Association of Early Childhood Educators Ontario

Finding a Home in the World: Migration, Indigeneity, and Citizenship

Ryerson University, Toronto, Canada • October 24 –27, 2017
Preconference workshops and preschool visits • October 23-24

The theme of this year's conference is Finding a Home in the World: Migration, Indigeneity, and Citizenship. Recent events shine new light on a familiar theme – the wrenching displacement of large populations because of war, violence, religious persecution, poverty, environmental disasters, and human-made climate change.

More information

PROFESSIONAL LEARNING

Professional learning activities accessed by early childhood educators range from single or multi-session workshops to educational and professional credentials such as certificates, diplomas and degrees.

Professional learning activities are currently being delivered by a host of various organizations and institutions in the province. Many regions have resource centres, as either stand-alone organizations or as part of larger institutions that coordinate the provision of professional learning and/or provide access to professional learning calendars.

Our list of professional learning opportunites provides web links and contact information to regional resource centres and training institutions that can connect you to professional learning opportunities in your community.

The AECEO also provides professional learning year round through AECEO sponsored events, workshops, online learning/webinars and community meetings.

Ontario's ECE Grants  

This program is mandated by the Ministry of Education to administer this grants program which helps to financially support individuals who are studying in the field, working at home or in a centre-based agency in Ontario, to obtain their ECE Qualifications Upgrade diploma or Leadership certification.

Guiding principles for professional learning

The following criteria were developed by the AECEO in consultation with sector stakeholders to help ECE professionals identify professional learning opportunities of the highest quality. As well, the guiding principles support ECEs to successfully meet the Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice established by the College of ECEs through their continuous professional learning.

• Supports active participation
• Critically identifies, evaluates and challenges thinking about daily practice
• Poses questions about values and beliefs regarding why we do what we do and what we want for children, families, communities and society
• Introduces new and relevant ideas and topics
• Creates and supports a critically reflective community of practice that reciprocally interacts with the changing needs of children, families and society
• Promotes a sense of professionalism
• Easily accessible and affordable
• Delivered using a broad range of informal and formal strategies or activities
• Delivered using a range of formats for different topics including face-to-face, hybrid (combination of face-to-face and on-line), and on-line
• Promotes collaboration between all professionals  who work in different early childhood education and care settings (i.e. child care, full day kindergarten, family support programs)
• Engages participants in reflection regarding their daily practice
• Provides diversity to be inclusive of all areas of RECE employment
• Supports participant choice with respect to timing, topic and mode of delivery

Continuous professional learning through the College of ECEs

The College's Continuous Professional Learning (CPL) program complements and formalizes the ongoing professional learning many RECEs do every day.

"Engaging in ongoing professional learning is important to early childhood educators. It is part of the culture of the profession and an integral component of both professionalism and leadership.

The CPL program is a framework and formal process to help RECEs increase their knowledge and skills and ensure quality professional practice throughout their careers. It also communicates to employers, families and the public that RECEs are members of a distinct profession that values ongoing professional learning." College of ECE

Visit the College of ECE website for more information

The AECEO will continue to develop resources to support early childhood educators to fulfill their Continuous Professional Learning requirements and better understand the process.

AECEO Online Professional Learning

Continuing the movement for the ECE workforce

This event was a follow up to a previous panel,Professional pay for ECEs: How do we get there?,that took place at Conestoga in March 2015. The event was organized in partnership with AECEO members from Waterloo/Kitchener and Guelph/Wellington and the Early Childhood Professional Resource Centre and Conestoga College.

The videos in this series include the six presentations that took place at Conestoga College during a Professional Pay & Decent Work Panel. Panelists discussed the issues and solutions for professional pay for ECEs in Ontario from their unique perspectives.

The moderation and participant discussion that took place after the panel presentations is not provided on video to protect the privacy of participants. However, many of the reflection questions included in this document are inspired by the questions and conversations that took place in between and after the presentations.  

A discussion guide to accompany the videos is also available

The following is a list of organizations that offer professional learning and development opportunities for individuals working in Early Learning and Care. This page is for information only.

WSIB Approved providers to deliver standard and emergency first aid training

Crisis and Trauma Resource Institute Inc.

CTRI is a leading provider of training and consulting services for individuals, school, communities and organizations affected by or involved in working with issues of crisis and trauma.

Queen's University Professional studies, Faculty of Education

Affiliated Services for Children and Youth Hamilton Region

A well integrated and highly utilized component of the early learning and child care community in Hamilton.

Best Start/Health Nexus

Province Wide - The Best Start Resource Centre: Ontario's Maternal Newborn and Early Child Development Resource Centre is a key program of Health Nexus,  a bilingual health promotion organization that works with diverse partners to build healthy, equitable and thriving communities. The Best Start Resource Centre supports service providers who work in preconception health, prenatal health and early child development.

EarlyON Brantford Brant

Brant Region - The Brant Early Years Community offers a variety of services and supports to young children and their families and caregivers. 

Early Childhood Resource Teacher Network of Ontario

The Network promotes the inclusion of children with varying needs and abilities, in their communities, by providing a forum for networking, education, professional development, and collaborative advocacy for Resource Teachers and Consultants across the Province of Ontario.

Infant Mental Health Promotion (IMHP)

Infant Mental Health Promotion (IMHP) is an independently run, not for profit organization operating within the Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto. The goal of IMHP is to promote the development of infants (0-3) through education, information dissemination, networking and advocacy.

Family Supports Institute Ontario

The Family Supports Institute Ontario exists to advance the well-being of families as seen through the lens of The Guiding Principles of Family Support.This will be accomplished using the tools of Innovative Research, Promotion of Family-Friendly Public Policy, Reciprocal Capacity Building, and Parent Engagement.

The Halton Resource Connection

The Halton Resource Connection (THRC) works in partnership with individuals and organizations who serve the interests of children and youth within the Halton community, providing curriculum resources, services, equipment, and professional development which enhance the quality of care. 

Canadian Child Care Federation

Our reach is wide and diverse. Together, our affiliate organizations, which represent early learning and child care organizations from across Canada, provide leadership and governance for CCCF. Each affiliate shares feedback and information via their member council representative.

Milton Community Resource Centre

The creative and innovative leadership of MCRC with the Halton community will develop and deliver services to inspire and support children, their families and professionals.

Our Kids Network

Our Kids Network is a Halton-wide partnership of organizations and agencies serving children and youth.

Child and Family Collaborative

Committed to principles of prevention and education, CFC creates proactive opportunities for professional development, life-long learning, research, early intervention and investment in the early years – all aimed at improving early development and child care services for children aged prenatal to twelve and their families in York region.

Canadian Association for Play Therapy

CACPT offers both online and face to play therapy training throughout Canada.  

The Royal Conservatory of Music

An overview to incorporating music education into early childhood settings while fulfilling Continuous Professional Learning requirements. 

Evergreen Brick Works

Offers workshops for K-12 Educators interested in outdoor learning and play for students.

The Circle/Le Cercle

The Circle on Philanthropy and Aboriginal Peoples in Canada is an open network to promote giving, sharing, and philanthropy in Aboriginal communities across the country.

High Park Nature Centre

To promote awareness and respect for nature through year-round, hands-on outdoor nature education and park stewardship.

Ontario Reggio Association

The Ontario Reggio Association intends to provide a forum for all sectors involved with young children, from child care, preschool, public and private schools to postsecondary institutions, from teacher to administrators to legislators and policy makers. 

Ontario NonProfit Network