Speakers at the
Mental Health Summit
Keynote Speakers
Dr. Andy Hargreaves
Globally recognized education expert and author, The Age of Identity. Former ICSEI President & former Education Adviser to the Premier of Ontario. Read more
Dr. Julia Rucklidge
Directs the Mental Health & Nutrition Research Lab at the University of Canterbury. Co-author of The Better Brain & TEDx speaker. Read more
Dr. Jean Clinton
Clinical Professor at McMaster University & author of Love Builds Brains. Her work highlights brain development & the power of relationships. Read more
Dr. Hayley Watson
Clinical Psychologist, author of Finding the Words & Founder & CEO of Open Parachute. Read more
Dr. John-Tyler Binfet
Professor at UBC’s Okanagan School of Education & author of Cultivating Kindness. Founder & Director of the B.A.R.K. therapy dog program. Read more
Kate Arthur
Author of Am I Literate? & leading voice in AI & Education. She advises global organizations including UNESCO, Oxford University & UNICEF. Read more
Dr. Rebecca Winthrop
Co-author of The Disengaged Teen & Senior Fellow & Director of the Center for Universal Education at the Brookings Institute. Read more
Research Forum Speakers
Dr. Rob Roeser
Alice Valli Professor, Director of Research for the Center for Contemplative Science & Compassion-based Ethics, Emory University in Georgia. Read more
Dr. Paul Arnold
Director, Mathison Centre for Mental Health Research & Education, University of Calgary
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Dr. Kim Schonert-Reichl
Professor and NoVo Foundation Endowed Chair in Social and Emotional Learning, University of Illinois at Chicago Read more
Dr. Molly Lawlor
Principal Scientific Advisor, MindUP; Adjunct Professor, UBC; SEL and Mindfulness Consultant Read more
Dr. Tracy Vaillancourt
Canada Research Chair in School-based Mental Health and Violence Prevention and Professor, University of Ottawa Read more
Featured Speakers
Dr. Paul Arnold
Director, Mathison Centre for Mental Health Research & Education, University of Calgary Read more
Laura Lawrence
Founder/Director of Youth Matter Canada and Laura Lawrence Consutling and Speaking
Read more
Dr. Sarah Eaton
Professor and Research Chair in the Werklund School of Education, University of Calgary Read more
Dr. Andrea Holowka
Superintendent of Schools, Christ The Redeemer Catholic Schools Read more
Dr. Christopher Fuzessy Superintendent of Schools and CEO, Foothills School Division, Author of Emanate Read more
Joe Doiron
Founder, Active Kids Adventure Healthy Public Policy Specialist Read more
Dr. Katy Fodchuk
Chief Organizational Development Officer, Advanced Learning Partnerships Read more
Chris Reck
Educator, Greater Victoria School District No. 61 Read more
Ally Stone
CEO / Founder, The Inspired Leader Read more
Brent Saccucci
Instructor, Education & Social Change, Faculty of Education, University of Lethbridge
Dana Fulwiler Volk
Wellbeing Science Strategist, Consultant, Leader Teacher Fan Club, DFV Read more
Dr. Dean Vause & Ciara Brady
Executive Director; Management of Community Engagement, Alberta Adolescent Recovery Centre (AARC) Read more
Nancy Mannix
Chair and Patron, The Palix Foundation Read more
Michael Braithwaite
President & CEO, Jack.org Read more
Katherine Hay
Executive Director, Kickstand Read more
Guia Tinio
Service Innovation & Implementation Lead, Kickstand Read more
SEL Panel Speakers
Dr. Rob Roeser
Alice Valli Professor, Director of Research for the Center for Contemplative Science & Compassion-based Ethics, Emory University in Georgia Read more
Dr. Kim Schonert-Reichl
Professor and NoVo Foundation Endowed Chair in Social and Emotional Learning, University of Illinois at Chicago Read more
Dr. Molly Lawlor
Principal Scientific Advisor, MindUP; Adjunct Professor, UBC; SEL and Mindfulness Consultant Read more
Griffin Gervais
Founder, Come Home Collective, Co-Director, SEL4NC EI & SEL Systems & Leadership Consultant, Ed.D. Candidate, UNC Chapel Hill Read more
Dr. Gina Cherkowski
Executive Director, Werklund Institute for SEL Canada Read more
Leadership Panel Speakers
Joanne Pitman
Chief Superintendent, Calgary Board of Education Read more
Randolph MacLEAN
Superintendent and CEO,
Anglophone East School District Read More
Dr. Jason Rogers
Head of School, Rundle Schools Read more
Dr. Christopher Fuzessy
Superintendent of Schools and CEO, Foothills School Division, Author of Emanate Read more
Christina MacKinnon
Assistant Superintendent, Elk Islands Catholic Schools Read more
Simone Gessler
Superintendent of Education, Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools Read more
Breakout Speakers
Victoria Meah
Scientific Director, The Palix Foundation
Alexandra Desbiens-Leighton
Coordinator of Student Services, Lester B Pearson School Board
Nathalie Constant
Child & Family Development Consultant, Lester B Pearson School Board
Joanne McQuiggan
Executive Director, Lions Quest Canada
Lori Roe
Director CASA Classrooms, CASA Mental Health
Shelley Greenwood
Director of Learning Services, Sturgeon Public Schools
Sheldon Franken
Shoshemo: Social Emotional Learning
Meaghon Reid
Executive Director, Converge
Gail Markin
Educational Consultant, Practice Support Coach, BC Children’s Hospital
Dr. Jamil Jivraj
Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist, Clinical Assistant Professor, UofC
Andrea Keith
Executive Director, Let Grow
Lindy Fors
Kee Tas Kee Now Tribal Council Education Authority (KTCEA)
Rose Noskiye
Kee Tas Kee Now Tribal Council Education Authority (KTCEA)
Gwena Cunningham
Kee Tas Kee Now Tribal Council Education Authority (KTCEA)
Wendy Calahasen
Kee Tas Kee Now Tribal Council Education Authority (KTCEA)
Michael Hladun
Vice-Chair, Thrive Charter School Society
Donna Rankin-Anderson
Principal, Thrive Elementary School
Kai Williamson
Health & Wellness Consultant, Ever Active Schools
Chesa Peter
Health & Wellness Consultant, Ever Active Schools
Mike Shoemaker
Director of Learning Services, Canadian Rockies Public Schools
Dr. Fiona Watkins
Inclusive Service Coordinator, CRPS
Karen Gosbee
Author, Founder, Director & Community Advocate Under3, Vibrant Communities Calgary, Kickstand
Kirsten Hargreaves
Assistant Professor, University of the Fraser Valley
Kathleen Lane
Executive Director, EdCan Network
Dr. Gabrielle Wilcox
Associate Professor, Werklund School of Education, UofC
Kaylee Fishback
Ashley Lamantia
Senior Manager, CMHA Calgary Region
Kimberley Feist
Program Manager, CMHA Region
Kristy Wolfe
Digital Storytelling Facilitator; Executive Director, Kristy Wolfe Stories; Wolfe Pack Warriors Foundation
Adam Turnbull
Director of Education Solutions, Eduscape
Jason Buccheri
Founder, Education Matters
Dayna Haig-Conway
Registered Clinical Counsellor, Educator CAMP Mental Health
Carman Murray
Author, Speaker, Coach, Healthy Teachers, Healthy Classrooms
Dr. Lauren McNamara
Research Scientist, Diversity Institute, Toronto Metropolitan University
Natasha Dorsey
Researcher, Teacher & Founder/CEO, Forge Strategic Intelligence
Christy Herdman
Certified Art Therapist, CRATE Art Therapy
Nicole Misura
Program Manager, CALM Early Care & Learning Fraser Valley Child Development Centre
Kiran Sidhu
Program Leader - Early Care && Learning Fraser Valley Child Development Centre
David Dyck
Calgary Board of Education
Anne Daniel
Calgary Board of Education
Danielle Boutette
Calgary Board of Education
Jenna Seagrove
Calgary Board of Education
Kyle Khubyar
Calgary Board of Education
Carrie Lyons
Calgary Board of Education