Welcome to the first Wayfinding conference!
After many years of building my Behaviour Wayfinding framework and supporting families and organizations across Alberta, it's time for us to come together to share strategies, ideas, and advocate for early childhood education. I have partnered with Friends of Jasper Childcare Society to curate a 1.5 day event that participants will journey through as a group. You don't need to sign up for individual sessions. There will be 7 speakers spread over the Saturday and Sunday covering topics from:
- Behaviour management in early childhood
- Indigenous ways of knowing
- Magic and play in early learning
- Media representation and identity development in early childhood
- Understanding child mental health and diagnosis protocols
- Advocacy in the early childcare industry
and more!
Our presenters are made up of Alberta-based, front line workers with a focus on building a robust community for childhood development and growth.
Who should attend? Our topics will be useful for anyone who works with children: teachers, early learning educators, industry support professionals, and parents. The main focus is early learning, ages 0-6, and we will also talk about the industry as a whole.
Yes, this conference is approved for PD funding for Early Learning Educators! Register now for early bird pricing! Stay tuned for more information about our speakers.
Aynsley Graham
Aynsley brings more than a decade of experience working with behaviour to her own practice as a private consultant. She holds an MSc. in Human Ecology, specializing in Family Ecology and Practice. Aynsley has developed unique strategies to simplify behaviour management and will be speaking about her unique framework and child centered practice.
Lisa Daniel
Lisa is an experienced early childhood education leader, advocate, and speaker whose work is grounded in community, inclusion, and equity. For over a decade, she served as the Childcare Services Manager for the Municipality of Jasper, leading one of Alberta’s only municipally operated childcare programs. After the 2024 wildfire, she played a key role in safely reopening childcare services, supporting children, families, and staff through recovery.
Lisa recently completed a temporary role as Assistant Director of Community Development and is currently seconded to the Chief Administrative Officer’s office to support the municipality’s recovery efforts. In every role, she continues to champion accessible, high-quality learning environments that reflect the diverse strengths and identities of all children.
She believes belonging is built through connection and leads with empathy, curiosity, and a strong commitment to inclusive practice. Her responsive, equity-informed approach helps create environments where all children feel seen, supported, and valued.
Sherry Duncan
With over 38 years of dedicated experience bridging education, health sciences, and human services, Sherry is passionate about transforming early childhood learning and fostering inclusive, culturally rich environments.
As an innovative instructor and facilitator, she has led the development of groundbreaking online programs, including an Indigenous-focused ELCC Certificate in collaboration with Treaty 8 and Norquest College, empowering early childhood educators on reserve.
She thrives on creating engaging, collaborative spaces—whether delivering professional development workshops, keynote speeches, or pioneering legislation changes—and is committed to uplifting teachers, parents, and communities alike. Sherry's approach is driven by a deep belief in the power of relationships, cultural integrity, and lifelong learning to shape resilient, empathetic learners and educators ready to meet tomorrow’s challenges with creativity and compassion.
Christine Villeneuve
Christine is a passionate and experienced leader in Alberta’s early learning and child care sector, with over a decade of work grounded in advocacy, curriculum, and system transformation. She currently serves as the Executive Director of a multi-site child care society, a sessional instructor at Portage College, a coach supporting early childhood educators across the province, and a member of the Alberta Early Learning and Care Leaders’ Caucus.
Christine’s work is rooted in relationship-building, reflective practice, and navigating complex systems with clarity and compassion. She brings a strong working knowledge of the regulatory landscape—including the ELCC Act, OHS, AHS, and zoning regulations—and believes in reshaping the licensing conversation to make connections between the regulatory lens of children and educator safety and program lens of well-being and educator empowerment.
Ian Pidgeon
With over 20 years experience working with youth in Alberta, Ian is a passionate advocate for creativity and the transformative power of play. He has held positions as a Behaviour Specialist and Child and Youthcare Counselor in the Edmonton area and currently serves as the Executive Director of the Old Strathcona Youth Society, where he leads initiatives that support and empower vulnerable and unhoused youth through connection, compassion, and community engagement.
When working in an early childhood setting Ian’s practice is inspired by his 30 years as a professional magician and puppeteer. Ian encourages educators to facilitate learning through play, reawakening their own sense of wonder and weaving enchantment into everyday experiences.
Elise Graham
Elise has been working in film and television for more than 20 years, her career spanning across some of the most prolific production companies in Alberta. For several years she was the Director of Operations for GIFT, a non-profit that provided workshops and resources for teen girls, femme-identifying, and non-binary individuals in all aspects of film production. Elise has spoken about media representation at workshops and panels, and presented at numerous EDI events.
Alara Hedebring
Alara is a seasoned psychologist with over 15 years of clinical experience and the founder of Hedebring Psychological Services. She holds a graduate degree from McGill University and is a registered psychologist dedicated to helping individuals of all ages better understand themselves through comprehensive psychological assessment.
Alara specializes in identifying and supporting neurodiverse profiles, including Giftedness, Learning Disorders, ADHD, and Autism. Her work is rooted in a strengths-based approach, providing clear, actionable recommendations and connecting individuals and families with meaningful community resources. Her assessment reports are designed not just to inform but to empower — offering pathways for growth, understanding, and advocacy.
Driven by a deep commitment to demystifying mental health and reducing stigma, Alara is passionate about making psychological support more accessible, especially for children and youth navigating early developmental challenges. Her work continues to center on one key goal: helping people find clarity, confidence, and connection on their unique journey.
Madeline Klienfeld
Madeline Kleinfeld is the Membership and Community Engagement Coordinator at AECEA. She holds a Master’s degree in Public Health and Social Policy, where she specialized in factors that influence children's well-being. Her academic background and direct work with children and families as an Education Assistant and Dance Instructor have contributed to her understanding of strong early foundations as a vital piece in shaping thriving communities. Passionate about supporting and empowering educators, she recognizes their essential contributions to this foundation. Through engagement, knowledge-sharing, and meaningful connections, she is dedicated to amplifying educators’ voices and strengthening the ELCC sector.
𝐍𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐚 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐝𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞?
Private Home Accommodations: https://stayinjasper.com/ Tourism Jasper listings: jasper.travel/where-to-stay Folding Mountain Accommodations: https://www.jaspereastcabins. Hinton Accommodations: hintonrockies.com/where-to-Thank you to our generous sponsors!
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