Judy Arnall, BA, CCFE, DTM is a certified brain and child development specialist and master of non-punitive parenting and education practices. She is the founder of Unschooling Canada Association and is the bestselling author of 5 print books translated into 5 languages, including Discipline Without Distress and Parenting With Patience. She has also compiled a handy tips book titled Attachment Parenting Tips Raising Toddlers To Teens. Her latest book, Unschooling To University: Relationships matter most in a world crammed with content, is becoming a bestseller in an age of parents seeking educational options. She is the parent of 5 self-directed educated children of which 3 have already graduated university and 1 is entering a Master’s program.
“By starting small, working in community, and letting Nature be our guide, together we can heal the world.”
Emily Baillie has been teaching piano and introductory music classes for 12 years, with students ranging from as young as 3 years old to adults enjoying their golden years. She offers instruction in English or French.
Emily graduated from the University of Ottawa with a B.A. (Hons.) Specialization in Music and minor in French as a Second Language. Emily has also successfully completed her RCM Grade 8 Piano.
Despite her varied experience, Emily has specialized predominantly in teaching young children, where her energizing, passionate, and contagious love for music shines through. She has taught many different children’s programs, including Music for Young Children, J’apprends la musique, and Kiddly Winks with the Leading Note Foundation. Additionally, she has adapted other teaching methods or created her own to better facilitate group or individual lessons for children with special needs.
She has offered instruction using a wide range of music curriculums including: Piano Adventures, Alfred, Bastian, and Music for Little Mozart’s, as well as other programs for beginners. For more advanced students, she has and continues to use Royal Conservatory of Music (Prep A to Grade 8) and Conservatory Canada Classical and Contemporary Idioms Programs (Grade 1 to Grade 6). Regardless of the chosen curriculum, Emily is flexible and skilled in tailoring instruction to meet student goals, accounting for individual strengths and challenges.
In her spare time, Emily likes long walks by herself or with friends, listening to or reading fiction novels, decorating her teaching space, watching the behind-the-scenes making of popular movies, and drinking tea with her Siamese cat Athena or husband Joshua. But most of all, she loves music teaching.
Emily greatly enjoys building relationships with her students and their families, with the goal of helping each and every one of them to cultivate their own love of music and to grow in their unique path as a musician. She looks forward to introducing you to techniques you can use to infuse music into your family’s learning!
A self-proclaimed Disney Junkie and certified Zumba instructor, Jonathan Siebert has been speaking to students and educators in the United States of America, and around the world, about the book Wonder. Jonathan shares his real-life Wonder story, how he relates to the main character, Auggie Pullman, and his personal journey with Apert Syndrome .
One night, Jonathan had an amazing idea to spread awareness about how to choose kindness, to stop bullying, and to educate others to accept people’s facial differences. He has been told time and again that his presentations are changing people’s lives .
Jonathan has spoken to classes both online and in person, creating memories that he will never forget.
A message from Jonathan:
“I have gone through a lot and have overcome many obstacles, Bullying, hate and violence need to be deleted from this world. People need to learn that we all are born differently, and that disabilities are really superpowers. The book and the movie inspired a lot of people, and because I see so much of myself in Auggie, it inspired me to spread awareness and accept invitations to share my story with people like you. Wonder has changed my life, and I pledge to #ChooseKind, and hope you do too “
Jonathan looks forward to sharing his story with you and encouraging you to help your students choose kind!
Lindsey Barr is the Founder and Executive Director of World-Changing Kids (WCK). Prior to WCK, Lindsey was a Senior Program Officer in the Federal Government, first with the Book Publishing Industry Development Program and then with the Aboriginal Languages Initiative. In these roles, she was responsible for program delivery and major program development initiatives. Following her employment in the Federal Government, she managed the Ottawa operations of Toronto-based Arts Express, selling and delivering arts programming in elementary schools. She has been an active member in her local school council, involved in fundraising, program delivery and spending decisions. She also runs an after-school child care program in her neighbourhood, and is mother to two amazing world-changing kids.
WCK evolved out of Lindsey’s desire to create the community that she wanted for her young family. Her informal initiatives, and passion, have resulted in a uniquely strong, kind, inclusive community. She has garnered attention from press, politicians, and community organizations and a growing demand from parents and educators who share her vision for a connected community, and desire to raise empathetic, empowered, and kind children. She has an incredible ability to create champions for her cause, and a proven track record in program development and delivery, fundraising, and entrepreneurship.
Lindsey looks forward to showing you how and why to make service learning a part of your homeschool experience.
Born and raised in Saskatoon SK, this Metis and Ukrainian this feminist comedian has lived and performed in Ottawa since 2007. Her brand of comedy begins from her own childhood to the childhood of her three children, and everything else in between. She has performed across Canada and on an array of festival stages. Jenn has hosted comedy confidence workshops for women and children, helping each participant find their unique voice through comedy.
Jenn has also spent the last several years as founder and CEO of her own delivery company, which places an emphasis on customer service, safety, and valuing employees.
In addition to being first class performer and boss-lady CEO, Jenn Hayward has developed motivational workshops and cultural competence seminars. These workshops capture the inner essence of who people are, what they stand for, and where they wish to go!
Jenn looks forward to educating you on how and why it is so important to make your children culturally aware and invested in indiginous issue.
Lisa Meuser attended Carleton University, achieving a bachelor’s degree in Film Studies. She also attained her certification as a television producer. Following her education, Lisa wrote and produced the feature film Me, My Mom, and Whistle as well as over ten theatre productions in the Ottawa region. Furthermore, Lisa was the first person to take a Canadian theatre company to Hollywood Fringe.
Lisa enjoys film making, continuing her creative writing, and a variety of athletics, both organised and not.
From its inception in 2005, the passionate and motivated Lisa Meuser has been the primary driving force behind The Meus Talent Agency’ continued achievements in the fields of theatre, television and film. She holds awards for Best Comedy Writer, Best Comedy Short Film as well as Face Magazine Award for Best Talent Agent in Ottawa.
Lisa Looks forward to telling you about how acting for film and television is a great activity for homeschoolers!
Brittany and Alister met in a Permaculture Design Course and now they inspire people through simple actions you can take to meet your needs while healing the Earth.
Together they have faced and overcome many challenges and met some amazing people, animals, and even plant friends from all over the planet. They have studied with incredible teachers in permaculture and ecological gardening, bushcraft and wilderness skills, first nations culture and medicine wheel teachings, and traditional martial arts. Best of all, they get to spend their life playing, learning, growing, sharing and discovering in Nature with kids aged 2 to 92.
Brittany was a child who loved the feeling of mud between her toes, mimicking the sounds of animals, wondering what makes a seed grow, and counting the stars. She feels that reconnecting with that inner child and forest path was the best thing that ever happened to her and looks forward to helping you do the same for your children.
“By starting small, working in community, and letting Nature be our guide, together we can heal the world.”