IMPORTANT NOTE: There are three combinations available for the full day event! Please select the combination of different workshops you would like to attend for the whole day.

Join us for a full-day professional development event designed for Early Childhood Educators and Child Care Providers and Workforce. The conference will feature inspiring keynote presentations, hands-on skill-building sessions, and networking opportunities with colleagues across the sector.

What’s included:

· Morning snacks & lunch
· Certificate of participation
· Engaging sessions tailored to early childhood professionals

Morning Workshops (9:30am-11:30am)

A – Trying Differently: A Positive Approach to Challenging Behaviours with Malgosia Tomanik

Most approaches to challenging behavior focus on compliance, not understanding. This workshop shifts the focus from punishing the child to understanding their needs. We will explore how brain development and relationships are the keys to reframing our responses, changing the environment, and developing effective support strategies.

About the presenter: Malgosia Tomanik, M.Ed., is a Family Consultant and FASD Key Worker specializing in neurodiversity. She supports children and their caregivers by making sense of challenging behaviors and finding practical strategies for home, school, and childcare settings.

B – Art & Engagement Everyone to The Table with Margot Wright

Art is personal—an open-ended experience that blends emotion, sensory awareness, and communication. It builds confidence and community. No special skill is needed—only curiosity and the freedom to explore. By facilitating art for children, we open doors to their imagination and empower them from the very start.

About the presenter: Margot Wright (ECE, IT) brings over forty years of diverse experience in early childhood education. Each role has deepened her practice through reflection, adaptation, and collaboration. She believes quality workshops help educators grow together to become the teachers children deserve.

C – Rooted in Wellness: Personal Practices for ECE Professionals with Julia Davies Dawson

Empower yourself with sustainable wellness practices. This workshop helps early childhood educators identify personal “glimmers”—moments of joy and connection—to prevent burnout and renew your capacity to care for others. Create a personal collage and leave inspired with a clear wellness vision.

About the presenter: Julia Davies Dawson is a certified Empowerment Coach, Trauma-Informed Practitioner, and Forest Play Educator (ages 3–11). A former licensed school-age childcare owner (2011–2023), she holds credentials in Early Childhood Education, UK Playwork, and High Five training. She has further specialized in wellness counseling, nutrition, and nature-connected learning.

Afternoon Workshops (1:30pm-3:30pm)

D – Behaviour in the Early Years with Alycia Garcia and Cara Baudin

This workshop includes information on how to approach behaviours (particularly the ones that challenge us) inclusively and curiously. We shift away from compliance and age-based development and focus on behaviour as a communication tool and meeting children where they are at.

About the presenter: Alycia Garcia (she/her) is the Special Projects Team Lead at CanAssist and a PhD candidate in Educational Studies. A former elementary teacher, she is passionate about advancing inclusive education and childcare.

Cara Baudin (she/her) is a Communications Specialist on an inclusive childcare consulting team. She leverages a background in child development psychology and non-profit experience in adaptive recreation and youth suicide prevention.

E – Storytelling Through Story Baskets with Oana B Nistor

In our digital age, storytelling fosters crucial creative thinking and skills like listening and problem-solving. Discover Story Baskets—a hands-on way to spark imagination and learning. In this workshop, you will learn how to build stories with loose parts and using a story basket effectively.

About the presenter: Oana B Nistor is an Early Childhood Educator and Montessori teacher with over 20 years of experience. She now shares her expertise as an ECE instructor at Ridge Meadows College. Passionate about the profound power of storytelling, she believes in its unique ability to teach and inspire both children and adults.

F – Creating Inclusive Environment for Everyone with Susan Garcia Wong

An inclusive environment is a safe, respectful community where everyone can grow and learn. This session will explore how to shift your mindset and adapt your routines and spaces to meet the needs of every child.

About the presenter: Susan Garcia Wong has specialized in supporting children with extra needs for 28 years. She currently serves as both a Supported Child Development Consultant for Richmond and the Training Coordinator for Richmond CCRR.