Leading the Way: Leadership Forum 2025

Through thought-provoking collaborative sessions, and networking opportunities, participants will reflect on their leadership journey, strengthen their capacity to lead with purpose, and gain new perspectives to support the evolving needs of children, families, and teams.

MORNING SPEAKER: DR. ELAINE COOK, Ph.D 

THRC is excited to welcome back Dr. Elaine Cook, who holds a Ph.D in Behavioural Psychology. Join Dr. Cook as our morning speaker on her session on Beautiful Constraints.

Beautiful Constraints: Post-pandemic stress and anxiety challenge individuals and workplaces, compounded by constraints like time, resources, and finances. This workshop teaches participants to identify, reframe, and leverage constraints to enable aspirational goals. Learn to reshape narratives and create hopeful, enduring stories for personal and organizational growth.

In this session, participants will learn:

• To identify and analyze the various components of constraints that affect teams
  and organizations, including personal, systemic, and post-pandemic challenges.
• Develop strategies to leverage and reframe constraints to enable aspirational goal setting, even in limiting conditions.
• Learn to reshape narratives and discourses to create hopeful and enduring stories that contribute to resilience and growth in both professional and personal contexts.

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AFTERNOON SESSIONS:

PARTICIPANTS CAN CHOOSE ONE OF THE FOLLOWING SESSIONS 

Option One: Difficult Conversations facilitated by: Dr. Elaine Cook, Ph.D – Manager Humanistic Education and Training

Difficult conversations arise in all areas of life. This session explores what
makes them challenging, how we’re wired to respond, and strategies for
engaging effectively. Participants will gain skills to navigate these conversations
with greater ease and wisdom, fostering more positive outcomes.

In this session, participants will learn about the neurobiology of difficult
conversations. They will develop an understanding of what contributes to
escalation and the emotions and behaviours associated with difficult
conversations. Participants will learn how to self-regulate before and during
difficult conversations, as well as learn strategies that help others to self-regulate.

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Option Two: Awaken Your Inner Guide: A Virtues-Based Experience, Faciliated by: Shannon Speer, THRC Professional Learning Consultant

Step into a journey of self-discovery and connection as you explore the power of virtues language in both personal and professional spaces. Through creative reflection, deep exploration, and meaningful engagement, unlock new pathways to strengthen relationships, foster authentic connections, and design a more intentional way of being.

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Option Three: Accommodating Children with Special Needs, Faciliated by: Asha Rampersad, ​​Turnpenney Milne LLP​

Childcare facility ​owners, operators, supervisors, and directors will learn about their legal obligation to accommodate and provide inclusive care to children with disabilities.  Through lecture, discussion, and case studies, participants will learn to accommodate children to the point of undue hardship under the Human Rights Code and to navigate situations where services may have to be modified or withdrawn due to health and safety risks to staff and other children. ​

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Option Four: Creating Positive and Supportive Working Environments: An Evidence Based Approach, Facilitated by: Marie-Hélène Budworth, Professor at York University

This session explores practical strategies for fostering healthy, inclusive, and productive workplaces. Participants will learn how to apply evidence-based principles adapted for Child Care Centres. We will explore team dynamics, psychological safety, and overall employee wellbeing with the goal of contributing to a culture of support and positive engagement.

Once registration opens, anyone who wishes to participate must complete a form to secure their spot to ensure registration at the event.