Peter Smyth
Program Director, Organization for the Prevention of Violence (OPV)
2024
Peter has been a social worker with the Organization for the Prevention of Violence/Evolve Program since February 2021, and was a consultant for OPV starting in 2016. Previously, Peter was the overseer of the High Risk Youth Initiative with Children’s Services, Edmonton Region. He developed a practice framework and philosophy incorporating non-traditional intervention methods to better meet the needs of complex, troubled and street-involved youth population. Peter has written a book, book chapters and articles about issues confronting youth. He provides consultation, training and workshops on engaging and working with youth. Peter is a sessional instructor at the University of Calgary, Faculty of Social Work, and at the MacEwan University Social Work Program. The second edition of his book High Risk Youth: A Relationship-Based Practice Framework, was released in early 2024.
The catalytic power of this Summit in bringing together those who are devoting their lives to pushing back and working to confront, understand and work towards solutions around hate in our society is a noble and difficult task. The Summit not only energized those who attended but led to connecting the dots in a global network of those doing this work. The stories of the victims of hate were painful to witness but their courage in coming forward was inspirational. Those who attended left energized with the hope that by working together solutions can be forged.
