Quicklinks

Flourish: Positive Education Conference

Learn. Connect. Be Inspired.

Sunday, June 16th & Monday, June 17th, 2019
Ridley College, St. Catharines, Ontario

About The Conference

Flourish will be a unique gathering of educators from across North America and Europe. This event will serve as an exciting opportunity to advance the understanding of Positive Education, to share promising practices and to connect to a global movement dedicated to wellbeing and achievement.
What is it Positive Education? 
Positive Education is the manifestation of the emerging science of Positive Psychology in schools. It aims to equip students and educators with essential life skills, knowledge, habits and attitudes that are the foundation of leading a flourishing life. Positive Education unites human flourishing with academic excellence as complementary aims of education.

Location: Situated in the beautiful Niagara region at Ridley College
Hosts: Hosted by Ridley College in partnership with the Canadian Positive Psychology Association.
 
Sponsors: We are grateful to our conference sponsors; The Flourishing Center, Positive Education Certificate and Go Zen!

Audience: Designed for educators, researchers and practioners interested in Positive Education and wellbeing in K-12 schools and higher education.

Conference Rate: $250 CAD 

Conference Highlights

For $250 registrants will enjoy two days of professional development, including:

Day 1: Sunday, June 16th (4:00pm–8:00pm)
• Registration and Conference launch
• Reception - Wine and food stations
• Opening Address: Dr. Lea Waters
• Positive Education Party!
• Live music and networking
 
Day 2: Monday, June 17th (8:00am–5:00pm)
• Keynote Speakers
• Invited Speakers
• Breakfast and lunch
• Workshops
• Living Library

Keynote Speakers

Professor Lea Waters (Ph.D)

Professor Lea Waters (Ph.D) is a published author, professor, internationally-celebrated speaker and one of the world’s leading experts on Positive Education, Positive Organizations and Strength-Based Parenting and Teaching. As a University researcher, Lea turns her science into strength-based strategies to help organizations, educators and parents around the world build resilience in their employees and children, helping them to thrive.
Lea is the President of the International Positive Psychology Association, serves on the World Happiness Council’s Council of Happiness & Education, and is the founding Director of the Centre for Positive Psychology at the University of Melbourne, where she’s worked for more than 20 years. Lea helps parents, educators and organizations make a small switch that makes a big difference in overall wellbeing.

In her book, The Strength Switch, Lea says that the strength-based approach gives us the power to live the good life by drawing on our most abundant inner resources (our strengths!). The Strength Switch was named one of the top reads for 2017 by Greater Good Magazine, one of the top five best books on happiness for children by Five Books, the top new release in the parenting category on Amazon, and has been translated into Chinese, Korean, Taiwanese, Japanese, Hungarian, Arabic, Russian, Spanish and French.

Lea is passionate about helping people all over the world make the Strength Switch. Her Positive Detective and Visible Wellbeing programs are being used by schools worldwide.

Lea has been featured in The Atlantic, The Wall Street Journal, The Guardian, and more. As a researcher, she’s published more than 100 scientific journal articles.

Dave Mochel

For over thirty years, Dave has been focused on the foundations of wellbeing, healthy communities, and leadership. After a twenty-year career teaching courses in well-being, leadership and neuroscience in independent schools, Dave founded Applied Attention Coaching and Consulting to help individuals, teams, and organizations focus their attention and energy where it will make the greatest positive difference. Using principles drawn from modern scientific research and enduring wisdom, Dave has had the opportunity to work with leaders, executives, educators, and athletes all over the world. Perhaps the most powerful aspect of his work is how accessible and applicable everything is that he teaches.

Dave has degrees in biology and geology from Williams College, a Master’s in Humanistic and Multicultural Education from SUNY New Paltz, and a clinical internship in Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center.

Invited Speakers

List of 4 items.

  • Louisa Jewell, MAPP

    Louisa Jewell is a speaker, author and Canada’s Leading Expert in Positive Psychology who has facilitated thousands of people towards greater flourishing both at work and in their personal lives.
    Read More

  • Emiliya Zhivotovskaya, MAPP

    Emiliya Zhivotovskaya is a leading voice in the world of positive psychology and the science of flourishing.
    Read More

  • Greg Evans, PhD

    Greg completed a research-based PhD focusing on Positive Psychology from the University of Queensland, an MA in Sport and Exercise Psychology from Minnesota State University, Mankato, and a BA from Acadia University.
    Read More

  • Juan Arenas

    A graduate from Monterrey Tech with a BBA and MBA.
    Read More

List of 4 items.

  • Tamara Lechner

    Tamara Lechner is the Canadian Regional Manager at the Institute of Positive Education based out of Victoria BC.
    Read More

  • Afroze Anjum, Psy.D, C.Psych

    Dr. Afroze Anjum is a licensed school psychologist at the Toronto District School Board (TDSB).
    Read More

  • Samantha King

    Samantha King is a Special Education Teacher at the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) since 2007.
    Read More

  • David Tranter, PhD

    Dr. David Tranter has been teaching and working in mental health, well-being, and education for over 30 years. 
    Read More

List of 2 items.

  • Jason Dorland

    Jason Dorland is an author, Olympian, coach, entrepreneur and storyteller who has dedicated his life to the pursuit of excellence for himself and those he supports.
    Read More

  • Robyn Meagher

    Robyn is Registered Clinical Counsellor and a Health & Performance coach in private practice since 2006. She is also a two-time Olympian, Commonwealth Games and World Cup silver medalist.
    Read More


Conference Schedule

Schedule

List of 2 items.

  • Day 1: June 16th (4:00pm–8:00pm)

    4pm – Registration Opens

    5pm – Kick off Keynote by Professor Lea Waters, PhD

    6pm - 8pm

    • Positive Education Party presented by The Flourishing Center
    • Live music reception
    • Featuring local wine & beer
    • Boost your wellbeing with new friends


  • Day 2: June 17th (8:00am–5:30pm)

    8am – Networking breakfast & late registration

    9am – TED style Invited Speakers

    10:25am – Concurrent workshops – learn from fellow educators as well as experts in the field

    Morning Wellbeing Break

    11:15am – Morning Keynote – Professor Lea Waters, PhD

    12:00pm – Lunch in the Ridley Great Hall

    12:45pm – Living Library & Learning Walk – this conference highlight will provide a highly practical and interactive experience that will ensure all participants leave with a full Positive Education toolbox

    1:30pm – TED style Invited Speakers

    2:30pm – Concurrent workshops – learn from fellow educators as well as experts in the field

    Afternoon Wellbeing Break

    3:45pm – Closing Keynote – David Mochel

    4:45pm – Closing Remarks – Ed Kidd, Ridley College Headmaster
Join us for a party where every activity is grounded in science! Experience positive psychology brought to life in this edu-tain-ial (educational + entertaining + social) event. Learn the theory and apply the interventions through play, networking and engaging all your senses. Experience fun exercises that you can take back to your school and help your staff and students embody wellbeing!

Travel Details

Hotel accommodations:

Heart of Niagara Hotels – Holiday Inn and Suites

There is a room block set aside for June 16th and 17th at the group rate of $130.00 plus tax for a standard guest room (two queen beds). The rooms will be held until May 15, 2019 at which point any unreserved rooms will be released back into general inventory.
 
To book your rooms, please call 1-877-688-2324 and refer to the “Flourish: Positive Education Conference” room block

Pre and Post Conference Training Opportunity




2 Day Introduction to Positive Education

Sat. Jun 15th 8:30am – 6pm
Sun Jun 16th 8:30am – 4pm

  • 2 full days of live training
  • Lunch & refreshments
  • Training materials and worksheets
  • 6 month access to 15 animation tools for teaching
C$1000 C$750 with Flourish Pos. Ed. Conference registration

5 Day Positive Education Certification

Sat. Jun 15th 8:30am – 6pm
Sun Jun 16th 8:30am – 4pm

Mon. Jun 17th Flourish Pos. Ed. Conference 
Tue Jun 18th   8:30am – 4:30pm
Wed Jun 19th 8:30am – 4:30pm
Thu Jun 20th  8:30am – 4:40pm
  • 5 full days of live training
  • Earn your Positive Education Certification (PEC)
  • Lunch & refreshments
  • Training materials and worksheets (150 pages)
  • 12 month access to 245+ animation tools for teaching
  • Continued support in our online platform
C$2150 C$1625 with Flourish Pos. Ed. Conference registration

We are grateful to our conference sponsors

P.O. Box 3013, 2 Ridley Road St. Catharines, Ontario L2R 7C3 Canada 905 684 1889
With more than 700 students from 60 countries, the largest boarding programme in Ontario and the third largest in Canada, Ridley College is a truly international, co-educational, day and boarding school of the world that prepares students for the world. It has provided enriching learning and life-shaping experiences focused on the arts, academics, and athletics since 1889. Ridley’s Lower School offers JK-Grade 8, its Upper School consists of Grade 9-PG, and Ridley graduates attend some of the top universities and colleges around the world. Ridley is the only   co-ed independent boarding school in Canada and one of only three in North America authorized to offer the International Baccalaureate (IB) continuum programme.