The 2026 Annual Symposium of the Centre for Informal Dispute Resolution (CIDR)

The Annual Symposium of the Centre for Informal Dispute Resolution (CIDR) at Saint Paul University — Navigating Crises: The Evolving Role of ADR Practitioners and Ombuds in Turbulent Times — will be held on May 11th and 12th, 2026, in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, and simultaneously online.

In times of growing social, political, and organisational turbulence, the need for effective conflict engagement has never been more vital. Today, conflict is not only more visible but also more closely tied to systemic inequalities, broken trust, and conflicting values. This symposium welcomes proposals that explore how dispute resolution professionals address the increasingly complex challenges they face.

Our keynote speaker will be Dr. Bernie Mayer, a renowned author and respected practitioner, Professor Emeritus of Conflict Studies at Creighton University, and a Founding Partner of CDR Associates. His address, “The Neutrality Delusion—Intervening in Conflict during Perilous Times,” will encourage us to confront the tension between maintaining credibility as impartial interveners and taking principled stances based on the core values of our work.