Excerpt
On September 9 and 10, over 350 Yukon early childhood educators and operators from across the territory gathered for the 2024 Early Learning and Child Care Conference hosted by the Government of Yukon at the Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre in Whitehorse.
The Government of Yukon is proud to support this conference as part of its ongoing commitment to high-quality early learning and child care that is affordable, accessible and inclusive. This year’s theme, Learn, Explore, and Grow Together, provided an opportunity for early learning and child care professionals’ ongoing professional development in both of Canada’s official languages.
Over the course of the two days, attendees from communities including Whitehorse, Dawson, Carmacks, Watson Lake, Mayo, Haines Junction, Teslin, Pelly Crossing, Burwash Landing, Faro, Ross Rivers and Carcross had the opportunity to deepen their knowledge, explore innovative practices and forge connections with peers in the field of early childhood education.
A series of workshops offered by local facilitators provided participants the opportunity to:
- exchange information and ideas on responsive care, learning through play, outdoor learning and more;
- integrate First Nations ways of knowing, doing and being;
- network, connect and build community;
- meet professionals in the fields of early learning and child care;
- learn about new trends, practices and studies; and
- gain practical skills through hands-on workshops.
- A key highlight was guest speaker Dr. Jean Clinton, a distinguished clinical professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences at McMaster University. Dr. Clinton previously served as an education advisor to Ontario’s Premier and Minister of Education.
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