Events

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 :)

A 6-hour professional development workshop exclusive to directors of licensed child care centres on PEI. Spend the day with Jennifer Nangreaves and Megan Drummond delving into the Onboarding Toolkit - A Guide for Directors. The ECDA has created this ready-to-use resource and workshop training through funding from the Government of Canada and the Government of Prince Edward Island.  This workshop is designed to support Island leaders in implementing and enhancing a robust employee onboarding process. We will spend the day reviewing the Onboarding Toolkit - A Guide for Directors and practical processes within it. If you are curious about onboarding and why it is integral to creating a culture of excellence in your centre, this workshop is for you! 

“Courageous conversations mean having the courage to show up when you can’t control the outcome.” ~ Brené Brown The ECDA is excited to host ECE Sharing and Networking sessions. These are open door meetings that welcome anyone working as a front-line educator. These meetings will provide space to gather with other early childhood educators to share what is on your heart or to seek support. The meetings are a place to listen, provide encouragement, share resources, and connect with your colleagues across the province. We would love to welcome at least one ECE from every Island centre to the network, and we realize some meeting dates will work better than others - so come when you can! The agenda for these sessions will be very flexible and will build over time based on the interest of those participating. Recently we have discussed things such as Dual Language Learners, Behaviours, PD wishes and many other! Come join us this month to see what comes up:) Registration for network meetings is required. This meeting will run with a minimum of 4 participants. These will be held once a month, so come when you can! Based on feedback we have flipped these to be entirely virtual:)

This workshop focuses on building strong educator-child relationships while strengthening proactive guidance strategies and responsive supervision. Through the lens of connection and consistency, educators will explore how to foster regulation, reduce conflict, and support a sense of belonging in fast-paced environments. Participants will: Understand the difference between guidance and discipline in a school-age context. Identify and implement the 5 Dimensions of Active Supervision. Reflect on personal supervision styles and guidance language. Explore practical tools to respond to behavior with empathy and clarity. Core Topics Include: The Power of Connection in Preventing Escalations Supervision as Engagement (not Surveillance) Respectful Language & Conflict Resolution Understanding Behavior as Communication Tools for Regulation and Co-Regulation ---------- Jamie Wagler, OCT, RECE is a passionate Early Childhood Education leader, consultant, and advocate with over 13 years of experience. As the owner of Miss Jamie Consulting and Director of Stratford (Ontario) Cygnets Preschool, Jamie specializes in innovative child-led learning, ASL integration, and school-age programming. Known for her work in empowering educators through dynamic professional development and mentorship, she also hosts The Forgotten ECEpodcast, where she amplifies the voices of educators and tackles key challenges in the field. Jamie’s expertise helps shape the future of early learning across North America!   Please note that participants must register individually to attend professional learning sessions. 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.

This session with Amy Sullivan is a is a reoffering from our Fall Conference 2025. Do you ever wonder "does what I do really make a different?" Together, we will unpack your role as an ECE in the care of children and their families. We will dig into your image of a child, your image of a family and your image of an educator. Through a power point presentation, open discussion and interactive experience you will learn about things like attachment, self regulation and co regulation. Let's get back to our roots and answer the questions, "does what I do really matter?"   Facilitator Bio: Amy Sullivan lives in beautiful St. Margaret's bay, Nova Scotia. Her two adult children, Simon (20) and Hannah (24) are well on their way into adult hood and she currently lives with her three feline fur babies. Her passion for Early Childhood started as a young girl and she ended up graduating from Holland College with her ECE in 2000. She has since continued on her path of supporting individuals of all ages by graduating with her Counselling Skills diploma in 2017 followed by receiving credentials as a Registered Counsellor in 2018. Throughout her career, both as an ECE and Counsellor, Amy has had the honor and privilege to support early childhood educators for over 20 years. Amy believe that lifelong learning is a gift and is happy to be a part of it with all her interactions.     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 actively engage in breakout groups or contribute to meaningful discussions will not receive PD hours. We ask that you leave your camera on for the session.