Join us ONLINE or IN-PERSON, January 30 & 31, 2026 for the 29th Annual Children the Heart of the Matter Conference!

We are thrilled to offer this year’s conference in a flexible hybrid format, welcoming both in-person and virtual participants. The event opens on Friday, January 30th with a warm welcome reception, followed by an inspiring keynote presentation by the renowned Dr. Mariana Brussoni.

Saturday promises a rich day of learning, starting with a morning panel featuring seven passionate advocates and experts in outdoor play. They will share their insights on the powerful impact that time spent outdoors has on the well-being of both children and educators.

The learning continues with a selection of engaging workshops tailored for professionals in early care and education. These sessions will further explore the role of outdoor environments in fostering curiosity, creativity, and connection in early learning settings.

The Children the Heart of the Matter Conference brings together all those involved in the care and education of young children. Our mission is to raise the awareness and profile of child care and early years programs. Through professional development, networking, and sharing of information and resources between child care professionals, we aim to help provide the best for young children.

Conference Overview

FRIDAY, JANUARY 30

FRIDAY KEYNOTE

Embracing Uncertainty and Making Friends with Outdoor Risky Play

Research shows the importance of risky play for children. Providing children with opportunities for independent exploration, testing limits, and expanding boundaries helps promote mental health, physical activity, cognitive development, and independence. Yet many of us struggle with letting children enjoy these freedoms. We’ll explore some common myths and current realities and will discover simple ways to move away from saying “No!” and “Be careful!” to creating opportunities for “Yes!”.

DR. MARIANA BRUSSONI

Dr. Brussoni is Director of the Human Early Learning Partnership, Professor in the UBC Department of Pediatrics and School of Population and Public Health, Investigator at BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute and lead of the Outside Play Lab. She is a co-founder of Outdoor Play Canada. Her award-winning research investigates children’s outdoor and risky play, focusing on shifting parents’ and educators’ perceptions of risk, designing play-friendly environments, and changing systems to ensure children have the time, space and freedom to play outside every day. Further details available at https://www.outsideplay.org/

SATURDAY, JANUARY 31

SATURDAY PANEL PRESENTATION

Multiple Perspectives on Outdoor Play

This panel brings together passionate advocates and experts in outdoor play to highlight the important impact that spending time outdoors has on children’s well-being. They aim to emphasize the significance of outdoor experiences, not only for the physical and emotional health of children but also for educators. By exploring the numerous benefits of outdoor play, we hope to share with conference attendees how it positively influences children’s behavior, fosters creativity, and supports overall development.

LEN PIERRE

Owner & CEO
Len Pierre Consulting

SHANNON COOK

Puddle Splashing Forest
Practitioner & Administrator

BEVERLIE DIETZE

Outdoor Pedagogy Specialist
& Educator

RACHEL RAMSDEN

Outdoor Play Researcher,
Student & Parent

SHELBY GORDON

Parent &
Outdoor Enthusiast

ANGIE UY

Child Care Licensing
Practice Consultant

LISA KALDENBACH

Child Development &
Mental Health Clinician

SATURDAY AFTERNOON KEYNOTE

Land as Relative: Coast Salish Teachings on the Connection, Value, and Sacred Responsibility to Land

In Coast Salish worldviews, land is not a resource—it is a relative. Rooted in Indigenous knowledge systems and ways of being, this 2-hour session will invite early childhood educators to reimagine outdoor education through a relational lens. Participants will explore how land and territory are foundational to learning, identity, well-being, and belonging for Indigenous children, families, and communities. Through storytelling, reflection, and cultural teachings, we will explore how early learning spaces can honour the land as a living teacher and create conditions that reflect Indigenous values of reciprocity, respect, and connection to place. This session will also provide practical guidance for educators to integrate land-based practices and perspectives into their daily programming in ways that are culturally humble and locally grounded. Educators will leave with a deeper appreciation for Indigenous relationships to land and with inspired ideas to cultivate outdoor learning environments that foster a sense of wonder, stewardship, and relationship in young children.

LEN PIERRE

Len is Coast Salish from Katzie (kate-zee) First Nation. Len is an award-winning entrepreneur, professor, consultant, TEDx Speaker, social activist, change agent, and traditional knowledge sharer. He specializes in the development of educational programs and services with decolonization and reconciliation as its core values. Len holds a Masters degree in Education from Simon Fraser University focusing on Indigenous curriculum and instructional design. His experience includes Indigenous education and program leadership from various organizations across colonial Canada. He comes to us with an open heart and open mind and hopes to be received in the same way.

Registration Information

• Workshop changes are not permitted after registration. Registration is first-come, first-served; we do not maintain waitlists for full sessions.
• A unique email address is required for each registrant. If registering multiple people, make sure you have a different email address for each of them. All confirmations, receipts, and information about the conference are sent by email. Please add childcareoptions@options.bc.ca to your contacts to ensure you don't miss any important correspondence.
• Certificates of attendance will be provided for the completion of each keynote and workshop session attended.
• Photographs will be taken during the Children the Heart of the Matter conference. By registering for the conference, you are giving permission for photos containing your image/likeness to be used on our website or social media.

Cancellation Policy

All cancellations are accepted until Monday, January 26, 2026 at 6:00 PM. 

Cancellations will be subject to a $10.00 administration fee.

Participant substitutions are accepted at no additional cost. We are unable to process registration changes after this date and time.

Conference Dates & Location

ONLINE & IN-PERSON
January 30 & 31, 2026

BELL PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE

6250 144 St, Surrey, BC V3X 1A2

Registration Fees

For more information

Contact: childcareoptions@options.bc.ca

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