Graduate Supervision Conference

Graduate Supervision Conference 2025

The annual Graduate Supervision Conference brings together the graduate education community to share insights and explore best practices in graduate supervision.

At the 2025 conference, attendees will learn from the leading experts, connect with peers from across the country, and find solutions to address today’s challenges in graduate education. This event offers a unique opportunity for graduate supervisors to gain actionable tools and fresh perspectives, empowering them to build strong foundations for effectively supporting graduate students.

What Will We Cover This Year?

  • Trending topics in graduate supervision: Explore current trends and pressing issues shaping supervision practices in graduate education.
  • Student Perspectives: Hear firsthand accounts from students about their experiences, challenges, and insights into the supervisor-student dynamic.
  • New Strategies: Gain practical tools and strategies to navigate and resolve complex supervision scenarios effectively.

We welcome all members of the graduate education community – graduate supervisors, academic administrators, graduate students, and postdoctoral researchers – to join us online on May 9, 2025, at 11 a.m. ET.

Conference Agenda

Speaker:

  • Dr. Amy Warren, Associate Vice-President (Academic) and Dean of Graduate Studies (Memorial University)
  • Philippe-Edwin Bélanger, Director, Canadian Association for Graduate Studies

Session Title: Opening Keynote: Fireside chat with Dr. Bruce Shore and Heather McGhee Peggs 

Speakers/Panelist(s):

  • Dr. Bruce Shore, BSc, TchDip, MA, PhD

Bruce M. Shore is an Emeritus Professor of Educational Psychology in the Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology at McGill University, and former Department Chair and Dean of Students. His research is on inquiry-based learning at all levels of education, and academic and social characteristics of giftedness. He has been recognized for his graduate advising and other teaching by the Faculty of Education Distinguished Teaching Award, the university’s David Thomson Award for Excellence in Graduate Teaching and Supervision, the Principal’s Prize for Excellence in Teaching, and by the Canadian Committee for Graduate Students in Education Mentorship Award.

Bruce is the author of the conference’s key publication: The Graduate Advisor Handbook: A Student Centred Approach Conference registrants can purchase the handbook at an exclusive 30% discount using the code UCPNEW.

Order here: The Graduate Advisor Handbook: A Student Centred Approach 

  • Heather McGhee Peggs, LLB

Heather is an ombuds, lawyer, and the author of Supervising Conflict: A Guide for Faculty (UTP, 2023) and its companion online course for faculty. As Director and co-founder of JustEquitable Inc, she provides conflict and complaint management consulting services to organizations across Canada. Her career spans corporate, academic, and health care sectors, including practicing law at Stikeman Elliott LLP in Toronto, serving as Assistant Ombudsperson at Ryerson (now Toronto Metropolitan University), developing the Graduate Conflict Resolution Center at the University of Toronto, and leading the early resolution team at Patient Ombudsman. Heather is a passionate advocate for fairness and early resolution – empowering individuals and organizations to resolve concerns earlier and more effectively.

Conference registrants can purchase Heather’s course and book at an exclusive 25% discount. 

  • Course: Register here  using the code resolvegradconflict.
  • BookOrder here using the code Peggs25 (Code valid until June 30, 2025).

Moderator: 

  • Dr. Carissa Brown (Memorial University)

Session Title: Panel Discussion: Student Perspectives on Faculty Supervision

Speakers/Panelist(s):

  • Cindy Vieira, BSc, Master’s Student, University of Toronto

Moderator: 

  • Dr. Ian Wereley, Executive Director, Canadian Association for Graduate Studies

Session Title: Case Studies: Graduate Supervision in Focus

Speakers/Panelist(s):

  • Dr. Nancy Lee Heath (McGill University)

Moderator: 

  • Dr. Beverly Fitzpatrick (Memorial University)

Speakers/Panelist(s):

  • Dr. Brent Snook (Memorial University of Newfoundland)

Moderator:

  • Dr. Ross Swanson (McGill University)