Presenter: Emmanoella Val-Kanu

101: The Power of People Analytics: Fostering a Culture of Data-Driven HR
Emmanoella Val-Kanu, CPHR

In today’s fast-evolving workplace, HR leaders can no longer rely solely on intuition  to make critical workforce decisions. The ability to leverage people analytics is a 
critical competency that drives strategic impact, improves employee experience,  and aligns HR with business objectives. This session will demystify people analytics and demonstrate why HR professionals  should adopt a data-driven approach to stay competitive. We’ll break down the 
fundamentals of fostering a data-driven culture, providing practical steps to  overcome resistance, integrate analytics into decision-making, and build HR’s  credibility as a strategic business partner. Whether you’re just starting or looking to elevate your people analytics capabilities,  this session will equip you with actionable insights to drive meaningful change in  your organization.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand the power of people analytics and how it enhances HR’s strategic influence.
• Identify key barriers to fostering a data-driven culture in HR and how to overcome them.
• Discover practical steps to integrate analytics into HR processes, even with minimal resources.
• Learn how to use storytelling with data to drive executive buy-in and decision-making.
• Develop an action plan to begin shifting HR towards a data-driven approach in their organization.

Key Takeaways:

• People analytics is no longer optional—it is essential for HR’s credibility and business impact.
• Small, intentional steps can gradually shift HR teams towards a data-driven mindset.
• Data storytelling is just as important as the data itself—HR needs to translate numbers into compelling insights.
• Even organizations with limited technology can start leveraging people analytics through simple, effective methods.
  
• HR professionals must embrace continuous learning to adapt to the data-driven future of work.

Emmanoella Val-Kanu

With over 18 years of experience in the human resources space, Noella has built a  career at the intersection of people strategy and business performance. She has 
held key roles in both traditional HR leadership and management consulting across  diverse sectors, in both Canada and Nigeria, developing a deep understanding of 
workforce dynamics and organizational effectiveness.

Noella is passionate about leveraging data to uncover patterns and insights, present  the "talent story for decision making, ensuring the alignment of people strategies  with business objectives. Recognizing that the future of HR lies in analytics, she has  successfully led initiatives that enhance workforce planning, talent management,  and organizational culture through evidence-based decision-making.

An advocate for continuous learning, Noella actively contributes to industry  conversations on the evolving role of HR, particularly in fostering a data-driven culture. Whether working with executive leadership teams or mentoring HR  professionals, she is committed to empowering organizations to harness the power  of people analytics for sustainable growth and impact.

Noella is a Chartered Professional in Human Resources (CPHR) and holds a Master’s  degree in People Analytics. Outside of work, Noella serves on the board of a local  non-profit, with a focus on empowering visible minority women. She loves to read  on diverse self-help topics that broaden her mind and help her in achieving the  most desired balance in life. She is also a creative person who has loved to dance  since she was a child. In her spare time, she enjoys decorating small spaces and  spending quality time with her husband and two children

Presenter: Stephanie Yang Morris

103: HR Horror Stories: Legal Lessons from the Employment Crypt
Stephanie Yang Morris | Counsel, MLT Aikins LLP

In the dark corners of Saskatchewan workplaces, legal horrors lurk, just waiting to  haunt the unprepared… Nobody wants to be part of an HR Horror story! The wrong 
HR decisions can lead to legal liability, reputational damage, and workplace chaos. This session will discuss tales of real HR nightmares and the legal consequences. From wrongful dismissals, investigations, misconduct and discipline, this session  will explore how HR can prevent these “scary” tragedies and save the day.

Topics will include discussion on:

• Real-life court decisions with “scary” legal consequences;
• Employment law missteps that can turn HR tasks into nightmares;
• Chilling tales with lessons HR can use tomorrow;
• Practical and actionable tips for staying on the right side of the law.
  

At the end of this session, participants will learn valuable and practical lessons to  navigate those difficult and tough HR situations, such as employment contracts and 
terminations, various approaches to discipline, and conducting thorough  investigations. The goal is to assist participants in navigating HR concerns as they arise in their 
workplace. Participants will gain an understanding of an employer’s legal duty in  navigating a broad range of issues and gain practical advice to be prepared and  prevent any HR nightmares becoming a reality.

This session will provide participants with the resources to prevent legal liability and  properly respond and advise on a variety of employment issues. Real examples 
from case law will be presented to provide insight into the do’s and don’ts in  navigating these issues and practical tips to avoid the nightmares of employee  complaints and litigations.

Stephanie Yang Morris | Counsel, MLT Aikins LLP

Stephanie practices in the firm’s labour and employment practice group. She represents both provincially and federally regulated employers with a focus on 
labour, employment, and human rights. In addition to her time with MLT Aikins, Stephanie served as in-house legal counsel with the Brandt Group of Companies. 
She also worked at SaskTel as legal counsel and the HR director of industrial relations, compensation, and benefits.

Drawing from her in-house experience, Stephanie provides practical and strategic advice regarding everything from day-to-day advising to assisting employers with 
drafting workplace employment policies and employment contracts, discipline and discharge, navigating workplace accommodations, collective bargaining,  restructurings, occupational health and safety and human rights matters.

Stephanie has appeared before all levels of Courts in Saskatchewan, the Canada  Industrial Relations Board, the Saskatchewan Labour Relations Board, the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, and human rights tribunals (but her 
toughest negotiations are usually with her 6-year-old daughter, Makena and 5-year-old son, Ty).

Stephanie is a proud mom, professional snack dealer, doer of cartwheels, and killer  of houseplants. When she is not cleaning, building the next Lego masterpiece with  her kids, she enjoys skiing, kitchen dance parties, and ruining nice walks with golf.

Presenter: Emmanoella Val-Kanu

201: The Power of People Analytics: Fostering a Culture of Data-Driven HR
Emmanoella Val-Kanu, CPHR

In today’s fast-evolving workplace, HR leaders can no longer rely solely on intuition  to make critical workforce decisions. The ability to leverage people analytics is a 
critical competency that drives strategic impact, improves employee experience,  and aligns HR with business objectives. This session will demystify people analytics and demonstrate why HR professionals  should adopt a data-driven approach to stay competitive. We’ll break down the 
fundamentals of fostering a data-driven culture, providing practical steps to  overcome resistance, integrate analytics into decision-making, and build HR’s  credibility as a strategic business partner. Whether you’re just starting or looking to elevate your people analytics capabilities,  this session will equip you with actionable insights to drive meaningful change in  your organization.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand the power of people analytics and how it enhances HR’s strategic influence.
• Identify key barriers to fostering a data-driven culture in HR and how to overcome them.
• Discover practical steps to integrate analytics into HR processes, even with minimal resources.
• Learn how to use storytelling with data to drive executive buy-in and decision-making.
• Develop an action plan to begin shifting HR towards a data-driven approach in their organization.

Key Takeaways:

• People analytics is no longer optional—it is essential for HR’s credibility and business impact.
• Small, intentional steps can gradually shift HR teams towards a data-driven mindset.
• Data storytelling is just as important as the data itself—HR needs to translate numbers into compelling insights.
• Even organizations with limited technology can start leveraging people analytics through simple, effective methods.
  
• HR professionals must embrace continuous learning to adapt to the data-driven future of work.

Emmanoella Val-Kanu

With over 18 years of experience in the human resources space, Noella has built a  career at the intersection of people strategy and business performance. She has 
held key roles in both traditional HR leadership and management consulting across  diverse sectors, in both Canada and Nigeria, developing a deep understanding of 
workforce dynamics and organizational effectiveness.

Noella is passionate about leveraging data to uncover patterns and insights, present  the "talent story for decision making, ensuring the alignment of people strategies  with business objectives. Recognizing that the future of HR lies in analytics, she has  successfully led initiatives that enhance workforce planning, talent management,  and organizational culture through evidence-based decision-making.

An advocate for continuous learning, Noella actively contributes to industry  conversations on the evolving role of HR, particularly in fostering a data-driven culture. Whether working with executive leadership teams or mentoring HR  professionals, she is committed to empowering organizations to harness the power  of people analytics for sustainable growth and impact.

Noella is a Chartered Professional in Human Resources (CPHR) and holds a Master’s  degree in People Analytics. Outside of work, Noella serves on the board of a local  non-profit, with a focus on empowering visible minority women. She loves to read  on diverse self-help topics that broaden her mind and help her in achieving the  most desired balance in life. She is also a creative person who has loved to dance  since she was a child. In her spare time, she enjoys decorating small spaces and  spending quality time with her husband and two children

Presenter: Stephanie Yang Morris | Counsel, MLT Aikins LLP

203: HR Horror Stories: Legal Lessons from the Employment Crypt
Stephanie Yang Morris | Counsel, MLT Aikins LLP

In the dark corners of Saskatchewan workplaces, legal horrors lurk, just waiting to  haunt the unprepared… Nobody wants to be part of an HR Horror story! The wrong 
HR decisions can lead to legal liability, reputational damage, and workplace chaos. This session will discuss tales of real HR nightmares and the legal consequences. From wrongful dismissals, investigations, misconduct and discipline, this session  will explore how HR can prevent these “scary” tragedies and save the day.

Topics will include discussion on:

• Real-life court decisions with “scary” legal consequences;
• Employment law missteps that can turn HR tasks into nightmares;
• Chilling tales with lessons HR can use tomorrow;
• Practical and actionable tips for staying on the right side of the law.
  

At the end of this session, participants will learn valuable and practical lessons to  navigate those difficult and tough HR situations, such as employment contracts and 
terminations, various approaches to discipline, and conducting thorough  investigations. The goal is to assist participants in navigating HR concerns as they arise in their 
workplace. Participants will gain an understanding of an employer’s legal duty in  navigating a broad range of issues and gain practical advice to be prepared and  prevent any HR nightmares becoming a reality.

This session will provide participants with the resources to prevent legal liability and  properly respond and advise on a variety of employment issues. Real examples 
from case law will be presented to provide insight into the do’s and don’ts in  navigating these issues and practical tips to avoid the nightmares of employee  complaints and litigations.

Stephanie Yang Morris | Counsel, MLT Aikins LLP

Stephanie practices in the firm’s labour and employment practice group. She represents both provincially and federally regulated employers with a focus on 
labour, employment, and human rights. In addition to her time with MLT Aikins, Stephanie served as in-house legal counsel with the Brandt Group of Companies. 
She also worked at SaskTel as legal counsel and the HR director of industrial relations, compensation, and benefits.

Drawing from her in-house experience, Stephanie provides practical and strategic advice regarding everything from day-to-day advising to assisting employers with 
drafting workplace employment policies and employment contracts, discipline and discharge, navigating workplace accommodations, collective bargaining,  restructurings, occupational health and safety and human rights matters.

Stephanie has appeared before all levels of Courts in Saskatchewan, the Canada  Industrial Relations Board, the Saskatchewan Labour Relations Board, the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, and human rights tribunals (but her 
toughest negotiations are usually with her 6-year-old daughter, Makena and 5-year-old son, Ty).

Stephanie is a proud mom, professional snack dealer, doer of cartwheels, and killer  of houseplants. When she is not cleaning, building the next Lego masterpiece with  her kids, she enjoys skiing, kitchen dance parties, and ruining nice walks with golf.

Presenter: Ruth Kinzel President & CEO, Kinzel Cadrin & Associates

301: Sustainable Improvement: A Remedy for Change Fatigue
Ruth Kinzel  President & CEO, Kinzel Cadrin & Associates

Does the idea of yet another “organizational change” make you or others want to  run screaming from the building? People in many workplace enterprises are tired of 
change, and extensive change fatigue has accumulated in every sector. This fatigue  negatively impacts our employment experiences and hinders what HR and other  leaders are able to “rally” when it’s important to move forward in different ways.  Many, many people are hungry for actual improvements, not merely more change.  Join me to better understand the social psychology behind sustainable improvement  with practical pearls for moving forward.

This session is an opportunity to deepen your understanding of:

• Components, phases, and conditions essential to driving change cycles to get to sustainable improvement
• What causes resistance to change and how to approach it productively
  

You will also have opportunity to engage with colleagues to generate some concrete ideas you could potentially test in your workplace.

Ruth Kinzel 
President & CEO, Kinzel Cadrin & Associates

Ruth found her way to Organizational Development while part of a workplace that handled it badly in the early 1980s. The experience proved there’s far too much at 
stake not to do this well. How we work together directly impacts business success, employee well-being, employer reputation, and ultimately those whom the business  serves. Ruth's sense that the quality of work life and business success are  interdependent told her there had to be better ways to create the right conditions  for business success and employee well-being.

Why then, do most organizational development initiatives fail? Ruth needed to  know the answer and how to do it effectively, which led her to train as a scholar-practitioner. Two weeks into graduate school, Ruth felt like she’d come home! It was thrilling to learn models, concepts, and names for the things that go on in the  spaces between people that she’d always noticed but didn’t know how to make  sense of. Thirty-five years later, Ruth is as passionate as ever about helping to  create healthy human systems in service of business excellence.

Ruth has a PhD in Applied Social Psychology and extensive training from the NTL Institute for Applied Behavioural Science, as well as being a Chartered Professional  in Human Resources (CPHR). For decades, she served as a faculty member in Royal  Roads University’s Conflict Analysis & Management Graduate Program, a  Professional Affiliate of the U of S Department of Psychology, and a faculty member in Executive Education at the Edwards School of Business. Ruth is also a seasoned MBTI practitioner, and a long-standing mentor in the Betty-Ann Heggie Womentorship Program and volunteer instructor for Leadership Saskatoon.  Whatever the context, Ruth brings together relevant and robust theory, research, and practice to help those she serves to address real issues, of real concern, to real people, in real time.

Ruth deeply loves Saskatoon and our province, was raised to contribute to community, and is a life-long learner. She enjoys stimulating conversation, the  arts, compelling ideas, and shared laughter. Her now adult children have, and continue to be, remarkable teachers. Home and the garden are her sanctuary.

Presenter: Sarah Wingerak & Karyn Kowalski | McDougall Gauley LLP

303: Navigating the Duty to Accommodate
Sarah Wingerak & Karyn Kowalski | McDougall Gauley LLP

This session, led by two employment lawyers, will provide essential knowledge on  the duty of employers to accommodate employees with disabilities. Participants will 
explore the legal obligations under human rights and employment law, with a focus  on understanding how accommodations should be implemented in the workplace.  The session will also delve into case law and real-world examples, offering practical  insights on navigating potential challenges and minimizing legal risks when handling 
accommodation requests.

Learning Objectives and Takeaways:

• Understand the Legal Duty to Accommodate – Gain a comprehensive  understanding of the employer's obligations under relevant human rights  and employment laws, and the standards for providing “reasonable”  accommodations to employees with disabilities.
• Explore Recent Case Law – Gain insights on recent decisions that shape the  current legal landscape regarding accommodation.
• Identify Best Practices – Learn strategies for effectively managing  accommodation requests and when the employer needs toinquire.
• Navigate Complex Scenarios – Recognize common challenges and potential  pitfalls HR professionals may encounter when accommodating employees  and how to mitigate risks while remaining legally compliant.

Karyn Kowalski
Lawyer, McDougall Gauley LLP

Karyn Kowalski primarily practices in Labour and Employment Law. Called to the  bar in 2017 after convocation from the University of Saskatchewan with a law 
degree and a commerce degree from the Edwards School of Business.

Sarah Wingerak
Lawyer, McDougall Gauley LLP 

Sarah Wingerak primarily practices in Labour and Employment Law. Called to the  bar in 2020 after convocation from the University of Saskatchewan with a law  degree and a psychology degree.

Presenter: Ruth Kinzel President & CEO, Kinzel Cadrin & Associates

401: Sustainable Improvement: A Remedy for Change Fatigue
Ruth Kinzel  President & CEO, Kinzel Cadrin & Associates

Does the idea of yet another “organizational change” make you or others want to  run screaming from the building? People in many workplace enterprises are tired of 
change, and extensive change fatigue has accumulated in every sector. This fatigue  negatively impacts our employment experiences and hinders what HR and other  leaders are able to “rally” when it’s important to move forward in different ways.  Many, many people are hungry for actual improvements, not merely more change.  Join me to better understand the social psychology behind sustainable improvement  with practical pearls for moving forward.

This session is an opportunity to deepen your understanding of:

• Components, phases, and conditions essential to driving change cycles to get to sustainable improvement
• What causes resistance to change and how to approach it productively
  

You will also have opportunity to engage with colleagues to generate some concrete ideas you could potentially test in your workplace.

Ruth Kinzel 
President & CEO, Kinzel Cadrin & Associates

Ruth found her way to Organizational Development while part of a workplace that handled it badly in the early 1980s. The experience proved there’s far too much at 
stake not to do this well. How we work together directly impacts business success, employee well-being, employer reputation, and ultimately those whom the business  serves. Ruth's sense that the quality of work life and business success are  interdependent told her there had to be better ways to create the right conditions  for business success and employee well-being.

Why then, do most organizational development initiatives fail? Ruth needed to  know the answer and how to do it effectively, which led her to train as a scholar-practitioner. Two weeks into graduate school, Ruth felt like she’d come home! It was thrilling to learn models, concepts, and names for the things that go on in the  spaces between people that she’d always noticed but didn’t know how to make  sense of. Thirty-five years later, Ruth is as passionate as ever about helping to  create healthy human systems in service of business excellence.

Ruth has a PhD in Applied Social Psychology and extensive training from the NTL Institute for Applied Behavioural Science, as well as being a Chartered Professional  in Human Resources (CPHR). For decades, she served as a faculty member in Royal  Roads University’s Conflict Analysis & Management Graduate Program, a  Professional Affiliate of the U of S Department of Psychology, and a faculty member in Executive Education at the Edwards School of Business. Ruth is also a seasoned MBTI practitioner, and a long-standing mentor in the Betty-Ann Heggie Womentorship Program and volunteer instructor for Leadership Saskatoon.  Whatever the context, Ruth brings together relevant and robust theory, research, and practice to help those she serves to address real issues, of real concern, to real people, in real time.

Ruth deeply loves Saskatoon and our province, was raised to contribute to community, and is a life-long learner. She enjoys stimulating conversation, the  arts, compelling ideas, and shared laughter. Her now adult children have, and continue to be, remarkable teachers. Home and the garden are her sanctuary.

Presenter: Sarah Wingerak & Karyn Kowalski | McDougall Gauley LLP

403: Navigating the Duty to Accommodate
Sarah Wingerak & Karyn Kowalski | McDougall Gauley LLP

This session, led by two employment lawyers, will provide essential knowledge on  the duty of employers to accommodate employees with disabilities. Participants will 
explore the legal obligations under human rights and employment law, with a focus  on understanding how accommodations should be implemented in the workplace.  The session will also delve into case law and real-world examples, offering practical  insights on navigating potential challenges and minimizing legal risks when handling 
accommodation requests.

Learning Objectives and Takeaways:

• Understand the Legal Duty to Accommodate – Gain a comprehensive  understanding of the employer's obligations under relevant human rights  and employment laws, and the standards for providing “reasonable”  accommodations to employees with disabilities.
• Explore Recent Case Law – Gain insights on recent decisions that shape the  current legal landscape regarding accommodation.
• Identify Best Practices – Learn strategies for effectively managing  accommodation requests and when the employer needs toinquire.
• Navigate Complex Scenarios – Recognize common challenges and potential  pitfalls HR professionals may encounter when accommodating employees  and how to mitigate risks while remaining legally compliant.

Karyn Kowalski
Lawyer, McDougall Gauley LLP

Karyn Kowalski primarily practices in Labour and Employment Law. Called to the  bar in 2017 after convocation from the University of Saskatchewan with a law 
degree and a commerce degree from the Edwards School of Business.

Sarah Wingerak
Lawyer, McDougall Gauley LLP 

Sarah Wingerak primarily practices in Labour and Employment Law. Called to the  bar in 2020 after convocation from the University of Saskatchewan with a law  degree and a psychology degree.