2026 International Courthouse Dogs Conference: Full Schedule

The opening land acknowledgment and blessing at the 2026 International Courthouse Dogs® Conference is made possible through the generous support of the Vancouver Police Foundation. We are grateful for their partnership in honoring the traditions of the land on which we gather for this special conference.

Speakers

Elder Dennis Joseph

Squamish Nation

Xwechtaal Dennis Joseph is an Elder Statesman from the Squamish Nation where he served on Chiefs and Council for 28 years and worked there for 40. He is the first Indigenous person in Canada to be appointed via legislature to a Police Board at West Vancouver. A volunteer co-founder... Read More →

Wednesday October 7, 2026 9:15am - 9:30am PDT
Coal Harbour Ballroom

Mainstage

9:30am PDT

KEYNOTE: From Survivor to Advocate: Transforming Trauma into Justice and Empowerment

Wednesday October 7, 2026 9:30am - 10:30am PDT

Coal Harbour Ballroom

Kara Robinson Chamberlain is one of the most compelling survivor advocates of our time. At age 15, Kara was abducted from her front yard in Columbia, South Carolina and held captive for 18 hours before making a daring escape. Rather than letting that experience define her as a victim, she transformed it into a lifelong commitment to justice, advocacy, and the empowerment of survivors everywhere....
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Speakers

Kara Robinson Chamberlain

I never set out to become a public speaker—but my story made sure I wouldn’t stay silent.

In 2002, at age 15, I was kidnapped from a friend’s front yard at gunpoint. For 18 hours, I gathered every detail I could while enduring the unthinkable, and when I escaped, I gave law enforcement the information that identified my captor—a man responsible for the murders of at

... Read More →

Wednesday October 7, 2026 9:30am - 10:30am PDT
Coal Harbour Ballroom

Keynote, Opening

10:50am PDT

A Province at a Time: How Quebec Built a Government-Backed Justice Dog Program

Wednesday October 7, 2026 10:50am - 11:50am PDT

Coal Harbour Ballroom

Speakers

Charlotte Moses-Bélanger

Clinical Counselour, Mira Foundation

Charlotte Moses Bélanger is a clinical counselor holding a master’s degree in psychoeducation with nearly two decades of experience with the Mira Foundation, where she has been involved since 2008.

She has developed a strong understanding of the different stages in the life cycle of assistance dogs, from selection and training to matching, active service, and retirement, as well as their meaningful impact on beneficiaries.She specializes in project evaluation and in supporting... Read More →

Wednesday October 7, 2026 10:50am - 11:50am PDT
Coal Harbour Ballroom

Mainstage

11:50am PDT

Conference Group Photo

Wednesday October 7, 2026 11:50am - 12:00pm PDT

Capture group photo with all of our conference attendees.

Wednesday October 7, 2026 11:50am - 12:00pm PDT

Administration / Announcements

12:00pm PDT

Day 1 Lunch

Wednesday October 7, 2026 12:00pm - 1:00pm PDT

Coal Harbour A Foyer

Wednesday October 7, 2026 12:00pm - 1:00pm PDT
Coal Harbour A Foyer

Lunch

1:00pm PDT

Purpose-Bred Dogs: The Case, the Challenges, and the Future of Supply

Wednesday October 7, 2026 1:00pm - 1:50pm PDT

Coal Harbour Ballroom

The facility dog model depends on a pipeline of exceptional animals — dogs bred, raised, and trained for the specific demands of justice work. In this session, Jackie Clark explores what purpose-bred dogs offer that other placements cannot: more predictable temperament and health, the ability to match a dog to an agency's specific needs, advance planning for retirement and succession, and the...
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Speakers

Jackie Clark

Co-Founder, Working Dog Innovations

Wednesday October 7, 2026 1:00pm - 1:50pm PDT
Coal Harbour Ballroom

Mainstage

1:50pm PDT

PANEL: Trained for This: How ADI Programs Prepare Facility Dogs for Justice Work

Wednesday October 7, 2026 1:50pm - 2:45pm PDT

Coal Harbour Ballroom

Trained for This: How ADI-Accredited Programs Prepare Facility Dogs for Justice Work A panel moderated by Kim Gramlich, Justice Facility Dogs Canada Panelists: Charlotte Moses-Bélanger, Clinic Counselor, MIRA Foundation · Geneviève Deschênes, Canine Instructor & Training Coordinator MIRA Foundation · Courtney Starr, Head Instructor, Lions Foundation for the Blind · Jacob Rodgers, Senior...
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Speakers

Charlotte Moses-Bélanger

Clinical Counselour, Mira Foundation

Catherine Barrette

Apprentice Trainer, Pacific Assistance Dogs Society (PADS)

Geneviève Deschênes

Canine Instructor + Training Coordinator, MIRA Foundation

I have been a Dog Trainer and Guide Dog Mobility Instructor since 2014 with a diverse background working not only with dogs, but also with people, horses, and even camels.

Throughout my career at Fondation Mira, I have had the privilege of learning from several master dog trainers and developing my expertise through a variety of specialized training programs. My experience includes training autism assistance dogs for children, service dogs for individuals... Read More →

Kim Gramlich

Courtney Starr

Head Instructor - Autism Assistance Dog Guide Program and Facility Support Dog Program, Lions Foundation of Canada/ Dog Guides

Jacob Rodgers

Senior Manager, Client Care, Pacific Assistance Dogs Society (PADS)

Wednesday October 7, 2026 1:50pm - 2:45pm PDT
Coal Harbour Ballroom

Panel Discussion

3:00pm PDT

Budgeting for Your Facility Dog Program: From Day One to Retirement

Wednesday October 7, 2026 3:00pm - 4:00pm PDT

Canoe Room

Sustaining a facility dog program takes more than passion — it takes community. Sarah Grabner knows this firsthand. As a handler, Victim Assistance Supervisor, and CDF's Oregon State Liaison, she has built a grassroots funding approach that meets people where they are — civic groups, tabling events, speaking engagements, conferences, and everything in between. In this session, Sarah shares the...
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Speakers

Sarah Grabner

Victim Assistance Supervisor, Clackamas County District Attorney's Office

Dogs Attending

Nacho IV

Canine Companions, Clackamas County DA

Clackamas County (OR) District Attorney’s Office Courthouse Facility Dog; trained by Canine Companions.

Wednesday October 7, 2026 3:00pm - 4:00pm PDT
Canoe Room

Breakout Sessions

3:00pm PDT

Building a Facility Dog Culture: The Long Game

Wednesday October 7, 2026 3:00pm - 4:00pm PDT

Coal Harbor B Ballroom

Some programs survive. Gina Yeager's thrives — and has for nearly two decades, across three generations of facility dogs. As Victim Services Coordinator for the Fifth Judicial District DA's Office in Roswell, New Mexico, Gina has built something rare: an organization where facility dogs are not a program feature but a foundational expectation. New Victim Advocates must be willing to handle a dog...
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Speakers

Gina Yeager

Victim Services Coordinator, Fifth Judicial District DA Office

Gina Yeager is the Victim Services Coordinator, Violence Prevention Program Coordinator, and Court Facility Dog Coordinator for the Fifth Judicial District DA's Office in Chaves County, New Mexico. A third-generation facility dog handler, Gina has spent more than a decade building one of th... Read More →

Wednesday October 7, 2026 3:00pm - 4:00pm PDT
Coal Harbor B Ballroom

Breakout Sessions

3:00pm PDT

Heart Work: A Facilitated Discussion on Self-Care for Facility Dog Handlers

Wednesday October 7, 2026 3:00pm - 4:00pm PDT

Cypress Room

This work is hard. You show up for survivors, witnesses, and victims on their worst days — and you do it with grace, professionalism, and a dog by your side. But who shows up for you? In this facilitated group discussion, Katie Gray — founder of the Empowered Heart Foundation and a passionate advocate for handler wellness — creates a space for honest conversation about the emotional weight...
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Speakers

Katie Gray

President, The Empowered Heart® Foundation

Wednesday October 7, 2026 3:00pm - 4:00pm PDT
Cypress Room

Breakout Sessions

3:00pm PDT

Paws, Posts & Presence: Building Your Program's Visual Story

Wednesday October 7, 2026 3:00pm - 4:00pm PDT

Coal Harbour A Ballroom

Your facility dog is one of the most compelling storytellers in the room — and your social media presence should be too. In this session, Kim Gramlich, President of Justice Facility Dogs Canada and the creative force behind the beloved Paws with Puma channels, shares what she has learned building an authentic, engaging social media presence that goes far beyond cute dog photos. From Instagram to...
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Speakers

Kim Gramlich

Dogs Attending

Puma

PADS, Delta Police

I am a Justice Facility Dog, supporting victims of crime and trauma at Delta Police Victim Services. 🐾🚔

Instagram Profile

Wednesday October 7, 2026 3:00pm - 4:00pm PDT
Coal Harbour A Ballroom

Breakout Sessions

3:00pm PDT

Sparked: One Handler's Journey and What It Takes to Start a New Program

Wednesday October 7, 2026 3:00pm - 4:00pm PDT

Seymour

Every facility dog program begins with a moment — a story heard, a dog witnessed at work, a conviction that this is something your community needs. For Heather Martin, that spark came from another handler, and what followed was a journey of research, persistence, advocacy, and ultimately, a thriving new program in Castle Rock, Colorado. In this session, Heather shares her story — not just as...
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Speakers

Heather Martin

Court Supervisor II, Douglas (CO) County Courthouse

Hi, I'm Heather! I have worked for the Colorado Judicial Branch for 15 years in various roles including clerking for judges, in the Clerk of Court's office, and am now a Supervisor overseeing many different areas of the court. It was while working in a Dependency and Neglect docket... Read More →

Wednesday October 7, 2026 3:00pm - 4:00pm PDT
Seymour

Breakout Sessions

4:00pm PDT

The Science of the Bond: What Research Tells Us About Dogs, Stress, and Human Healing in High-Stakes Settings

Wednesday October 7, 2026 4:00pm - 5:00pm PDT

Coal Harbour Ballroom

We know it when we see it — a child's shoulders drop, a witness takes a breath, a survivor finds words they couldn't find before. But what is actually happening in those moments? Science is beginning to tell us. Dr. Kerri Rodriguez, one of the world's leading researchers in human-animal interaction, closes Day 1 with a session that gives the justice facility dog community something powerful: the...
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Speakers

Kerri Rodriguez

Assistant Professor of Human-Animal Interaction, University of Arizona

Wednesday October 7, 2026 4:00pm - 5:00pm PDT
Coal Harbour Ballroom

Keynote, Closing

5:00pm PDT

Day 1 Wrap

Wednesday October 7, 2026 5:00pm - 5:05pm PDT

Coal Harbour Ballroom

Speakers

Kim Gramlich

Sue Baker

Manager, Victim Services, Vancouver Police Department

Wednesday October 7, 2026 5:00pm - 5:05pm PDT
Coal Harbour Ballroom

Administration / Announcements

9:00am PDT

Day 2 Welcome & CDF New Program Announcement

Thursday October 8, 2026 9:00am - 9:15am PDT

Coal Harbour Ballroom

Day 2 opens with momentum. Board Director Sarah Cichos kicks off the morning with a handler-centered announcement that has been in the making — and one the CDF community has been waiting for. Come ready to be part of something new.

Speakers

Sarah Cichos

Board Director, Courthouse Dogs® Foundation

Thursday October 8, 2026 9:00am - 9:15am PDT
Coal Harbour Ballroom

Administration / Announcements

9:15am PDT

When Comfort Hurts: Empowering Handlers to Navigate Secondary Trauma

Thursday October 8, 2026 9:15am - 10:15am PDT

Coal Harbour Ballroom

You are the one who holds the space. You sit with survivors, support witnesses, and show up for victims on their hardest days — and you do it with steadiness, compassion, and a dog by your side. But the weight of that work goes somewhere. And for too many handlers, it goes unacknowledged. Secondary traumatic stress is real, it is common in this field, and it is not a sign of weakness. It is the...
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Speakers

Katie Gray

President, The Empowered Heart® Foundation

Thursday October 8, 2026 9:15am - 10:15am PDT
Coal Harbour Ballroom

Keynote, Opening

10:15am PDT

Internet Crimes Against Children: How Facility Dogs Support Investigators & Witnesses

Thursday October 8, 2026 10:15am - 11:15am PDT

Coal Harbour Ballroom

Internet Crimes Against Children investigations represent some of the most psychologically demanding work in the justice system. Day after day, investigators are exposed to deeply disturbing material — images and content that take a profound toll on even the most seasoned professionals. It is grueling, largely invisible work, and the people doing it need support. Facility dogs are changing that....
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Speakers

Brooke Walker

Thursday October 8, 2026 10:15am - 11:15am PDT
Coal Harbour Ballroom

Mainstage

11:30am PDT

Budgeting for Your Facility Dog Program: From Day One to Retirement

Thursday October 8, 2026 11:30am - 12:30pm PDT

Canoe Room

Speakers

Sarah Grabner

Victim Assistance Supervisor, Clackamas County District Attorney's Office

Dogs Attending

Nacho IV

Canine Companions, Clackamas County DA

Clackamas County (OR) District Attorney’s Office Courthouse Facility Dog; trained by Canine Companions.

Thursday October 8, 2026 11:30am - 12:30pm PDT
Canoe Room

Breakout Sessions

11:30am PDT

Fit for Duty: Keeping Your Facility Dog Healthy, Happy, and Working

Thursday October 8, 2026 11:30am - 12:30pm PDT

Coal Harbour A Ballroom

Your facility dog shows up for everyone else — this session is about showing up for them. Dr. Irene O'Brien, a veterinarian with firsthand understanding of the demands placed on working dogs, brings a practitioner's lens to one of the most important — and sometimes overlooked — aspects of running a successful facility dog program: the health and welfare of the dog at the center of it all....
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Speakers

Dr. Irene O'Brien

Owner, Scottsdale Veterinary Hospital

Dr. Irene O'Brien graduated from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan with distinction. She is an owner of Scottsdale Veterinary Hospital in Surrey, B.C. and has been enjoying the challenges of small animal medicine and surgery for more than... Read More →

Thursday October 8, 2026 11:30am - 12:30pm PDT
Coal Harbour A Ballroom

Breakout Sessions

11:30am PDT

Paws, Posts & Presence: Building Your Program's Visual Story

Thursday October 8, 2026 11:30am - 12:30pm PDT

Seymour

Speakers

Kim Gramlich

Dogs Attending

Puma

PADS, Delta Police

I am a Justice Facility Dog, supporting victims of crime and trauma at Delta Police Victim Services. 🐾🚔

Instagram Profile

Thursday October 8, 2026 11:30am - 12:30pm PDT
Seymour

Breakout Sessions

11:30am PDT

Your Voice, Our Roadmap: Shaping the Future of Facility Dog Research

Thursday October 8, 2026 11:30am - 12:30pm PDT

Cypress Room

The most important research questions don't always come from a laboratory — they come from the field. From the handlers, program administrators, and justice professionals who live this work every day and know firsthand where the gaps are, where the uncertainty lives, and what answers would make the biggest difference. In this session, Dr. Jennifer Thompson facilitates a structured conversation...
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Speakers

Dr. Jennifer Thompson

Science & Research Director, Courthouse Dogs® Foundation

Thursday October 8, 2026 11:30am - 12:30pm PDT
Cypress Room

Breakout Sessions

12:30pm PDT

Day 2 Lunch

Thursday October 8, 2026 12:30pm - 1:30pm PDT

Coal Harbor B Ballroom

Thursday October 8, 2026 12:30pm - 1:30pm PDT
Coal Harbor B Ballroom

Lunch

1:30pm PDT

Panel: Beyond the Courtroom, Facility Dogs in Crisis and Community Response

Thursday October 8, 2026 1:30pm - 2:30pm PDT

Coal Harbour Ballroom

Beyond the Courtroom: Facility Dogs in Community & Crisis Response Gina Yeager · Kim Gramlich · Amber Urban · FBI Representatives (pending) The courthouse is where most people think the work ends. It isn't. Facility dogs are increasingly being called to respond beyond the walls of the justice system — to school shootings, mass casualty events, community tragedies, and moments of collective...
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Speakers

Kim Gramlich

Gina Yeager

Victim Services Coordinator, Fifth Judicial District DA Office

Amber Urban

Director of Victim Services, 18th Judicial District Attorney's Office

Starting new Courthouse Facility Dog programs, Training dogs for use in courts, Using dogs to respond to critical events.

Thursday October 8, 2026 1:30pm - 2:30pm PDT
Coal Harbour Ballroom

Panel Discussion

2:30pm PDT

Honoring Our Dogs: New, Retired & Remembered

Thursday October 8, 2026 2:30pm - 3:00pm PDT

Coal Harbour Ballroom

In this world, the dogs are never just dogs. They are partners, colleagues, healers, and friends — and every milestone in their lives deserves to be marked with the same intention and care they bring to ours. This ceremony is a moment to pause in the middle of everything we do and honor the dogs at the heart of it all. We celebrate the newest members of the justice facility dog community — the...
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Thursday October 8, 2026 2:30pm - 3:00pm PDT
Coal Harbour Ballroom

Mainstage

3:20pm PDT

Closing Keynote: A Dog That Saved My Life — The Story of Jesse and Jade

Thursday October 8, 2026 3:20pm - 4:20pm PDT

Coal Harbour Ballroom

On July 16, 2022, Constable Jesse Schellenberg and his canine partner PSD Jade responded to a call like so many before it — dangerous, unpredictable, and requiring everything they had. What happened that day would stay with Jesse forever. He credits going home alive that night directly to the training and preparation he and Jade had received together — a testament to what true partnership...
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Speakers

Jesse Schellenberg

Constable, Vancouver Police Department

Thursday October 8, 2026 3:20pm - 4:20pm PDT
Coal Harbour Ballroom

Keynote, Closing

5:05pm PDT

Passing the Torch: 2027 Conference Location Announcement

Thursday October 8, 2026 5:05pm - 5:15pm PDT

Coal Harbour Ballroom

Passing the Torch: 2027 Conference Location Announcement Kim Carroll, Board President, Courthouse Dogs® Foundation Every great conference ends with a promise — that the community will gather again, that the work will continue, and that the next chapter is already taking shape. Board President Kim Carroll closes the 2026 International Courthouse Dogs® Conference with the announcement of our...
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Speakers