Learning Opportunities

Carmen Moore is a passionate educator, parent and storyteller who has been working within the field of education for over twenty-five years. She completed two Masters of Education, spurring on a research project: Project Independence. Carmen has attained the credentials and experience to be a certified autism specialist through her continued work with the University of Kansas. She is passionate about sharing new approaches to support all students. Carmen’s experience as an educator, administrator, and now parent has provided her with a unique perspective that she uses to help inform and entertain her audiences. She was most recently employed as an inclusive education coach but has now expanded to more public speaking, consulting, research, and writing. Follow more of her work at www.cmooreineducation.ca

Monique Gray Smith is a proud mom of teenage twins and an award-winning, best-selling author. Her first published novel, Tilly: A Story of Hope and Resilience won the 2014 Canadian Burt Award for First Nation, Métis, and Inuit Literature. Since then, Monique has had 7 books come out that cover a broad spectrum of ages, topics and emotions. Woven into all of Monique’s writing, speaking engagements and online courses is the teaching that Love is Medicine. Monique’s novel, Tilly and the Crazy Eights was longlisted for Canada Reads 2021.

Monique is an appointed member of the Board of Directors of Royal Roads University and the Minister’s Advisory Council for Indigenous Women for the Government of BC and an elected Board member for the Victoria Native Friendship Centre. In 2019 Monique received the Victoria Leadership Award for Reconciliation. Monique is Cree, Lakota, and Scottish and has been sober and involved in her healing journey for over 30 years. She is well known for her storytelling, spirit of generosity and focus on resilience.