The Quest 2019 workshops have been selected to provide valuable learning to participants with a focus on Indigenous Education and Equity.
Additional workshops will be added to the schedule.
Wednesday Morning Workshops
John Sebastiano, Principal, York Region District School Board Ann Jakopin-Vlahovic, Teacher, York Region District School Board Repeated
Jennifer Baron, Teacher, York Region District School Board Towana Brooks, Education Consultant, York Region District School Board Repeated
Rachel Franks, Education Lead, Future Design School Leslie McBeth, Director of Professional Development, Future Design School Repeated
Will Gourley, Teacher, York Region District School Board Zack Teitel, Teacher, York Region District School Board Repeated
Kevin Bray, Consultant - Gender and Sexual Diversity Repeated
Alan Corbierre – Alan is an Anishinaabe from M'Chigeeng First Nation on Manitoulin Island. A fluent speaker of Anishinaabemowin, Alan will be speaking about the Anishinaabe names on the land of Ontario and their meanings.
George Couchie – George is a member of Nipissing First Nation and Cultural Teacher. In his session he will guide learners through a learning circle to will explore Indigenous ways of knowing, culture, histories and perspectives.
Isaac Crosby – Isaac is Anishinaabe and the lead gardener at Evergreen brickworks. He holds a wealth of traditional knowledge about planting and growing food learned from his grandfather and also his travels and experiences. Isaac will be talking about the methods he uses for growing food at Evergreen Brickworks and how they connect to traditional knowledge of First Nations.
Meghan Young – Meghan is Life Promotion Director with Feather Carriers at the Barrie Area Native Advisory Circle. She will be speaking about the ideas behind life promotion as a next step in helping people who are struggling with suicide ideation through the development of purpose in life and recognizing our gifts as people.
Wednesday Afternoon Workshops
Kyla Winacott, Department Head, Mount Boucherie Secondary School André Rebeiz, Research Manager, EdCan Network (Canadian Education Association) Repeated
Karen Murray, Principal, Toronto District School Board Repeated
Eloise Tan, Research Program Director, People for Education Christine Schandl, Research Manager, People for Education
Sara Leung, Teacher Facilitator, York Region District School Board Scott Milne, Manager, York Region District School Board Repeated
Angela Veinot-Halverson, Teacher, York Region District School Board Ryan Murtha, Teacher, York Region District School Board
Natalie Tsui, Teacher, York Region District School Board Sara Faulkner, Teacher, York Region District School Board Repeated
Alan Corbierre – Alan is an Anishinaabe from M'Chigeeng First Nation on Manitoulin Island. A fluent speaker of Anishinaabemowin, Alan will be speaking about the Anishinaabe names on the land of Ontario and their meanings.
George Couchie – George is a member of Nipissing First Nation and Cultural Teacher. In his session he will guide learners through a learning circle to will explore Indigenous ways of knowing, culture, histories and perspectives.
Isaac Crosby – Isaac is Anishinaabe and the lead gardener at Evergreen brickworks. He holds a wealth of traditional knowledge about planting and growing food learned from his grandfather and also his travels and experiences. Isaac will be talking about the methods he uses for growing food at Evergreen Brickworks and how they connect to traditional knowledge of First Nations.
Meghan Young – Meghan is Life Promotion Director with Feather Carriers at the Barrie Area Native Advisory Circle. She will be speaking about the ideas behind life promotion as a next step in helping people who are struggling with suicide ideation through the development of purpose in life and recognizing our gifts as people.
Thursday Morning Workshops
Cathy Harley, SERT, Wikwemikong Board of Education Ann Assiniwe, Teacher, Wikwemikong Board of Education Repeated
Kimberley Tavares, Education Officer, Ministry of Education Lisa Cole, Education Officer, Ministry of Education Repeated
Donna Ford, Principal, York Region District School Board Repeated
KC Adams, Artist/Educator, Brandon University
Mineke von der Thüsen, Teacher, VierTaal Foundation Audrey Franssen, Clinical Linguist, VierTaal Foundation Repeated
Carolyn Tong, Wellness Advisor, York Region District School Board Janet Hicks, Manager, York Region District School Board Repeated
Dianne Hill and Jordan Miller – Dianne and Jordan are Haudenosaunee from Six Nations. They will be presenting on the traditional use of tobacco from the Haudenosaunee perspective and provide a new perspective for learning and teaching from an Indigenous approach to education.
George Couchie – George is a member of Nipissing First Nation and Cultural Teacher. In his session he will guide learners through a learning circle to explore Indigenous ways of knowing, culture, histories and perspectives.
David Osawabine – David is Debajehmujig’s Odawa Midewin Cultural Educator. He began intensive training with Eddie King in 2001, continuing in his mentorship until 2016. David’s specialty at Debajehmujig is sharing the Odawa Foundation Teachings with learners of all ages and backgrounds.
Meeka Uniuqsaraq - Meeka hails from Iqaluit, Nunavut. She was raised in the Arctic and is a survivor of Residential School. Meeka will be speaking about Inuit perspectives and aspirations.
Thursday Afternoon Workshop
Blaire Gould, Director of Instructional Programming, Mi’kmaw Kina’matnewey Jarrett Laughlin, CEO, Sprig Learning Repeated
Elli Weisdorf, Teacher, York Region District School Board Jaimie Kochberg-Ziv, Teacher, York Region District School Board Repeated
Colinda Clyne, Curriculum Lead, Upper Grand District School Board Repeated
Julia Tsampalieros, Teacher, York Region District School Board Kelly Chatzinikolis, Teacher, York Region District School Board Repeated
Andrew Gazaneo, Vice-Principal, York Region District School Board James Hathaway, Teacher, York Region District School Board Repeated
Urs Bill, Manager Educational Outreach, TVO Jennifer Montgomery, Education Officer, TVO
Dianne Hill and Jordan Miller – Dianne and Jordan are Haudenosaunee from Six Nations. They will be presenting on the traditional use of tobacco from the Haudenosaunee perspective and provide a new perspective for learning and teaching from an Indigenous approach to education.
George Couchie – George is a member of Nipissing First Nation and Cultural Teacher. In his session he will guide learners through a learning circle to explore Indigenous ways of knowing, culture, histories and perspectives.
David Osawabine – David is Debajehmujig’s Odawa Midewin Cultural Educator. He began intensive training with Eddie King in 2001, continuing in his mentorship until 2016. David’s specialty at Debajehmujig is sharing the Odawa Foundation Teachings with learners of all ages and backgrounds.
Meeka Uniuqsaraq - Meeka hails from Iqaluit, Nunavut. She was raised in the Arctic and is a survivor of Residential School. Meeka will be speaking about Inuit perspectives and aspirations.
Friday Workshops
Publicly-funded education has a responsibility to educate the mind as well as the heart and to prepare students to live effectively in an increasingly diverse and interdependent world.
Public education develops high expectations for learning and achievement, nurtures responsible and engaged citizenship and prepares students to be solution finders.
In this workshop, participants will discuss issues such as trends that will shape education in the future, indicators of equitable and inclusive schools, catalysts for change, research-informed strategies to achieve outcomes, key imperatives to create the future we envision, and how to prepare students to be nation builders and global citizens.
Lisa Jeffries, Junior SERT/SSC Teacher, York Region District School Board Will Gourley, Teacher, York Region District School Board York Region District School Board Students
Natalie Whitehouse, Teacher, York Region District School Board
Ellen Viero, Teacher Librarian, York Region District School Board Anna Barnes, Literacy Lead, York Region District School Board
David Osawabine – David is Debajehmujig’s Odawa Midewin Cultural Educator. He began intensive training with Eddie King in 2001, continuing in his mentorship until 2016. David’s specialty at Debajehmujig is sharing the Odawa Foundation Teachings with learners of all ages and backgrounds.
Meeka Uniuqsaraq - Meeka hails from Iqaluit, Nunavut. She was raised in the Arctic and is a survivor of a residential school. Meeka will be speaking about Inuit perspectives and aspirations.
Greer Atkinson – Greer is a member of the Chippewas of Georgina Island First Nation and is the Education Program and Project Coordinator for Ogemawahj Tribal Council. Greer will be talking about community resource books created and developed by the Williams Treaty First Nations for students of all ages that give an intimate look at six of their First Nations neighbours in the Williams Treaty area.