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See: At-a-glance program
Wednesday, May 13th
9:00 am - Noon
2:00pm
Conference Opening Call to Order and welcome from the Council for Early Child Development
- Dr. Robin Williams | Chair, Council for Early Child Development
- National Anthem – Salem Choir, Sackville
- First Nations Blessing – Chief Joe Knockwood | Chief, Fort Folly First Nations
- Welcome to Sackville – Patricia Estabrooks | Mayor, Sackville, New Brunswick
- Welcome to Mount Allison University – Dr. Ron Byrne | Vice-President, International and Student Affairs, Mount Allison University
Welcome from the Premier of New Brunswick
- Hon. Shawn Graham | Premier, New Brunswick (invited)
Opening Speech
- Keynote - Hon. Paul Martin
3:20pm
Session 1: OUR IMPERATIVE
Chair: Dr. Robin Williams | Medical Officer of Health, Niagara Region
Keynote: Equity from the start through Early Child Development
Dr. Clyde Hertzman | Director, Human Early Learning Partnership, University of British Columbia
International assessments of public investment in early human development consistently rank Canada last. This hurts more than our national pride; the absence of public supports for children during their critical years of early brain development has life-long consequences for health, behaviour and cognitive function. The results can be tragic for the individual; but also present staggering challenges in health care costs, lost productivity and weakened citizenship. If Canada is to thrive, or even survive, in the new global environment, Canadians need to take action now in support of our children. Download presentation>>**
Presenters:
Demographic Trends affecting Human Development
Dr. Dan Trefler | Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto
Dr. Trefler will emphasize the social, economic and demographic trends that demand the attention of Canadians and which reinforce the need to take action on a systemic ECD agenda.
Significance of ECD to the Corporate Community
Charlie Coffey | Director, Council for Early Child Development; Chair, Canadian Centre for Diversity
With 44 years as a banker behind him, Charles Coffey knows our economy and the significance of early brain development to its success. His understanding compels other business executives to take the science seriously, to incorporate it into their business strategies, to engage in ECD issues in their communities and to use their influence to support a science-based public policy agenda.
Reflection:
5:20pm
Closure from conference sponsors & the Council Chair
- Hon. Margaret McCain | Margaret and Wallace McCain Family Foundation
- Dr. Anne McGuire | President and CEO, IWK Health Centre
- Dr. Robin Williams | Chair, Council for Early Child Development
Thursday, May 14
9 am - 4:30 pm
9:00am
Session 2: SYSTEMS THAT WORK: A LIFE-CYCLE APPROACH TO HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
Chair: Dr. J. Fraser Mustard | Council for Early Child Development
We can learn much by looking at what other countries do well. Sweden is a frontrunner in investing in young children and further, a groundbreaking study from the European Union named it number one in research, development and technology. Cuba has the highest adult literacy rates in the region as well as the highest percentage of children attending mother/baby programs. South Australia has adopted a "whole of Government" approach to early childhood with some early promising results.
Presenters:
A Perfect 10
Dr. Sven Bremberg | Child and Adolescent Health and Mental Health, Swedish National Institute of Public Health
In a recent UNICEF report, "The Child Care Transition," Sweden was the only country that met all 10 program benchmarks supporting child development. Dr. Bremberg explores the social, economic and cultural underpinnings of such positive results. Download presentation>>**
Getting the "Whole of Government" Behind Children in South Australia
Sherry Thompson | former Executive Director, Early Childhood Services, Department of Education and Children's Services, South Australia
South Australia's "whole of Government" approach to early child development reflects it desire to break out of the chaotic policy silos that plague many early childhood delivery systems. As the lead for integrating early childhood policy, funding and legislation, Sherry Thompson discusses the challenges faced in South Australia and how they were overcome, with an emphasis on improving outcomes for Aboriginal children. Download presentation>>**
Where There is the Will, There is a Way!
Alfredo Tinajero | International Early Childhood Consultant
Cuba has the only child/mother program that reaches 100% of its demographic. It also has low indexes of infant mortality, under 5 mortality, malnutrition and high rates of high school completion, life expectancy and adult literacy. Alfredo Tinajero analyzes the evolution of Cuba's child development indicators over the past 4 decades, makes comparisons to other experiences in Latin America and offers some possible explanations. Download presentation>>**
11:00 am
Session 3: PROMOTING EARLY CHILD DEVELOPMENT ACROSS CANADA
Chair: Jim Grieve | Director of Education, Peel District School Board
A good beginning to life is the foundation for future development, health and well-being. We recognize the importance of the early years but why is the field of early child development so fragmented and lacking integration of research policy and practice? To make change today we need to understand the barriers to action that exist in Canada, why they are there and how to overcome them.
Presenters:
Early Child Development Policy in Canada over the last Decade
Hon. John Godfrey
As a politician who kept early childhood as part of his portfolio throughout his time in politics, John Godfrey witnessed a political roller coaster ride that saw children’s issues rise and fall on Parliament Hill. He will expand upon the changing fortunes of early child development over the last decade and share his perspectives on how, looking forward, we can best influence our Canadian decision-makers towards action on a comprehensive policy framework.
Quebec: A Canadian Success Story
Dr. Christa Japel | Faculty of Education, Department of Special Education and Training, at the Universite du Quebec a Montreal
Quebec is the only jurisdiction in Canada to take a universal approach to programs for young children. Quebec's family policy is rooted in generous leaves for new parents and continues with programs for children 0-12 designed to meet both social and labour market needs. Dr. Japel documents the multi-pronged benefits that are emerging from Quebec's early childhood investments. Download presentation>>**
Taking a Social Determinants of Health Approach in Canada
Senator W. Keon | Chair of the Senate Sub-Committee on Population Health
Canada’s health-care system is one determinant of health, but it counts for very little to the overall health status of the population. Senator Keon will discuss the gaps in nutrition, housing and education between rich and poor and the effects these factors have on everyone. Download presentation>>**
1:30 - 2:45 pm
Q&A Roundtables - Hosted by Panelists from Sessions 2 and 3
Have questions, need clarifications? Pick a roundtable, each is hosted by a panelist. Choose the presenter of your choice and dig down on the issues of concern to you.
3:00 - 5:00 pm
Conference Seminars
For information on the specific details of these seminars, please see the Conference Seminar section of the website.
Friday, May 15
9:00 am - 3:30 pm
8:45 am
Moving Forward on ECD in New Brunswick
Hon. Mary Schryer | Minister of Social Development (New Brunswick)
9:00 am
Session 4: CHILDREN & FAMILIES AT THE CENTRE: MOVING TOWARDS EARLY CHILDHOOD SYSTEMS THAT WORK
Chair: Hon. John Hamm | former Premier, Nova Scotia
Parents desire a place where their children can prepare for school and make friends. They crave readily available advice on caring for their new baby or responding to the challenges of child rearing. They need to know if their child has a learning problem and seek interventions to address it. They want to earn a living or upgrade their job or language skills secure in the knowledge that their children are safe, happy and learning when they are not with them. What do they get: a patchwork of mismatched, often targeted, often poor quality programs. This panel explores innovations that bring together child care, early education and family support programs that address the whole child and family.
Presenters:
Emerging Systems in Canada
Jane Beach | Child and Family Research and Policy Consultant
Integrated and holistic early child development (ECD) approaches have proven their worth internationally and in this context, new standards have been set. In Canada, promising practices in taking a cross-jurisdictional approach to ECD are being seen and Ms. Beach will both describe these, and the lessons that we can learn and build on. Download presentation>>**
The Power of Building Systems
Dr. Neal Halfon | Centre for Healthier Children, Families and Communities, University of California
Our understanding of early childhood is undergoing a fundamental paradigm shift. Scientific advances, demographic changes, and advances in population health trajectories suggest that intensive investment in the optimal development of young children is warranted and necessary in order for a democratic society to fulfill its values & achieve its goals. Optimizing healthy development requires a different approach to organizing, and paying for health, education and child development services than previous approaches to early intervention. Download presentation>>**
Linking Early Development to Schools
Dr. Steve Barnett | Director, National Institute for Early Education Research, Rutgers University
New Jersey's mixed delivery model of non compulsory pre-school for 3- and 4-year-olds living in low income districts is based on established quality tenants: well paid, university-trained, early childhood educators work from an approved curriculum; class sizes are capped at 15; children receive hot meals; and are supported by teams of health and intervention specialists. Dr. Barnett will share his research documenting the social and economic impacts of New Jersey's pre-kindergarten program and his quality monitoring tool that allows for interesting and influential cross-state reporting of early childhood program developments. Download presentation>>**
11:00 am
Regional/Provincial Discussion Tables
Hosted by Board members and Community Fellows of the Council for Early Child Development, and reflective of the experience and expertise in the room, these Roundtables, organized by province, will provide conference attendees with a structured opportunity to build on the momentum of the conference and to discuss:
- ECD progress in their jurisdiction;
- Strengths, weaknesses, and critical areas for action;
- Collective next steps leading out of the conference.
1:30pm
Session 5: ACTIONS THAT CHANGE OUTCOMES FOR CHILDREN
Chair: Hon. Marilyn Trenholme Counsell
Multi-disciplinary approaches to early childhood development provide us with the knowledge tools to make good public policy. In Canada, we now need to "get it right from the start," to learn from the lessons of others, and be strategic about our investment in our children.
Presenters:
Building a Cross-Canada Movement for Change
Hon. Margaret Norrie McCain & Dr. Clyde Hertzman
The Council for Early Child Development believes the application of scientific knowledge requires community-based understanding and initiative. In its work, the Council helps to mentor change, bringing together expertise, leadership and broad community support to build successful programs for young children. This final session of the conference describes the core components of an early child development system as envisioned by the Council and charts a path for realizing it.
Closing Keynote, A Call to Action
Dr. Fraser Mustard
Download presentation>>**
3:30pm
Conference Close
**All presentations are posted in Adobe PDF format to reduce file size and to prevent editing of the slides. If you require a PPT version of a slide, please contact Allison Black at ablack@councilecd.ca to request permission of the speaker.
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