PRESENTER BIOS

Adrian Miedema

Lawyer for Dentons Canada LLP

Session 1A
Employment and Terminations

Adrian Miedema is a partner with the global law firm, Dentons Canada LLP, in Toronto. He has more than twenty years of experience practising employment, health and safety and human rights law. Adrian is recognized by Best Lawyers in Canada as one of Canada’s leading lawyers in the area of Labour and Employment Law, listed as “repeatedly recommended” in The Canadian Legal Expert Directory as one of Canada’s leading lawyers in the area of Occupational Health and Safety, and also listed in Legal 500. He advises and represents employers in a wide range of sectors and industries. Adrian is the co-author of three books on employment law topics and has been an adjunct professor
of Employment Law at Western University.

Alan Thomson

Digital Literacy Facilitator

Session 1B
Children Can’t Bounce off Walls if there are NO walls

Session 3C
STEM and STEAM-Making and Tinkering

Alan Thomson has worked in child care and before and after school age programs for 30 years, as both a front line staff and a supervisor. He believes simple programming is the cornerstone of a successful program. Everyone can remember themselves or a child who liked to play more with the box than the present that came in it. In his fun shops Alan likes to explores creative ways to get the most “use of the box” in simple, low cost, and creative ways.

Christian Gogos

RECE teacher

Session 2A
Planning with Purpose for Infants and Toddlers

Session 3A
Wonder Based Curriculum for Toddlers and Preschoolers

Christian Gogos is an RECE from Toronto, currently working in a classroom teacher/administrative support role at McNicoll Avenue Child Care Program. Christian’s interest in the Reggio-Emilia approach began after working at a new, Reggio-inspired centre in midtown Toronto, and he is currently exploring ways to enrich young children’s programs with child-led investigations that foster children’s growth, development, and love of learning.

Diana Loach

Christian Educational Ministry

Session 2D
Teaching from a Christian Worldview

Diana Loach is a Family Ministry Animator. Serving in various capacities for over 40 years in children and family ministries, she is excited at the possibilities of current trends brought about because of the pandemic. Diana’s favourite moments in ministry are watching for “lightbulb moments” as people realize how much they are loved by God or a Biblical truth. During the Christmas lockdown of 2020, Diana rediscovered her joy of Crepe Paper flower artistry. She is married to Jeff Loach, Pastor at St. Paul’s Nobleton.

Matthew Bustin

Halifax Christian Academy

Worship Leader

Matt Bustin is a teacher and Director of Discipleship at Halifax Christian Academy. He has been working in various ministries and leading worship with his sister, Kate Bustin, at Bedford Presbyterian Church for several years. Matt is a proud husband and father of two girls.

Matthew Turton

Director, Breakthroughs in Learning

Session 1C
Don’t Hear What I’m Not Saying!

Session 2C
Temper Tantrums and Meltdowns

Matthew Turton is the Director of Breakthroughs in Learning. At 11 years old, while struggling to overcome his own learning disabilities, Matthew already knew what he wanted to do with his life – he wanted to help other people know they weren’t dumb. He became an Educational Therapist, an International Best Selling author, a husband and a father. Matthew has logged over 15,000 hours working with children and adults with learning disabilities and will share his experiences and what it’s like on both sides of learning disabilities.

Michael Lewis

Motivational Leader

Session 2B
Guide to Setting Boundaries

Session 3B
How to BE a Better Version of Yourself

Michael Lewis is one of Ontario’s most experienced speakers having spoken and presented around 6000 times in a career spanning just over four decades. Born, raised, and educated in London, Ontario with a BA from the University of Western Ontario in 1980, he is passionate about positivity and sharing common sense success strategies for personal and professional growth and development. His enthusiastic and ebullient presentation style has delighted, and inspired audiences and he speaks sincerely from the heart. He often says, “I love what I do and do what I love and if you love what you do, then life is a joyous experience!”. Since 1994, Michael has presented hundreds of seminars, workshops and team building sessions and now, webinars, to the childcare community all across Ontario. He loves inspiring excellence in educators and supervisors as they do such important work daily in educating, empowering, and fostering the hearts and minds of children. Before, during and through the COVID-19 pandemic, Michael has seen educators as the lamps that light the way ahead and it is a privilege and honour to provide solutions and motivation to a proud and important profession.