2026 May Conference and Awards Gala
May 1 - 2, 2026
Regina, SK
Connecting. Learning. Celebrating Early Childhood Education.
Registration for our May 2026 conference is now closed.
Thank you for the incredible interest. We’re looking forward to bringing everyone who has registered together for a meaningful and engaging two days of learning and connecting.
If you’re looking for event details, including the schedule and FAQs, please see the information below.
Conference Itinerary
Friday May 1, 2026
8:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. Registration
9:00 a.m. - 9:15 a.m. Welcome
9:15 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. “Taming the Tiger” with the Play Coaches
11:45 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. LUNCH BREAK (note: lunch is not provided)
1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. Breakout Session #1
2:30 p.m. - 2:45 p.m. BREAK
2:45 p.m. - 4:15 p.m. Breakout Session #2
4:15 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. Closing Remarks
Saturday May 2, 2026
9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Heather Bernt-Santy
12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. LUNCH BREAK (note: lunch is not provided)
1:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Heather Bernt-Santy
Awards of Excellence Gala Itinerary
Friday May 1, 2026
6:30 p.m. Cocktails (cash bar available, must be of drinking age)
7:00 p.m. Supper (supper included)
7:45 p.m. Welcome & Awards
8:30 p.m. Music Bingo & DJ
Keynote Session Descriptions
-
A dynamic, high-energy keynote designed to help educators understand and regulate challenging emotions in themselves and the children they serve.
It’s packed with practical strategies, reflection exercises, and tools to inspire attendees immediately.
-
A New Lens for Viewing “Difficult Behaviors”
There’s a reason that “behavior” has been the number one requested topic for workshops and webinars for so long and prompts the stickiest questions with my college students. Is it discipline? Guidance? Consequences? What will finally work?? I’m here to share with you how I have changed my assumptions, knowledge, and daily practice over my 35+ year career when working with this tricky topic. It all starts with thinking of this as a legitimate part of our teaching role, not just something to try and stop so that we can get to the “good stuff.”
Have We Forgotten How to Play?
It’s tough sometimes to remember, when faced with pressures from families, coworkers, directors, policy makers, and funders that childhood is a time for children to play! One of the most effective ways to move ourselves through the disequilibrium of knowing childhood is for playing and growing while feeling pressured to push play to the outer edges of our work with children is to connect again with our childhood ways of playing. This session offers storytelling as a means of reestablishing this connection, of talking about the value of play to children’s mental, physical and intellectual health, and to finding ways to say YES to play.
-
Schema Play Theory: A Tool for Supporting and Advocating for Play
Did you know that when children repetitively mix paints, dump blocks, hide under tables, and tape things together, they are giving you important clues about how they are exploring the world and how you can support those explorations? I didn’t—until I discovered Chris Athey’s theory of schema play. More than any other information I share with parents, coworkers, and administrators, schema play theory helps them connect to the WHY behind confusing or, let’s face it, weird ways children play.
Lillian Katz and the Stages of Teacher Development
Have you ever considered that in addition to understanding children’s developmental stages to support their growth and learning, teachers in early childhood settings also have developmental needs we can tune in to? Lillian Katz suggested four developmental stages teachers move through as they grow professionally. Understanding these stages will help directors, owners, and other administrators find ways to mentor, train and teach our staff in ways that match those developmental stages.
Breakout Session 1 Options
-
Dive deeper into practical strategies and wellbeing practices for teachers, giving participants hands-on tools to implement in their classrooms and leadership roles. offering both inspiration and actionable learning teachers and leaders can take back and immediately start using.
-
*LIMITED TO 40 REGISTRANTS
Jump into the thrilling world of the Métis buffalo hunt with Felice Gladue, the dynamic founder of MetisALIVE! This lively, hands-on journey brings the spirit and skill of the 1800s buffalo hunt ALIVE with animated storytelling, catchy songs kids will love and adventure filled imaginative play. Move your body to the vibrant fiddle tunes of the Metis. Explore the clever design of the
Red River cart, the laws of the hunt which shaped a nation and the powerful lessons the buffalo teach us about community and respect. Get ready for heart-pounding excitement because this is history you can feel!
-
Description coming soon!
-
How do we respond when tensions around tough topics arise? This workshop addresses why it’s important to critically engage with children, how to have conversations with families, and ways to engage with tough topics. We will look at what it means to embrace the tensions in our educational settings and what can grow from engaging with said tensions.
-
*LIMITED TO 40 REGISTRANTS
Capture the magic with our Toy Camera Workshop at Kustom Kitties. Dive into the world of woodworking as you craft a charming toy camera for your little one. Join us for a hands-on experience where every click of the wooden shutter sparks joy and inspiration.
-
*LIMITED TO 40 REGISTRANTS
Celebrate the rich musical heritage of the Metis people with Felice Gladue, the dynamic founder of MetisALIVE! Move your body to the lively tunes of the Metis fiddle even if you have two left feet. Discover creative ways to bring Metis music and dance into your children without even dancing. Sing catchy little tunes that children love, listen to animated stories of fiddling traditions and play musical games that share Metis culture and language in an vibrant and memorable way. Experience the joy and spirit of a Metis Kitchen Party and leave inspired to bring Metis music, song and dance ALIVE in your children.
-
This session invites home-based care providers to come together to explore the systemic challenges they face within the industry, emphasizing the dangers of individualism that can lead to burnout and isolation.
Participants will engage in discussions around the importance of establishing supportive networks, where shared experiences can create a sense of belonging and mutual upliftment. We will examine how to set healthy boundaries and develop skills for effective connection among providers, fostering an environment of co-regulation where emotional support is paramount. Join us to redefine what support looks like in home-based child care, understanding that together we can navigate challenges and celebrate successes as a united community.
-
*LIMITED TO 40 REGISTRANTS
Capture the magic and dive into the world of woodworking as you craft a charming toy camera for your little one. Join us for a hands-on experience where every click of the wooden shutter sparks joy and inspiration.
-
This workshop is a review of signs and symptoms of common mental health problems, including anxiety, depression, and substance use. Participants will gain practical tools to support within one’s means and skills to provide initial help to individuals experiencing a mental health concern. Discuss tips on how to approach and navigate difficult conversations with family members, friends, or co-workers. Finally, understand the importance of maintaining healthy personal boundaries.
-
In this workshop, you’ll explore practical ways to set up an environment that fosters learning, growth, and emotional well-being. Learn how to look at your surroundings through a new lens and involve children in the process of transforming the space to meet their needs. Tanya will guide you in creating a setting that sparks curiosity, invites exploration, and supports positive behavior, all while helping children thrive academically and socially.
You’ll also gain strategies for addressing negative behaviors by making small but impactful changes to your environment. Tanya firmly believes that no child is “bad”—every child simply needs the right stimuli to succeed. Whether it’s adjusting materials, layout, or sensory elements, you’ll leave with concrete ideas for creating a space where all children can flourish. Come learn how to harness the power of your environment to help every child reach their full potential!
Breakout Session 2 Options
Registration Closed
*
Registration Closed *
We know that everyone’s needs look a little different, so this year we’ve created a variety of registration options and bundles to offer greater flexibility and choice. Our goal was to keep registration accessible so programs can participate in ways that work for them, including sending multiple staff members to learn, connect, and grow together.
BEST VALUE - Full Two-Day Conference + Gala:
Members: $175
Non-members: $300
Two-Day Conference (Gala not included):
Members: $125
Non-members: $250
Single Day (Friday OR Saturday, Gala not included):
Members: $75
Non-members: $150
Gala Only:
Members and Non-members: $65
(This includes supper and entertainment)
NOTE: To keep registration costs accessible while supporting participant choice, lunches will not be provided this year. Instead, we’ve extended the lunch break — giving you more time to connect with colleagues, explore nearby options, or take a true mid-day pause to recharge.
Registration Deadline: April 17th, 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Still have questions? Take a look at the FAQ or reach out anytime. If you’re feeling ready, go ahead and register.
-
Early childhood educators, directors, administrators, students, and professionals connected to early learning and care.
-
Yes, participants will receive documentation for professional learning hours.
-
Each day is a total of 6 PD hours. If you attend the full conference, you will receive 12 PD hours.
-
Yes, you can apply for reimbursement through the Ministry of Education’s PD Grant.
-
To help keep registration costs as affordable as possible, lunch is not included in conference registration.
We know many programs are working within tight professional development budgets, and removing lunch from the registration package allows us to keep overall costs lower so more educators and teams can attend.
The conference venue is located near a variety of dining options, and scheduled breaks provide ample time for participants to purchase lunch or bring their own meal.
-
At this time, the conference is offered as an in-person event only.
Our Annual Conference is designed to support connection, collaboration, and shared learning experiences that happen best when educators gather together. We look forward to welcoming participants onsite for two days of learning, networking, and community.
-
Outside food and beverages are not permitted inside the conference spaces.
Throughout the conference, participants will have access to:
Tea and coffee (in the morning)
Water stations
Morning pastries
Scheduled breaks and nearby dining options provide opportunities to purchase additional meals or snacks as needed.
-
We encourage participants to dress in a way that feels comfortable while still reflecting a professional learning environment.
Conference days typically involve moving between sessions, networking, and spending time on your feet, so comfortable footwear and layered clothing are recommended.
For the Gala Celebration, many participants choose to dress up a little more — business casual to semi-formal attire is common — but most importantly, we want everyone to feel relaxed and enjoy the evening.
Please note:
SECA does not offer refunds for professional development registrations. If you are unable to attend a professional development event that you have registered for, you can send someone in your place as a substitute. Please contact Melissa Carson at SECA at 306-842-0010 or pd@seca-sk.org. Substitutions must be made by noon the day prior to the workshop.
Member Pricing Available!
Not a SECA member yet? Join our community — it’s quick and easy, and you’ll enjoy reduced event rates while helping strengthen early learning and child care in Saskatchewan. Becoming a member of Saskatchewan Early Childhood Association means joining a community that supports and empowers you. Whether you’re looking to expand your network, access valuable resources, or enjoy exclusive perks, we’re here to help you get the most out of your membership.