CES Sessions
All sessions are offered at no cost.
Community Education Service acknowledges that the land on which we virtually gather is the traditional territories of the people of the Treaty 7 region in Southern Alberta. The City of Calgary is also home to Métis Nation of Alberta, Region 3.
Stressed but Strong, Anxious but Awesome: Understanding your child's worries through a strength-based lens ***please register using the poster only***
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Presented by: Dr. Sterling Sparshu, MD, FRCPC, Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist
Participants will:
- Understand the stress-anxiety spectrum in children and teens
- Recognize healthy vs problematic stress
- Learn how to respond to stress and anxiety through a strength-based lens
Navigating the Pressure to Perform: Benefits of Well-being Centered Identity Development for Children and Teens ***please register using the poster only***
6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
Presented by: Shelbi Snodgrass, MC, RCC, CCC, CMPC, Registered Clinical Counsellor,
Snodgrass & Duff Performance Consulting and Counselling Inc.
The pressure to perform is increasingly impacting children and teen’s ability to cope, negatively impacting their confidence and sense of self. From navigating school pressures, friendships, after school curricular activities, and an ever-evolving political climate, the need for well-being focused values are more critical than ever.
Learning Objectives
- Understanding the pressure to perform influencing children and teens
- Identify vulnerabilities to and indicators of low confidence and self-esteem
- Reflect on the language, behaviours, and environments that help or hinder healthy identity development
- Explore dimensions of well-being and their benefits to identify development and confidence
- Review contributing factors to safe and accountable performance environments
Growing Resilient Teens ***please register using the poster only*** *NOT being recorded*
Noon - 1:30 PM
Presented by: Andrea Halwas Larsen, PhD, CT, REACE, Associate Therapist and Education Coordinator of Juno House
This session is facilitated by a therapist from Juno House who has years of both clinical and facilitating experience. Juno House was founded in 2008 as a Centre of Excellence for adolescent girls and young women who are experiencing anxiety-based mental health issues of self harm, obsessive compulsive disorders, depression and eating disorders.
Before high school graduation, 1/3 of adolescent girls will experience depression, anxiety disorders, self-harm or an eating disorder. However, parents, coaches and teachers have extraordinary healing powers to support our teens as they develop into young adulthood.
Resilience is not taught, it is grown in our children. There are ways that we can help our children become more resilient starting within our relationship first.
This 90-minute session will provide participants with:
• a basic introduction of interpersonal neurobiology and anxiety,
• the essential role emotions play in mental well-being,
• how to identify emotions in your child,
• strategies to have a better relationship with your child including how to be an emotion coach.
NOT being recorded
Mental health for highly sensitive teens; unique struggles for these emotional feelers ***please register using the poster only*** *NOT being recorded*
11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Presented by: Tracy Fields, BSW, MSW in partnership with Tracy Fields Counselling
Highly sensitive teens are often misunderstood by parents and teachers as they often have stronger emotional reactions. In this presentation, learn why this happens, and the necessary tools required to help these teens manage their emotions so they don't become derailed.
NOT being recorded
ADHD, Autism and Anxiety - Can you have them all? ***please register using the poster only***
11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Presented by: Dr. Cheryl Gilbert MacLeod, Registered Psychologist
The Family Psychology Place
ADHD, Autism and Anxiety share common characteristics. This presentation aims to help parents, caregivers, and educators understand what these characteristics are, how they are often misdiagnosed, and ways to help support your child/student with one or all of these diagnoses.
Good-bye Sleepless Nights: Infant Sleep Training for Parents ***please register using the poster only***
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Presenter: Mary MacLeod, MSc, Community Health, Cumming School of Medicine
Director of Research Family Sleep Institute, Founder of De Somno, Member of – International Pediatric Sleep Association, Behavioural Sleep Medicine Association, International Association of Child Sleep Consultants
If you've spent hours Googling "why isn't my baby sleeping," join us for an evidence-based common approach to infant sleep. We'll help you navigate the challenges of infant sleep, leaving you with tools and strategies so you and your baby get restful sleep.
Can We Talk: Healthy Relationships ***please register using the poster only***
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Presented by: Diana Wark (She/Her), Parent Program Coordinator for Centre for Sexuality
Join us for an interactive workshop to learn how to navigate those sometimes awkward but essential conversations that foster well-being, healthy relationships and informed decision-making. We empower parents with knowledge, skills and confidence to engage in open, honest and supportive conversations about sexuality and sexual health with their children.
This session we will describe and explore healthy, unhealthy, and abusive relationship patterns. We will learn about effective communication and practice discussing topics related to romantic/intimate relationships in ways that are grounded in your values.
The Elephant in the Room: The Lived Experiences of Diagnostic Disclosure and Nondisclosure in Autism ***please register using the poster only***
6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
Presented by: Brittany R. Lorentz, MSc.
Doctoral Candidate & Provisional Registered Psychologist
School and Applied Child Psychology, Werklund School of Education
ASERT Research Lab
Objectives:
- Understand the nuanced experiences of guardians and autistic individuals regarding diagnosis disclosure.
- Recognize the decision-making process and the emotional/developmental significance of disclosure timing.
- Apply practical insights to support families in navigating whether, when, and how to disclose an autism diagnosis.
Dyslexia Essentials ***please register using the poster only***
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Presented by: Tanya Keto, Registered Psychologist
AVERY Family and School Psychology Services
This presentation is suited for both caregivers of children/youth and educators working with children/youth.
Occurring in an estimated 5-15% of the population, Dyslexia refers to individuals who have foundational and often extreme difficulties with reading, spelling, and writing. These difficulties span academic settings and grades and can impact reading comprehension, the development of vocabulary, and the ability to spell and communicate in writing. Educators and caregivers play a critical role in the trajectory and outcomes of students with Dyslexia, and there is so much we can do to help these kids and alter their trajectories.
In this session we will discuss:
• Red flags
• Diagnosis, statistics, and developmental trajectory of students with Dyslexia.
• Cognitive processes involved in reading.
• Evidence-based Tier 2 and 3 interventions.
Gangs and Guns ***please register using the poster only*** *NOT being recorded*
1:30 PM - 2:45 PM
Presenter: Adriana Dewar BA, MA, Community Educator, YouthLink Calgary Police Interpretive Centre, Calgary Police Service
• Understand the current gang related challenges and occurrences happening within the city of Calgary.
• Learn how to recognize if your child is participating in high-risk behavior and how young people become involved.
• Know the effects organized crime has on the community and families involved.
• Gain skills to help support young people in avoiding a high-risk lifestyle.
• Learn what you can do in your community, in your home and where to get help.
• Understand the work taking place by the Calgary Police Service to combat gang-related issues.
NOT being recorded.
Real Talk: Break the Cycle of Domestic Abuse ***please register using the poster only*** *NOT being recorded*
11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Presented by: Trevor Williams & Dana Zegers, Real Talk Coordinators, Sagesse
Domestic abuse is at epidemic levels in Alberta with 1 in 3 individuals experiencing violence in their lifetime. Incidents of domestic abuse exist across rural and urban areas, within all cultural and faith communities, all ages, amongst university educated professionals with a roof over their heads and those who don’t know where their next safe place to sleep will be. Children are significantly impacted living in homes where domestic abuse occurs, and early identification of difficulties can lead to earlier and more effective support for children and their families. It's time to get real. In Real Talk participants will learn how to recognize and talk about domestic abuse, they will learn how to support someone if they know or suspect that they might be experiencing it and learn where and how they can refer to community resources.
NOT being recorded
Supporting Youth: How to Respond to Sexual Health Misinformation ***please register using the poster only***
10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Presented by: Primary Care Alberta, Sexual & Reproductive Health, Calgary Zone
Everyone needs quality information about sexuality to be healthy, yet misinformation and disinformation about sexuality continues to cause problems for youth. In this session, we will talk about:
• Mis-, dis-, and mal-information - where do youth come across them and how they impact youth mental and sexual health
• How sexuality education and media literacy offer useful responses to mis-, dis-, and mal-information and support youth mental and sexual health
• Tips for supporting youth media and sexual health literacy
• Reputable, youth friendly resources for credible sexuality information
E- Prep Emergency Preparedness ***please register using the poster only*** *NOT being recorded*
6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
Presented by: Corinne Trout, M.Ed, BA(Soc), BA(ChSt)
Lindsay Cooke, BSc (Hons) in Clinical and Social Psychology
The goals of this workshop are to help us feel more prepared and able to cope emotionally, socially, and physically if we are faced with a disaster or emergency.
NOT being recorded
Brave Minds, Flexible Futures: Building Problem-Solving and Resilience in Children and Teens ***please register using the poster only***
6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
Presented by:
Shannon Kelly, Registered Psychologist (R. Psych.)
Creative Sky Psychology
With Creative Sky Psychology, participants will explore how problem-solving and resilience develop across childhood and adolescence — and how parents can nurture these skills through everyday moments. You will leave feeling equipped with creative, evidence-based strategies to help your child handle challenges with calm, confidence, and flexibility.
Participants will learn:
• How children and teens think through problems differently — and why it matters
• The link between frustration tolerance, emotional safety, and real-world resilience
• Coaching language that builds problem-solving confidence (without rescuing!)
• How to help kids recover from mistakes and try again
• Simple family routines that strengthen adaptability and optimism
Is Your Child Struggling at School? It May Be Time for a Psychoeducational Assessment ***please register using the poster only***
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Presented by: Tanya Keto (MEd), Co-Clinic Director AVERY Family and School Psychology Services Registered Psychologist
Psychoeducational assessments combine standardized assessments of a child’s intellectual and academic abilities and behavioural rating scales with the dynamic clinical judgment of a trained psychologist to determine the what, how, and why of struggling students. This process measures overall aptitude and academic achievement in core academic skills, as well as any additional factors that may impact a child's performance at school (e.g., attention and concentration, learning disabilities, mood, anxiety, etc.), and provides strategies to support them.
Whether a diagnosis is made or not, the information can be used to identify what the student needs to reach their potential. This session will take a deep dive into what teachers need to know about the psychoeducational process including:
• The psychological processes that underlie learning to read, write, and do math
• The specific academic skills being investigated including reading, writing, math, language, etc.
• Aspects of social/emotional and behavioural functioning that may be impacting the student, including attention and concentration, depression, anxiety, etc.
• The diagnostic process
• Recommendations, strategies, and accommodations
• Using the psychoeducational assessment report for Individual Education/Program Planning (IPPs, IEPs, etc.)
Strong From Within - Fostering Confidence and Self-Esteem in Children and Teens ***please register using the poster only***
6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
Presented by: Shannon Kelly, Registered Psychologist (R. Psych.), Creative Sky Psychology
With Creative Sky Psychology, parents and caregivers will learn how confidence and self-esteem take root — and what helps them grow. You’ll discover practical, encouraging ways to support your child’s sense of self-worth, competence, and courage in today’s world.
Participants will learn:
• How confidence develops differently at each age and stage
• Common parent pitfalls that accidentally undermine self-esteem
• Practical ways to replace praise with encouragement that sticks
• Tools for helping kids manage self-doubt, comparison, and perfectionism
• How to model self-kindness and confidence in everyday life
Navigating Technology with our Youth ***please register using the poster only***
Noon - 1:30 PM
Presented by: Andrea Halwas Larsen, PhD, CT, REACE, Associate Therapist and Education Coordinator of Juno House
This session is facilitated by a therapist from Juno House who has years of both clinical and facilitating experience. Juno House was founded in 2008 as a Centre of Excellence for adolescent girls and young women who are experiencing anxiety-based mental health issues of self harm, obsessive compulsive disorders, depression and eating disorders.
Technology is everywhere: the good, the bad and the ugly. Our youth need to learn how to navigate this world and how to be critical about their relationship with tech.
This session is not only about technology’s impact on youth, but is also about a child’s healthy brain development and the necessary parenting role in creating healthy, emotionally regulated and integrated brains. It will teach the foundation of a child’s emotional brain development, how to grow it, and how technology can dangerously hijack it.
This 90-minute session will provide participants with:
• an understanding of the basic neuroscience behind healthy brain development,
• the dangers of technology for healthy brain development,
• technology use rules to help you and your child manage tech use,
• strategies to connect to your child including how to be an emotion coach and build a relationship that can be stronger than their relationship with their tech.