Keynote Speakers
Devon Clunis
Reimagining Human Services Delivery
November 15, 9:30-10:30 a.m.
The human experience is complex. Yet, throughout the history of responding to those in conflict with the law, we have applied a simplistic, isolationist mindset, resulting in detrimental impacts on our individual and collective human experience. It is time to reimagine our approach to achieve better outcomes. What if we adopted a symbiotic outlook to delivering human services to those in conflict with the law? Too often, fulfilling the needs of an individual rests with one part of the system when in fact, it requires contributions from various players within the Justice and Human Services ecosystem. When we fail to collaborate and take into account our shared responsibility for a holistic outcome for the individual, we fail the entire system and ultimately fail in achieving our purpose. How we treat those in conflict with the law has collateral impacts on various areas of society and directly affects our collective human experience. This presentation will focus on changing our perspectives on leadership, justice and law enforcement and aligning our purpose with what we do daily.
Bio – Devon Clunis
Devon is a highly motivated, passionate, results-driven, leader with a reputation for professionalism, personal integrity, team/community leadership, and practical problem-solving. Devon served 29 years in The Winnipeg Police Service, retiring as Chief of Police in 2016. He was the first black Chief of Police in Canada. Devon led a transformative change in policing in Winnipeg centred on “service” to the community by transitioning from a reactive enforcement model to a proactive, community health-centred model. This model is viewed internationally as the most effective way forward for policing.
Devon retired in 2016 and started Clunis Consulting while partnering with a U.S. consulting firm, the Matrix Consulting Group. Devon is a strong advocate for equity, diversity and inclusion and co-authored two childrens books, The Little Boy from Jamaica, and The Little Girl from Osoyoos, with his wife, Pearlene. Both books speak to the value of addressing contemporary social issues collaboratively and constructively. In the aftermath of the George Floyd event in the spring of 2020, Devon was an outspoken international commentator on the need to move forward with constructive dialogue. The Government of Ontario invited Devon to serve as The Inspector General of Policing and establish The Inspectorate of Policing, the first of its kind in Canada, in the fall of 2020.
After establishing the Inspectorate of Policing, Devon returned to the consulting world in January 2022, focusing his efforts on addressing the growing social challenges facing policing and community relationships. Devon and his wife Pearlene recently celebrated 31 years of marriage. They have two adult daughters and one grandson.
Kerry Gladue
Trauma, Addiction, and Transformation:
The Kerry Gladue Story
November 16, 1:00-2:00 p.m.
Kerry will be sharing his inspiring story of addiction and mental health, as well as his upbringing in foster care, and the justice system. As a graduate of the Calgary Drug Treatment Court and Director of Simon House Recovery Centre, Kerry uses his story to share his experience, strength and hope with those that struggle with the same issues. For others to know his story and be able to relate to what he has been through opens up the doorway of hope and a willingness to start trusting and taking risks that are beneficial to their own healing.
Bio – Kerry Gladue
Kerry Gladue was born and raised in Edmonton, Alberta. Kerry is an intergenerational survivor of the Residential School system, as well as a survivor of childhood sexual abuse. After spending most of his life in and out of the system, and the death of his mother and sister, Kerry woke up in a jail cell. Broken and alone, he cried out in his cell for a second chance. Kerry arrived in Calgary as a participant in the Calgary Drug Treatment Court Program after being advised he would be spending the next 11 years in prison; he was given a second chance. Now over 11 years clean and sober, Kerry’s dedication and commitment to others has been instrumental in the recovery of almost two thousand clients he has served. Kerry is now Director of Indigenous Relations & Client Services and was also instrumental in the creation of Simon House Recovery Centres Indigenous Programming, as well as IFRP (Indigenous Family Reunification Program). Kerry is also a published Author, Actor and dedicates his story and experiences to helping others achieve healing and change.