Justice as Trauma Summit
April 7-9 2026 @ the Westin Bayshore Vancouver
It’s Myrna. I am back again with another offering for you - the 3rd JAT Summit. I hope you will join me in April for this one-of-a-kind educational and healing experience. Allow me to share why I created the Justice as Trauma Summit.
This gathering was born from a deep knowing that our systems — legal, judicial, educational, and social — are not broken; they are functioning exactly as designed. And those designs have caused harm, disconnection, and dehumanization, especially for Indigenous peoples and other marginalized communities.
Justice as Trauma is Indigenous-led and inspired by Indigenous liberation — by the idea that justice can be a place of healing, humanity, and accountability rather than punishment, silence, and shame.
When we centre humanity over hierarchy and healing over harm, we become better lawyers, judges, leaders, educators, and advocates. But this work asks something of us. It asks us to show up.
I am taking on significant personal financial risk to make this Summit possible. There are no corporate sponsors, no institutional backers, no big law firm support, no deep pocketed donors — just me, and my savings account. I am trusting that those who believe in this vision and are already doing the work, will join me in continuing this transformation.
If you believe that justice can be a healing practice — that we can lead differently, teach differently, and hold power differently — I invite you to show up with me, April 7-9 @ the Westin Bayshore Vancouver. See you there!
Event Details
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This annual three-day gathering brings together visionaries, disruptors, healers, and justice professionals who are committed to humanizing legal and institutional systems, with a focus on trauma-informed practice and healing justice.
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The Summit is scheduled for April 7–9, 2026 at The Westin Bayshore, Vancouver, BC.
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All tickets provide three-day access to workshops, keynotes, panels, healing sessions, food and snacks during the event, reception access, and an all Indigenous-curated swag bag.
Content & Program
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Holding on to hope in the current political climate is hard, but we don’t have to do it alone. Radical Hope is the centre theme for JAT26 because it embodies the belief that despite systemic oppression and trauma, healing and transformative justice are possible.
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Beloved speakers from past Summits will be returning, alongside new changemakers, leaders and innovators actively shaping their communities and advancing transformative justice. We are excited to introduce voices that attendees will find inspiring and deeply relevant to the ongoing work of healing and systemic change. The full speaker and healer lineup for Justice as Trauma 2026 will start being shared in October, unveiling a powerful and diverse group committed to collective healing and justice transformation.
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The deadline for submitting speaker, facilitator, and healer proposals has now passed. We extend our sincere gratitude to everyone who submitted a proposal. Thank you for your interest in contributing to our event.
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Speaker Announcements will begin in late October and the full agenda will be available in late November.
Attendees & Accessibility
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The event welcomes lawyers, judges, psychologists, restorative justice practitioners, physicians, administrators, educators, leaders, support workers, HR professionals, and anyone interested in trauma, healing, and justice transformation.
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Attendees can book rooms at The Westin Bayshore at a special conference rate ($399/night) and enjoy perks such as 15% off VIDA Spa services (Monday–Thursday). Click here to make your booking.
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The Conference hotel offers a wide range of accessible features to ensure a comfortable and inclusive experience for all attendees. These include accessible on-site parking (including valet and van-accessible options), elevators, and accessible routes from the public entrance to key areas such as the pool, business center, fitness center, spa, meeting spaces, and on-site restaurants. Service animals are welcome without any fee or documentation. The main entrance and all meeting facilities are fully accessible to guests. If you have specific accessibility needs or require additional accommodations, please contact the event team in advance so we can best support your participation.
We invite you to read this review from WheelchairTravel to find out more.
Logistics
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Yes, meals and snacks are provided throughout the three-day event for ticket holders, speakers, facilitators and healers. Most dietary restrictions can be accommodated.
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Healing sessions are an integral part of the program, designed to support your journey toward wellness and restoration. Additionally, the venue’s location offers easy access to relaxing amenities, including a full-service spa at the hotel and scenic opportunities to unwind along the nearby seawall and surrounding areas.
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The Justice as Trauma Summit 2026 will be held at The Westin Bayshore, located at 1601 Bayshore Drive, Vancouver, BC. The hotel is centrally located in Vancouver with easy access to transportation hubs and the waterfront.
Getting there from Vancouver International Airport (YVR):
SkyTrain: Take the Canada Line from YVR Airport Station to Vancouver City Centre Station. Trains run every 10 minutes and the trip takes around 24 minutes. From there, it’s a short walk or taxi ride to the hotel.
Taxi or Ride-Hailing: A taxi ride typically takes 20–25 minutes and costs around $35–$45 CAD.
Driving: The drive from the airport to the hotel takes about 20 minutes.
Nearby transit stations:
Bus and Train: Pacific Central Station offers regional bus and train services including Greyhound and Amtrak.
SkyTrain: Vancouver City Centre and Waterfront Stations are within walking or short transit distance to the hotel.
Parking at The Westin Bayshore:
The hotel offers on-site parking with hourly rates of $8.00 CAD and daily rates of $49.00 CAD. Valet parking is also available.With its prime waterfront location and excellent transit connectivity, The Westin Bayshore offers convenient travel options for all attendees.
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The deadline for submitting speaker, facilitator, and healer proposals has now passed. We extend our sincere gratitude to everyone who submitted a proposal. Thank you for your interest in contributing to our event.
Stay at the Westin Bayshore!
Book your room under our exclusive block for just $399/night and enjoy the perfect mix of comfort and ease of access to the Summit.
As a special perk, guests in our block receive 15% off VIDA Spa services (Monday–Thursday) — the perfect way to relax before or after the day’s activities.
Reserve now to secure our conference rate!