Bard on the Beach is Western Canada’s largest not-for-profit, professional Shakespeare Festival. Presented in Vancouver’s Sen̓ákw/Vanier Park against a spectacular backdrop of mountains, sea and sky, the Festival offers Shakespeare plays, related dramas and special events in two modern performance tents from June through September, with an average attendance of 100,000. The Festival is known for its signature blend of high-quality artistic programming and a welcoming, informal experience for local residents and visitors from around the world. Bard Education offers year-round opportunities to play and explore Shakespeare, through programs for youth, emerging theatre artists, and our general community.

Mary Hartman is Director of Education at Bard on the Beach and a theatre professional with an academic background. For 30+ years she has invited countless students and teachers to play, explore, and interpret Shakespeare in their own ways. Mary is presenting a Session B Workshop, Rethinking Shakespeare, read through our workshop booklet to find out more.

Click this link for free teacher resources for students of all ages and visit their table to learn more.

 BC Agriculture in the Classroom Foundation (BCAITC) is a non-profit, charitable organization that works with educators to bring BC agriculture and food education to K-12 students throughout the province. Established as a registered society in BC in 1999, we also work with the BC Ministry of Health, the BC Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Fisheries, and the BC Ministry of Education to manage a major healthy schools program, the BC School Fruit & Vegetable Nutritional Program (BCSFVNP). BCAITC is governed by a Board of Directors represented by agri-food business leaders, farmers, educators, and health professionals. We provide a multitude of free, interactive programs and 500+ teacher resources that connect students in BC public, First Nations, and independent schools to agriculture and healthy eating. Through our programs, students learn about where their food comes from, how to grow their own food, and why farms and agriculture play such an important role in our communities and society.

Holly Johnson is the BCAITC’s Education Specialist presenting a Session B Workshop, Harvesting Knowledge: Engaging Your Students with Local Food and Agriculture, read through our workshop booklet to find out more.

Click this link for free teacher resources for students of all ages and visit their table to learn more.

 The mission of the British Columbia Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (BC SPCA) is protecting vulnerable animals and mobilizing communities so animals and people thrive together. We are the largest animal welfare organization of our kind in North America and the largest animal sheltering society in the world. Through our Education programs you can access resources that have been specially designed by our Humane Education team to teach students important lessons about animal welfare, and to help students build empathy for all living things. There are also opportunities to represent the BC SPCA in your school by becoming a BC SPCA teacher representative.

Allison Simpson is a Regional Humane Educator presenting a workshop in both Session A and B, Beavers are Eco-Heroes! Reimaging Science and STEM Using Humane Education, read through our workshop booklet to learn more.

To find out more please visit their table.

Situated on the shores of Lafarge Lake in Town Centre Park, Evergreen Cultural Centre exists on the unceded, traditional and ancestral core territory of the kʷikʷəƛ ̓əm (Kwikwetlem) First Nation, which lies within the shared territories of the səli̓lwətaɁɬ təməxʷ (Tsleil-Waututh), Stó:lō Téméxw, qiqéyt (Qayqayt) and sq̓əc̓iy̓aɁɬtəməxʷ (Katzie), xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam) and Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish) nations in the region known today as the Tri-Cities.

Described by the City of Coquitlam as the “cultural jewel in Coquitlam’s Town Centre”, Evergreen Cultural Centre is the Tri-Cities premiere venue for live arts events, exhibitions, and experiences. Visit their table to learn more about opportunities and events for yourselves and your students.

For more information about our school workshops, click this link or visit our table.

We have two workshops presented/sponsored by Evergreen Cultural Centre: in Session A- Julie Epp’s Explore Your Creativity With Water-Based Media!; and in Session B- David Pavane’s The Young Performers Workshop Active, Positive, Educational, Insightful…Fun, read our workshop booklet to find out more.

 UBC Geering Up Engineering Outreach is on a mission to provide the youth of British Columbia with the opportunity to investigate engineering, science, and technology in a fun, educational and safe environment. Their online STE(A)M-Ed Resource Hub is a one stop shop for educators to find resources they need to deliver STE(A)M activities in their classrooms. The resource hub offers lesson plans, tutorials, resources, and features where you can find us at our upcoming events! The activities in this hub are related to the BC ADST and Science Curriculum. All of these activities have been tested out by the Geering Up team and have been delivered in our professional development programs. Geering Up offers professional development programs for teachers, which focus on integrating STEAM activities into your classroom. We also offer classroom workshops where we host activities that consist of exciting software-based and hands-on activities.

This year Geering Up has 3 workshop offerings, in Sessions A and B- AI for Educators: An Introduction to AI and Use Cases for Teachers and in Session B- Elevated Engineering: Challenges to support Student Resilience, read through our workshop booklet to find out more.

Visit their table to find out more about these and other opportunities/resources.

 The Honeybee Centre was once just a dream—a spark—that transformed into an MBA project that just made sense. It became so much more than a school project; it had to be more. It was our little piece of how to save the world and we knew it could make a difference. Now, Honeybee Centre is a commercial honey farm, country store, educational facility, CFIA registered packing facility, visitor attraction, and so much more than that original dream could have ever dreamt up. That’s the power of ideas; when backed by passion, momentum builds and they become a force of their own, changing the world in ways we could never have predicted.

Cassie Gibeau will be presenting a Session A and B workshop titled Basic Bees, read through our workshop booklet to find out more.

For more information for your students please check out their table.

 Kinder Books has been providing a curated selection of children’s books for Metro Vancouver since 2011. Our mission is to enrich and expand young minds with curated, relevant literature and thoughtful community engagement that meaningfully contributes to a hopeful future. Our vision is a thriving community of young and old readers, empowered by a strong sense of self, a spiritual connection to the world, and a deep understanding of their place in it.

Kinder Books facilitates learning and growth, building on children’s natural curiosity to develop their sense of self through a joyful and fun exploration of books. Founder and owner Anne Uebbing connects with the community and supports education by offering children’s literature that explores nuanced ideas on various topics. This is not a standard collection of cookie-cutter titles, it is a highly curated selection of unique stories, and Anne has personally read every one of them at least once. This commitment to curation is why Anne is much more than a book merchant; she is a literacy consultant.

For more information, visit Anne’s table or contact Anne Uebbing.

 Knoword is a game-based learning platform that helps teachers create customizable vocabulary exercises. It’s commonly used for test prep, language learning, and reinforcing subject-specific terminology. With thousands of pre-made study sets and progress-tracking features, Knoword makes vocabulary practice fun, effective, and easy to integrate into any classroom. Knoword is free to use and does not require students to sign up. It includes a powerful set of features designed for educators:

Tailored vocabulary exercises: Choose the perfect combination of key terms, game modes, and difficulty settings for your students.
AI-powered tools: Save time by generating sets of words using a text prompt, like “wildlife of Vancouver Island.”
Printable worksheets: Download PDF worksheets of your word sets for easy pen-and-paper vocab practice.
Engaging image-based gameplay: Support visual learners and early readers with image clues and multiple choice.

Trevor Blades will be presenting a Session B workshop- Vocabulary Games for Every Subject: Hands-On with Knoword , read through our workshop booklet for more information, you can also visit their table to ask more questions. 

NESTS for Educators

 Kirsten Sherlock is a Registered Clinical Counsellor in Port Moody, BC, affiliated with the BC Association for Clinical Counsellors. She holds a Master’s Degree in Counselling from the City University of Seattle, Vancouver, BC. As the founder of Flourish Counselling, she offers 1:1 counselling, online workshops, and webinars. The areas she focuses on in her practice are trauma, anxiety, stress, burnout, low self-worth, grief, relationships, and other life struggles. Kirsten: “I am passionate about empowering individuals to embrace their personal power, find authentic voices, and create lives they love and enjoy! I believe that although we cannot change past events, we can change the impact those events have on us. I know that change is always possible and it’s up to us to take responsibility for how we live our lives on the inside, even when the outside refuses to change. When I am not working as a counsellor, you can find me spending quality time with my family, reading a great book, going for walks in nature and forever trying to master the art of cooking.”

 Jennifer Lloyd from Eat for Living is a Registered Holistic Nutritionist specializing in gut health, she is passionate about helping people feel their best by unlocking the powerful connection between the gut and overall well-being. Jennifer: “I believe food should be nutritious, delicious, and fun! My refreshing approach to health focuses on empowering clients to regain focus, clarity, and energy through simple, practical habits. As a self-confessed food geek, I thrive on blending research with real-life solutions to help others achieve vibrant health. When I’m not working one-on-one with clients, you’ll find me speaking at corporate events, leading workshops, or tending to my garden.”

Lea Morrison of Lea Morrison Healing is a Trauma Educator, Coach, Healer, and International Best-Selling Author, featured on national news outlets for my expertise in trauma support. Lea: “My approach focuses on functional, root-level treatment of emotional injuries, incorporating psychoeducation, solution-focused coaching, talk therapy, introductory somatic integration, and energy healing to achieve sustainable health and wellness. With a private practice that supports a trauma collective based in Kelowna, BC, I help clients transform their lives through a holistic and compassionate approach. Set to graduate as a counsellor in 2025, I bring nearly a decade of experience in trauma work, offering deep support to those seeking to reclaim their resilience and thrive.”

 Shannon Day is a a certified personal trainer with a Sport Science diploma and a background in Kinesiology. She is the proud owner of LIFT Fitness and Physiotherapy, located in beautiful Port Moody, for the past 12 years, a studio that has won multiple awards and has been voted #1 Fitness studio 4 years in a row. She has also won multiple awards personally and was runner up for the business women of the year. At LIFT we offer Personal Training, Physiotherapy, Group Fitness, Athletic Therapy, Kinesiology and Massage Therapy. Shannon: “I am a former collegiate athlete playing softball and soccer in both Texas and Oklahoma. I am now a wife, busy business owner and mom of two gorgeous kiddos. I have trained at both ends of the spectrum when it comes to fitness and strongly believe in adapting and embracing what works for you currently and knowing your WHY. I strongly believe in longevity of fitness and I strive to help you create goals that are sustainable and fit with your current lifestyle whether that’s being a busy mom or an athlete. I also believe that balance in both fitness and nutrition is important…because let’s be honest chocolate and cake are great.”

 Nicole Shallow of Your Behaviour Gal is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst specializing in sleep. Her passion for this work stems from her experience supporting neurodivergent children and their families, where she observed the profound impact sleep has on overall quality of life. Recognizing that 1 in 3 people struggle with sleep, she expanded her expertise to support adults and professionals by combining the science of behaviour change with practical sleep strategies. Nicole: “Drawing from my personal experience with sleep challenges, I take a compassionate inclusive and knowledgeable approach. I understand that addressing sleep requires more than a list of recommendations—it requires uncovering the “why” behind behaviours and finding meaningful alternatives to meet each person’s unique needs. I strongly believe that sleep is the foundation of both physical and mental health and I am passionate about empowering individuals to re-learn and embrace better sleep. Through my presentations, I provide actionable tools and insights to help professionals and clients alike transform their sleep and, in turn, their lives.”

The NESTS group will be presenting a Session A workshop Holistic Support for Teachers In And Out Of the Classroom, read through our workshop booklet to find out more or visit their table to ask questions.

 Norwex products help reduce the use of single-use paper towels and napkins in the home. Every day, thousands of trees are cut down to feed the paper towel industry. Using microfiber also saves money spent on chemical cleaners. Removing harmful chemical cleaners in your home means less long-term impact to your health. It also means less chemicals that go into the ground, our waterways and the planet. It’s good for you and the planet. Recycled plastic is used to create our microfiber cloths and once done, our recycling program converts it into renewable energy to power homes. Our Forever products are created to reduce single-use plastics from our oceans.

The Norwex^® Foundation for a Brighter Future connects Norwex employees and Consultants from all over the globe and empowers them to make a positive impact right where they live. By coming together, we’re creating a brighter future for our communities, our environment and future generations through the efforts of the people and the organizations we support.

For more information, visit Garcie Wong’s table.

Opus was founded by David van Berckel, as a little picture frame manufacturer in 1974, and is still an independently-owned, globally-connected local business. His company philosophy ‘small is beautiful’ remains at our core. 

Whatever your medium, Opus provides quality materials, inspiration and assistance to help you realise your creative endeavours. We help you preserve and present your artwork and digital prints with ready-made or custom frames assembled to your specifications. 

As Educators, you’ll receive specialized pricing on art supplies everyday, plus special seasonal offers by joining our email subscription list. Our educator website hosts resources such as step-by-step tutorials, training sessions, and professional development articles.

Visit our table to find out more.

 Rotary is a worldwide network of 1.2 million inspired individuals who translate their passion into relevant social causes to change lives in communities. The Rotary motto is “Service Above Self”. The Rotary Club of Chilliwack is dedicated to improving lives of people, both in our community and around the world. Chartered in 1934 as the 3663rd club in the world, our club is the largest club in Chilliwack with 100 members. With the support of the Chilliwack community, we raise approximately $175,000 per year that we use to fund local and international efforts such as:

• Scholarships for local high school and college students
• Breakfast and Literacy programs at 4 local schools
• ten school libraries in Peru
• Scholarships for high school and university students in Chilliwack & Agassiz
• “Feed the Kids” food hampers during COVID-19 and beyond (with community partners)
• Tech Drive to distribute unused tech to schools and care homes during COVID-19

Dr. Tim Cooper is presenting a workshop in Sessions A and B: What High School and Middle School Students Need to Know About Climate Change, read through our workshop booklet for more information and visit his colleague’s table to learn more about the work of the Rotary Club.

 Scholastic Canada is one of the country’s leading publishers and distributors of children’s books and educational materials in both official languages. For over 60 years Scholastic Canada has introduced young people to the joys of reading, and has enlarged their understanding of Canada and the world. Today we continue that mission with award-winning Canadian books and outstanding classroom materials, along with related educational software.

Scholastic Canada Ltd. serves children, parents and teachers through a variety of businesses including Scholastic Book Clubs and Book Fairs, Scholastic Education, Classroom Magazines, Trade, and Les éditions Scholastic. Scholastic Canada is also highly regarded internationally for its Canadian publishing program, which includes many award-winning authors and illustrators dedicated to producing books that delight children and inspire them to become lifelong readers.

Visit Jolyn Mascarenhas to find out more about what Scholastic Canada can do for your students and classroom.

 Science World is a charitable non-profit and science centre based in Vancouver, BC, that engages learners across the province in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art & design and math). Participants in our outreach programs—students, teachers and families in every region of BC—access the experience of Science World through virtual visits from scientists, livestream science shows, and weekly afterschool STEAM mentorship.  At Science World, we inspire the next generation of problem solvers, world changers and nerds.

If you’re looking for opportunities to enrich your classroom teaching with unique STEAM experiences, look no further than our STEAM Teachers Café! These interactive professional development events will take place at Science World throughout the 2024-2025 school year. Join us for these fun morning gatherings of connection, creativity and light refreshments as we explore STEAM content in the BC curriculum and beyond. Science World can connect with you and your students. Explore field trip options, professional development, online workshops, classroom visits from scientists, events and opportunities for your students, resources, and more!

Jennie King is the Educator Programs Manager at Science World, she is presenting a Session B workshop Digital Literacy and AI, read through our workshop booklet to find out more.

Visit their table to learn about opportunities for students and educators alike.

SFU’s Faculty of Education is an inclusive, welcoming community of students, researchers, practitioners and staff committed to advancing the field of education through scholarly inquiry and community engagement. We help learners become leaders, so they can inspire others.

We educate and nurture future leaders, disruptors and change makers. We embrace inclusivity and equality, and pioneer new ways of thinking, teaching and learning. We build and nurture connections with diverse communities to improve the learning experience for students and understand the issues that drive research. When you study here you learn about learning and yourself. Discover where your education can take you.

Visit with Melissa Hudson to learn more.

Dr. Monica Tang will be presenting two sessions: Session A- Quoi faire de l’anglais? Trouver l’équilibre entre la policière et le laisser-faire en immersion française and Session B- Comment faire aimer le français à l’aide d’un bilinguisme positif? Read through our workshop booklet to find out more.

 The Preservice Professional Studies handles applications for SFU’s highly-regarded teacher education programs: Professional Development Program (PDP); Professional Linking Program (PLP); Familiarization Program;  HEART; and AHCOTE.

Established in 1965, the PDP has helped to develop more than 20,000 teachers in British Columbia, making it one of the province’s oldest and most successful teacher education programs. The PLP is a four semester modified program for individuals who are already working as paraprofessionals in an educational context. The Familiarization Program is a non-credit online course serving as an introduction to the BC K-12 school system and Professional Standards for Educators. HEART (Helping Ease Access for Returning Teachers) is a one-semester, 12-credit program for teachers who need to recertify or who have been out of the classroom for a period of time. AHCOTE is a 16 month joint teacher education program offered by Simon Fraser University (SFU), Northern Lights College, School Districts 59, 60, 81, and local teacher associations.

Visit with Katie Bell to find out more.

 Studiostone Creative has a vision that anyone ages 8 to 99 should be able to carve stone with the right tools and instructions.  It all began in Oliver’s sculpture studio when one day an elementary school teacher called, asking if he would come to teach the students stone carving. Until that point, he had taught only adults to carve with large blocks of stone and big tools in a 20-hour course.

After much trial and development, the 90 minute in-school stone carving program was introduced with great success. Currently, Studiostone Creative teaches students the thrill of transforming stone into a fully-finished sculpture. We teach 10,000 students every year in schools.  With the program up and running, parents began asking for something similar for home use. Thus the Soapstone carving Kit was born.

For more information about our School Programs, click this link or visit their table.

Victoria Eftimova and Phoebe O’Shea are presenting two workshops in Sessions A and B: Soapstone Carving, read our booklet to find out more.