Events

Do you want to learn more about Steps to Success? Do you know someone interested in exploring a career in Early Childhood Education? Have you always had a passion for working with children but don't know where to start? Register to join us!  Wednesday, August 26 from 10:30 - 11:30 am We will be providing details about the Steps to Success program and answering all of your questions! Are you looking for the Steps to Success application? Click here!  

Steps to Success applications are live. Click here for the application!   Steps to Success is a 20-week education and workplace training program that provides: Full-time work experience in licensed early childhood centres working with children ages 0-5 Education at Holland College Support obtaining an Early Childhood Intern certification through the Province of PEI Guidance from an experienced team A boost in employability through hands-on experience, knowledge building, and mentoring relationships with certified early childhood professionals   Fall Start Date: September 14, 2026Winter Start Date: January 18, 2026   Additional information can be found in the uploaded document.   Questions? Contact Megan Drummond  Email: [email protected] Phone: (902) 368 1017Steps to Success is administered by the Early Childhood Development Association of PEI and funded by the Department of Workforce and Advanced Learning through the Canada-PEI Labour Market Agreements.

This training series is ideal for early childhood educators, program leaders, and professionals committed to fostering meaningful connections that help children and families thrive.   Part 1 - Starting Strong: Responsive Transitions into Early Childhood Programs (September 9th) Transitions into early childhood settings can be emotional and significant experiences for children, families, and educators. This workshop focuses on creating welcoming, responsive, and relationship-based transition experiences that foster belonging, emotional well-being, and connection from the very beginning. Throughout the session, participants will explore: Supporting children and families through transitions into care Creating environments that feel welcoming, safe, and inclusive Building trusting relationships with families Responsive communication strategies Supporting separation anxiety and emotional development Honoring each child’s individual needs and experiences Reflecting on transition practices within early years programs This workshop encourages educators to view transitions through the lens of children and families while providing practical strategies and reflective opportunities that can be implemented within programs immediately. Part 2 - Sustaining Responsive Practice: Beyond the First Days: Sustaining Responsive Relationships in Early Learning Settings (October 7th) The transition into an early childhood program is only the beginning of a child's journey. While thoughtful transition practices help children and families feel welcomed, it is the ongoing relationships and responsive interactions that create a foundation for belonging, well-being, and learning. This workshop explores how educators can sustain and deepen connections with children and families beyond the initial transition period. Participants will examine the role of responsive relationships in supporting emotional security, engagement, and resilience, and consider practical strategies for building trust, fostering meaningful family partnerships, and responding to children's evolving needs. Through reflection, discussion, and real-world examples, educators will strengthen their understanding of relationship-based practice and leave with tools to create nurturing environments where every child and family feels seen, valued, and supported throughout their early learning experience. Participants will explore: Relationship-based approaches that support children's sense of safety and belonging Strategies for strengthening family partnerships over time Responsive interactions that foster emotional well-being and self-regulation Observation and reflection as tools for understanding children's needs and interests Creating inclusive environments that honour diverse identities, cultures, and experiences   Facilitator Bio: Julie Hansen has been an Early Childhood Educator for 25 years, having received her Diploma in Early Childhood Education from Douglas College. Since then, she has gained experience in a variety of areas within the field of Early Childhood Education: Director of a preschool, supervisor of after-school care as well as 3-5 and Infant Toddler programs and centre management. Julie’s primary focus has evolved to encompass team leadership, management training and program development. She has had articles published in provincial and national ECE journals on the topic of emergent curriculum and leadership. Her goal as an Early Childhood Educator and facilitator is to support fellow educators and early years professionals in providing high quality early learning experiences for children and families.   Participation: Participants will be given the link to the video and are required to participate in one of two ways-- with a microphone/built in speaker or through the chat. In addition there will be a log tracking which members contribute and which do not, and those that do not contribute will not receive PD hours. We ask that you leave your camera on for the session.

4-Part Leadership Series with Mary HewittSeptember 10th, October 6th, November 17th, & December 8th Session 1: The Role of Trust in Leadership - Leadership without trust often reduces teams to focusing on compliance, defensiveness, and hiding—instead of creativity, collaboration, and commitment. Reflecting on the work of Stephen Covey, for this virtual gathering, we will be exploring how leaders can build trust within teams and what this “looks like” in early childhood settings with educators.Session 2: What Does it Mean to Be in Relationship? - Making the Harder Conversations Easier - In our culture, we often view relationships as healthy and successful when there is no friction, varying of opinions, or disagreement and pushback. During this virtual gathering, we will challenge this assumption and uncover what really happens in relationships when we simply ‘go with the flow’ in any and all circumstances. We will also discuss what it means to shift this narrative of relationships so we can anticipate natural ‘bumps in the road’ and create a more expansive, realistic, nutritive understanding of what it means to truly live, work, and play together.Session 3: Scaffolding Isn’t Just for the Children - During our leadership retreat, we learned that the primary role of a leader is to “make more leaders”. At this virtual gathering, we will build on this understanding by examining key parallels between what it means to foster agency in children and what it means to scaffold and empower the adults caring for children. In applying the same principles we do with children, we recognize how we already have the skillsets to “make more leaders”, we simply need to thoughtfully translate this so it applies to the relationship dynamics between supervisors and educators.Session 4: Circling Back to Humanity-Driven Leadership and Reflecting on our Growth - In this virtual gathering, we will reflect on how our mindset, practices, and relationships have shifted thus far by revisiting key humanity-driven leadership concepts and our vision boards from March 2026. Leaders will use the ‘3 Roots and a Shoot’ protocol: reflecting on three areas of deeply anchored, well-established strengths they’ve established AND one new area of growth that requires specific nurturing to bloom.   Although these are some of the core concepts we will cover, I am also very aware that pedagogical partnerships like this often evolve in-the-moment with the learning community. Having some flexibility in there to 'meander' in meaningful ways can often make these experiences more engaging (and useful!) for everyone.   Facilitator Bio: Mary Hewitt, founder of Unlocking Childhood, is an experienced public speaker, author, and early years sector consultant. With 16 years in the early learning field as a classroom educator, early childhood education professor, and early years system leader—she leverages her expertise to develop engaging and meaningful learning experiences for communities. Mary holds a Masters degree in Early Childhood Education, a Bachelor of Education degree, a diploma in Early Childhood Education, and a Psychology degree. She has captivated audiences of hundreds and has delivered her work in a variety of contexts from large-scale arenas to individual classrooms. Mary offers keynotes, facilitated workshops, pedagogical partnerships, virtual sessions, and even one-on-one coaching and consultations.  In 2025, Mary was selected by a peer-reviewed panel and presented at the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) conference in Orlando, Florida—the largest gathering of early childhood educators in the world. She has appeared as a guest on several podcasts and as a writer for various publications. She is currently writing a book on trauma-informed care in early childhood education with Redleaf Press. Mary credits her eclectic experiences, extensive education, and neurodivergent mind for her dynamic approach—and is passionate about sharing it with the world! Mary resides in rural Ontario with her husband and beloved dog.   Participation: Participants will be given the link to the video and are required to participate in one of two ways-- with a microphone/built in speaker or through the chat. In addition there will be a log tracking which members contribute and which do not, and those that do not contribute will not receive PD hours. We ask that you leave your camera on for the session.

The Director Network Meeting gathers on the third Wednesday of each month from 9:30 am - 12:00 pm. We are happy to provide a hybrid meeting space, with the option to meet in-person at the ECDA Boardroom or via Zoom, to help with travel house ratio i.e., if you're cooking lunch. This network is open to all supervisors, directors, and administrators of licensed early learning and childcare programs. The intention of the group is to encourage open conversation and collaboration to enhance quality practices, such as human resource practices and policies, pedagogy, and leadership. We have an open-door policy for all network meetings, we invite you to come as you are, when you can, if you are in a supervisor position! We will share and support each other in our professional and pedagogical roles. Each meeting we will spend our time together thinking more deeply about topics of interest, current trends and daily practice. We will approach problems from a solution-based lens together and have lively and respectful round table discussions. We would love to have someone from every centre join us as we continue to support one another through the journey! Bring yourself, invite a friend, and we can't wait to meet you, or see you again :)