Registration for The Heart of Understanding is now closed. Our team is currently consolidating registration. If you have any questions or concerns about your registration, please contact kayla@striveswo.ca.

VIRTUAL MORNING KEYNOTE

The Heart of Connection: Leading with Empathy, Compassion, and Purpose

Facilitated by Dr. Rumeet Billan

In today’s complex and fast-paced world, it's easy to lose sight of what truly matters—our relationships. The ability to foster authentic relationships has become a critical differentiator for creating inclusive learning environments, strengthening connections, and driving meaningful, lasting impact in early childhood education. This keynote explores how empathy, compassion, and authentic connection are not soft skills, but strategic tools for improving outcomes, and leading with impact. Through research, storytelling, and real-world examples, we’ll explore how meaningful connections are not only the foundation of personal well-being but also the driving force behind impactful leadership, thriving workplaces, and resilient communities. Attendees will learn how empathetic practices can reduce burnout, earn trust, create moments of belonging in learning environments where everyone feels valued and heard.

Also available en français.

Dr. Rumeet Billan is an award-winning, internationally recognized entrepreneur, learning architect, speaker, author and humanitarian. Her mission is to transform workplace cultures through research, training, and experiences that enable trust, foster belonging, and build resilience. Dr. Billan is the CEO of Viewpoint Leadership, and completed her PhD at the University of Toronto and has designed and facilitated programs, courses, and training sessions across industries and sectors. She led the groundbreaking national research study on Tall Poppy Syndrome which reveals the impact of the silent systemic syndrome on women in the workplace. In 2020, she co-led the Canadian Happiness at Work study, in partnership with the Canadian Mental Health Association. She serves on the Board of Directors as Vice-Chair of First Book Canada. For details visit www.rumeet.com.

HEART TO HEART

WITH DR. JEAN CLINTON

Dr. Clinton will sit down with a Strive team member for a heart-to-heart to dive deeper into the powerful role empathy plays in our work with children. This conversation will make visible how leading with empathy, compassion, and purpose can serve as foundational and effective behaviour guidance strategies. This heart-to-heart will provide professionals with perspective and practical strategies to bring these approaches into their daily work with children.

Also available en français.

Dr. Jean Clinton is a Clinical Professor, with the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences at McMaster University, and was appointed as an education advisor to the Premier of Ontario and the Minister of Education 2014 - 2018. Dr. Clinton is a trainer in Dr. Bruce Perry’s Neurosequential Model in Education (NME). She works intensively with Michael Fullan and his New Pedagogies for Deep Learning team. She is also a member of the MindUP Scientific Advisory Board, as well as a MindUp for Families advisor. Dr. Clinton was a Fellow of the Child Trauma Academy, and has been a Zero to Three Academy Fellow since 2013.

She has been a consultant to children and youth mental health programs, child welfare, and primary care for over 35 years. Her special interest lies in brain development, and the crucial role relationships, belonging, and connectedness play.

Dr. Clinton is also the author of Love Builds Brains.

VIRTUAL VIEWING SPACES

Virtual viewing spaces are venues where individual professionals can register to view the morning events. These spaces are meant for professionals who do not have a centre location, space, or required technology to view the morning. The intention of these venues is to support accessibility and equitable access for the community.

If you are able to view the morning at your program, this is the recommended format. 

If professionals would like to attend a virtual viewing space, they are responsible for registering for that space.

Note: Registration at virtual viewing spaces only accounts for the morning presentations, and professionals who opt for this format will need to complete a second registration for their afternoon learning choice.

Doors will open at 8:30 AM. A light morning snack and lunch will be provided. At both of these venues you will view Dr. Rumeet Billan's virtual keynote, The Heart of Connection: Leading with Empathy, Compassion, and Purpose, as well as Dr. Jean Clinton's Heart to Heart conversation. To view the full descriptions, please visit the landing page by clicking HERE. 

Brookside Banquet Centre

Firerock Golf Club

Greek Canadian Community Centre of London

AFTERNOON BREAKOUTS (CHOOSE ONE)

Registering for your Afternoon Breakout acts as your Morning Keynote registration. If you are viewing the morning with your centre or from home, you DO NOT need to register for the morning separately. If you plan to attend a morning Virtual Viewing Space, you must register for that space in addition to registering for your Afternoon Breakout of choice.

  • Facilitated by Drew Dudley

    Location: Sunningdale Golf and Country Club (465 Sunningdale Rd. W. London, ON, N6G 5B9)

    The More than Words workshop is offered to help participants implement their plan for behaving impactfully everyday and reinforce why they matter while doing so. Featuring immersive simulations, timely discussions, practical instruction, and results-focused exercises, participants will work towards creating a system of accountability that drives engagement, connection, and impact in all facets of their lives and careers. In doing so, participants will:

    • Engage in a deeper, collective examination of the values they use to guide decision-making.

    • Translate those values into everyday behaviors.

    • Create action-driving questions to motivate the use of those behaviors.

    • Strategize for some of the daily challenges that could stand in the way of behaving impactfully.

    ***

    The former head of Canada's largest university leadership program at the University of Toronto, Drew Dudley is dedicated to helping people unlearn some dangerous lessons about leadership. The Wall Street Journal Bestselling author of "This is Day One: A Practical Guide to Leadership That Matters" and creator of the University of California Irvine's first personal leadership course, Drew's presentation has been called "one of the 10 speeches that will make you a better leader" by TIME magazine. 

  • Facilitated by Alycia Garcia (she/her), B.S., M.Ed. & Cara Baudin (she/her), B.A.

    Location: Greek Canadian Community Centre (965 Sarnia Rd, London, ON, N6H 5J9)

    Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is often misunderstood as a "one size fits all" approach to early learning and care. However, UDL is an approach that creates a learning ecosystem flexible enough to meet the unique needs of each individual learner, while also minimizing barriers to meaningful participation. In this session, facilitators Alycia Garcia and Cara Baudin will bring principles of UDL from theory to practice with the ultimate goal of fostering inclusion and belonging for all children. This session will be interactive with activities and moments of guided reflection. Participants will leave this session with tangible ideas of how to implement principles of UDL in their early learning and care programs.

    ***

    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.

  • Facilitated by Ana Valle Rivera, ECE, BCYC, MPEd

    Location: Marconi Club of London (120 Clarke Rd, London, ON, N5W 5E1)

    This workshop is underpinned by play pedagogies that are inclusive, trauma-informed and honouring of all children. In this workshop participants will discuss play as a form of research, meaning making and world making. In this workshop participants will learn about child led inquiry and think about ways to foster creativity and self expression through artistic expression. In this workshop participants will:

    - Think about ways to invite children to express themselves through art

    - Participant in an experiential style of learning with art materials

    - Engage in collaborative dialogue to promote generative thinking about meaning making

    ***

    Ana is a proud mother of three, a public speaker, a consultant, and the founder of Early Years Thriving. Ana has 18+ years of experience in the childcare field. She has direct experience working with children and families using inclusive and trauma-informed approaches. Ana has 11+ years of experience working in adult education and she currently supports ECE practicum students. Ana has 9+ years of experience as a workshop facilitator and has facilitated hundreds of professional development workshops for thousands of educators, teachers, and parents. Ana has a Diploma in ECE, a Bachelor’s Degree in Child & Youth Care, and is currently a Master of Professional Education in ECE.

  • Facilitated by Cara Caudle, MEd, RECE, FNP

    Location: FireRock Golf Club (10345 Oxbow Dr, Komoka, ON, N0L 1R0)

    Beneath every behaviour is a person trying to make sense of the world, and our senses help shape that story. In this lively and insightful session, early learning professionals will explore how the eight senses influence emotional well-being, connection, and relationships in early childhood settings. Together, participants will explore how sensory patterns and preferences shape children’s experiences during transitions, group interactions, and moments of dysregulation, while also considering the essential role adults play in co-regulating and how to cultivate compassion, patience, and care, even in the most challenging situations. Through relatable examples and guided reflection, participants will map their own sensory preferences and regulation strategies, building deeper self-awareness and presence in their daily practice. Along the way, participants will gather practical, relationship-centered strategies that support calm, connection, and inclusion across learning environments, with the aim of strengthening both their own well-being and the experiences of the children in their care.

    ***

    Cara Caudle MEd, RECE, FNP is the Owner & Director of Childhood Connect and a deeply passionate relational educator who leads children’s programs in Waterloo and professional learning for educational professionals across Ontario. Cara is dedicated to nurturing spaces for children where exploration, connection, joy, and learning can thrive, and actions this through her work with children and adults alike. Her approach reflects a wholehearted commitment to building communities of care that honour each learner’s voice, curiosity, and potential.

  • Facilitated by Janet Nezon, MHSc, Founder, Rainbow Plate

    Location: London Courtyard (820 Wharncliffe Rd S #24, London, ON, N6J 2N4)

    *This session is intended for cooks and dietary planners.

    Participants will consider their relationship with food; how they think and talk about it and how this influences their work. We’ll explore the key ingredients in Rainbow Plate’s joyful, sensory, and evidence-based approach and we’ll reflect on how they apply to their roles in the early years setting. We’ll experience this approach and put the key concepts into action in a fun and colourful chef challenge competition.

    We’ll explore and discuss the many roles of food beyond providing nutrition. We will consider the four foundations of “How Does Learning Happen?” in our discussion, with a particular emphasis on well-being and belonging. We’ll explore how food can bring people together, creating community and nourishing them through shared experiences and traditions.

    Participants will:

    • Reflect on their own relationship with food and eating and the potential challenges that can arise when we focus on “healthy eating” in our approach with children.

    • Consider the assumptions and judgements they hold about food and how children will interact with it.

    • Explore the many dimensions of food beyond providing nutrition.

    • Discuss how to move from a place of judgement to curiosity – to consider food from a child’s perspective.

    • Discover the key ingredients in Rainbow Plate's colourful and evidence-based approach.

    ***

    Janet holds a BSc from the University of Toronto, as a Specialist in Nutritional Science, and a Master of Health Science in Health Promotion, from University of Toronto’s Faculty of Medicine. She founded Rainbow Plate with a mission to translate theory into practice; to bring a vibrant and fresh approach to food education for children. Rainbow Plate’s joyful, sensory-based approach is backed by evidence, including our own published evaluation. It has been woven into engaging programs and resources that inspire children to cultivate lifelong positive relationships with food and eating. Since launching in 2012, Rainbow Plate programs and tools have reached more than 20,000 children and adults across Canada and around the world.

    After years facilitating experiential workshops for children, Janet now supports educators, parents, cooks, dietary managers, caregivers, and health professionals through practical workshops, speaking, and resources. She has inspired the advancement of food literacy in early years organizations, schools, summer camps, public health, and community settings. In addition to her academic background, Janet is a proud mom and a grandmother. Her work is rooted in evidence and seasoned with the flavours of real-life experience.

  • Facilitated by Sara Westbrook, Emotional Resilience Strategist
    *This session is also available to view virtually at the Brookside Banquet Centre virtual viewing space.

    Understanding yourself—including how your emotions affect you and those around you—is key to showing up as your best self. Developing self-awareness, managing emotions, demonstrating strong character, and taking ownership of your performance and well-being are essential for success in both your professional and personal life.

    In this keynote, Sara will share practical strategies to strengthen your Emotional Awareness, Emotional Management, and Emotional Resilience—insights you can apply to yourself and those you support.

    ***

    Sara Westbrook is a professional speaker, author, singer and Emotional Resilience Strategist. She has spent the last 18 years researching and presenting on the topic of emotions and the impact they have on choices, well-being and resilience in both adults and youth.

    Over half a million people have been inspired by Sara’s enthusiasm, life experiences and the transformational power of her message. She has appeared on many media outlets including Global, CTV, CBC, Sirius XM & Roku.

    When she is not presenting, writing, or singing, she can be found in her kitchen whipping up yummy, healthy treats for her husband and son or at the arena, with coffee in hand, watching her son play hockey.

  • Facilitated by Julie Hansen, Inspired ECE, Early Years Consultant & Andrea Rizzuto

    Join us for this journey in becoming diverse, equitable and inclusive Early Years Centres. In this workshop we will discuss information about multilingualism, dispel myths about this area, reflect on our own practice, and discuss the importance of self-awareness and objectivity.  We will share specific tools and strategies for educators to create warm and welcoming environments for everyone. The workshop includes the following early learning framework inquiries:

    Well-being and Belonging

    Nurturing a sense of well-being and belonging supports children as they learn about and investigate the world around them. 

    Children's Communication and Literacies

    Children use multiple modes of expressive language to communicate ideas, participate in relationships and make meaning in their homes and communities.

    Identities, Social, Responsibility, and Diversity

    A positive personal and cultural identity is the awareness, understanding and appreciation of all facets that contribute to a healthy sense of oneself.

    ***

    Julie has been an Early Childhood Educator (ECE) for 25 years, having received their diploma in Early Childhood Education from Douglas College. Since then, she has gained experience in a variety of areas within the field of ECE including being: Director of a preschool, supervisor of after-school care, being part of centre management, as well as  working within 3-5 and Infant/Toddler programs. Julie’s primary focus has evolved to encompass team leadership, management training, and program development. She has had articles published in provincial and national ECE journals on the topic of emergent curriculum and leadership. Julie’s goal as an ECE and facilitator is to support early years professionals in providing high-quality early learning experiences for children and families.

    Andrea Rizzuto is one of the Speech-Language Pathologists behind Playground Connections. Andrea has years of experience working in multi-disciplinary clinics and educational settings including a Toronto-based school board, which has given her exceptional experience in all areas of pediatric speech language pathology. She has hosted a wide variety of teacher and parent training workshops on a range of topics related to speech and language issues across Canada. Playground Connections takes great pleasure in working collaboratively with educators, children and their families, and in working towards helping children become effective communicators. Playground Connections proudly offers parent workshops, staff training, curriculum development by experienced, registered Speech Language Pathologists who think outside the “sandbox”.

    Also available en français.