Keynote Speaker: Eric Walters
Eric Walters is the best-selling Canadian author of over 100 books for children and young people. He is a former elementary teacher, social worker, and proud recipient of the Order of Canada. Each year he presents to over 100,000 students across North America, talking about his passion for literature and literacy. Current projects include the Eric Walters Summer Lending Program and the first ever I Read Canadian Day. CSL is pleased to be partnering with Eric in these two initiatives.Please visit Eric’s website for information about his books, his charitable foundation, and school visits.
Featured Speakers
Deborah Dundas is an accomplished and versatile professional with 25 years local, national and international experience in multimedia, web, print journalism, marketing, public relations, public speaking and television production. She is also a books editor at the Toronto Star. Deborah recently wrote an article sharing a Toronto Star survey on the state of diversity in Children’s books in Canada, Who do we see in kids’ books?
Garfield Gini-Newman explores how to teach through critical inquiry while nurturing deep conceptual understanding and genuine competence. As an associate professor at OISE/University of Toronto and the senior national consultant with The Critical Thinking Consortium, Garfield has worked with thousands of teachers across grades and subjects, helping them to frame learning around engaging and provocative activities and authentic assessments. His most recent book co-authored with Roland Case, Creating Thinking Classrooms has received widespread praise from leading educators across Canada and internationally.
Leigh Cassell is an educator, adventurer, entrepreneur and partner in learning with teachers, students, businesses and NGOs around the world. Leigh is an Education and Innovation Consultant, and Founder and CEO at Digital Human Library. Driven by her passion to inspire in others a love of learning, Leigh’s work in education focuses on building relationships in ways that leverage digital technologies, develop global competencies, design new literacies, and prepare students to succeed as next generation learners. Leigh is an Apple Distinguished Educator, Microsoft Innovative Educator, Google Certified Educator, SMART Certified Interactive Teacher, and a Founding Partner of Live Learning Canada.