Sport Law Invited Canadian Sport Community to Register for Dispute Resolution Essentials, Featuring Keynote Speaker Judy Kent, C.M

August 21, 2026 - (Gatineau, QC) - General registration for Sport Law’s Dispute Resolution Essentials (DRE) is now open! A two-day training program taking place November 21–22, 2026, at CÉGEP Heritage College in Gatineau, Québec, DRE is for sport organization leaders, dispute resolution practitioners, discipline and appeal panel members, athlete representatives, and legal professionals working across the sport sector.

Seats are limited to maximize opportunities for engagement and discussion.

DRE responds to a gap in Canadian sport: the people tasked with navigating disputes such as internal selection appeals, member disputes, field-of-play decisions, and code of conduct hearings often do so without formal training.

This immersive two-day program equips participants with the procedural fundamentals and practical skills to handle sport disputes fairly, efficiently, and with confidence.

Program Highlights

Format: Two-day, in-person intensive

Location: CÉGEP Heritage College, Gatineau, Québec

Dates: November 21 - 22, 2026

Led by: Sport Law co-chairs Will Russell and Angie Bellehumeur

Keynote: Judy Kent, C.M.

Includes: Real-world case studies, instruction from experienced Sport Law lawyers, education from expert guest speakers, interactive breakout sessions, a networking social, and a certificate of completion. Participants will also receive a Dispute Resolution Guidebook.

Schedule

Day 1 – Saturday, November 21

• 8:30 am – Registration
• 9:00 am – 4:00 pm – Educational sessions, including Understanding Jurisdiction and the Canadian Sport Landscape, Canadian Administrative Law 101, the Core Elements of a Dispute Resolution Process, Effective Hearing Management, and a Decision Writing Primer
• 12:00 – 1:00 pm – Keynote lecture with Judy Kent, C.M.
• 6:00 – 9:00 pm – Networking social

Day 2 – Sunday, November 22

• 9:00 am – 3:30 pm – Experiential learning, applying training from Day 1

Keynote Speaker: Judy Kent, C.M.

The program will feature a keynote address from Judy Kent, C.M., a trailblazer who has spent a lifetime proving that sport can be a powerful force for social change.

Judy broke barriers at nearly every level of Canadian and international sport: in 1992 she became the first woman to serve as a voting delegate at an Annual General Assembly of the Commonwealth Games Federation, and from 1994 to 1998 she served as the organization’s first female president while also acting as Canada’s first female Chef de Mission at the 1994 Commonwealth Games in Victoria.

Beyond Canada, Judy helped establish Generations for Peace in Amman, Jordan, training more than 1,000 leaders from conflict-affected regions to use sport as a tool for peacebuilding. Her achievements include being named one of Canada’s Most Influential Women in Sport, receiving the Commonwealth Games Federation’s Order of Merit, induction into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame, and, in 2024, being named a Member of the Order of Canada for her advocacy for gender equality and inclusion in sport.

Who Should Attend

DRE is designed for sport organization leaders and decision-makers at all levels of Canadian Sport.

While experience is not a prerequisite, prior experience helps ground the educational sessions.

Cost

Individual $675+ tax
Group $599+ tax

How to Register

Registration information is available here.

Organizations interested in booking a group rate are encouraged to contact co-hosts Will Russell (wrussell@sportlaw.ca or Angie Bellehumeur directly at (abellehumeur@sportlaw.ca

Details about guest speakers and additional opportunities will be announced in the coming months.

REGISTER HERE

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