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National Crime Prevention Strategy

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The following gives information on the Keynote speaker and panelists for the plenary session held on Monday, August 23, at 9:30 am in the WA Murphy Student Centre, UPEI. The title of the session is "Making the Links: What do health promotion, crime prevention and social development have in common?"

Keynote Speaker

Dennis Raphael
Dennis Raphael, PhD, is a passionate advocate for action on addressing the social factors that influence and well being. As keynote speaker, he will present current research linking social determinants such as poverty to rates of disease and crime. He will challenge existing policies and propose strategies for collective action.
     Dr. Raphael is an Associate Professor at the School of Health Policy and Management at York University in Toronto, Canada. The most recent of his 100+ scientific publications have focused on the health effects of income inequality and poverty, the quality of life of communities and individuals, and the impact of government decisions on Canadians' health and well-being.
     Dr. Raphael is co-author of the Toronto Charter for a Healthy Canada and the editor of "Social Determinants of Health: Canadian Perspectives" published by Canadian Scholars Press. His website contains numerous papers and publications related to public policy approaches to promoting the health of Canadians. He will launch his most recent publication called Social Determinants of Health: Canadian Perspectives at the Institute.

Panelists

Jeannita Bernard
Jeannita Bernard graduated from Université de Moncton in 1973 with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree. Her background consists of many years working in the Community nursing/Public Health and Community development field with the Province of Prince Edward Island. Positions held include Regional Director of Home Care & Support, Regional Director, Community & Residential Services, CEO West Prince Health and is currently working as Director of Health Promotion & Rehabilitation for Veterans Affairs Canada. Jeannita also writes, performs and records some of her own music in her spare time and lives in St. Philip, Prince Edward Island with her husband and four children.

Jim Ellsworth
After graduating from the Nova Scotia Agricultural College, Jim Ellsworth served as a Horticulturist with Acadia University and Manager of Landscape Services with the National Capital Commission. Jim was eventually recruited by Environment Canada where he served as a National Park Superintendent, Manager of the Atlantic Coastal Action Program, Leader of the Sydney Tar Ponds Unit and finally, Manager of the Sustainable Communities and Ecosystems Division. During this time, Jim's papers on comprehensive initiatives were published in Canada, the United States and Great Britain. Jim's international experience also included the development and delivery of learning modules - 'Leadership in the Facilitation of Comprehensive Initiatives' for such agencies as English Nature, the International Stewardship Exchange and the International Association for Public Participation. Jim is currently the Atlantic Regional Director, National Crime Prevention Centre within the Department of, Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada. Jim is the current Federal Co-chair of the Nova Scotia Sustainable Communities Initiative and an avid student of collaborative initiatives.

Cathy Wright
Cathy Wright has worked and volunteered for the past twenty-eight years in the social development field. She is currently a consultant, applying her experience to research, writing, planning, and facilitation activities. Prior to this, Cathy was executive director of the Human Development Council (HDC), a community social planning agency in Saint John, New Brunswick. Her role with HDC included mobilizing the community to focus on issues such as affordable housing, literacy, employment, and poverty, in ways that promote a multi-sectoral approach and continuous learning from experiences across the country and from individuals most marginalized by these challenges. She volunteers in her rural community of Hampton, served on the Board of the Canadian Council on Social Development for nine years, and has been involved in the literacy movement at the local, provincial and national levels for over twenty years. In 1990, she received the Canada Volunteer Award. Cathy holds a Masters in Social Work from Carleton University.