Communities of Practice
Taking the Lead CoP
Anyone can be a leader. This group will meet to cultivate their skills around leadership by looking at their relationships, beliefs and practices in connection to the Early Learning Sector. Together we will explore: What it means to be a leader? How we might cultivate, support, and foster ideas in ourselves and in those around us? This group is best intended for any individual (regardless of job title) that is interested in developing and fostering their leadership capacity in this transformative sector.
Delivery Method: Hybrid
Facilitator: Anne Coupland ([email protected])
Delivery Method: Hybrid
- In-person at 100 Maple Grove Rd (Region of Waterloo Operations Centre, Cambridge)
- Virtual on Microsoft Teams
- Sept. 28, 2026
- Oct. 26, 2026
- Nov. 30, 2026
- Jan. 25, 2027
- Feb. 22, 2027
- Mar. 22, 2027
- Apr. 26, 2027
- May 31, 2027
- Jun. 28, 2027
Facilitator: Anne Coupland ([email protected])
Francophone CoP
Les professionnels qui travaillent dans le secteur de la petite enfance ont été invites à considérer des nouvelles perspectives, à travailler de manière plus collaborative et à exprimer leurs idées de manière plus intentionnelle. Les communautés de pratique (CoP) peuvent être les véhicules qui nous permettent d’atteindre cela. Joignez-vous avec d’autres professionnels francophones qui travaillent dans le cadre du programme d’apprentissage de la petite enfance pour discuter, soutenir et défier des idées afin de renforcer notre pratique par la réflexion critique. Les participants sont encouragés d’apporter des idées et à partager leurs expériences.
Delivery Method: In-person
Dates:
Facilitators:
Delivery Method: In-person
Dates:
- September 22, 2026
Facilitators:
- Anne Coupland ([email protected])
- Alyssa Marion
- Stephanie Weaver
Nursery School CoP
This is a Community of Practise (CoP) for leaders and educators who work in Nursery Schools. This CoP will provide participants with the opportunity to engage with others in professional conversation, share ideas, and consider essential topics that impact the early learning environments within Nursery School settings. Through this platform, participants will grapple with the meaning of their work and through reflective practice become revitalized in their own practice while creating quality early learning environments with children and families.
Delivery Method: In-person & Virtual (Alternating)
Dates:
Facilitator: Lianne Horne ([email protected])
Delivery Method: In-person & Virtual (Alternating)
Dates:
- January 28, 2026 (New Hamburg Area Co-operative Pre-School)
- February 25, 2026 (Virtual)
- March 25, 2026 (St. John's Nursery School)
- April 29, 2026 (Virtual)
- May 27, 2026 (Elmira Community Nursery School)
Facilitator: Lianne Horne ([email protected])
Capacity Building CoP
The College of Early Childhood Educators defines communities of practice as “A group of professionals who share a concern or passion about a practice topic and who wish to learn how to improve this area of practice by communicating and collaborating with each other regularly over time.” Join us for conversations built around reflective practice and collaborative inquiry! Through exploration of various resources, concepts and strategies, participants will determine the direction of the conversation as we engage as co-learners. Together we will challenge long-standing practices and explore innovative ideas that will help us continuously evolve and adjust our approaches, striving to achieve the best outcomes for children, families, and ourselves.
Who: All Early Learning professionals (i.e. Educators, Management, Pedagogical Leads, Resource Consultants, EarlyOn’s etc.)
Delivery Method: In-person at 100 Maple Grove Rd (Region of Waterloo Operations Centre, Cambridge)
Dates:
Facilitators:
Who: All Early Learning professionals (i.e. Educators, Management, Pedagogical Leads, Resource Consultants, EarlyOn’s etc.)
Delivery Method: In-person at 100 Maple Grove Rd (Region of Waterloo Operations Centre, Cambridge)
Dates:
- June 3, 2026 (Classroom)
- September 30, 2026
- November 4, 2026
- December 2, 2026
- January 6, 2027
- February 3, 2027
- March 3, 2027
- April 7, 2027
- May 5, 2027
- June 2, 2027
Facilitators:
- Agnieszka Wozniak-Molnar ([email protected])
- Lianne Horne ([email protected])
leadership Development Sessions:
Creating your Equity & Inclusion Policy
We are offering a second round of the CoP for leadership staff related to the Equity & Inclusion Policy and Commitment for organizations that were not part of the pilot cohort. These sessions are being offered to increase awareness and understanding of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) to support participants in creating a meaningful, intentional, and relevant Equity & Inclusion Policy. These will be drop-in discussions.
Delivery Method: In-person at 99 Regina St S. (Waterloo)
Dates:
Facilitators:
FRANCOPHONE SESSIONS
Delivery Method: In-person
Dates:
Facilitator: Alyssa Marion
Delivery Method: In-person at 99 Regina St S. (Waterloo)
Dates:
- January 9, 2026 - Diversity
- February 6, 2026 - Supporting All Positions
- March 6, 2026 - Access
- April 10, 2026 - Supports for Diverse Abilities
- May 8, 2026 - Equity
- June 12, 2026 - Reconciliation
Facilitators:
- Gail Hunter
- Ce Cil Kim
FRANCOPHONE SESSIONS
Delivery Method: In-person
Dates:
- April 15, 10-12 @ 99 Regina
- June 18, 10-12 @ 100 Maple Grove
- August 13, 10-12 @ 99 Regina
- October 13, 10-12 @ 100 Maple Grove
- December 8, 10-12 @ 99 Regina
Facilitator: Alyssa Marion
