NEVR’s 15th Annual Conference Champions Resilience And Community-Driven Violence Prevention

L - R: CITY OF SURREY COUNCILLORS ROB STUTT AND LINDA ANNIS, NEVR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, DR. BALBIR GURM & MAYOR GEORGE V. HARVIE, OF CITY OF DELTA
The Network to Eliminate Violence in Relationships (NEVR) welcomed over 100 participants to its 15th Annual Training Conference on May 15–16, 2025, uniting frontline workers, advocates, educators, and policymakers under the theme “Resilience: Improving Futures.

Surrey, B.C. – The Network to Eliminate Violence in Relationships (NEVR) welcomed over 100 participants to its 15th Annual Training Conference on May 15–16, 2025, uniting frontline workers, advocates, educators, and policymakers under the theme “Resilience: Improving Futures.”

MAYOR GEORGE V. HARVIE, OF CITY OF DELTA, GIVING HIS OPENING REMARKS

The event opened with a Traditional Welcome by Elder Squayten Cheryl Gabriel, NEVR board member and respected Indigenous community leader. Dignitaries including Delta Mayor George Harvie and Surrey Councillors Linda Annis and Rob Stutt joined the opening session, underscoring the vital role of civic partnerships in addressing relationship violence.

COUNCILLOR ROB STUTT OF THE CITY OF SURREY BRINGING GREETINGS ON BEHALF OF MAYOR BRENDA LOCKE, MAYOR OF SURREY

“This conference brings together the minds and hearts working on the frontlines to prevent violence and support resilience,” said Dr. Balbir Gurm, NEVR Founder and Executive Director. “Our goal is to equip communities with the knowledge and tools needed for real, systemic change.”

DR. ALEXANDRA LYSOVA, PROFESSOR, SCHOOL OF CRIMINOLOGY, SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY , DELIVERING HER KEYNOTE ADDRESS ON BIDIRECTIONAL VIOLENCE

Keynote sessions explored emerging research and practice in intimate partner violence, including presentations by Deputy Police Chief Nick Milinovich (Peel Region), Dr. Alexandra Lysova (SFU), and Dr. Kirsty McGregor (UK)—each highlighting approaches to safety, bidirectional violence, and support for LGBTQ+ survivors.

L – R: DR. JEN MARCHBANK, NEVR 2025 CONFERENCE CHAIR, NEVR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, DR. BALBIR GURM & CLAIRE NIEHAUS, SCIENTIFIC ASSOCIATE, PALIX FOUNDATION

A standout feature was the Resilience Scale Masterclass by Claire Niehaus of Alberta’s Palix Foundation, who introduced participants to the Brain Story Framework, bridging brain science with trauma-informed practice.

 

A CROSS SECTION OF PARTICIPANTS DURING ONE OF THE 20+ CONFERENCE WORKSHOPS

 

L – R: SANDY SIHOTA , NEVR BOARD MEMBER, NEVR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, DR. BALBIR GURM & ACHARYA DWIVEDI, PRESIDENT, GLOBAL HINDU FOUNDATION OF CANADA

The program featured over 20 expert-led workshops and panels, such as:

  • Responding to Strangulation with Dr. Amanda McCormick
  • Family Violence in Canadian Law with Kamaljit Lehal and Sandy Sihota
  • South Asian Divorce and Cultural Change with Binny Kaur Rai

Now in its 15th year, NEVR continues to be a catalyst for collaboration and advocacy in the fight to end relationship violence across B.C. This year’s conference was proudly sponsored by Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) and Moving Forward Family Services, organizations deeply committed to community safety and violence prevention.

A GROUP PHOTOGRAPH OF PARTICIPANTS AT THE THE NEVR 15TH ANNUAL TRAINING CONFERENCE, 2025

For more information, visit www.nevr.org.

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