PHE Canada and PHE Saskatchewan are delighted to announce the list of keynote speakers for the 2024 PHE National Conference.
Opening Keynote: Janice Forsyth
Janice Forsyth, member of the Fisher River Cree Nation, is a Professor in the Faculty of Education, School of Kinesiology, at the University of British Columbia and a recognized leader in Indigenous sport development in Canada. Her work combines historical, sociological, archival, and big-data methodologies to explore how EuroCanadian sports and physical activities have been used as tools for colonization and how Indigenous people have responded to those efforts by using their own understandings of sports and physical activities for cultural regeneration and survival.
Welcome Keynote: Dr. James Makokis
Dr. James Makokis is a pioneering Nehiyô (Neh-hee-yo) two-spirit physician hailing from the Onihcikiskapowinihk (Saddle Lake Cree Nation) in Treaty Number Six Territory. He maintains a Family Medicine practice in Kinokamasihk (Kih-no-kum-a-sick) Cree Nation in northeastern Alberta and runs a transgender health-focused practice in South Edmonton. Dr. Makokis was the inaugural Medical Director of Shkaabe Makwa (Shkaa-bay Muh-kwa) at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto—the country's first Indigenous health center committed to transforming Indigenous mental health systems nationwide.
Closing Keynote: Bruce Kidd
Bruce Kidd is the Ombudsperson and a Professor Emeritus of Sports Policy at the University of Toronto. He has spent his lifetime researching, teaching about, and advocating for equitable, accessible, daily, quality physical education. As Founding Dean of U of T’s Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education, he integrated once separate undergraduate, graduate, and athletic and recreation programs and implemented a systematic approach to gender equity. His most recent book, written with Ann Hall of the University of Alberta and Patricia Vertinsky of the University of British Columbia, is Educating the Body: A History of Physical Education in Canada.
R. Tait McKenzie Scholar Address: Reg Leidl
Reg Leidl's deep knowledge, passion, and commitment for quality physical education has manifested into an accomplish career as a Saskatchewan teacher, principal, curriculum writer, consultant, coach, and Board Member on provincial and national physical and health education associations and organizations. Reg has an extensive background in physical education, physical literacy, sport psychology, coaching, and educational leadership. His grassroots perspective continually supports the role of teachers and coaches as they strive to support physical literacy and physical education within our schools and communities. Reg is a past recipient of the North American Society Award in 2019 and is currently the Executive Director for Physical and Health Education (PHE) Saskatchewan.