Megan McKay, MA

 

Education.

 

Master of Arts in Dispute Resolution 
2008 – School of Public Administration, University of Victoria 

Disciplinary streams: Peace & Conflict Studies, Law, Psychology, Social Work

Bachelor of Arts – General Major Social Sciences
2003 – University of Lethbridge 

Disciplinary streams: Sociology, Political Science, Anthropology

 

Professional Experience Highlights.

 

Roster Membership

  • Family Justice Services Family Mediator Roster (since 2019; Jan-Dec 2010)

  • Alberta Justice Civil Claims Mediation Program (since 2003)

  • Municipal Dispute Resolution Services Mediator Roster (since 2019)

Peace building

  • Nearly 20 years of experience in: mediation, conflict analysis, process design, convening multi-party processes, facilitation, restorative justice, conciliation, negotiation, and, conducting skill-based training

  • Worked in Canada, Ireland and South Africa with: separated parents, politicians, municipal administrators, youth, victims/survivors of sectarian violence, ex-combatants, environmental activists, lawyers, and university students 

  • Completed 70+ solo mediations to date in the area of family law, and 50+ solo and co mediations in the areas of civil law and community disputes

  • See Appendix I for details on courses and training

Research

  • More than nineteen years research experience in fields of: peace building, conflict resolution, social sciences, law, psychology, public policy, and health sciences

  • Wrote research reports for governmental working groups; evidence/medical summaries for lawyers; policy recommendations/best practices for United Nations; and managed evaluation projects for provincial government programs

  • See Appendix II for selected research papers

Management

  • More than two years of experience managing government staff and a roster of 90 private sector mediators

  • Modernized program delivery, designed and delivered educational opportunities, and cultivated relationships with stakeholders (Judiciary, lawyers)

  • Envisioned, implemented and supervised new mediator mentorship program

  • Convened and supervised 75-90 mediations per month for Provincial Civil Claims

 

Selected employment history.

 

University of Alberta Sociology Department —Teaching Assistant
January 2018 - April 2018 | Edmonton, Alta.

  • Mark 60 research papers for undergraduate Sociology class on Gender

Alberta Municipal Affairs Dispute Resolution Services – Advisor
March 2014 – September 2016 |  Edmonton, Alta.

  • Work with team convening mediations and collaborative projects in politically-sensitive environments

  • Support municipalities dealing with disputes or improving communication

  • Co-coordinate delivery of Education Program, including scheduling, logistics, requests for proposals and contracts

  • Teach and coach adults in courses offered through the Education Program 

  • Facilitate dialogues for group-building, issue focus and strategic planning

Alberta Justice Civil Claims Mediation– Manager/Coordinator 
February 2011 – March 2014 | Edmonton, Alta.

  • Responsible for supervision of three staff and roster of 90 volunteer mediators

  • Managed, coordinated and administrated court-annexed program for Edmonton and area, running 90 mediations per month with a 60% resolution rate and a 92% satisfaction rate

  • Expenditure officer for operating budget of ~$400,000.00

  • Provided support and input for program policy development, such as distance mediation and online dispute resolution initiatives

  • Attended ADR judicial study visit in Ireland and wrote summary report

Davidson & Williams – Legal Researcher (Casual)
November 2004 – February 2010 | Lethbridge, Alta.

  • Wrote evidence/medical summaries, history of legal system in Southern Alta

Alberta Justice Family Justice Services – Policy & Research Analyst
January 2009 – September 2009 | Lethbridge & Edmonton, Alta.

  • Responsible for research design, data collection/analysis, report writing for provincial streamlining project for Family Justice Services

Centre for Global Studies – Research Associate
July 2006 – December 2006 | Victoria, B.C.

  • Managed Canadian office of International Women's Rights Project

  • Wrote policy recommendations and best practices for the United Nations' "African Gender Development Index: South Africa Report"

Glencree Centre for Reconciliation – Volunteer
May 2003 – October 2003 | Republic of Ireland

  • Lived/worked with international volunteers responsible for centre’s operation

  • Facilitated muliti-party conflict resolution for youth, ex-combatants, victims/survivors

 

Selected public engagements.

 

  • November 26-27, 2014 – MDRS Education Program Course
    Coaching (Rocky Mountain House, Alta.) “Negotiating Effectively”

  • November 5-6, 2014 – MDRS Education Program Course
    Coaching (Cochrane, Alta.) “Workplace Conflict Resolution”

  • October 16, 2014 – Conflict Resolution Day Workshop
    Co-Facilitation (Edmonton, Alta.) “Values & Social/Cultural Influences on Conflict”

  • April 11, 2014 – MDRS Education Program Course
    Co-Teaching (Grande Prairie, Alta.) “Understanding Conflict Styles” 

  • May 13, 2013 – ADRIA Court Mediation Course
    Guest Lecture (Edmonton, Alta.) 

  • May 31, 2013 – Regional Courts
    Brief to members of the judiciary (Edmonton, Alta) “Civil Mediation Program” 

  • March 20, 2012 – Mediation Interagency Network
    Presentation (Edmonton, Alta.)  “Identity Conflict”

  • February 16, 2012 – Canadian Bar Association (Alternative Dispute Resolution - North)
    Panel Presentation (Edmonton, Alta.) “Choose Wisely – How to Pick the Right Time, the Right Process and the Right Person”

  • November 24, 2011 – University of Alberta, Faculty of Law
    Guest Lecture     (Edmonton, Alta.) "Mediation, the Canadian Legal System and the International Context"

  • October 14, 2010 – University of Alberta, Faculty of Nursing
    Presentation (Edmonton, Alta.) "Managing Campus Conflict: An Academic's Toolkit"

  • October 1, 2010 – Peace and Justice Studies Association Annual International Conference: Building Bridges, Crossing Borders – Gender, Identity, and Security in the Search for Peace
    Presentation (Winnipeg, Manitoba) "Guidelines Harvested from Ireland for Addressing Identity-Based Conflict"

  • May 2, 2009 – Community Conflict Resolution Services
    Presentation (Lethbridge, Alta.) "International Mediation and Restorative Justice: Working with Ex- Combatants"

  • April 29, 2009 – Alberta Civil Court Mediation Program,
    Presentation (Lethbridge & Medicine Hat, Alta.) "Addressing Deep-rooted Conflict: Guidelines Harvested from the Glencree Centre for Peace and Reconciliation"

 
 

Awards.

 

  • 2016/17 University of Alberta Doctoral Recruitment Scholarship ($15,000)

  • 2016/17 Gov’t of Alberta Queen Elizabeth II Graduate Scholarship ($7,500)

  • 2012 Gov’t of Alberta Assist. Deputy Minister Merit Award – Team Excellence

  • 2007/08 Department of National Defence Master of Arts Scholarship ($10,000)  

  • 2007 University of Victoria Graduate Fellowship

  • 1999 University of Lethbridge Entrance Scholarship 

  • 1999 Coalhurst High School Class Valedictorian

Appendix

 

Appendix 1
Courses, Training and Conferences Attended

 

2021

  • Prevent It! Prevent and Respond to Child Sexual Abuse - 2 hours

    Little Warriors

    - Online workshop

2020

  • Parenting After Separation for Families in High Conflict - 5 hours

    Alberta Justice

    - E-course

2020

  • Public Interest in Mediation and Arbitration - 2 hours

    Municipal Dispute Resolution Services Workshop

    - Edmonton, Alta.

2020

  • Best Practices For Mediation, Arbitration and Med-Arbitration in an Intermunicipal Context - 2 hours

    Municipal Dispute Resolution Services Workshop

    - Edmonton, Alta.

2016

  • Qualitative Methods – Fall Semester
    Dr. Ken Caine, University of Alberta Sociology Doctoral Program  – Edmonton, Alta.

2014

  • Multi-Party Mediation Course – 3 days
    Bill Diepeveen for the ADR Institute of Alberta – Edmonton, Alta.

  • Using Applied Theatre Games and Conventions in Facilitation Workshop
    Lauren Jerke, MA – Edmonton, Alta.

  • Meetings, Rules of Order and Effective Decision-Making
    Eil Mina  – Edmonton, Alta.

  • Municipal Roles & Responsibilities Workshop
    Municipal Affairs Capacity Building Unit – Edmonton, Alta.

  • Expanding ADR Energy: ADR Institute of Alberta 2014 Conference and AGM 
    Red Deer, Alta.

  • Looking Forward Retrospectively: Municipal Dispute Resolution Services Symposium
    Edmonton, Alta.

  • The Inner World of Disputes: Mind, Emotions & Biology of Conflict – Dispute Resolution Network Conference
    Cross-government – Edmonton, Alta.

  • People for People Conference
    Edmonton, Alta.

2013

  • Yoga Development Course – 4 months
    Yasodhara Ashram, Kootenay Bay, B.C.

“The YDC is an intensive three-month program designed to give students an in-depth introduction to the major branches of yoga and a foundation in personal and spiritual development. The course is of lasting value to all those who wish to deepen their yoga practice and make permanent changes in their approach to life.”

  • Hatha Teacher Certification – 2 weeks
    Yasodhara Ashram, Kootenay Bay, B.C.

  • Alberta Government Leadership Program – 18 months part-time
    Cross-government – Edmonton, Alta.
    Included six months of group work in online cafés and leadership clinics: Leadership 101, Coaching, Appreciative Inquiry, Leading through Conflict, Leading Change.

2012

  • Alberta Arbitration and Mediation Society Conference: “Expanding Resources”
    Edmonton, Alta.

  • Technology-Assisted Mediation – Teleconference & Skype
    Civil Mediation – Edmonton, Alta.

  • In Translation: Mediating with More Than One Language at the Table
    Civil Mediation – Edmonton, Alta.

  • Mediated Agreements for the Courts
    Civil Mediation – Edmonton, Alta.

2011

  • Alberta Justice Supervisory Essentials – Edmonton, Alta.
    Fundamentals of Supervision; Recruitment; Managing Performance; Getting Engaged

  • People for People 2011: Human Resources & Conflict Management Conference “Developing Self & Practice” 
    Flying Colors Inc. – Edmonton, Alberta

2010

  • Alberta Restorative Justice Association Conference 2010 
    Edmonton, Alta.

  • 2010 Annual International Conference: "Building Bridges, Crossing Borders" Gender, Identity, and Security in the Search for Peace 
    Peace and Justice Studies Association – Winnipeg, Manitoba

  • Art as a Tool for Building Bridges and Crossing Borders
    Sue Hemphill, Healthy Hive Organizational & Community Development Consulting –  Winnipeg, Manitoba

  • Engaging Polarized Groups
    David Falk, Facilitated Solutions – Winnipeg, Manitoba

  • Parenting After Separation
    Nancy McCalder and Farrel Shadlyn for Family Justice Services – Edmonton, Alta.

2009

  • Interest-Based Negotiation Skills
    Janis Pritchard for Alberta Courts’ Civil Mediation Program – Lethbridge, Alta.

2007

  • Public Policy, Law and Dispute Resolution 
    Maureen Maloney, Q.C., Faculty of Law – University of Victoria 

  • Social Work and Social Welfare: Community Developments & Conflict Resolution 
    David Turner for School of Social Work – University of Victoria

  • Workshop: Behind the Pandemic 
    Interagency Coalition on AIDS and Development – Victoria, B.C.

2006

  • Conflict Analysis and Resolution
    Gordon Sloan for Institute for Dispute Resolution – University of Victoria 

  • Conflict, Culture and Diversity
    Michelle LeBaron for Institute for Dispute Resolution – University of Victoria 

  • Dispute Resolution and International Human Rights
    Catherine Morris for Institute for Dispute Resolution – University of Victoria 

  • Theory and Conflict
    Dr. Tara Ney for Institute for Dispute Resolution – University of Victoria

  • Peaceful Conflict Transformation
    Dr. Johan Galtung, Transcend Peace University – Delivered via Internet 

  • Designing Peacebuilding Interventions, Conflict Transformation, and Reconciliation in 
    Divided Communities: Transcend Training Practitioners Workshop
    Kai Brand-Jacobsen for Transcend International – Victoria, B.C.

2005

  • The Art of Hosting and Convening Meaningful Conversations (Appreciative Inquiry,
    World Café, Open Space – 2 months
    Pioneers of Change – Johannesburg, South Africa

2003

  • Glencree Serve and Learn Programme (Mediation and Dialogue Facilitation)  – 6 months
    Programme Team, Glencree Centre for Reconciliation – Republic of Ireland

 

Appendix II
Selected Research Papers

 

Published

Clark, Alexander M., Tiny Jaarsma, Patricia Strachan, Patricia M. Davidson, Megan Jerke, James M. Beattie, Amanda S. Duncan, Chantal F. Ski and David R. Thompson,  “Effective Communication and Ethical Consent in Decisions Related to Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators (ICDs),” Nature Reviews Cardiology, 8 (December 2011), doi:10.1038/nrcardio.2011.101.

Master’s Thesis

Jerke, Megan, “Addressing Deep-Rooted Conflict: Guidelines Harvested from the Glencree Centre for Peace and Reconciliation, Republic of Ireland.” Master’s thesis, University of Victoria, 2008.

  • Co-supervised by Maureen Maloney LL.B., LL.M. (Faculty of Law, University of Victoria) and Eamon Rafter (Education Development and Training Officer, Glencree Centre for Peace and Reconciliation, Ireland)

  • Available online at http://hdl.handle.net/1828/1015


Conflict Resolution (Produced through coursework)

  • The Responsibility to Protect as an Approach to Conflict: Demonstrating the Consequences of Forgotten Parties Through the Lens of Gender

  • Court-Annexed Alternative/Appropriate Dispute Resolution: Envisioning Change for the Justice System Through Collaboration

  • Conflict Resolution in South Africa: Reconciliation and its Positive Relationship to Democratic Stability

Social Sciences (Produced through coursework)

  • Canadian Law and Spousal Abuse

  • The Importance of Law in the Protection of Rights and Equality

  • The Absence of Binding International Law and the Lack of an Enforcement Organization: The Composition of the International Community

  • Common Energy: Community Change Practice and Evaluation

Shall we work together?