A huge congratulations to all involved in the organization and realization of the SPARK: Early Childhood Education Graduate Student Conference. It was a stimulating, provoking and inspiring event.
Many, many thanks to the incredible organizing committee Aurea Vericat, Harini Rajagopol, Nancy Van Groll, Laurel Donison (and Julian), Karima Rehmani, Shruti Asokan, Negar Khodarahmi, Karina Vasquez and Katherine Jarman. And, thanks to all the students and faculty who stepped up and helped with every aspect and smooth functioning of the conference.
Thanks also to all the children who provided the wonderful artwork that helped turn the grey institutional Ponderosa Commons Building into a delightful, bright and inspirational space for an Early Childhood Education meeting.
The Keynote Address by Veronica Pacini-Ketchabaw, “Reconfiguring Early Childhood Pedagogies at a Time of Climate Crisis,” was provoking, exciting and a challenge to ECE researchers and practitioners to re-think both our relationship(s) with the non-human world and how to support young children’s understanding of and relationship(s) with the non-human world.
A big thank you to all the absolutely marvellous presenters who shared their passions and expertise in aspects of Early Childhood Education and challenged us to think about the future(s) of early childhood education.
I could not be prouder of this group of ECE graduate students who are smart, articulate and passionate about Early Childhood Education and whose hard work and vision made this ECE Conference such a huge success.
With heartfelt thanks and appreciation,
Margot Filipenko
Director, Early Childhood Education
Professor of Teaching
Department of Language and Literacy Education
Faculty of Education
University of British Columbia
