Strive

This hands-on, in-person workshop, facilitated by Lobna Ajaini, MPED, HBECL, B.Eng, RECE, invites educators to explore risky play through reflection, exploration, and collaborative design. Participants will explore how children learn through challenge, uncertainty, and physical engagement, while rethinking how early childhood settings understand risk. Through open-ended materials and guided experiences, educators will explore, examine, and design environments that balance safety with opportunity - supporting children's confidence, resilience, and agency through intentional practice.

📆 Thurs. November 19
⏰ 6:30 - 8:30 PM
📍 North London Optimist Community Centre, Multi-Purpose Room 2 (1345 Cheapside St., London)
💲London/Middlesex: Pay What You Can | Elgin/Oxford: $10 (Ticket type is based on the county you WORK in)

Registration closes on Thurs. November 12 at 12:00 PM. Learn more at www.striveswo.ca/event-posts/risky-play-in-action

Join us for an uplifting session celebrating the vital role early childhood educators play in supporting children and families from equity-deserving communities, facilitated by Mela Swayze, PhD (they/them) and Shiva Mazrouei, PhD Candidate (she/her). Through stories, reflection, and connection, participants will explore their role as equity champions and get a special preview of the forthcoming book RISE & SHINE for Equity in Early Learning.

📅 Thurs. November 12
🕡 6:30 - 8:00 PM
📍 Strive Classroom (265 Maitland St., London)
💲 London/Middlesex: Pay What You Can | Elgin/Oxford: $10 (Ticket type is based on the county you WORK in)

Registration closes on Wed. November 11 at 12:00 PM. Learn more at www.striveswo.ca/event-posts/rise-and-shine

ATTENTION ELGIN PROFESSIONALS 📣

Your next Be Well event is Make & Take, coming up on Monday, November 9, from 6:30 - 8:00 PM at St. Thomas Seniors' Recreation Centre, facilitated by Lauren Goossens, RECE.

In this hands-on puppet-making experience, early years professionals will have the opportunity to slow down, connect with their creativity, and experience the joy of making something meaningful. Participants will create their own puppets while exploring how puppetry can support children's communication, storytelling, emotional expression, imaginative play, and relationship-building.

Leave with a completed puppet, practical ideas for incorporating puppets into your early learning environment, and inspiration for using creative materials and experiences to foster engagement, belonging, and well-being for both children and educators. This session offers a playful and restorative opportunity to nurture your own wellness while building tools you can bring directly into your practice.

Registration is limited to Elgin participants (use your access code to unlock your ticket type - DM us if you need it), and closes on Monday, November 2 at 12:00 PM. Register at www.striveswo.ca/event-posts/be-well-make-and-take

Hear all about our upcoming opportunities for learning, connection, and reflection during your October 2026 Professional Learning Update with Andera! 🎤

Listen now at www.striveswo.ca/podcast-posts/minisode-47 or through our link in bio!

Also available on Soundcloud, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts! ✨

Hello October! ✉️

Check out Strive’s Monthly E-Blast.

Read now at https://mailchi.mp/striveswo/hello-october (and subscribe to get it directly to your inbox)!

Today is the National Day for Truth & Reconciliation, a day that recognizes and honours survivors of Canada's Residential School system and remembers the children who never came home.

While reconciliation is for every day, we invite you to join us today in taking a pause, reflecting, and deepening our understanding of the histories and current experiences of Indigenous Peoples - First Nations, Inuit, and Métis – whom we recognize as the original and ongoing stewards of this land. Land that we so fortunately get to live, love, and learn on.

We encourage you to explore the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Calls to Action and consider how each of us can contribute to reconciliation through continued learning and meaningful action. Reconciliation is an ongoing process that includes listening, learning, and unlearning - as part of this process, our team intentionally participated in decolonized learning today.

A special thank you to N'Amerind Friendship Centre for the beautiful gathering that our team attended this morning alongside the community.💞

Episode 93 of Leading Inspired Learning is now available! 🎙✨

In this episode, Ally, Strive Manager, hosts Chiya Hassan & Natassia Rees-Evans, our 2026 ECL student interns. This split episode allows Chiya and Natassia to set goals and expectations for their summer and then reflect on their time as our interns. They explore the role of the ECL placement, the importance of student mentorship, and how their future goals have continued to evolve. Listen, learn, reflect, enjoy!

Listen now at www.striveswo.ca/podcast-posts/ep-93 (or wherever you get your favourite podcasts)! This episode is also available in video format via the link above, on Spotify, or on our YouTube channel!

Don’t forget to subscribe, like, and review! ✨

This episode was released on the National Day for Truth & Reconciliation, following our regular release schedule. We encourage you to explore some of the resources linked on this episode's landing page to expand your own learning.