08/28/2025
The theme for this fall conference is "Creating Inclusive Spaces Where All Children Belong". The conference will focus on providing opportunities for educators to explore current best practices to include children with diverse learning needs and how to strengthen their practices so they are providing more equitable care, safe spaces for all children and families and promoting an enriching environment that encourages a sense of belonging, builds a sense of community and enhances their growth and development.
Keynote Speaker
Alison Bledsoe is a long time Early Childhood champion with a diverse range of experiences, an ongoing nurturing capacity and passion for making the world a better place for young children, the families raising them and the Educators and Caregivers that surround them. She has lived Early Years Practice in many contexts from working front line in child care and family support programs, leading teams of Educators in non profit settings; partnering with school districts in the provision of licensed child care, leading various funding/policy/development initiatives, managing Early Years investments for one of BC's largest philanthropic organizations as an ECE faculty member in public post secondary settings and a consultant for Early Years organizations and initiatives. Since it's inception the BC Early Year Framework has been central in much of Alison'w work--as well as her own growth and leadership development.Workshops titles and a brief description:
Empowering Children: Nurturing Consent, Respect and Autonomy
Presenter Karen LeSage has 30 years working with children and families in a childcare and community settings. She is a registered 200 hour Yoga Teacher, a 95 hour Children's Yoga Teacher, a certified Prenatal Yoga Teacher and trained in the Mindful Schools Curriculum. She uses yoga, mindfulness and gratitude practices as a platform to help people connect with themselves and other and find place in the world.
Workshop details: In this workshop participants will have the opportunity to reflect on and better understand their own feeling around children and consent. We will investigate how stories, songs, movies, and other forms of media influence our views about consent in children and how these influence affect children's views of consent. Participants will learn ways in which they can teach children about consent, respect and bodily autonomy.
Challenging Perspectives of Inclusion
Presenter:Adrianna Bazijanec is a Supported Child Development Consultant with Ridge Meadows Association for Community Living, completed studies at UBC in the Infant Development /Supported Childcare Program along with certifications in therapeutic approaches to care for children. Adrianna has worked with children and families in many settings for over 15 years and is an instructor at Ridge Meadows College in the Early Childhood Education Program.Anna Giacometti is a Supported Child Development Consultant with Ridge Meadows Association for Community Living. Anna has worked with children with diverse needs and their families for over a decade in homes, childcare programs, schools and custody centres. She hold s a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from UBC and a postbaccalaureate diploma in Criminology from SFU. Anna is also an instructor at Ridge Meadows College in the Early Childhood Education Program.
Workshop details: Rooted in the work Shelley Moore's research on attachment and self regulation, this workshop defines inclusion and explores current perspectives on what it means in early childhood settings. Participants will examine how inclusion can be fostered through thoughtful environments, identifying stressors, addressing barriersand cultivating a responsive caregiver mindset. Emphasis will be place on connection, coregulation and how to show up with best practice and conscious caregiving approach into inclusive childcare in our communities.
Literacy In Motion Literacy is the key to a brighter future and no one should be left behind! In this workshop participants will learn how lives can be changed one book at a time. Literacy is Motion has worked hard to make this happen and in 2025 was proud to find out they had won the Charity Non Profit of the Year award!
To register:
https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/1564357849439?aff=oddtdtcreator
