"The early years: Making a world of difference" will be a national conference held in Prince Edward Island. Linking research, policy and practice, the conference will focus on early learning and child care as it relates to the four goal areas of the National Children's Agenda and First Ministers' Early Childhood Development Initiative, and which also are found within the framework of the UN Plan of Action for Children. Participants will include policy makers in health, social services, justice, education, researchers, academics, early childhood educators, community leaders and parents.
In recent years, several national events have provided opportunities for ongoing intersectoral exchange. The Early Childhood Development Association of PEI, the Government of PEI, The Premier's Council on Healthy Child Development in partnership with Human Resources Development Canada and the National Crime Prevention Centre have partnered to propose "Early years: Making a world of difference" conference in order to provide a timely forum for dialogue and analysis of issues related to the early years in the context of recent federal/provincial/ territorial collaborative initiatives, including: Child Care Sector Council and Labour Market Update; Centres of Excellence; Understanding the Early Years - Knowledge Exchange and Community Action; National Crime Prevention Centre's; Home Visiting Programs; Integration of Services - Toronto First Duty; Alberta's Child Care Model and PT initiatives undertaken within the scope of recent FPT Agreements.
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AGENDA
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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 23 - MAKING CONNECTIONS
11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Registration
1:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. Welcome & Opening Remarks - Performance by the Confederation Centre Children's Choir
1:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Keynote Speaker - Lt. Col. Dave Grossman U.S. Army (Ret.). Lt. Col. Dave Grossman is an internationally recognized scholar, author, soldier, and speaker who is one of the world's foremost experts in the field of human aggression and the roots of violence and violent crime.
3:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. Nutrition Break
3:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Concurrent Breakout Sessions
Session #1 A Best Practices Framework for Licensing
Session #2 Making Connections - Activities to Encourage Speech and Language Development in Children
Session #3 New Brunswick's Pre-natal Benefit Program - French Session
Session #4 Toronto First Duty
Session #5 Understanding the Early Years
Session #6 Alberta's Childcare Accreditation Model
6:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Reception
7:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. Dinner & Entertainment - A Conference on PEI would not be complete without the opportunity to experience Maritime music and hospitality! Join us for an evening of entertainment with Lennie Gallant - Singer, Songwriter, and East Coast Music Award Winner.
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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 24 - BUILDING CONNECTIONS: RESEARCH TO PRACTICE TO RESEARCH
8:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. Registration
9:00 a.m. - 9:15 a.m. Welcome & Opening Remarks
9:15 a.m. - 10:15 a.m. Keynote Speaker - Sandra Griffin, Executive Director, Canadian Childcare Federation. Ms. Griffin's session is entitled "Making A World of Difference"
10:15 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. Nutrition Break
10:30 a.m. - 12:00 noon Panel Presentation - Entitled "Early Childhood Education and Care: A World of Perspectives"
Panellists to Include:
Martha Friendly, Child Care Resource and Research Unit, University of Toronto
Dr. Sharon Hope-Irwin - Director, SpeciaLink The National Centre for Child Care Inclusion
Kathy Jones, Director of Child, Family and Community Services, Kings Health Region
12:00 noon - 2:00 p.m. Poster Display & Lunch - The poster session will provide an ideal venue for participants to illustrate the richness of activities across Canada in the early years agenda and will focus on the four conference streams of dialogue: Good Health, Safety and Security, Success at Learning and Social Engagement and Responsibility.
2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Poster Displays
2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Concurrent Breakout Sessions
Session #1 A Lighthearted Look at the Bully in the Mirror
Session #2 Measuring and Improving Kids' Environments
Session #3 New Brunswick's Pre-natal Benefit Program - English Session
Session #4 Toronto First Duty
Session #5 Understanding the Early Years
Session #6 Innovation in Evaluation: Bringing Together Community Practice and Research
Session #7 Child Care Sector Council Labour Market Update
4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Reception - Join us for a casual reception to meet other conference delegates and relax after a long day.
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TUESDAY NOVEMBER 25 - BUILDING CONNECTIONS: CONNECTING COMMUNITIES
9:00 a.m.- 10:00 a.m. Concurrent Breakout Sessions
Session #1 A Best Practices Framework for Licensing
Session #2 Making Connections - Activities to Encourage Speech and Language Development in Children
Session #3 Alberta's Childcare Accreditation Model
Session #4 TBA
Session #5 TBA
Session #6 TBA
10:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. Nutrition Break
10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Breakout Sessions continued
12 noon - 2:00 p.m. Lunch, Closing Remarks & Keynote Speaker - Ellen Gélinas, Laugh and Learn Inc. Ms. Gélinas is a humorist, educator and counsellor who presents a lively, entertaining and interactive look at the many ways we can increase our laughter quotient.
NOTE: Check link below for new announcements on sessions.
