Annual conference

 Each year PIA hosts an advocacy conference addressing pressing public interest issues in Alberta. These conferences are essential opportunities to work with other individuals and organizations in developing public solutions that strengthen our communities and provide us with the tools to mobilize us into action to build a better Alberta for all.

2013 - 7th Annual Conference - Fighting for Our Future: People Power vs. Corporate Control

Our past conferences:

2012 - 6th Annual Conference - Make Shift Happen: Mobilizing the Power of the People

Keynote speaker: John Ralston Saul

Plenary speakers:

• Armine Yalnizyan, Senior Economist, Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives
• Dr. Danielle Martin, Board Chair, Canadian Doctors for Medicare
• Anil Naidoo, Coordinator, Blue Planet Project
  

2011 - 5th Annual Conference- Mobilizing for a Better Alberta: Strong Communities, Public Solutions

Click here for more video and audio from the 2011 Conference. You can also visit our YouTube Channel to check out PIA's videos.

Keynote speaker: Dr. Dennis Shirley, Professor, Lynch School of Education, Boston College

Plenary speakers:

• Rob Hopkins (via live video feed), Co-Founder, Transition Town Movement
• Dr. Ritika Goel, Co-Founder, Students for Medicare
• Dr. Trevor Harrison, Professor of Sociology, University of Lethbridge
• Walter Davis, Executive Director, National Organizers Alliance

2010 - 4th Annual Conference - Worth Fighting For: Public Solutions and Our Common Future

Keynote speaker: David Korten, author of When Corporations Rule the World and Agenda for a New Economy

Plenary speakers: Robert Chernomas, a well-published Professor of Economics at the University of Manitoba, Alex Molnar, an expert on the commercialization of public education from Arizona State University, Natalie Mehra of the Ontario Health Coalition, Ricardo Acuna, Executive Director of the Parkland Institute, and Meera Karunananthan, National Water Campainger for the Council of Canadians

2009 - 3rd Annual Conference - Beyond Band Aids and Bailouts: Public Solutions in Critical Times

Keynote speaker: Judy Rebick, CAW-Sam Gindin Chair, Social Justice & Democracy, Ryerson University

Plenary speakers: Dr. Elaine Bernard, Executive Director, Labor and Worklife Program, Harvard Law School; Margrete Strand Rangnes, Deputy Director, Blue Green Alliance; Dr. Robert Woollard, Canadian Doctors for Medicare; Diana Gibson, Parkland Institute

2008 - 2nd Annual Conference - Not for Sale: Promoting Public Solutions in Today's Alberta

Speakers: Avi Lewis, Allyson Pollock, Deb Brennan, Heather-jane Robertson and Maude Barlow.

2007 - 1st Annual Conference - Changing Alberta: Pursuing the Public Interest

Keynote speaker: Tony Clarke, President, Polaris Institute

Plenary speakers: Tyson Slocum, Director, Public Citizen's Energy Program in Washington D.C.; Annie Kidder, Executive Director and Co-Founder, People for Education; Monica Lysack, Executive Director, Child Care Advocacy Association of Canada