Speakers | Schedule | Registration

OPENING KEYNOTE
Culture, Wellness, and Inclusion: The Pillars of Workplace Belonging

*Watch Anthony's Speaker Reel

Imagine a workplace where everyone feels valued and supported, where diversity and mental wellness are not just initiatives but integral parts of the culture.

In this presentation, Anthony McLean delves into the foundational element that bridges these two vital areas: workplace culture. Discover why a culture that values inclusion is essential for leveraging diversity, and how collective wellness habits can significantly improve workplace performance. McLean will share practical strategies for fostering an inclusive and supportive environment, helping organizations create workplaces where everyone can thrive. Through engaging stories and actionable insights, this keynote will equip you with the tools to build a healthier, more inclusive workplace culture.

Learning Outcomes

• Discover actionable insights for both personal self-care and collective wellness habits.
• Learn how to approach mental health and diversity through the lens of empathy.
• Understand why self-awareness is critical for successful wellness and inclusion initiatives.

Anthony McLean
Culture | Wellness | Inclusion

Called a “master storyteller”, Anthony McLean delivers lively, actionable presentations on culture, wellness, and inclusion. He’s worked with leading organizations such as PepsiCo, AT&T, Intel, TD Bank, Coca Cola, and more. McLean shows audiences how human connection is the key to boosting individual and team performance.

A respected voice in his field, McLean has delivered hundreds of inspiring talks across the world, rocking the stage at conferences, colleges, and corporate events. His clients have ranged from charities and non-profits to Fortune 500s, with all benefitting from his research-backed tools and actionable strategies that leave them inspired and equipped to bring their best everyday. In 2024, McLean released his first book, All Fired Up: Optimize Mental Health to Ignite Joy and Fuel Peak Performance.

McLean also works in the film and television industry. As a screenwriter, he is currently in development on two feature films. He lives with his wife, their two kids, and an impressive collection of 90s movies.

Accessibility as Practice and Procedure: Building Inclusivity from the Start

Join Bobbi Janzen for a thought-provoking session on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility, where we will challenge conventional perspectives by rethinking accessibility as a proactive and integrated practice rather than a reactive accommodation. This presentation aims to shift the narrative from accessibility being an afterthought or “fix” to being a core component of organizational processes, embedded from the very beginning.

In this session we will explore:

• Redefining Accessibility: Learn how to view accessibility not as a one-time adjustment but as an ongoing, intentional practice that is integral to every aspect of your organization.
• Impact and Perspective: Gain insights into what it’s like to experience life on the outside, helping you understand the barriers faced by individuals with disabilities and work to deepen your commitment to accessibility and inclusion. Accessibility is not simply a “nice-to-have” or an optional add-on, but a fundamental element in creating truly inclusive and equitable spaces for all.
• Incorporating Accessibility Every Day: Discover practical tools and strategies for embedding accessibility as a natural part of your organization's culture and daily operations, ensuring it is woven into every decision and process.
• Tips and Best Practices: Gain actionable advice on creating more inclusive, equitable, and productive environments by implementing small changes that make a big impact. Learn how simple adjustments can lead to a transformative shift in your workplace and community.
  

This is the moment to set a course for lasting, meaningful change in your organization and beyond. Join us and be part of the shift towards a more inclusive future.

Bobbi Janzen CPHR, SHRM-SCP, RPR
Workforce Development Coordinator, SARC
Saskatoon, SK

Bobbi Janzen is a seasoned Human Resources professional with a strong commitment to fostering inclusive, equitable, and supportive workplace environments. As the Workforce Development Coordinator at SARC, she plays a pivotal role in HR consulting and workforce planning. Bobbi is also an active member of the Saskatchewan Accessibility Advocacy Committee and the CNIB Strategic Leadership Council (SK). Renowned for her proactive approach to diversity, equity, and inclusion, she is passionate about developing sustainable solutions that empower individuals and drive organizational success. With experience across various industries in the nonprofit sector, Bobbi is dedicated to helping organizations cultivate cultures that value people as their most important asset.

Emerging Trends and Pitfalls in Employee Recruitment, Retention and Terminations

Human Resource professionals are often involved in hiring new employees and drafting employment agreements. Participants will take away some core tips on best practices and things to avoid when hiring employees and drafting a termination provision. 

This session will cover:

• Trends, best practices, and areas of risk in workplace recruitment and  retention
• Caselaw trends on termination provisions in Ontario and implications for  drafting enforceable termination provisions in Saskatchewan 
• Immigration legislative changes in Saskatchewan impacting foreign worker recruitment and management
  

At the end of this session, participants will have an understanding of best practices  and pitfalls in recruitment and retention efforts. Participants will also have an  understanding of challenges HR professionals are faced within other jurisdictions  with regard to termination provisions and best practices to ensure a termination  provision in an employment agreement will be more likely to be enforceable in Saskatchewan.

Brent Matkowski
Lawyer, MLT Aikins LLP
Saskatoon, SK

Brent Matkowski practices in the firm’s labour and employment group. Brent assists employers with labour and employment law matters including labour  relations, human rights, occupational health and safety, certification, collective agreement negotiation, workers’ compensation, employment standards, employment contracts, employer policies and discipline. Brent has represented 
employers before the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal, Court of King’s Bench, Labour Relations Board and Provincial Court. Brent has also represented employers before a variety of administrative boards and arbitrators.

Scott Bell
Lawyer, MLT Aikins LLP
Saskatoon, SK

Scott Bell has advised various employers and individuals with regard to federal immigration applications, including work permits, Labour Market Impact  Assessments, Free Trade Agreement exemptions and permanent residency. He also has experience with applications made through the Saskatchewan Immigrant  Nominee Program (SINP) and other Provincial Nomination Programs. A primary focus of his practice relates to advising employers on the management of  temporary foreign workers and immigration legislation compliance. In addition to employment-based immigration, Scott provides services relating to family-based immigration applications, including spousal sponsorship and inter-country adoption.

Zoe Johansen-Hill
Lawyer, MLT Aikins LLP
Saskatoon, SK

Zoe Johansen-Hill maintains a labour and employment practice and has experience assisting employers navigate their legal obligations in managing their workforce and represents employers in litigation matters. Her practice involves a broad scope of employment and labour areas including wrongful dismissal, human rights, employment standards, and employment contracts and policies.

The Intersection of Psychological Safety, Emotional Intelligence, Trauma-Informed, and HR Risk Management

In this workshop, Bob Stenhouse will be using a case study and story to illustrate the intersection of the three principles of psychological safety, emotional intelligence, and trauma-informed as a means of becoming a highly effective HR practitioner. From his lived and learned experiences of 45 years in the workplace (40 of those in the field of investigating misconduct) Bob has the unique perspective of being privy to thousands of workplace investigations that could have been prevented with intentional understanding and consideration of diverse experiences and interpersonal dynamics. Gaining increased knowledge and understanding of self and others is foundational to navigating interpersonal complexities, challenges, and anticipating and mitigating potential HR risks. 

Bob Stenhouse
CEO & Founder, Veritas Solutions

Bob has been conducting, overseeing and case-managing investigations for close to 40 years. First as an organized crime, undercover and homicide investigator in the RCMP, and later as a human rights and workplace investigations consultant.  Bob then spent ten years as the leader of a Corporate Investigations Unit for Alberta Health Services (largest employer in Alberta and highly unionized) - where he and his team conducted the most complex and high-risk investigations into internal workplace misconduct across the province.  Bob has developed and delivered workplace investigations training to over 1000 HR professionals in Canada with a specific focus on person-on-person allegations of misconduct, harassment, bullying, sexual harassment and discrimination. 

Veritas Solutions is a Human Resource Risk Management firm serving Western Canadian organizations, specializing in harassment, bullying, sexual harassment, and violence prevention, investigations, and risk management. 

CLOSING KEYNOTE

The Exponential Power of Recognition: Superglue Your Culture Through Meaningful Connection and Abundant Appreciation

*Watch Sarah's Speaker Reel

If you had the easiest, fastest, simplest, and no-cost strategy to engage, unite, and retain everyone in your organization, would you want to know about it?

Many passionate, brilliant, hard-working people want to do their best yet feel unappreciated and overworked. Similarly, there are well-intentioned leaders who wish to show appreciation to their people, but they’re busy and unsure if their efforts will make a difference.

Add to that a stale and misaligned corporate recognition program, and what you have is the perfect recipe for disengagement and turnover!

How do we bridge the gap between what employees need and what organizations are prepared to do?

Recognition is the answer. And it’s easy! All you need to know are the 3 universal strategies that work instantaneously. As a result, you're going to raise trust, boost satisfaction, deepen a sense of belonging, and you will go down in history as the best boss and colleague – ever!

This work is magical. And it creates a ripple effect. It gets leaders, employees, and everyone in between excited again. It gives people hope that they can LOVE work again.

This session will introduce you to a proven process for self, team, and organizational recognition called F.R.O.G. Forever Recognize Others' Greatness™. You will walkaway ready to take action to shift your culture right away

Sarah McVanel
International Recognition, Retention & Culture Expert

Sarah is a recognition expert, professional speaker, coach, author, recovering perfectionist, and movement maker. She created F.R.O.G. Forever Recognize Others’ Greatness TM to invigorate companies so they can see their people as exceptional and, together, create a scrumptious, thriving culture where everyone belongs.

Sarah has 25+ years of experience training, coaching, and leading teams. From her senior leadership role, she founded her boutique firm Greatness Magnified. Proclaimed as the “Frog Lady,” she can be found freaking out perfect strangers (in a good way) by handing out squishy frogs and asking them, “Have you been frogged lately?” and then acknowledging their greatness.

She’s a Certified Senior Organizational Development Professional (CSODP), Professional Certified Coach (PCC), and Certified Human Resources Leader (CHRL). She is one of 700 Certified Speaking Professionals (CSP) worldwide. She has a BA in Psychology, MSc in Family Relations, and Diplomas in Human Resources and Healthcare Administration.

You can catch her kayaking in the summer and snowshoeing in the winter with her husband, or cooking a feast (while listening to an audiobook on double speed). She’s a die-hard carb-ivour, amateur hip hopper, and TikTok embarrasser to her two kids.

Virtual HR Forum - Emcee

Iza Parker 
MHKIHRM, CSSC, SHRM-SCP, CPHR, EMBA

With over 22 years of transformative leadership as a CHRO and strategy expert, Iza brings a wealth of international experience across Fortune 100 companies, Crown corporations, and global enterprises. She has successfully led strategic initiatives, including overseeing one of the largest M&A projects in the U.S. telecommunications sector, managing COVID-19 responses for a Crown corporation, and supporting executive teams through complex transitions. As a certified HR professional in Canada, the USA, and the UK, Iza specializes in organizational strategy & design, people operations excellence, and change management, driving measurable results across industries such as technology, manufacturing, finance, marketing, and government. Through her consulting firm, she collaborates with CEOs and senior executives to align people strategies with business objectives, enhancing performance, culture, and operational effectiveness.

Beyond her corporate achievements, Iza is an executive coach who guides leaders in unlocking their potential and fostering innovation. As a proud member of the CEO McKay Group in Vancouver, she engages in thought leadership and executive development. Balancing her professional and personal life, Iza is a dedicated mother of two (three, if counting her supportive husband) and thrives on creating environments where individuals and organizations are empowered to be their best version of themselves and succeed. Her personalized dynamic, hands-on approach and dedication to fostering resilience make her passionate about leading transformative conversations in today’s ever-evolving workplace.

Iza's robust educational background complements her extensive leadership experience. She holds a BBA, a Major in Financial Management, HRM Education and an Executive MBA from UNA University, USA, which has honed her strategic and operational acumen. Her expertise is further supported by certifications in Change Management from PROSCI Canada, Mediation from Panko Collaborative Law, and Executive Leadership from Queen’s University. This diverse academic foundation equips her with the tools to navigate complex organizational challenges, foster innovation, and drive transformational growth. Her continuous commitment to learning reflects her passion for staying at the forefront of leadership excellence and organizational development.