草莓视频

Workshop A1: Speak with Presence: How words shape young minds in Early Childhood

Reena Kukreja is a passionate children’s life coach, former school teacher, ECE and homeschooling parent dedicated to empowering young minds and fostering holistic development. She specializes in teaching emotional intelligence, resilience, and communication skills, helping educators and parents transform the way they connect with children. Reena is an engaging speaker and author of the upcoming book "Speak with Presence: The Power of Words in Shaping Young Minds"

Workshop A2 - Creativity of Approach Beginners Drawing Skills for Adults (2 part workshop)

Kathleen Tonnesen is a Canadian painter, sculptor, author, poet and inventor, who has carved a professional career as a working artist since 1990. She is respected internationally and is dedicated to the enhancement of public spaces with meaningful and thought provoking art. She holds a Bachelor of Arts, Psychology degree from Thompson Rivers University in BC and has a background in Early Childhood Education Special Needs, and acting. Kathleen is a martial arts instructor and strives to connect families and communities through the language of art and martial arts. Her passion is working with children and unleashing the child within the adult, thereby encouraging personal growth. Kathleen is dedicated to inspiring the human spirit and is a frequent motivational guest speaker, and an art and magic tricks workshop instructor. She is the author of “How to Draw Step-by-Step Charcoal Portraits for Beginners” and the children's book “Matteo's Frightening Bone.”

Workshop A3 - Neuroscience of early brain developments and techniques to support neuronal growth

Zahra (Aysun) Ofoghi is a neuroscientist and researcher focused on understanding brain development in early childhood and the impact of digital technologies. She received her Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Clinical Psychology from the University of Tehran and her PhD in Neuroscience from the University of Calgary. She completed her postdoctoral training at Simon Fraser University and worked as a research manager at the Infant Studies Centre at UBC. She is currently completing her ECE training and has founded her childcare center, where she applies evidence-based techniques to create a nurturing environment for healthy brain development.

Workshop A4 - Spring Renewal

Erin Bruchet & Tenderwoods
Through the upheaval of 2020 and beyond, I benefited deeply from working with wool (needle felting). I followed the new passion, eventually incorporating the discovery into new offerings through Tenderwoods, my blend of gentle psychological education outreach via the expressive arts. While I focus on basic skills for working with wool, the material and its Nature themes are my vehicle for creative experiences focused on mindfulness and personal meaning. I bring a heart-filled, 'light-touch' version of Expressive Arts Therapies used in the clinical playroom to all who join me in my workshops. This is informed by my 15 year career as a Clinical Counsellor supporting children, youth and families through the dark and the light of the healing journey. I love what I do and look forward to sharing symbolic creativity time with others.

Workshop A5: Equitable workplaces: Know your rights to a fair workplace

Nora Bergh graduated from UBC law in 2013 and was called to the BC bar in 2014. Nora has focused her legal career to improving access to justice. As the director of BC programs at the Justice Education Society she oversees a range of programs that help British Columbians understand their rights.

Workshop A6: How to design for humanity: Bold, brave, impactful spaces for equity, inclusivity and excellenceA7

Bridgitte Alomes, CEO and founder of BC-based company Natural Pod, is dedicated to creating better learning environments through the use of beautifully designed and high-quality education furniture that is made from sustainable materials with an emphasis on environmental awareness and stewardship. Natural Pod was born from Bridgitte’s deep commitment to environmental responsibility and her desire to create inspiring, healthy spaces for children. Through her work, Bridgitte is shifting the paradigm of learning space design toward a more collaborative, intentional, and student-centric model.

Sandra-Lynn Shortall is an educational leader driving systemic change for inclusivity in public education, and her work focuses on the importance of human connection – the value of nourishing both the heart and the mind as the foundation of successful healthy human development, community connections, professional learning, student engagement and equitable access to educational excellence for all. Sandra-Lynn began her career teaching in Special Education on the east coast of Canada and has been a school administrator and district leader in West Vancouver for the past 21 years.

A7 - Being politically active educators

Aryanna Chartrand is a sessional Instructor at Capilano University, teaching courses for the Department for Education and Childhood Studies. She earned her MA in International Education Policy Analysis at Stanford University. Her research interests include teacher education, reconciliation in education, Indigenous pedagogies, and early childhood education (ECE) policy. Currently, Aryanna works as a research, planning, and pedagogy consultant with the BC Aboriginal Child Care Society and sits on the board of directors with 草莓视频and the Coalition of Child Care Advocates of BC (CCCABC).

Workshop C1 - Exploring anti-oppressive frameworks in the Early years

Ileana Neilson is an early childhood educator, instructor, and passionate advocate for both children and the environment. In her role as the Early Learning and Child Care Manager with the Board of Education of SD40, she learns alongside children, families, and educators. As an instructor in the Early Childhood Care & Education program at Vancouver Community College, she teaches a variety of courses designed to inspire and prepare future educators. She also serve as the co-chairperson for the Vancouver Reggio Association, where she supports professional learning opportunities and promote the Reggio Emilia philosophy. Deeply connected to nature and the world around us, she is absolutely mesmerized by whales and bring this sense of wonder and environmental advocacy into her work with children and educators.

Workshop C2 - You Can Implement Scandinavia Forest School Education Locally

Sarah Liu holds a master’s degree in early Years Education from world ranking No.1 university. She has studied early childhood education in 7 countries. She has worked as an ECE since 2010 upon graduating with a bachelor’s in finance. While teaching full-time in Singapore, the USA, Australia, China, and Canada, she earned four postgraduate degrees related to early years education in four continents. Her favourite educational approach is forest school education, she has done forest school training in Denmark, and visited Norway, Switzerland, England, and ten other countries' forest school daycares, including Australia’s bush school as immersion teaching visitors.

Workshop C3 - It’s Time to Reimagine British Columbia’s Provincial Child Care Licensing Regulation

Iris Berger is passionate about early childhood education as a distinct and ever-engaging realm of/for research and pedagogy. Iris has been involved in the field of early childhood education since the mid-1990s, first as a classroom teacher and later as a researcher, community organizer, policy consultant, and university professor.

Nancy van Groll has been involved in the field of early childhood studies as an early childhood educator, instructor, researcher, community organizer and advocate. Through her connections and experiences, she has developed a familiarity with the intricate tensions, strengths and areas of concern that characterize the landscape of early childhood care and education systems in Canada. She is particularly interested in climate-responsive pedagogies, and the ways children and educators collectively respond to ecological precarity in everyday practice.

Workshop C4 - Self-Awareness: The Strength Within - Part 1 (this is a full day workshop)

Kate Toye is a mother, spouse, professional, and woman of mixed heritage, she embraces the unique challenges we each face and the incredible transformation that healing can bring. With over six years of expert training in the multifaceted realms of trauma—emotionally, mentally, somatically, ancestral, and spiritually—she has amassed profound insights and skills. Navigating her own journey through unhealed trauma has equipped her with the wisdom to guide others in embracing their authentic selves and unlocking profound personal evolution.

Workshop C5 - Understanding Neurodiversity: Strengthening Connections, Identity, and Practice for Early Childhood Educator

Marlo Humiski (she/her/they/them) is an enthusiastic educator with over a decade of experience developing and delivering inclusive education programs. She oversees the Early RISErs program at LDS – Learn. Develop. Succeed., an innovative learning support program that brings together early childhood professionals and assistive technology to support families of young children with suspected or diagnosed learning differences in a neuroaffirming, strengths-based preschool environment.

Workshop C6 - Our Story - Supporting Dual Credit Students while honoring ECE Professionalism

Monique Belanger started her work with Chilliwack’s Dual Credit students through her involvement with ECEBC’s Leading Change Initiative. The Dual Credit Enhancement Program was able to continue through funding with an SVP micro-grant and is currently seeking 3 years additional funding. She strives to support new educators entering the sector through building connections and creating collaborative opportunities for conversation and learning. Monique has23 years of experience in the field of ECE, working directly with children, families, mentoring ECE graduates, and dual-credit ECE students.

Monique Goerzen is the Early Childhood Education Program Chair and associate professor at University of the Fraser Valley, an elementary school teacher, an early childhood educator, and outdoor adventure facilitator with youth and young adults. Monique is passionate about the value of play in her personal and professional life, motivating others to appreciate the wonder of learning through outdoor pedagogy.

Elizabeth McWilliams Hewitt is a behaviour consultant and educator, providing services to families raising a child or youth with developmental disability. Elizabeth also works as a sessional instructor at University of the Fraser Valley. Elizabeth implements her inclusive practice on the land with children and youth, with a focus on connection, relationships, and outdoor play as an integral part of well-being.

E1 - Storytelling From the Heart of Africa

Mekdes Gete is an early childhood educator with over 25 years of experience and a passion for storytelling. She founded Hibret Cultural School Society and created Story Time With Me to celebrate African traditions through storytelling, music, and dance.

Workshop E2 - Leadership Profiles in inclusion

Alycia Garcia (she/her) was an elementary school teacher before joining CanAssist as the Special Projects Team Lead. She is very passionate about inclusive education and child care for all children and is inspired by members of the community contributing to this work.

Cara Baudin (she/her) studied child development during her psychology degree and has previous work experience in the non-profit sector supporting adaptive recreation, education, and youth suicide prevention initiatives. She now works on an inclusive child care consulting team as a Communications Specialist.

Workshop E3 - The Ethics of Care

Charlene Gray is a Certified Early Childhood Educator with 35 years of experience working with children, families and educators. She has been a Best Choices Ethical Journey Guide for many years facilitating the training both in person and on-line. She enjoys the connection and shared learning that happens as she presents interactive workshops focused on such topics as Ethical Practice, Professionalism and the BC Early Learning Framework.

Workshop E4 - Seeing, Thinking and Growing Together - Towards a Culture of Reflective Practice

Marilen Hernandez is a culturally competent early childhood educator and an executive leader with a unique blend of experience in early childhood education and global leadership. After completing her Early Childhood Educator credential at North Island College, Marilen transitioned into the field of ECE with a strong foundation in leadership, coaching, and team development acquired during 15 years of managing culturally diverse teams across six countries: Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, Malaysia, India, the Philippines, and Canada.

Workshop E5 - Strengthening Self-Regulation through Self-Compassion ~ how to create more peace, patience and less overwhelm (2 part workshop)

Kate Toye is a mother, spouse, professional, and woman of mixed heritage, she embraces the unique challenges we each face and the incredible transformation that healing can bring. With over six years of expert training in the multifaceted realms of trauma—emotionally, mentally, somatically, ancestral, and spiritually—she has amassed profound insights and skills. Navigating her own journey through unhealed trauma has equipped her with the wisdom to guide others in embracing their authentic selves and unlocking profound personal evolution.

Workshop E6 - Where the rhythms flow...tea

Adrienne Argent is an instructor of early childhood care and education and a pedagogist, she holds a special interest in cultivating pedagogical values, dispositions and conditions that generate new ways of thinking and co-creating cultures of collectivity that are situated and responsive to our Westcoast surroundings. She is particularly concerned with relational pedagogical projects and collective experimentations that work to dismantle the sedimented presence of child development allowing for images of children, educators and relationships to be storied in vibrantly alternative ways.

Tatiana Zakharova-Goodman (she/her) is an instructor and atelierista in the Early Childhood Education Department, Capilano University and is currently pursuing a PhD at the Faculty of Education, Western University. Tatiana thinks at the intersection of pedagogy and arts and design, as she works to re-imagine relationship-attuned play as worlding. With background in arts and landscape architecture, Tatiana is deeply committed to thinking and doing early childhood education in critical, generative, and interdisciplinary ways.

Sylvia Kind, PhD, is an instructor and atelierista in early childhood education at Capilano University. Her artistic research engages with research-creation, a/r/tography, and feminist materialisms while exploring young children’s studio practices, their lively material improvisations and collective experimentations, and in developing understandings of studio research in early childhood contexts and the implications for teacher education.

Laura Lloyd-Jones is an Early Childhood Educator at Capilano University Children’s Centre. She has spent many of her adult years at Cap U beginning in 2001 as a classical voice student, then transferring programs to graduate with a diploma in Musical Theatre Performance in 2007. She spent years as a professional performer before returning to complete her ECCE Degree at Capilano University in the spring of 2021, during which she welcomed her girls Sailor Mae (now age 9) and Julep (now age 4). Laura is a passionate gatherer of poems, thrifted treasures, snacks and interesting people with stories to tell. Her work with tea rituals has evoked a deep sense of curiosity in her practice.

Johanna Po is an Early Childhood Educator who has worked at the Capilano University Children’s Center since 2003. The Center’s Atelierista, Sylvia Kind, current Center Pedagogist, Adrienne Argent, and past Pedagogista, Cristina D Vintamilla, greatly influenced her practice. Johanna has taken up the Studio Educator role, focusing on processes and research with young children. In her daily pedagogical practice, she illustrates her love of children’s books, storytelling, and curriculum-making and provokes others to think further about education.