The 2022 Conference is an event that allows 30+ section leaders, knowledge holders, educational pioneers, and school and community champions from Canada's PHE Community to come together and share their knowledge, expertise, and toolkits. Check out their work below and meet them at the 2022 conference!
Steeve Ager
CEO
Réseau Accès Participation
Montreal, QC
Since graduating with degrees in kinesiology and psychology more than 20 years ago, Steeve Ager has devoted his career to promoting physical activity. After a ten-year stint as a senior advisor with Québec en Forme, he moved on to a similar position with Quebec’s health and social services ministry, where his achievements included helping to draft a province-wide public health program, as well as the province’s vision for a physically active lifestyle. He then later worked for Fillactive/FitSpirit as Director of Operations before recently becoming CEO at Réseau Accès Participation.
Cindy Andrew
Senior Associate
Bunyaad Public Affairs
Victoria, BC
Cindy Andrew is a former teacher who has worked in the Healthy Schools field for over 30 years. She is a senior associate with Bunyaad Public Affairs, a former program consultant with the Canadian Institute on Substance Use Research and also works with a Vancouver Island based school district in supporting their health promoting schools related efforts.
Alain Arbour
Vice-Principal
Conseil Scolaire Francophone
Richmond, BC
Alain Arbour is a Vice-Principal with the Conseil Scolaire Francophone (CSF) in BC. Alain earned his Specialist Honours PHE in 1996 and went on to earn his B.Ed. with a specialist in Physical Education and Health in 1997. He has more than 20 years of experience in K-12 schools teaching physical education, health and sciences at the high school level in Ontario, BC as well as remote First Nations communities. During these years he earned additional specialist accreditations including Special Education. He has completed Principal accreditations in BC and Ontario. He is working to complete his M.Ed. from Universite Ste-Boniface.
Kellie Baker
Program Development Specialist, Physical Education K-12
NL Department of Education
St John’s, NL
Kellie Baker has been teaching physical and health education (K to post-secondary) for 26 years. Deeply passionate about physical and health education, Kellie has served on multiple national and provincial boards, councils, and committees. Kellie has also contributed to national and provincial policy and curriculum development and redesign. Connect with Kellie on Twitter @PE4LifeNL and @KellBaker3.
Rhona Bowe
Traditional Ethnobotanist
Chase, BC
Rhona Bowe is originally from Williams Lake. She grew up in Whitehorse, YT, lived in the Yukon for 18 years, returned to BC 23 years ago and has lived in Chase since. Her interest in plants and healing has been there for as long as she can remember. Her teachers have been diverse and include her mother Billie Smith, many Elders from the North and from BC, including knowledge taught through ceremonies. Pat Johnson and Percy Rossette are a few that she has had the privilege to learn from. She travelled to Manitoba for four years to extend her knowledge of plants and learn combinations. Over the past 15 years she has started to share her knowledge of plants. Wherever she travels, she learns more and the knowledge is endless and very rewarding. Rhona feels privileged to have learned as she has and to be able to share such age old teachings and remedies with today's modern society, while respectfully passing through to future generations.
Dr. Mariana Brussoni
Director of the Human Early Learning Partnership / Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics and the School of Population and Public Health
University of British Columbia
Vancouver, BC
Dr. Mariana Brussoni is Director of the Human Early Learning Partnership and an Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics and the School of Population and Public Health at the University of British Columbia (UBC) in Canada. She is an investigator with the British Columbia Children’s Hospital Research Institute and the British Columbia Injury Research & Prevention Unit. Mariana’s award-winning research investigates child injury prevention and children’s risky play, focusing on parent and caregiver perceptions of risk, and design of outdoor play-friendly environments. She partners with practitioners and policy makers in early childhood education, schooling, municipal planning and recreation provision, with the aim of creating environments where all children thrive in healthy societies. Her work has been featured in the Nature of Things, the New York Times, Popular Science, and many other international media platforms. Further details are available at https://brussonilab.ca
Sarah Butson
Public Affairs and Policy Analyst
Canadian Lung Association
Ottawa, ON
Sarah Butson is a Public Affairs and Policy Analyst with the Canadian Lung Association. She has worked in the fields of health promotion, education, tobacco control, and advocacy for over 15 years. Previously, she ran a training institute empowering youth leaders to take action on tobacco and vaping. When she isn’t advocating to protect lung health she is spending time with her two little girls.
John Byl, PhD
Canadian Gopher Sport Ambassador
Gopher Sport
Hamilton, ON
John Byl, PhD, is the Canadian Gopher Sport Ambassador, was president of CIRA Ontario (2003-2018), and a retired professor of Physical Education at Redeemer University in Ancaster, Ontario (1986-2014). Dr. Byl has authored or coauthored over 30 books. He is the winner of several professional awards, including the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for promoting physical activity across Canada, and is a regular workshop leader. He has a special interest in promoting fun, active participation for all children and developing and maintaining personal wellness.
Claire Crooks
Clinical Psychologist and Professor, Faculty of Education
Western University
London, ON
Claire Crooks is a clinical psychologist and professor at the Faculty of Education (Western University). She is the Director of the Centre for School Mental Health, where she and her team develop, implement, and evaluate mental health promotion and violence prevention programs in a range of school and community settings. Claire’s research looks at the gaps between science, practice and policy related to the healthy development of children and youth. Claire also co-directs the School Mental Health Ontario Innovation and Scale-Up Lab, which seeks to examine and advance evidence-based and implementation-sensitive approaches within school mental health and mobilize research and practice evidence to enhance the quality, consistency, scalability, and sustainability of mental health approaches in Ontario schools. Claire has co-authored more than 100 peer-reviewed publications and provided testimony to various provincial and federal bodies on policy matters related to family violence, substance use, and mental health. For more about Claire’s research projects see: https://www.csmh.uwo.ca/research/index.html
Lynn Dawson
K-7 PE Teacher
Henry Hudson Elementary
North Vancouver, BC
Lynn Dawson is a K-7 PE teacher in Vancouver and loves getting kids excited about being active. Her mission is to create the best possible Physical Education experience for her students . She has taught PE at the elementary level for the past 16 years, and 8 years at a secondary Outdoor Education program. Lynn loves to advocate for quality PE through her workshops for teachers and as an executive member of PHE-BC. Lynn lives with her husband and two daughters in North Vancouver and can be found on the trails running and mountain biking.
Brenda Delorme
Instructional Resources Analyst
Manitoba First Nations Education Resource Centre
Winnipeg, MB
Brenda Delorme is a member of the Opaskwayak Cree Nation (Treaty No. 5). She received her degree in education at Saskatchewan Indian Federated College (University of Regina) and continued with her education receiving a post-baccalaureate diploma (University of Saskatchewan, Curriculum and Instruction) and Masters degree (University of Manitoba, Educational Administration). She was a classroom teacher grade 3-12, a resource teacher, and a school administrator of a K-12 school system with 1,000 plus students. Since 2010 Brenda has worked in different capacities at the Manitoba First Nations Education Resource Centre as a manager, assessment training facilitator, assessment reporting lead, and currently as an instructional resources analyst.
Wes Delve
Program Officer, International and Social Justice Program
Canadian Teachers’ Federation (CTF/FCE)
Ottawa, ON
Wes Delve is a Program Officer with the International and Social Justice Program at the Canadian Teachers’ Federation (CTF/FCE). He is responsible for many international development cooperation partnerships in Africa and the Caribbean, and also for the Social Justice Program of the CTF/FCE. Before joining the CTF/FCE in 2018, Wes was a classroom teacher and a member of ETFO for 25 years (Thames Valley DSB, Upper Grand DSB, and York Region DSB). During his career as an educator, he worked as an Equity Rep., facilitated an LGBTQI+ Staff Alliance, and was a presenter for many ETFO equity-themed workshops.
Marcus Down
Early Years PYP PE Educator
United Nations International School
Hanoi, Vietnam
Marcus Down currently teaches lower elementary PE at the United Nations International School of Hanoi in Vietnam. Since 2009, he has taught elementary PE in multiple countries using a variety of curricula. Marcus obtained his Masters of Arts in Kinesiology from the University of Victoria in 2013. He is currently a committee member for the PHASE Conference (held annually in Hong Kong). He recently became a workshop leader for the International Baccalaureate (IB) and has led workshops on The Role of PE and Personal, Social, Physical Education - Well-Being. Lately, Marcus has focussed his teaching of PE with students aged 3-6.
Darin Faubert
Principal
Wadena Composite School, Horizon School Division
Wadena, SK
Darin Faubert has been teaching for 29 years, 24 of which have been in administration. During his time in teaching outdoor education and the Outdoor School, he has taken students from the Arctic Circle to Newfoundland to Haida Gwaii and over 20 National Parks in between. Along the way, students have bobsledded, luged, studied polar bears, grizzly bears, black-footed ferrets and orca, sea kayaked in the Atlantic and Pacific and have hiked in Kluane, Jasper and Gros Morne National Parks. Throughout his years of teaching, Darin has organized 50 school trips that were 3-14 days in length.
Léa Gareau
Curriculum Developer
Planned Parenthood Ottawa
Ottawa, ON
Drawing from years of involvement in grassroots community work, Léa Gareau uses a youth-focused, trauma-informed and anti-oppressive approach when working on the topic of sexual and reproductive health at PPO. They seek to create and support spaces and resources for learning, and unlearning, about healthy relationships and SRHR, making education more accessible to all.
Chris Gilham, PhD
Associate Professor, Faculty of Education
St Francis Xavier University
Antigonish, NS
Dr. Chris Gilham has been working in education for over 25 years now. He loves teaching and working with others to create, implement and evaluate practical, school-based mental health programming for educators and students. He taught grades 3 to 9 in public schools in Tokyo, Windsor, Ontario, and Calgary. He was a Mental Health and Behaviour Consultant with the Calgary Board of Education for 5 years. While a PhD student and teaching his first Bachelor of Education course at the University of Calgary, he was nominated by his students for the Outstanding Teaching Award. Several years later he would be nominated again by Master’s students at StFX for the Outstanding Faculty Teaching Award, which he received in 2019. He teaches courses related to programming for students with different, often complex needs; mental health literacy; critical research literacy and the philosophy of education. Chris is currently engaged in SSHRC-sponsored research on mental health literacy for educators, as well as Nova Scotia Status of Women-sponsored research on boys-specific groups as part of gender transformative work.
Morris Green
Health Education Consultant
Guys Work
Halifax, NS
Morris Green is a health education consultant who has worked with teenagers for 40 years across a wide range of youth health issues, including injury prevention, physical activity, and healthy eating. His most recent work focuses on the pressures and expectations around masculinity and their impact on the health of young men. He retired from the Nova Scotia Department of Health and Wellness in 2017 where he worked as the Coordinator of Youth Health. While working in government he created Guys Work in partnership with the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development. Guys Work is a school-based, and evidence-based health promotion initiative designed to shift attitudes around masculinity norms. Morris Green has an undergraduate degree in physical education from Dalhousie University in Halifax, and a graduate degree in science from Columbia University in New York City.
Andrea Haefele (she/her/hers)
Health & Physical Education Curriculum Consultant
Ophea
Toronto, ON
Andrea Haefele is a teacher in the YRDSB, and she is currently seconded as a Health & Physical Education Curriculum Consultant at Ophea. She has been part of many regional and provincial initiatives that support the H&PE curriculum, Healthy Schools, and also the Daily Physical Activity provincial policy. Andrea is a strong advocate for people with disabilities and have spoken at professional learning networks such as the Hospital for SickKids, the Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, Jumpstart Charities, and Autism Ontario. Andrea uses "she, her, hers" pronouns, and asks others to use these pronouns in reference to her.
Nathan Horne
PHE Department Head and a MYP Physical & Health Education Teacher
Meadowridge School
Maple Ridge, BC
Nathan Horne is currently based in British Columbia, Canada where he is a PHE department head and a MYP physical & health education teacher. Nathan has previous teaching experience in national and international schools in Australia, the UK, Cambodia, Italy, and Singapore and advocates strongly for quality purposeful physical education for each and every student. Nathan has presented his ideas at local, national and international conferences and workshops in North America, Asia, Europe, Australia, and the Middle East.
Miya Inkster
Financial Literacy Facilitator and Community Development Specialist
First Nation Land Management Resource Centre
Duncan, BC
Miya Inkster is a financial literacy facilitator and community development specialist who brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the projects she undertakes. Miya has worked with Indigenous organizations, and federal and provincial governments as a community champion and has committed her professional career to improving individuals social, community, and economic environments through financial literacy. Miya has worked with organizations across the country, providing support for Financial Literacy, organizational development, capacity building, promoting culture and wellness, and program development. She is best known for her ability to build and maintain positive relationships with community organizations, funders, community members, and federal and provincial governments. Miya is an experienced facilitator and policy analyst, specializing in policy research and development with a focus on social and financial policy. Miya works from the mantra “building individuals, families, communities, and nations one person at a time,” and enjoys co-creating human, social, and economic development programming.
Ryan Jones
Rugby Development Manager
Rugby Canada
Victoria, Ontario
Ryan Jones is the Rugby Development Manager for Rugby Canada. His role is to support the growth and development of rugby across the country. Ryan has a degree in Recreation Management and Community Development from the University of Manitoba and he is currently pursuing a Masters degree in Positive Youth Development in Sport at York University. Previously he worked with Rugby Manitoba and Rugby Ontario to deliver youth rugby to schools, communities and local rugby clubs. Ryan is passionate about supporting youth to develop life skills through sport.
Karyn Kibsey
Manager of Training and Education
Canadian Centre for Child Protection
Winnipeg, MB
Karyn Kibsey is the Manager of Training and Education for the Canadian Centre for Child Protection. Karyn works with professionals in education, child serving-organizations, sport, and child protection to provide insights into issues of child sexual abuse and exploitation, misconduct, policies and procedures to protect children, emerging issues and trends impacting youth, and the online safety of children.
Sue Kim
Master’s Candidate in School Psychology
University of Western Ontario
London, ON
Sue Kim is a Master’s candidate in School Psychology at the University of Western Ontario. Since graduating as the recipient of Western’s Gold Medal in undergraduate psychology, Sue has followed her passion for promoting student well-being by undertaking several clinical and research positions. As the former MindUP Project Manager at the Centre for School Mental Health, she had the opportunity to oversee the implementation and evaluation of a mindfulness-based social-emotional learning program for children within the London District Catholic School Board. Additionally, her experiences as a martial arts instructor and competitive fastpitch softball player have sparked her interest in studying the connection between physical activity and mental well-being. In addition to sport psychology, her current research interests include teacher well-being, trauma-informed practices, newcomer youth resiliency, and compassion-focused therapy
George Kourtis
Program Coordinator, Health and Physical Education/Athletics
Toronto District School Board
Toronto, ON
George Kourtis is the Program Coordinator for Health and Physical Education/Athletics at the Toronto District School Board. Daily goal of improving our student's physical and health literacy in our schools, while aligning our pedagogical practices to reflect our initiatives. Author, provincial curriculum writer, fitness trainer, community coach, father to two great young gentlemen, and a loving husband to a supportive spouse.
Dillon Landi
Lecturer in Education
University of Strathclyde
Glasgow, UK
Dillon Landi (he/him/his) is a Lecturer in Education at the University of Strathclyde (Glasgow, UK). He received his PhD from the University of Auckland (New Zealand) and two postgraduate degrees (EdM and MA) from Columbia University (New York, USA). Dillon teaches and does research in health and wellbeing, equity and diversity, as well as research methodology. He was teacher and supervisor in health education, physical education and sport for the largest school district in New Jersey (USA). Dillon spends his time drinking coffee, watching re-runs of Schitt’s Creek, perusing K-Dramas on Netflix, and reading romance novels by Danielle Steel. You can find him on twitter: @DillonLandi
Reg Leidl
Executive Director
PHE Saskatchewan
Esterhazy, SK
Reg Leidl is currently the Executive Director for PHE Saskatchewan. He has an extensive background in physical education, physical literacy, sport psychology, and educational leadership. His grassroots perspective continually supports the role of teachers and coaches as they strive to support physical literacy and physical education within our schools, and communities.
Jennifer Leo
Director, Steadward Centre for Personal & Physical Achievement
University of Alberta
Edmonton, AB
As the Steadward Centre Director, Jennifer Leo brings 15+ years experience conducting research & evaluation in community-based settings, Jen brings insight to issues of inclusion and participation from rehabilitation to community-based active recreation.
Melvin Lowe
Vice-Principal, Marc Garneau C. I.
Toronto District School Board
Toronto, ON
Melvin Lowe is the vice-principal of Marc Garneau C. I. of the Toronto District School Board. He is also the co-author of the Anti-Asian Racism Resource developed by the TDSB Equity Department and the Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario (ETFO). His goal is to ensure that all students have the opportunity to succeed and achieve physically, mentally, and academically. He is an author, community and provincial coach, father of one, and husband to a joyful spouse.
Shannon MacMillan
Manager, Programs & Training
BOKS Canada
Calgary, AB
Shannon MacMillan is the Manager, Programs & Training with BOKS Canada. She has been a part of the BOKS team for over 5 years and has seen the program grow and evolve across Canada throughout this time. Shannon is a passionate advocate for getting kids active and moving daily. When she is not busy supporting BOKS programs, trainers and kids; she can be found enjoying the great outdoors, spending time with her family hiking, cross country skiing, biking and running.
Madelaine McCallum
Cree/Métis dancer, speaker, and choreographer
Île-à-la-Crosse, SK
Madelaine McCallum is a dancer originally from Ile a la Crosse, Saskatchewan. Though she is well known for Métis dance (she's been jigging since she could walk!), she enjoys all forms including Pow Wow, contemporary, Hip Hop and just movement from the soul. Madelaine has performed for many stages. Performing was a natural progression into choreographing. Madelaine has a passion for sharing her knowledge of dance and culture. Madelaine also shares her story of survival and how dance has been her outlet and savior throughout her life. Her belief in sharing knowledge with her community to empower and strengthen them and her deep love of dance and firm belief in its healing powers, for the audience as well as the dancer, is what makes Madelaine McCallum such a name to look out for!
Tyler McGurry
Physical Education Teacher, Member of Disc Golf Manitoba's Education Committee
Manitoba
Tyler McGurry is a physical education teacher from Manitoba who has worked with K-6 students specifically the last six school years and has experience instructing students at all grade levels. He is a member of Disc Golf Manitoba's Education Committee and has delivered PD sessions and created resources for teachers in MB. Tyler is passionate about teaching physical education outdoors and believes students should have an opportunity to learn a variety of lifelong outdoor physical activities that can be played in all types of weather.
Ceara McIntyre
Education Coordinator
Planned Parenthood Ottawa
Ottawa, ON
With an education in social work, Ceara McIntyre has experience in system navigation, crisis counselling and providing education support, specifically to youth. When working with people she aims to use an anti-oppressive, post-modern, and client-centred approach that supports individual autonomy while challenging systems of oppression.
Norbert Mercredi
Land Based Physical Education/Health Facilitator
Manitoba First Nations Education Resource Centre
Winnipeg, MB
Norbert Mercredi is the Land Based Physical Education/Health Facilitator for the Manitoba First Nations Education Resource Centre. Norbert has a Bachelor of Physical Education degree and a Teacher Certification certificate. He has approximately 35+ years of experience in teaching physical activity, physical education, health, native studies, history, geography, and has an extensive coaching experience with certification in a variety of sports. Norbert is very interested in teaching by using the holistic view of education with First Nation games, as a way of teaching movement skills, sport skills, traditional teachings, and emphasizing the importance and values of mino pimatisiwin.
Dr. Hayley Morrison
Assistant Professor, Faculty of Education
University of Alberta
Edmonton, AB
Dr. Hayley Morrison teaches pre-service teachers their physical and health education (PHE) curriculum and pedagogy courses and Masters of Education students in the Health and Physical Education Cohort about inclusive PHE and educational research. Hayley’s teaching and research are very interconnected as she aims to support educative and inclusive experiences at all levels of teaching and learning in PHE.
Christan Murphy
K-6 PE Specialist
Cowan Heights and Bishop Abraham Schools
St. John's, NL
Christan Murphy is a K-6 PE specialist at Cowan Heights and Bishop Abraham schools in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador. He has been teaching for 11 years and is new to the implementation of models-based approaches in Physical Education.
Dr. Brandon Needham
Sessional Lecturer
Good Spirit School Division/University of Regina
Yorkton, SK
Dr. Brandon Needham is a recent graduate from the University of Regina with a Ph.D. in Education. His doctoral research explored his dual role as researcher and school administrator through his journey toward reconciliation. Brandon is also a sessional lecturer at the University of Regina in the Kinesiology department, where he teaches undergraduate classes on Health and Wellness and Indigenous sport.
Aneka Porter
Child and Youth Worker
York Region School Board
Toronto, ON
Aneka Porter has been a Child and Youth worker for over 10 years working in a multiple of settings including hospitals, group homes and schools supporting children and youth with mental and behavioural issues. Most recently she’s been working with the York Region School Board supporting elementary students. She is an advocate for promoting healthy well being for students and their families. She has also facilitated numerous parent workshops giving parents' tools and advice on healthy living. She uses (she, her, hers) pronouns.
Ty Riddick
Elementary PHE Teacher
Strathcona-Tweedsmuir School
Okotoks, AB
Ty Riddick is currently an Elementary PHE teacher at Strathcona-Tweedsmuir School in Okotoks, Alberta. He spend the previous 8 years teaching High School PHE at international schools in Hong Kong and South Korea. He recently completed his MEd in Curriculum & Pedagogy through the University of Alberta and remains interested in pedagogies that support meaning-making and ecological dynamics.
Sabrina Razack
Educator, PhD Candidate
University of Toronto
Toronto, ON
Sabrina Razack is an educator in the Toronto area and also a PhD Candidate at the University of Toronto. The program resides at the Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education combined with a collaborative specialization in the Women and Gender Studies department. Between educating and becoming a student herself, Sabrina worked with the CAAWS, now the Canadian Women & Sport, the Pan/Parapan American Games and the INVICTUS Games. Her current research examines the intersections of physical activity, sport, physical education, media, race, gender, class and culture. Sabrina is an award-winning curriculum writer, and developed the website http://teachbeyondaboundary.com to create units on critical sport and social issues.
Dr. Travis Saunders
Associate Professor of Applied Human Sciences
University of Prince Edward Island
Charlottetown, PEI
Dr Travis Saunders is an Associate Professor of Applied Human Sciences at the University of Prince Edward Island. His research focuses on the health benefits of physical activity for school-aged children and youth. He was the Chair of the Expert Panel which developed new School-Related Sedentary Behaviour Recommendations for School Aged Children and Youth.
Laura Seckington (she/her/hers)
Elementary Teacher and Specialist in Special Education
York Region District School Board
Toronto, ON
Laura Seckington is an elementary teacher and specialist in Special Education in the York Region District School Board. Her experience includes teaching at both the elementary and secondary levels with students with complex needs in both classroom and treatment settings. She has taught for over 10 years in environments specific to children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and spent two years working on her board's Interdisciplinary Team assisting school staff with students with behaviour needs and working for the Crisis Prevention Institute as a trainer. She has a background in Applied Behavioural Analysis and her passions include advocating for the inclusion of students with disabilities whenever possible.
LJ Slovin
PhD in Curriculum and Pedagogy
University of British Columbia
Vancouver, BC
LJ Slovin holds a PhD in Curriculum and Pedagogy from the University of British Columbia. A former sexual health educator and youth worker, they currently teach courses in the study of sexuality and critical health education at UBC. Their research interrogates how gender nonconforming youth navigate various elements of schooling with a particular focus on the ways settler colonialism continues to inform normative gendered expectations. LJ is passionate about shifting the way we think about gender, working with young people, baking, and riding their bicycle.
Kim St-Pierre
Gestionnaire du développement des affaires du programme
BOKS
Montreal, QC
Kim St-Pierre est l’une des plus grandes joueuses de l’histoire du hockey féminin au pays. Au sein de l’équipe nationale du Canada, entre 1998 et 2011, elle remporte trois médailles d’or olympique et cinq championnats du monde. Puis en 2020, elle devient la première gardienne de but à être intronisée au Temple de la renommée du hockey. Kim a été intronisée au temple de la renommée du sport de l’Université McGill en 2014 suivi par le temple de la renommée du Panthéon des sports du Québec en 2016. Kim est diplômée en Éducation à l’Université McGill. Aujourd’hui mère de deux enfants, Kim St-Pierre a à cœur plus que jamais la promotion de l’activité physique, étant gestionnaire du développement des affaires du programme BOKS.
Dr. Lauren Sulz
Associate Professor, Faculty of Education
University of Alberta
Edmonton, AB
Dr. Lauren Sulz is an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Education at the University of Alberta. Her primary research commitments focus on school-based strategies to promote active healthy lifestyles among children and youth. Through this research, Dr. Sulz aims to create a whole-school environment where student health is an essential foundation to schools’ core mission of learning.
Courtney Szto
Assistant Professor, School of Kinesiology and Health Studies
Queen's University
Kingston, ON
Dr. Courtney Szto (@courtneyszto) is an Assistant Professor in the School of Kinesiology and Health Studies at Queen's University. She has published widely on racism in hockey, including her book "Changing on the Fly: Hockey through the voices of South Asian Canadians," and the publicly available "Policy Paper for Anti-Racism in Canadian Hockey." Dr. Szto is the Co-Chair for the Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Indigeneity Task Force for Queen's Athletics and Recreation, and consults with the Professional Women's Hockey Players Association (PWHPA) and Hockey Diversity Alliance on their anti-racism efforts.
Jamie Tanis
Interior Region Senior Coordinator, Tobacco Cessation and Reduction
First Nations Health Authority
Coast Salish Territory, West Vancouver, BC
Jamie Tanis has worked for First Nations Health Authority for 6 years. In this role, she has been blessed to learn from the Dakelh Dene Elders about the use of Traditional Tobacco as well as other teachings. This learning journey continues as she recently started as the Interior Region Senior Coordinator, Tobacco Cessation and Reduction. Jamie enjoys sewing, fishing (of all sorts), hiking, kayaking and spending time with her two grandchildren. Jamie feels that she has had the privilege of making a career out of working with people (victim services, legal secretary, social worker, community engagement coordinator) and she enjoys listening to stories from Community members.
Britt Vegsund
Health Promoter and Outdoor Educator
Nova Scotia Active Smarter Kids Project
Lunenburg, NS
Britt Vegsund is a health promoter and outdoor educator who lives on and explores the wild Atlantic coast of Nova Scotia. Since 2018, in collaboration with dedicated educators, she has led the Nova Scotia Active Smarter Kids Project, an initiative to support the sustained implementation of physically active learning (PAL) in schools across Nova Scotia. PAL is a teaching method used by classroom teachers in which physically active games and activities are incorporated into the review of curriculum outcomes. In addition to increasing students’ daily physical activity levels, PAL has been proven to have positive impacts on academic achievement and classroom management. But perhaps, most importantly, PAL positively contributes to students’ and teachers’ sense of enjoyment of the school day! Britt is grateful to live and play in Mi’kmaw’ki, the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq people.
Jessica Wood
Research Specialist
Sex Information & Education Council of Canada (SIECCAN)
Toronto, ON
Jessica Wood is a Research Specialist with The Sex Information & Education Council of Canada (SIECCAN). In this role, she conducts research related to sexual health education and helps to develop sexual health education and promotion resources for educators and policy makers, such as the Canadian Guidelines for Sexual Health Education. Jessica has an extensive research background in sexual health and relationships and received her doctoral degree in Applied Social Psychology from the University of Guelph.
Megan Zeni
PhD student and PHE lecturer, Faculty of Education
University of British Columbia
Vancouver, BC
Megan Zeni is a fourth year PhD student and PHE lecturer in the Faculty of Education at the University of British Columbia. Her research includes collaborations with practicing K-7 classroom teachers to capture how pedagogies of place and play are enacted through unstructured outdoor play and learning at school. Megan has 25 years experience as a professional K-7 educator, and currently teaches entirely outdoors in a public school outdoor and garden classroom. To learn more about her work, visit: www.meganzeni.com
More presenters will be added in the coming weeks!