Conference on Addiction, Mental Health and the Law
OVERVIEW
CIAJ’s Conference on Addiction, Mental Health, and the Law will delve into the complex interplay between substance abuse, mental health issues, and the justice system. This event will bring together experts from various disciplines and Indigenous Knowledge Keepers to examine the multifaceted challenges faced by courts, law enforcement, treatment providers, policymakers, as well as communities, families, and individuals.
Key questions to be addressed include: How do mental health issues, addiction, and criminality interact and influence each other? What are the most effective approaches to treating individuals struggling with addiction? How do substance abuse and mental illness complicate treatment and intervention? Why are these issues becoming more prevalent and difficult to manage? What role do harm reduction policies play, and can they be integrated with effective public safety measures? How do treatment courts fit into the broader justice landscape, and are the tools provided by the Criminal Code adequate for addressing these challenges?
Join us as we explore these pressing questions and discuss necessary changes to better address the challenges at the intersection of addiction, mental health, and the law.
Bilingual program with simultaneous interpretation.
Participation in this program is accredited in provinces where CLE requirements for lawyers are mandatory.
Participation in this program is approved under Section 41 (1) of the Judges Act.
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Meet Guy Felicella, International Speaker
Guy Felicella is an international speaker and advocate for drug policy reform. Overcoming a two-decade substance use disorder, he has turned his life around after years of homelessness, gang involvement, and surviving overdoses in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. Now, Guy passionately promotes harm reduction, trauma therapy, and faster access to treatment, using his story of resilience and recovery to inspire others and push for compassionate drug policies and addiction support.
REGISTRATION FEES
Note: Early Bird special rates are available until December 11, 2024.
| Participant type | Early Bird | Regular |
| CIAJ Members | $995 | $1,095 |
| Non-Members | $1,095 | $1,295 |
| Young Lawyers – Members (5 years or less) | $795 | $895 |
| Young Lawyer – Non-Members (5 years or less) | $895 | $995 |
| Academics | $595 | $595 |
| Students (enrolled full-time at Canadian university or at the Bar) | $95 | $95 |
| Not-for-profit | $695 | $695 |
| Group rate | $795 | $795 |
BECOME A PARTNER OF OUR CONFERENCE
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Make a difference in Addiction, Mental Health and the Law Investing in our Conference on Addiction, Mental Health and the Law means supporting an initiative of great value for the mental health and justice sector in Canada.Your support will ensure an enriching event, where discussions will exceed the conference, radiating out through concrete initiatives and sustainable solutions. Consult the partnership plan and contact Lise Bujold, CIAJ Assistant Director: lise.bujold@ciaj-icaj.ca | (514) 378-4765 |
CONFERENCE SITE AND ACCOMMODATIONS
The Hilton Toronto Hotel is located in downtown Toronto, next to the Osgoode subway station, a 10-minute walk from Union Station, the CN Tower, the Royal Ontario Museum and the Toronto Eaton Centre shopping mall.
- Group rate (4 people and more): $795 + applicable taxes. Credit card number required.
- Group code: see on the registration form or in the confirmation email
- Room reservation deadline : January 8, 2025
- RSVP by phone: (416) 869-3456
- RSVP online: Rooms can be reserved by clicking on this reservation link
CONTACT
For further information, please contact the CIAJ’s Assistant Director, Lise Bujold:
Tel.: 514-378-4765
Email: lise.bujold@ciaj-icaj.ca
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
- Payment in full of the registration fee is due before the Event. Should a registrant have an outstanding balance, a credit card will be requested at the Event before the beginning of the program.
- Inability to attend may result in a registration being transferred to a colleague of the same organization up to 7 days before the Event. The request must be made in writing.
- Cancellation incurs processing fees as follows: $100 for cancellations 30 days or more before the event and 50% of the registration fee for cancellations 7 days or more before the event. No refund will be extended for cancellations made less than 7 days before the event.