In recognition of its 10th Anniversary, LCEEQ adopted as the theme for its Annual Conference, Well-Being – Being Well.
There are many daily stresses and pressures on students and educators alike at all levels from pre-school through university. In recent times, much more attention has been given to the need for both physical and mental wellness in society in general, but particularly in the field of Education. Mindfulness activities have become part of daily routines both in school and at home. There are numerous research studies examining the impact of stress on teachers, including a pan-Canadian study for which McGill University is a key partner. Our conference brought together experts from both the medical and educational communities to consider the many aspects of this important issue.
The 2019 LCEEQ Conference, Well-Being – Being Well, celebrated existing practices and innovation in the realm of wellness.
Keynote Speakers
Dr. Michael Ungar
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Dr. Michael Ungar is among the best-known writers and researchers on the topic of resilience in the world. His work has changed the way resilience is understood, shifting the focus from individual traits to the interactions between people and their families, schools, workplaces, and communities. As the Canada Research Chair in Child, Family and Community Resilience and Professor of Social Work at Dalhousie University, as well as a family therapist, he has helped to identify the most important factors that influence the resilience of children and adults during periods of transition and stress. He is the author of 14 books that have been translated into five languages, numerous manuals for parents, educators, and employers, as well as more than 135 scientific papers. Dr. Ungar’s immense influence comes from his ability to adapt ideas from his research and clinical practice into best-selling works like Too Safe For Their Own Good: How Risk and Responsibility Help Teens Thrive and I Still Love You: Nine Things Troubled Kids Need from Their Parents. His blog Nurturing Resilience appears on Psychology Today’s website. Dr. Ungar is also the founder and Director of the Resilience Research Centre where he coordinates over five million dollars in research in more than a dozen countries. Dr. Ungar regularly provides consultation and training to organizations like the World Bank, UNESCO, and the Red Cross. He is the former Chair of the Nova Scotia Mental Health and Addictions Strategy, executive board member of the American Family Therapy Academy, and a family therapist who works with mental health services for individuals and families at risk. In 2012 Dr. Ungar was the recipient of the Canadian Association of Social Workers National Distinguished Service Award for his outstanding contribution to clinical work with families and communities. |
Dr. Jean Clinton
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Dr. Jean Clinton is a Clinical Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences at McMaster University, division of Child Psychiatry. She is on staff at McMaster Children’s Hospital with cross appointments in Pediatrics and Family Medicine, and an Associate in the Department of Child Psychiatry, University of Toronto and Sick Children’s Hospital. She is also a senior scientist at the INCH (INfant Child Health) Lab at McMaster University. In addition, she is a Fellow of the Child Trauma Academy, as well as a Zero to Three Academy Fellow since 2013. She has been a consultant to children and youth mental health programs, child welfare, and primary care for almost 30 years. Dr. Clinton was recently appointed as an education advisor to the Premier of Ontario and the Minister of Education. Dr. Clinton is renowned locally, provincially, nationally, and more recently internationally as an advocate for children’s issues. Her special interest lies in brain development, and the crucial role relationships and connectedness play therein. Jean champions the development of a national, comprehensive child well-being strategy including a system of early learning and care for all young children and their families. She is equally committed to ensuring that children’s and youths’ needs and voices are heard and respected. |
Featured Speakers
Dr. John Miller
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John (Jack) Miller has been working in the field of holistic education for over 40 years. He is author/editor of 20 books on holistic learning and contemplative practices in education which include Whole Child Education, The Holistic Curriculum, Transcendental Learning: The Educational Legacy of Alcott, Emerson, Fuller, Peabody and Thoreau, and soon to be published Love and Compassion: Exploring Their Role in Education. His writing has been translated into nine languages. The Holistic Curriculum has provided the program framework for the Equinox Holistic Alternative School in Toronto where Jack has been involved in an advisory role. Recently he was asked to co-edit a book series for Information Age Publishing entitled Current Perspectives in Holistic Education and Holistic Education and Embodied Learning was published last spring. This book includes several chapters written by his thesis students at OISE. Jack has worked extensively with holistic educators in Japan, Korea and Hong Kong for the past 20 years and has been a visiting professor at universities in Japan and Hong Kong. In 2009 Jack was one of 24 educators invited to Bhutan to help that country develop their educational system so that it supports the country’s goal of Gross National Happiness. Jack teaches courses on holistic education and spirituality education for graduate students and students in Initial Teacher Education Program at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto where he is Professor. |
Dr. Bruce Ferguson
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Dr. Bruce Ferguson is a psychologist and Senior Consultant to the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Research Unit at SickKids as well as being an Emeritus Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Toronto. He works to promote success for children and youth by considering all factors essential to well-being including health/mental health, home life, school, community life and peer relationships. He was a member of the Minister’s Advisory Group on Mental Health and Addictions Strategy which led to Open Minds, Healthy Minds, the Ontario initiative in child and youth mental health. Dr. Ferguson participates in School Mental Health ASSIST, Co-Chaired the EDU Expert Panel on Accepting Schools and currently Co-Chairs the Expert Panel on Well-being. |
Dr. Nancy Heath
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Dr. Nancy Heath is a James McGill Professor in the Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology, in McGill's Faculty of Education. She is an internationally recognized leader in student stress and self-injury and has worked in collaboration with schools for more than 25 years. Throughout her career, she has helped schools to enhance their response to mental health challenges including stress, anxiety, depression, and self-injury. She has published and presented nationally and internationally in the area and currently leads McGill University’s National Teacher Mental Health and Well Being Initiative. |
Dr. Ian Manion
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Dr. Manion is a clinical psychologist and scientist-practitioner who has worked with children, youth and families for over 30 years. He is an adjunct professor in the School of Psychology at the University of Ottawa. Currently he is the Director of Youth Mental Health Research at the Royal’s Institute of Mental Health Research. Dr. Manion is actively involved in research on mental health promotion, youth depression and suicide. He has a particular interest in systems research and how services are organized to best meet the mental health needs of youth. He is a committed advocate for child and youth mental health sitting on local, provincial, national and international boards and committees. He is scientific director for FRAYME, a newly funded international Network of Centres of Excellence (NCE) Knowledge Translation Platform focusing on integrated youth mental health care globally. Dr. Manion is co-founder of Youth Net/ Réseau Ado, a bilingual community-based mental health promotion program with satellites across Canada as well as in Europe. Ian is a person with lived experience and was one of the spokespersons for the Bell Let’s Talk campaign in 2018. |
Conference Program
View or download here
Evaluation Results & Handouts
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Total Registrants VS. Evals Received |
Average Workshops Score |
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864/444 (51%) |
4.3 |
|
General Question |
Average Score |
|
The conference met my expectations |
4.3 / 5 |
|
The Conference will be of value to me in the future |
4.4 / 5 |
|
The Conference had enough variety to maintain my interest |
4.2 / 5 |
|
The Conference facilities were satisfactory |
4.5 / 5 |
|
Keynote Speakers |
Average score |
Handout |
|
Michael Ungar – Resilience at Home and on the Job: Maintaining Our Capacity to Cope During Times of Change and Challenge |
4.5 |
|
|
Jean Clinton – Connection is Key: The Power of Relationships |
4.8 |
|
Workshops Block A |
Average score |
Handout |
|
Michael Ungar – Helping Those Who Help Nurture and Maintain Their Resilience |
4 |
|
|
John Miller – Whole Child Education |
3.1 |
|
|
James Watts – 13 Reasons Why - Stress,Sex,Suicide & Spirituality |
3.7 |
|
|
Andrea Videtic – Creating a Community of Practice for CEGEP Teachers |
4.5 |
|
|
Erica Tomkinson – Cannabis - It's Legal! But is it Wellness? |
4.4 |
|
|
Janet Strike Schurman – Strategies for ABAV Planning and Accessing Resilience at School |
2.3 |
|
|
Cindy Finn – Sowing the Seeds for School Mental Health |
3.8 |
N/A |
|
Katherine Baker – Daily Physical Activity at School - Let’s Get A Move On! |
4.7 |
|
|
Chiaki Konishi – The Power of Social Wellness on Positive Student Outcomes |
3.5 |
|
|
Dana Carsley – Mindfulness in the Classroom: Day-to-Day Strategies for Supporting Your Students |
4.1 |
N/A |
|
Workshops Block B |
Average score |
Handout |
|
Bruce Ferguson – Making and Keeping our Children and Youth Well |
4.3 |
N/A |
|
John Miller – Love and Compassion: Exploring Their Role in Education |
2.6 |
|
|
Nancy Heath – Using Mindfulness for Stress Management in the Teaching Profession |
4.3 |
|
|
Sylvie Archambault – The ABC's of Diversity.../L'ABC de la diversité |
4.6 |
|
|
Tracy Rosen – #selfies: Reflection of Our Well-Being |
3.5 |
N/A |
|
Jacob Tetreault – Feeling Well, Doing Well: Getting High Schoolers Mentally and Physically Ready... |
3.2 |
N/A |
|
Peter Chan – Mystery Club: Transforming Your School's Culture |
4.2 |
N/A> |
|
Christine Canzani – The 14 Needs for Every Day: A Nurse's Perspective on Health & Wellness |
3.9 |
|
|
Sergine Gauvin – Mindfulness Practice in the Classroom |
3.8 |
|
|
Yannik Blier – Keep Calm and Collaborate! |
4.3 |
N/A |
|
David Hill – Emotional Safety in the Classroom |
3.5 |
|
Workshops Block C |
Average score |
Handout |
|
Jean Clinton – Connection is Key: The Power of Relationships - Going Deeper |
4.2 |
N/A |
|
Ian Manion – Practicing What We Preach: Self-Care for School and Board Staff |
4.4 |
|
|
Jovette Francoeur – Promoting Life Balance in Our Evolving Digital World |
4.3 |
N/A |
|
Martine Demers – Setting up an Emotions Room in Your School |
4.5 |
|
|
Ted Temertzoglou – Physical Literacy: Gateway to Well-Being |
4.7 |
N/A |
|
Tracy Mangal – Responding to Anxiety Using Cognitive Behaviour Therapy |
4.3 |
|
|
Elana Bloom – The Family School & Support Treatment Team |
4.3 |
N/A> |
|
Karen Rye – Picture This: Books to Promote Well-Being/ Albums jeunes pour promouvoir le bien-être |
4.7 |
|
|
Amanda Argento – Promoting Emotion Regulation during the Transition to High School |
3.6 |
N/A |
|
Anne-Marie Parent – Promoting Positive Action in Witnesses of School Bullying: The Importance of Bystanders... |
3.9 |
|
|
Ian Manion – Closing Plenary - Working Together for School Mental Health |
4.3 |
