East Regional Meeting
10:00 am - 12:00 pm
10:00 am - 12:00 pm
3:00 pm - 4:00 pm
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
8:00 am - 4:00 pm
8:00 am - 4:00 pm
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
7:00 am - 3:00 pm
Keynote speaker
Joze Piranian is a lifelong stutterer turned International Motivational Speaker helping people who hold back turn fear into action so that they overcome their “inner stutter” and unlock their true potential in life.
Joze is a five-time TEDx speaker, the winner of the Inspirational Speaker of the year award in 2017 and a Forbes featured stand-up comedian who has performed in North America, Europe and the Middle East in English, French, Spanish and Arabic.
Joze will be presenting "Face Fear. Become Resilient. Unlock Potential".
By empowering others to own their uniqueness and conquer their obstacles, Joze delivers transformational experiences allowing his audience members and coaching clients to access the hidden powers of fear and become champions of inclusion.
His talks about inclusion and resilience have gone viral online with more than three million views.
Joze has spoken at organizations such as the United Nations, Google, Tesla, TikTok, IBM, Dell, and BCG.
Joze holds a Bachelor of Commerce and Psychology from McGill University, a Master of International Business from Queen’s University and a Certificate in Diversity and Inclusion from Cornell University.
It must be said that these accomplishments did not come easily for Joze, who had to confront significant adversity. Joze will share his personal journey of transformation and his hard-earned insights about resilience, inclusion and the importance of being exposed to discomfort and fear as an impetus for action.
Presenter
Manager of Clinical Practice at Rideauwood Addiction and Family Services
Amanda Neilson, CYW, BSW, MSW, RSW, has provided individual and group counselling to youth and adults struggling with problematic substance use, and substance use disorders for over 20 years. In partnership with Algonquin College and Rideauwood Addiction and Family Services, she was the co-creator of the Umbrella Project, a harm reduction framework for post-secondary institutions. She is currently the Manager of Clinical Practice at Rideauwood, regularly teaches at Algonquin College and has a part-time private practice specializing in treating people with problematic substance use/substance use disorders.
Session C2: Beyond Drugs: Understanding Problematic Substance Use Through a Trauma Informed Lens
presenter
Principal of Burnhamthorpe Collegiate Institute and Adult Learning Centre, Toronto District School Board
Eric Dallin has been a secondary educator for more than 27 years, 11 of them spent in Adult Day Schools at the Toronto District School Board. For the past 10 years he has been the Principal of Burnhamthorpe CI and Adult Learning Centre in Toronto.
Session C5: Transforming a Struggling Adult High School in a Post-COVID Environment
Presenter
Professor and Unit Manager, Six Nations Polytechnic
Katie Maracle is a Mohawk woman of the turtle clan and lives on Six Nations Reserve with her seven-year-old son. She graduated from Mohawk College, Brock University and Western University, where she received a Master of Professional Education Leadership. Katie has worked in the field of education for more than 15 years as a professor at Six Nations Polytechnic, Mohawk College and OntarioLearn. She is a member of CESBA’s Committee to support Adult Indigenous Learners.
Session B4: Resolved Trauma vs. Unresolved Trauma: A Story of One Indigenous Family
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Career Development Practitioner
Sarah-Jane VandenBerg is a seasoned Certified Career Development Practitioner with 25+ years of experience in the field. She has presented at the National Career Conference (Cannexus) for the past nine years. Her dynamic and humorous approach delivers valuable and practical tips for educators in all settings.
Session C6: The Balanced Life: How to Move from Striving to Thriving
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A1: Dual Credit Program: Supporting Adult Education through Expanding Opportunities
This workshop will provide an overview of the Dual Credit program, including expanding opportunities that support student success and adult education. Workshop participants will learn about best practices and will explore how the Dual Credit Program can support student success. The presenters will highlight opportunities offered through the government’s technology, skilled trades, and apprenticeship priorities.
Presenters:
Daniel Denommé has worked in public education for over 20 years in Ontario, first as a teacher, post-secondary contract lecturer, regional eLearning contact as well as system level adult & continuing education administrator. Currently, Daniel is an Education Officer at the Ministry of Education and supports adult & continuing education, alternative education, and the Dual Credit Program.
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A2: Translating Positive Trends in Indigenous Culture-Based Education to Adult Correctional Education
This workshop will discuss how correctional educators can translate Indigenous culture-based education practices in Young Offender education programs to adult correctional education. Participants will learn about challenges and solutions to provide Indigenous-focused cultural programming in both youth and adult correctional facilities.
Presenter:
John Playford is a Superintendent of Education, with Adult and Continuing Education, Alternative Education, and Indigenous Education portfolios at the Simcoe County District School Board. He has completed a Doctor of Education with a focus on supporting Indigenous students in youth correctional settings. His previous experience includes administration in both elementary and secondary panels, and a role as central Principal for Student Achievement 7-12 and Student Success. John serves as an economist with the Labour Market Information Council and contributes to projects that address labour definitions and education-related employment outlooks in the Canadian labour market.
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A3: An Innovative Model to Improve Employment Outcomes for Youth with Disabilities
Two organizations- a non-profit employment organization and a community college- have developed an innovative program to support youth living with mild intellectual disabilities to find suitable employment Participants will learn how inter-organizational collaboration can support youth with disabilities to find gainful employment, with a goal of long-term labour market attachment.
Presenters:
Aleksandra Popovic is a faculty member and assessor at George Brown College in Toronto. She is the Partnership Liaison on the PTP-GBE project for the College Vocational Program. Aleksandra’s experience includes coordination, management and research, as well adult educational resource development.
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A4: Artificial Intelligence in Education – Adapting to the Revolution
Artificial intelligence in education is on everyone’s minds these days. This workshop will talk about how generative AI systems work, and will discuss emerging opportunities and challenges in education, including how to ensure that students use these systems appropriately.
Presenter:
Daniel Dubé has worked at CAVLFO for the past 15 years, first as an online teacher and now as an educational consultant, Brightspace and Google Workspace administrator. CAVLFO offers high school online courses to French language students and was awarded the D2L Excellence Award in 2020.
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A5: Empowering Student Success: Navigating Pathways to Skilled Trades
Enhance your expertise and ignite students’ success in the skilled trades with this workshop. National non-profit organization AppreniceSearch.com will discuss how to identify apprentice pathways and opportunities in the skilled trades. Participants will learn about common barriers to pursuing skilled trade careers and how to set up your students for future career success in this vital part of our Ontario economy.
Presenter:
Robert De Rubeis is a Program Manager at HIEC’s renowned Gateway to the Trades program. He has more than 35 years of experience working in education at both the secondary at post-secondary levels.
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A6: PLAR 101 for New Assessors
If you are a new PLAR assessor or a new Adult and Continuing Education Administrator - this is the workshop for you! Participants will be introduced to PPM 132 (including recent revisions) and will learn the four steps of the PLAR process to competently assess students. They will also learn about where to find additional PLAR resources and supports.
Presenter:
Andrea Murphy is the Guidance/PLAR Coordinator for CESBA. She recently retired from the Limestone District School Board after 35 years in Education, including 20+ years in Adult and Continuing Education as Limestone's Central PLAR Consultant, Literacy Numeracy Lead, Night School Supervisor, and the Re-Engagement Coordinator. Andrea has been an active CESBA member since 1999.
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A7: Personal Stories of Transformation: Embracing Change Through School Board PSW Programs
Hosted by CESBA’s PSW Coordinator, Anita Plunkett, this conversation will bring together three individuals who will share their journey and personal story of change and transformation through DSB PSW programming (Adult and ConEd/SHSM) including challenges and successes. Participants will learn about the positive impact of PSW programs on adult learners, and how they are evolving as a tool to meet both student needs and community support.
Presenter:
Anita Plunkett, PSW Coordinator at CESBA
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B1: Central PLAR Programming for Secondary Students: One School Board’s Model
Two administrators from the Grand Erie District School Board will describe a model to support students who work through the PLAR process by using a central program and reduce the workload of guidance and administrative staff. Participants will learn about what this Board learned from their mistakes and successes and will share their own experiences in central PLAR programming.
Presenters:
Greg Carruthers is a Principal at the Grand Erie District School Board, where he has been an administrator for 14 years, the last 5 as Adult and Continuing Education Principal. He is a proud member of the CESBA Board of Directors and is pleased to give back to an organization that has been such a support to his work.
Jeff Allison is the Vice-Principal of Alternative, Adult and continuing Education for the Grand Erie district School Board. Jeff joined Grand Erie after a career in teaching and several central positions within the Hamilton Wentworth DSB. He has a passion for e-learning and desire to use tools available through Adult and Continuing education to support student success.
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B2: Continuing Education Funding: Tips of the Trade
This workshop will provide a general overview of Ministry of Education funding for A&CE. Participants will learn how to understand the Continuing Education Enrollment Registers and how to report data to OnSIS and EFIS.
Presenters:
Deborah Cook is the Continuing Education Technology Administrator at the York Region District School Board and has worked in the Continuing Education world for more than 15 years. Her main responsibility is Ministry reporting using both OnSIS AND EFIS reporting. She also supports Student Information Systems for Continuing Education board programs.
Namita Aggarwal is a Program Manager, Administrative Services in Continuing Education at the Toronto District School Board. She has extensive experience responding to questions related to Ministry funding and supports departments across the TDSB on the needs of Continuing Education programs.
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B3: Building Partnerships for Strong Programs and Supported Communities
This workshop given by educators from the Hamilton Wentworth District School Board will explore how local planning and coordination in Hamilton has built and strengthened partnerships between adult and continuing education programs and apprenticeship opportunities. Participants will learn about considerations and logistics that are needed to set up and deliver successful partnerships for apprenticeship programs and beyond.
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B4: Resolved Trauma vs. Unresolved Trauma: A Story of One Indigenous Family
During this interactive workshop, two cousins will share their stories about growing up in radically different households, despite living next door to each other on the Six Nations Reserve. The two presenters, whose fathers were brothers, took different paths in life, but remain close to this day. Participants will learn about the definition of intergenerational trauma, how it impacts Indigenous families and communities, and the role education can play in the lives of Indigenous students.
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B5: Collaborative Knowledge Building: Supporting eTeacher PD Through OeLC
This workshop will discuss how the Ontario eLearning Consortium (OeLC) can support A &CE programs through shared online courses and best practices in professional development for e-learning in Ontario. Participants will learn about opportunities to share knowledge and expertise through collaborative inquiries, bootcamps, webinars and conferences that support best practices in e-learning.
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B6: Heading Out From High School
This interactive workshop is rooted in Habit 5 of Stephen Covey’s The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. During this session, the presenter will share ways in which the philosophy of “seek first to understand” may be used as a valuable tool of empathic learning through the transition from one phase in life’s journey to the next.
Participants will have the opportunity to share their own examples of strategies that they have used to successfully shift their perspective to see the world through the lenses of the people with whom thy have come into contact in their personal and professional lives. This workshop will discuss the journey from adult high school to post-secondary studies, work and community life. Participants will brainstorm promising practices to support a successful transition.
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B7: Selecting Teaching Resources with an Equity Lens
This workshop provides practical tips about how to think critically about the teaching resources we use and how to select them by applying an equity lens. Participants will be introduced to a ‘critical resource selection toolkit’ to support teaching resources that are reflective, responsive, and relevant for our students and the communities we serve.
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C1: Uprooted: Grounding Instruction in Indigenous Worldviews
Exploring how centring Indigenous perspectives in the curriculum can contribute to students' sense of empowerment, self-worth, and cultural understanding. Participants will learn how to centre Indigenous strengths, contributions, and futures, moving beyond historical trauma narratives. The workshop will also address strategies to build content rooted in Indigenous perspectives across different subject areas.
Presenters:
Catherine Rodger is from the Ojibwa Nation of Fort William First Nation. She had been a teacher in Inuit and First Nation communities for 24 years and has been a teacher with Keewaytinook Internet High School in her home community for 17 years. She focuses on land-based teachings, such as plant use and identification, traditional sewing, and land-based activities.
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C2: Beyond Drugs: Understanding Problematic Substance Abuse Through a Trauma Informed Lens
How we understand a problem informs our solutions. In this workshop, we will explore how using a trauma informed understanding of problematic substance use better supports student's mental health and wellbeing. By the end of the workshop, participants will a) have the most up to date understanding of problematic substance use b) be able to confidently incorporate trauma informed care and harm reduction principles into their day-to-day interactions with students who may be struggling.
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C3: Let’s Create! Integration of Executive Functioning Skills Using Arts & Technology: A Hands-on Workshop
This workshop introduces a creative program focused on community partnerships, re-introduction to educational opportunities and program flexibility from the perspective of a northern community.
Geared to instructors looking for way to rejuvenate programming, arts will be used to facilitate discussion on how creativity can make meaningful impacts while working on competencies.
Interactively exploring challenges and opportunities, optional tools include watercolour, Canva, Microsoft Word, and mug sublimination.
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C4: Improving A&CE Visibility and Measurement: One Board’s Approach
This workshop aims to help boards discover marketing strategies to better communicate the role of A&CE within communities while leveraging registers to bridge the gap between A&CE and K-12 education. Attendees will gain knowledge of developing organization-specific performance measurements through board collaboration, monitoring program impact and data dissemination.
Presenters:
Lisa Newton is the Manager of Research and Decision Support at the Simcoe County District School Board, where she has worked for the past seven years. Her team’s work focuses on developing applied research tools and providing data insights for the Board’s educational and business departments, and tracks performance measures from K-Grade 12, as well as for Adult and continuing Education. Lisa is a member of CESBA’s Data Implementation Planning Strategy (DIPS) Committee.
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C5: Transforming a Struggling Adult High School in a Post-COVID Environment
This workshop presents the story of how an Adult School at the Toronto District School Board turned itself around from the ravages of COVID and two years of rotating retired administrators and became successful and stable. Newly transferred Principal, Eric Dallin will share his experiences and practical strategies for A&CE administrators to support growth, develop culture, address climate change, improve pedagogy, and bring stability. He will also discuss how his school was able to develop a magnet PSW program.
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C6: The Balanced Life: How to Move from Striving to Thriving
This workshop will provide practical and easy action tools to help us move toward balance across the many parts of our lives in order to achieve better mental and physical health. Participants will learn about how to assess their own balance across 10 key life areas, how balance changes throughout the course of our lives and what we can do to make a difference.
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C7: A Welcome Kit for Online Learners
A welcome kit was developed by CAVLFO to help adult learners prepare for the requirements of an online course and ultimately increase their academic success through tips, how-to’s and tutorials for online adult learners, enabling autonomy and self-confidence throughout their learning.
In this workshop, participants will be introduced to the kit and be able to explore and use the resources to support the academic success of their learners.
Presenter:
Chantal Picard has been working in the field of online learning since 2010, first as a provincial trainer for CAVLFO, then as a pedagogical advisor for the TacTIC team of the CFORP. Chantal is passionate about learning in the digital age, student engagement and success, and is excited to share new trends and best practices in online learning.