2020 Pain Society
of Alberta Conference
Friday October 16 - Sunday October 18, 2020
In lieu of recent events and to maintain the safety of our healthcare community, the Board of Directors and Conference Planning Committee will be transitioning our in-person event at Chateau Lake Louise, to a completely virtual format. Our focus to deliver a high quality, evidence-informed and diverse event to improve pain management strategies remains our primary objective. To advocate for continuing professional development
opportunities for all health care providers in Alberta and beyond, the Board of Directors and Conference Planning Committee has also decided to offer the entire 2020 Conference for free.
That's right.... free!
To be a part of this very exciting virtual event, we would ask that you please register using this Eventbrite link to ensure you have full access to our event including the livestream, the ability to pose questions, visit our exhibitors and receive our communications.
Although we are not physically going to be at the Chateau Lake Louise this year, you can still take advantage of the special rates over the conference weekend to join the virtual live stream surrounded by a very majestic setting.
If you previously made a reservation, please call to either confirm or cancel your booking by dialling 1.800.441.1414 and identifying yourself as being within our room block with your confirmation number.
Fairmont Hotels is taking the safety of their patrons very seriously by developing guidelines and policies at each access point within the hotel as a result of COVID19 to maintain high standards of cleanliness and service delivery.
WE ARE GOING VIRTUAL!
Opening Our Conference
Louise Crane
Metis Elder of Cree Heritage
Dr. Verna Yiu
President & CEO, Alberta Health Services
2020 Distinguished Speakers
Claudine Adlington
Advocate and Founder of Alberta Talks Pain.
Dr. Samina Ali
Professor, Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta.
Dr. Werner Becker
Professor Emeritus, Department of Neurology, University of Calgary Founder of the Calgary Headache Assessment and Management Program (CHAMP).
Carol Bennett
Chief Executive Officer, Pain Australia.
Dr. Katie Birnie
Assistant Professor, Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, University of Calgary
Assistant Scientific Director, Solutions for Kids in Pain (SKIP)
Psychologist, Alberta Children’s Hospital
Dr. Fiona Campbell
Professor, Department of Anaesthesia, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto Past President, Canadian Pain Society, Co-Chair Canadian Pain Task Force.
Katie Caldwell
Person with lived experience. First year of medical school University of Alberta. Bachelor’s in Biological Sciences at the University of Calgary.
Dr. Hance Clarke
Director, Transitional Pain Program, Toronto General Hospital.
Julia Condrea
Social Worker, Mosaic Refugee Health Clinic, Mosaic Primary Care Network, Calgary.
Dr. Lara Cooke
Director, Calgary Headache Assessment and Management Program (CHAMP), Alberta Health Services.
Dr. David Dodick
Neurologist and world leader in the field of headache and migraine, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, Arizona.
Dr. Norman Doidge
Psychiatrist, Psychoanalyst, Researcher, and author of The Brain That Changes Itself, and The Brain’s Way of Healing.
Guy Felicella
Peer Clinical Advisor, British Columbia Centre on Substance Use.
Tracy Fossum
Advocate and Founder of Help Alberta’s Pain.
Dr. Michael Gold
President, United Stated Association for the Study of Pain (US ASP).
Maria Hudspith
Executive Director, PainBC and Co-Chair Canadian Pain Task Force.
Dr. Stefan Kertesz
Professor, Division of Preventive Medicine, University of Alabama.
Sheila Killoran
Certified Music Therapist, Tertiary Palliative Care, Grey Nuns Community Hospital, Edmonton.
Dr. Michael Knash
Associate Clinical Professor, Division of Neurology, University of Alberta.
Dr. Jaeun Macen
Certified Spiritual Care Practitioner, Alberta Health Services.
Dr. Jessica Merlin
Associate Professor of Medicine in the Division of General Internal Medicine and the Director of the Challenges in Managing and Preventing Pain (CHAMPP) clinical research center, University of Pittsburgh.
Dr. Melanie Noel
Associate Professor and Clinical Psychologist, Director of the Alberta Children's Pain Research Lab.
Dr. Tara Packham
Occupational Therapist, Assistant Professor, School of Rehabilitation, Sciences at McMaster University.
Dr. John Pereira
Physician, Alberta Health Services, Chronic Pain Centre. President-Elect, Canadian Pain Society.
Shelly Prosko
Physiotherapist, Yoga Therapist, Author, Educator.
Dr. Maitreyi Raman
Clinical Associate Professor, Medical Director Alberta’s Collaboration of Excellence for Nutrition and Digestive Diseases.
Dr. Nivez Rasic
Medical Director, Vi Riddell Pain Program, Alberta Children’s Hospital.
Dr. Launette Rieb
Addiction Medicine Specialist and Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Family Practice, University of British Columbia.
Dr. Tasha Stanton
Associate Professor in Clinical Pain Neuroscience, University of Southern Australia.
Dr. Mick Sullivan
Canada Research Chair in Behavioural Health, McGill University.
Dr. Rob Tanguay
President, Pain Society of Alberta, and Co-Chair, Alberta Pain Strategy.
Lissanthea Taylor
Physiotherapist, Narrative Medicine Scholar, Pain Educator.
Dr. Susan Tupper
Strategy Consultant, Saskatchewan Pain Quality Improvement and Research.
Tracy Wasylak
Chief Program Officer, Strategic Clinical Networks and Co-Chair, Alberta Pain Strategy.
Hayley York
Person with lived experience.
PSA Award Nominations
The Pain Society of Alberta thanks your for your nominations for the following awards:
Pain Excellence Award that is dedicated to a clinician, researcher, educator or team in the areas of acute, chronic or palliative pain care. Candidates for this award are health care providers or a team that have exemplified excellence in their clinical or academic practices and have made a positive impact to patient care and delivery of services.
Pain Champion Award recognizes the significant contributions made by a person or a group of people, living with pain. There are many challenges to maintain a person’s health, manage their pain and create a flourishing environment of well-being. The Pain Society of Alberta wishes to acknowledge the efforts of those who advocate and improve the lives of other people and their families faced with similar pain issues.
Successful candidates will be presented with their award during the virtual conference.
Thank you to our Exhibitors
Our exhibitors will have ample opportunities to engage and network with our delegates to share research updates, and information about their products and services.
Thank You Chateau Lake Louise
Lake Louise, Canada
This pivot from an in-person to virtual event could not have been possible without the cooperation of the Chateau Lake Louise team, and especially through the collaborative efforts of Luc Drolet, our dedicated Regional Sales Manager from Fairmont Hotels, who has gone above and beyond to help us.
The Chateau Lake Louise is still offering our group rate of $199 per night on a first come, first serve basis based on hotel availability. Rooms can be booked from October 14 - 18, 2020. Parking, service charges and taxes are extra. We encourage you to take advantage of this amazing offer.
Stay at the Chateau Lake Louise
Although we are going virtual, the Chateau Lake Louise has graciously allowed us to still offer their discounted room rates.
The Historic Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise
Lake Louise, Canada
199.00/Night*
Surrounded by soaring mountain peaks, the majestic Victoria Glacier and a glistening emerald lake, the iconic Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise hotel is located in Alberta's Banff National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is recognized globally for progressive environmental stewardship and responsible tourism.
Book your accommodation into our reserved conference block by using the link below, or calling the reservations desk at 1.800.441.1414 or 403.522.1830.
Room rates available 3 days prior, and 3 days post conference, subject to availability.
*Fees and taxes are extra
Getting to Chateau Lake Louise
Take advantage of our travel discounts!

Chateau Lake Louise is approximately 2 hours from Calgary and 4.5 hours from Edmonton. The venue is within the Banff National Park and park passes are required. You can purchase a Banff Park Pass online or upon park entry.

West Jet is the designated airline for the 2020 Pain Society of Alberta Conference. Receive 5% off your Econo* reservation, 10% off of EconoFlex, and Premium fares for travel within Canada. To take advantage of this offer between October 9 - 24, 2020, use coupon code X25SM62. Please visit West Jet Conventions to book!
AVIS is the designated ground transportation supplier for the 2020 Pain Society of Alberta Conference. Receive up to 30% off from
Avis Canada on your online vehicle booking by entering D979218 in the AWD field from October 8 - 25, 2020. You can also reach the main reservation desk for further assistance at 1.800.331.1600.