severino (Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Decolonization & Indigenization), Janet Curran (Implementation Science Research), Celia Laur (Training and Capacity Building)
To engage and strengthen our community and expand our branches
- 10:30-11:45: Shared Ground Activity
Harvesting the fruits of our labours & fertilizing the soil for future growth
- 11:45-13:00: Lunch
Future steps to create a thriving childhood disability ecosystem
- 13:00-14:15 Learning from the Wood-Wide Web
Presenters: Neil Belanger (Indigenous Disability Canada); Mayada Elsabbagh (Canadian Neurodevelopmental Research Training Platform); Emily Gruenwoldt (Children's Healthcare Canada); Olaf Kraus de Camargo (CanChild); Emily Torr (CIHR Institute of Human Development, Child and Youth Health); Jennifer Zwicker (Kids Brain Health Network)
- 14:15-14:30: Health break
- 14:30-15:15: Closing Keynote: What We Grow Together
Presenter: Steven Miller (CHILD-BRIGHT)
- 15:15-16:00: Closing Ceremonies
Closing remarks from Keiko Shikako & Linda Nguyen (Conference Co-Chairs) and the National Youth Advocacy Council
Co-moderators: Keiko Shikako & Brenda Agnew
Ceremonial closing (Brenda Johnson)
Photo from the 2023 CHILD-BRIGHT Conference.
Pre-conference virtual talks - January 27-29
Before our in-person conference, our free Pre-Conference Virtual Talks will “prepare the soil” by fostering early knowledge exchange and connection across Canada and beyond. Join us on Jan. 27 to 29 from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. ET for bite-sized talks from patient-oriented reseachers, trainees, students, and partners with lived and living experience:
Quick links