Communication and Conflict Resolution Workshop
Date: November 18, 2025
Time: 9am – 4:30pm PST, one hour for lunch
Location: Virtual via Zoom
HSA is pleased to have Kerry Palmer facilitate this one-day course to assist members in their day-to-day interactions with their HSA colleagues and their patients/clients. Communication is the cornerstone of a healthy, productive and engaging workforce, and as such, this course is an opportunity to build and enhance workplace/public engagement. It is recognized that all members bring their personal communication skill sets which are effective in most interactions. This course is intended to be a refresher for some and for others it will offer new communication considerations.
The course will begin with conflict learning and how many may enter conflict interactions with an adversarial approach, statement - react. You will next explore the considerations of grounding and self-expression in a collaborative approach, acknowledge and curiosity.
Next, you will delve into several communication skills which will assist you in demonstrating understanding of the other and balancing this off with self-expression. This session will also provide opportunities for you to participate in small groups for self awareness, and self-reflection. There will also be a few opportunities for practice with relevant case studies.
Facilitator Biography:
Kerry Palmer is a Metis citizen from the Red River Valley of Manitoba. For the past 23 years Kerry has operated his consulting business, Integrative Mediation Services in the areas of conflict resolution, mediation, facilitation, training, team support and executive coaching. Kerry is an instructor at Justice Institute of BC in the Conflict Resolution, and Aboriginal Leadership Programs. He has been part of the JI faculty for the past 20 years.
Kerry worked as a Child Protection mediator working under the Ministry of Justice for 16 years, and as a family mediator for 12 years. Currently he is a mediator for the BC Public Service Agency.
Kerry has certificates from the Justice Institute of BC in Conflict Resolution, Family Mediation and a specialization in Restorative Practices. He has also been a trainer with the International Institute of Restorative Practices in Family Group Conferencing. This training allowed him to work with the Penticton RCMP in a Youth Diversion Program where his role was in program development, as a trainer, and facilitator. Kerry also has a diploma from VCC in Adult Education.
Another area of Kerry’s work is within First Nations communities. Here Kerry has provided training, facilitation, and mediation services to chief and council, professionals, and community members.
This workshop is open to all HSA members. Priority will be given to members who have not taken an elective workshop in the last three years.
Participants must attend the full workshop. If you are unable to attend the entire day, please review our workshop schedule to find an event where you can participate to the fullest.
As per HSA policy, dependent care costs and wage replacement will be provided. Participants must request time off from their employer once the union confirms workshop acceptance. If the workshop is on a scheduled workday, wage replacement will be provided. If the workshop is on a day off, participants are entitled to bank the time as paid union leave to be taken at a later date.
Participants will receive wage replacement, and pre-approved dependent care costs for virtual workshops in accordance with HSA Policy.
Members must be able to attend the entire day. Members must complete a registration application by logging into My Events Registration using the prompts provided. Workshops are listed under Other events. Please call the HSA office at 604-517-0994 or 1-800-663-6119 if you do not know your HSA member ID number.