AN INTRODUCTION TO CULTURAL COMPETENCY:
WHAT IS IT?
The CRPO has clearly mandated all Registrants to continue developing our cultural competencies. But what does that actually mean in practice?
Round-table presenters:
Shanique Victoria Edwards, B.Sc., M.Div.(cand) completed her
undergraduate degree at the University of Toronto in Neuroscience and Psychology and will be graduating with a Masters from Tyndale University in Clinical Counselling in May 2023. She works as a psychotherapy intern with the Salvation Army Oshawa working with diverse clients who struggle with various mental health and substance abuse disorders. She is a member of Black Mental Health Canada’s Circle of Leaders and Founder and CEO of the Eden Legacy Foundation, works as knowledge translation coordinator for the Cundill Centre for Child and Youth Depression at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH). Her areas of research focus on race-based traumatic stress injuries, post-traumatic growth and resilience in BIPOC individuals as well as addressing the impact of systemic and institutional racism to foster organizational change and equity for all persons of colour.
With over a decade of professional experience in healthcare, Shanique has held diverse administrative, operational and clinical roles in both primary and mental health care. She is very passionate and loves working with young adults and underserved, vulnerable populations. She is Founder and CEO of the Eden Legacy Foundation focused on leadership development, skills building and mentorship of youth and young adults. Shanique consistently volunteers her time in various capacities that empower and edify both young men and women. She has helped organize and host national and global conferences and workshops for individuals, organizations and professionals. Through all her various endeavors, Shanique consistently strives to inspire individuals to push through their limitations, live in the realm of their full potential, and actualize their dreams. She is an avid reader, writer and loves to travel.
psychoanalyst in Toronto. He is Chair of the scientific committee at the Toronto Institute for Psychoanalysis and a member of the Committee for Gender and Sexuality of the IPA. He is faculty at the University of Toronto (Department of Applied Psychology and Human Development), the Toronto Institute for Psychoanalysis, the Toronto Institute of Contemporary Psychoanalysis, and the Canadian Institute for Child and Adolescent Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy. His book Transsexuality and the Art of Transitioning: A Lacanian Approach won the American Academy & Board of Psychoanalysis’ annual book prize for books published in 2015. He is the winner of the Symonds Prize (2016). His edited collection titled: Critical Debates in the Transsexual Studies Field: In Transition (Routledge) was a runner up for the 2019 Gradiva Award. He is also the winner of the 2022 Ralph Roughton Award. 
Dr. McMurren feels privileged to practise medicine & provides integrative medical psychotherapy, primarily for physicians and artists struggling with grief and overwhelm. He’s a Certified Hakomi Practitioner & provides acupuncture-assisted psychotherapy. Dr. McMurren also has a small home-visiting palliative practice for long-living people with advanced illness.
At the moment, Dr. McMurren is honoured to be the Co-Chair of the Practising Well Implementation Group at the Ontario College of Family Physicians, & the Co-Chair of the National Consortium for Indigenous Medical Education (NCIME) Working Group on Physician Wellness and Joy in Work.