Learning Opportunities

Wapastim (White Horse), Jason Bigcharles is a father of 7 and grandfather of 17. He is proudly Metis
from the Metis settlement of East Prairie. He has lived on the East Prairie Metis Settlement his whole life. He has been a teacher for 20+ years and taught various grade levels before moving into educational leadership for 14 years before moving on to becoming a successful Education Consultant. Although he is Metis, his family is deeply rooted in Cree cultural practice and spiritualism. They continue to maintain a very high subsistence lifestyle, carrying on those traditions. Currently he is an Independent Education Consultant specializing in FNMI content and curriculum.

He has specialized experience in administering Culture-Based-Learning Camps and cultural teachings to students of all ages which focus on traditional Land-Based teachings of the Woodland Cree Peoples and Metis both traditional and contemporary while infusing curriculum into lessons. He is a powwow dancer, storyteller, hunter, trapper and medicinal plant gatherer and knowledge keeper. Most of his time, aside from work, is spent on the land hunting, trapping, gathering medicinal plants, passing on teachings and visiting elders. Along with being dedicated to his traditions and spiritualism, he is also dedicated to lifelong learning and the belief that learning never stops.

Kim is currently a consultant with the Northwest Regional Learning Consortium. Previously, Kim was a teacher, principal, and researcher in north western Alberta. Her work and research evolved into a focus on building educational equity. She spent many years involved in diversity leadership training which is now merging with an anti-racism focus. Additionally, Kim had a unique experience as the protegé of a Cree Elder for ten years. As a principal, Kim was able to put what she learned into practice with favourable results in student achievement. She learned first hand the complexities involved in building educational equity which led her to her current path with infusing Indigenous ways of knowing and being into new curriculum, as well as doing a deeper exploration into decolonization and anti-racism work.  Kim continues to live in the High Prairie area. Her great passions include her family and the outdoors.

Kelly has spent her educational career supporting students with a variety of needs and supporting staff building instructional strategies. She wanted to know more about how students learn and why they had difficulty learning...so back to school she went! As a teacher and a Reading Specialist, Kelly holds a Masters degree from the University of Alberta in the area of language and literacy development and specialized assessment. She built her knowledge of UDL through her work at the University of Manitoba. Her work as a Consultant supported teachers in building inclusive practice in all divisions. She has in-depth experience doing professional development, with a focus on instructional strategies and implementation of such strategies. She has taught pre-service teachers at the University of Alberta for the past year. Kelly's joy has been found in supporting staff in the use of research-based strategies that make teaching and learning intentional and meaningful.

Claude Quevillon Lacasse est professeure adjointe à la Faculté d’éducation de l’Université d’Ottawa. Elle s’intéresse à la didactique de la grammaire et de l’écriture, notamment par la littérature jeunesse, à la didactique intégrée des langues, au développement de compétences bi-/plurilingues et à la formation des personnes enseignantes.

Lise L'Heureux est orthopédagogue en pratique privée et directrice générale de La faculté de Lexie et Graphie, un service de formation et de consultation scolaire. Elle a une maitrise en didactique et, de ce fait, elle est une experte des effets de la morphologie sur l’apprentissage de l’orthographe lexicale au primaire. Lise se spécialise dans l’enseignement systématique et explicite de la lecture-écriture, et des difficultés spécifiques en apprentissage du français ou de l’anglais.

Avec près de 20 ans d'expérience dans le domaine de l'éducation, Geneviève Boutin est orthopédagogue, formatrice, auteure et éditrice spécialisée dans la création de ressources pédagogiques innovantes et s'appuyant sur la recherche.

En tant que fondatrice et directrice générale de Fino Éducation, elle est amenée à collaborer avec différents professionnels, auteurs, formateurs et chercheurs afin de développer des produits éducatifs et des formations en ligne permettant d'optimiser l'impact des interventions des acteurs du milieu éducatif.

La majorité de ses publications sont maintenant largement utilisées par les orthopédagogues et les enseignants. Elle a également développé plusieurs formations sur les difficultés d'apprentissage ainsi que sur l'évaluation, l'enseignement et la rééducation de la lecture-écriture. Ces formations sont reconnues pour leur rigueur scientifique et leur application pratique.

Pascal Lefebvre est un formateur et un consultant qui allie l’expérience sur le terrain à la connaissance scientifique actuelle. Il a d’abord pratiqué comme orthophoniste dans les milieux de la santé et de l’éducation du Québec. Il a ensuite fait ses études doctorales à l’Université de Montréal dans le domaine de la prévention des difficultés de lecture et d’écriture en créant une approche d’enseignement par la Lecture interactive enrichie d’albums jeunesse auprès des enfants d’âge préscolaire. Il a ensuite œuvré pendant plus de 15 ans comme professeur-chercheur dans les programmes d’orthophonie de l’Université d’Ottawa et de l’Université Laurentienne en Ontario. Auteur de nombreux ouvrages scientifiques et de vulgarisation scientifique, il a été impliqué dans la mise en œuvre de pratiques préventives et inclusives dans les milieux éducatifs en petite enfance et dans de nombreuses écoles primaires francophones du Canada. Il s’investit maintenant dans le développement professionnel continu comme formateur et consultant au Canada et en Europe dans les domaines de l’orthophonie et de l’éducation.

An Early Years Elementary School teacher by trade, Lana’s career began in Grade 1. Since that time, she has been a teacher of Pre-K to Grade 2, a tutor, and K-12 literacy support teacher. As a trained RRST (Reading Readiness Screening Tool) facilitator and Early Interventionist, the how of acquiring reading has been key in Lana’s professional development throughout her teaching career. Consulting independently, working as a learning facilitator for the Learning Network and reading a plethora of books fills many of her days. In her spare time, she enjoys her role as a Family Youth Worker, and tending to her acreage north of Lloydminster. She's a proud mom to an engineer, nurse and aspiring teacher!

Kim Tackaberry brings over 33 years of experience in education, with a deep commitment to literacy and inclusive learning. Currently serving as a Designer of Professional Learning with The Consortium (Calgary office), Kim creates and delivers impactful professional learning to support educators across the province. Much of her education expertise in inclusive practices was shaped at Foothills Academy Society, a specialized school for students with learning disabilities and/or ADHD, where she honed her expertise in differentiated instruction. Kim’s dedication to lifelong learning led her to pursue a Master of Education in Literacy at Queen’s University in 2021.