Deeper Learning Canada: Full Schedule

Save The Date! July 2nd - 4th 2026

You will be able to validate your attendance (Check-In to sessions) using your personal schedule.

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9:00am PDT

Deep Dive - Igniting the P’ax: Sparking a Fire of Systemic Change Within Our Community

Friday July 3, 2026 9:00am - 11:30am PDT

“All that we are is story.” - Richard Wagamese. Many Indigenous worldviews, including syilx Okanagan, uphold story to reveal values, beliefs, and protocols for living in a good way. In sharing the story of our journey from “this is the way we’ve always done it” to honouring truth, reconciliation, and Indigenous brilliance, we hope to create conditions for others to share their lived experiences in a deeply reflective process. Using our school community’s story, we will invite participants to reveal and reflect upon their own values and beliefs alongside ours so that we might learn and lead in a good way, together.

Through materials, loose parts, arts-based mediums, and land-based experiences, participants will reflect on their own community of collaborators, the beliefs/values that guide their actions, the conditions that exist - and the conditions they would like to create, and what might be their next spark.

Speakers

Jennifer Detjen

Teacher, Central Okanagan Public School District #23 - Black Mountain Elementary

Jennifer Detjen has worked in the Central Okanagan school district, situated on the traditional lands of the sylix People, since 2005. She has taught grades 2-5, and since 2015 has been a Fine Arts and Physical Health prep teacher. She prioritizes serving her community and helping... Read More →

Michelle Dumanski

Teacher, Central Okanagan Public School District #23 - Black Mountain Elementary

Michelle Dumanski is a primary classroom teacher at Black Mountain School, on the traditional, unceded territory of the syilx people in the Okanagan. She brings over 20 years of experience, including 10 years in early learning, and is guided by a Reggio-inspired, child-centered approach... Read More →

Ryan Ward

Vice Principal, Central Okanagan Public School District #23 - Black Mountain Elementary

Ryan Ward is honoured to be the vice principal of Black Mountain Elementary School, located on the traditional, unceded territory of the sylix people in the beautiful Okanagan valley. Ryan has served as a teacher, vice principal and principal at a variety of K-12 schools in multiple... Read More →

Rochelle Popoff

Vice Principal, Central Okanagan Public School District #23 - Black Mountain Elementary

Rochelle Popoff is the vice principal of Rutland Elementary School on the traditional lands of the syilx People, in Kelowna, BC. She began her career in education in 2010 and has taught and led in K–12 settings across Western Canada and internationally. Grounded in Reggio-inspired... Read More →

Keely Flannigan

Teacher Librarian, Central Okanagan Public School District #23 - Black Mountain Elementary

Keely Flannigan - I currently hold the role of Teacher-Librarian at Black Mountain Elementary School on the traditional lands of the syilx People, in a region now known as Kelowna. I am grateful and privileged to serve our community in ever-evolving ways. My hope is that every child... Read More →

Michelle Relova

Principal, Central Okanagan Public School District #23 - Black Mountain Elementary

Michelle Relova currently serves as the principal of Black Mountain Elementary School on the traditional lands of the syilx People, in Kelowna, BC. Since becoming an administrator in 2014, Michelle has served at all level (K-12) supporting school communities in creating inclusive... Read More →

Friday July 3, 2026 9:00am - 11:30am PDT
Imagine High - Room 132/133

Deep Dives & Advisory