Keynote Speaker: Dr. Kona Williams
Dr. Williams will be joining us via live stream
“Honouring the Children–Death Investigation, Indigenous People and Residential Schools”
Dr. Williams is a forensic pathologist and coroner with the Ontario Forensic Pathology Service. She is both Cree (Peguis First Nation) and Mohawk (Kahnawake). She is the Director of the Northeastern Regional Forensic Pathology Unit and the Laboratory Medical Director for Health Sciences North (HSN). She is appointed as the First Nations Liaison for the Ontario Forensic Pathology Service (OFPS).
She is the co-chair of the Indigenous Health Committee of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, a Canadian Medical Association (CMA) Ambassador, and a co-representative for the AFMC Network on Indigenous Health at the University of Toronto. Dr. Williams teaches a fourth year undergraduate course in Forensic Pathology at Laurentian University, and is an Assistant Professor at the Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM). She serves on the Senate at the NOSM, and has recently been appointed to the National Advisory Committee on Residential Schools, Missing Children and Unmarked Burials.
Plenary Session
“Where are we going? Predicting the next decade in Canadian forensic science”
Panel members will be encouraged to imagine the future of forensic science in Canada, and share with the audience a vision of the changes, new partnerships and challenges for their particular areas and institutions.
Valerie Blackmore is a forensic biologist and the founder of Wyndham Forensic Group. In addition to performing casework for Canadian and international justice systems, she provides project management, training and technical expertise to equip scientists, police, justice officials and governments with the skills and knowledge to establish effective forensic science infrastructure and quality management systems. Valerie is currently providing technical training to members of the Forensic Science Laboratory in Ramallah on behalf of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
Mauro Golin is the National Operations Manager for the RCMP National Forensic Laboratory Services. His forensic science career spans more than 26 years, across three laboratory sites and multiple roles. Following his operational roles in Biology and Toxicology early in his career, Mauro undertook several managerial positions in quality management, program management and forensic case management. He has either led or helped deliver numerous laboratory initiatives and projects resulting from legislative changes or government reviews and investments. He currently works out of the RCMP Laboratory in Ottawa, and his responsibilities include the development of strategic and tactical operational information and coordinating the delivery of forensic science services to the Canadian justice system. Mauro received his Honours B.Sc. degree specializing in Biomedical Toxicology from the University of Guelph (1992) and M.Sc. degree in Analytical Toxicology from the University of Saskatchewan (1998).
Caitlin Pakosh is an Assistant Crown Attorney in Newmarket and an Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM) Forensic Science Program with experience researching and writing about the intersection between the forensic sciences and criminal law, most notably in her award-winning book, “The Lawyer’s Guide to the Forensic Sciences” (Irwin Law, 2016). She is also co-author of “The Annotated Ontario Mental Health Statutes, 5th Edition” (Irwin Law, 2022) and “The 2023 Annotated Mental Health Provisions of the Criminal Code: Part XX.1” (Irwin Law, 2023).
Prior to joining the Ministry of the Attorney General, Caitlin spent six years as a criminal defence lawyer, opening an appellate practice after working for several years at Innocence Canada (formerly “AIDWYC”) as its Case Management Counsel, then as its Senior Staff Lawyer.
Caitlin has appeared at the Ontario Court of Justice, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, and the Court of Appeal for Ontario. She has co-authored Federal Ministerial Review Applications and worked on cases that have been heard at the Supreme Court of Canada. Caitlin was called to the Bar in Ontario in June 2012 after receiving her law degree from the University of Calgary in 2011. She graduated from UTM’s Forensic Science program in 2008, specializing in forensic anthropology with a minor in biology.
Amy Peaire obtained her HBSc in Biochemistry and her MSc in Molecular Biology from Brock University followed by her PhD in Anatomy and Neurobiology at the University of Ottawa. She worked in biotechnology doing research on Parkinson’s disease for two years prior to starting at the Centre of Forensic Sciences as a Toxicology scientist in 2003. In 2009, Amy became a manager in Toxicology, and later held positions leading Toxicology, Physical Sciences, Chemistry, and Support Services prior to becoming Director of the Centre of Forensic Sciences in 2022. Amy has previously also been the Breath Program Director for the province of Ontario and Chair of Canada’s Drugs and Driving Committee.
Nicolas Tremblay is a highly experienced molecular biologist with over 10 years of experience in various scientific fields. He currently serves as the acting director of operations of the Biology/DNA general directorate and public spokesperson at Laboratoire des sciences judiciaires et de médecine légale du Québec. Dr. Tremblay holds a doctoral degree in systems biology and a master’s degree in human genomics from Université de Montréal, as well as a bachelor’s degree in toxicology from UQAM. He also earned a Master of Business Administration from Capella University.
Dr. Tremblay has worked on several research projects and has gained extensive knowledge and expertise in molecular biology, data analytics, and omic sciences. He has contributed to numerous publications and has been recognized for his work with multiple awards including a master’s, doctoral and postdoctoral training scholarship from the Fonds de Recherche du Québec – Santé (FRQS).
As the public spokesperson of the lab, Dr. Tremblay has access to key opinion leaders from different disciplines, including biology, toxicology, ballistics, criminalistics, and forensic intelligence. He uses these insights to share the vision of the Laboratoire des sciences judiciaires et de médecine légale du Québec (LSJML) and to inform the public on the latest advancements and challenges in forensic science.
Dr. Tremblay’s presentations are engaging, informative, and thought-provoking, and he will draw on his extensive knowledge and expertise to provide valuable insights into the future of forensic science. His unique perspective, coupled with his ability to communicate complex scientific concepts in an accessible manner, will make him a great addition to the panelist of the plenary session.
James Watterson is a professor in the forensic science program, and the Director of the Forensic Science Institute for Research and Professional Development at Laurentian University. He began his career in the Toxicology Section at the Centre of Forensic Sciences (CFS) in Toronto in 2001, and took a short leave to work in biotechnology prior to returning to the Toxicology Section at the CFS where he worked until 2006. In 2006, he joined the faculty in the Department of Forensic Science at Laurentian University, and developed the curriculum in forensic toxicology and forensic chemistry.
He maintains an active research program focused primarily on the toxicological analysis of skeletal remains. He oversaw the development and launch of the Master of Forensic Science (MFS) program in 2020, and coordinates the Laurentian University forensic science programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels. James Watterson holds a PhD in analytical chemistry. He is a Fellow of the American Board of Forensic Toxicology (F-ABFT ) and is a member of international associations (e.g., The International Association of Forensic Toxicologists). In addition to academic work he has served as a consulting forensic toxicologist in criminal and civil casework since 2006.
Key Dates
Call for abstracts opens – January 23, 2023
Registration opens – January 30, 2023
Call for abstracts closes – April 1, 2023
Abstract outcomes – May 1, 2023
Conference dates – Jun 12-15, 2023