Shaping the Future

A national gathering to inspire, connect, and equip educators and partners in creating healthy, thriving school communities

Join our exhibitors and connect directly with over 500 delegates from education, health, active living, and recreation sectors.

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Partner with Ever Active and lend weight to your commitment to areas of health, well-being and school leadership.

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Join Us For Shaping The Future 2026!

Shaping the Future is Ever Active’s annual conference that brings together educators, researchers, health and wellness professionals, and community change-makers to collaboratively advance the future of healthy schools and communities. Now in its 17th year, the event features dynamic learning, meaningful connection, and practical inspiration to support thriving students and communities.

WHEN

JANUARY 29 - JANUARY 31, 2026

WHERE

The Westin Edmonton Treaty 6 Territory

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The commitment to health and wellness and the location truly make this conference unique. Shaping the Future is an engaging, memorable, and restorative option for professional development.

This is the best conference I’ve ever attended. I loved how you could choose how much or little movement you wanted to incorporate in your day.

Loved the conference and so did the entire team. Everyone left feeling rejuvenated and calm. We will be back next year.

Keynote Speakers

Dr. Kelly-Ann Allen

Kelly-Ann Allen is an Associate Professor (Research), Educational and Developmental Psychologist, and DECRA Fellow at Monash University, as well as an Honorary Principal Fellow at the Centre for Wellbeing Science, University of Melbourne, and Fellow of the Australian Psychological Society. She is the Editor-in-Chief of the Educational and Developmental Psychologist and an editorial board member for Educational Psychology Review. Allen’s mission is to signal and accentuate the importance of belonging in day-to-day life, and to better understand the mechanics of how it can be enhanced across the lifespan, but particularly in educational and organisational contexts. Her work is based on the need to belong as a powerful driver of motivation and a fundamental pillar of good physical and mental health. With the study of belonging core to Dr. Allen’s research priorities, her publications and projects have built a conceptual and empirical understanding of what it means to belong. She has been recognised by The Australian as one of Australia's top 250 researchers and ranked by their independent data-science partner, The League of Scholars as Best In Field (2022) in belonging/school belonging.

From Need to Reality: Rethinking How We Meet the Need for Belonging

Belonging is a fundamental need, yet it can remain under-recognized as a psychological imperative. While other basic physical needs are routinely accommodated through infrastructure and routines, belonging is often treated as aspirational or taken for granted. This presentation reframes belonging as essential to student wellbeing and learning, and explores how it can be deliberately designed. Drawing on applied research and an integrative framework, the presentation examines how everyday actions and decisions can support belonging.

Dr. Jacqueline Leighton

Dr. Jacqueline Leighton works as a Professor (University of Alberta) and Psychologist. Leaving Santiago (Chile) in 1975, two years after the coup d'etat, instilled in her a lifelong commitment to independent thinking, human rights, and specifically freedom of expression. She has over 30 years of experience observing/studying how children and adults think, feel, and communicate authentically and effectively in learning environments. A significant portion of her work has focused on understanding how trust is formed and maintained in pedagogical relationships (alliances) to help students thrive in their assessment and learning. Her research and teaching are informed by humanistic psychological principles, Universal Design for Learning (UDL), and the Learning Errors and Formative Feedback (LEAFF) model. She completed her PhD in Psychology at the University of Alberta, and her Postdoctoral Fellowship in Psychology at Yale University. Dr. Leighton is a fellow of the International Academy of Education.

Psychological Tools to Communicate, Connect and Collaborate with Parents in Support of Student Learning and Mental Health

In all societies, but especially pluralistic ones, human relationships are complex. Different belief systems from varied cultural backgrounds, experiences and/or histories must be negotiated. One of the vital relationships to cultivate and nurture is the parent-teacher relationship. This relationship facilitates student learning and mental health. In this presentation, I will describe evidence-based psychological tools for creating, maintaining and repairing parent-teacher relationships.

Pre-Conference Details

Grounded Leadership: Building Connection, Confidence, and Community Through Outdoor Learning

Step outside the classroom and into the power of experiential learning that moves the mind, body, and heart. This highly participatory pre-conference session invites educators to explore how outdoor and nature-based learning can strengthen belonging, well-being, and leadership for both students and teachers. Together, we’ll dive into the art of designing meaningful outdoor experiences that nurture connection, confidence, and community.

Participants will spend 75% of the session doing: engaging in hands-on challenges, team-based problem solving, and land-based learning activities that bring curriculum to life. The remaining time will focus on strategies for program design, risk engagement, and fostering school-wide wellness through outdoor learning.

Come ready to move, laugh, and reconnect with the joy of teaching outdoors. You’ll leave with practical, adaptable ideas for all grade levels and a renewed sense of grounded leadership—rooted in purpose, community, and the natural world.

This session includes $40 worth of take-home supplies, morning snack and lunch.

WHEN

January 29, 2026 8:30am-11:30am

COST

$135 + GST and Fees

Presenter: Court Rustemeyer

Court Rustemeyer is a best-selling author, National Geographic Grosvenor Teacher Fellow, and award-winning educator from Calgary, Alberta. As President of GEOEC and a Director with the Outdoor Council of Canada, Court’s leadership invites educators to rediscover the power of authentic relationships and experiential learning in nature — blending mentorship, adventure, and reflection to inspire growth through the outdoors.

Research Roundtable

WHEN

JANUARY 28, 2026

WHAT

Ever Active Schools is pleased to convene a roundtable to bridge research/practice partnerships that advance school well-being. This event is designed for:

school-serving organizations focused on well-being;
aspiring and established researchers; and
interdisciplinary teams with active projects in school health.

If you value the development and application of high-quality evidence in partnership with education stakeholders across Canada, join us for this reciprocal learning experience. Participants will engage in meaningful discussions on relevant topics, explore innovative projects and practical research applications, and connect with partners to advance their work in school health.

OBJECTIVES

Facilitate live knowledge exchange between researchers and knowledge users/partners to:

Improve awareness of and support for recent and current research projects
Enhance uptake of research findings
Inform current and future research projects with partners’ field perspectives

Facilitate rich discussions on topics that are relevant to the participants in the room. Topics may include:

Designing, conducting, and partnering on research studies that are creative, ethical, impactful, and tailored to the unique needs of the school community;
Practical strategies, successes, and challenges in translating research findings into actionable policies and practices in school systems, schools, and classrooms;
Advancements and trends in both major research initiatives and smaller, impactful studies that are currently shaping the field.

Foster relationships and facilitate matches between researchers and partners to suit their mutual needs

We are excited to launch the Posters and Networking Social at the 2026 Research Roundtable- free for attendees, $10 for non-attendees.

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Join us at the Shaping the Future Research Roundtable to be at the forefront of transforming school health research and practice. We look forward to your participation and contribution to shaping a healthier future for our schools!

Agenda

Our full agenda is available now! Head to the link below to view all the sessions for Shaping the Future 2026.

2026 AGENDA

Accomodations

The conference will take place at The Westin Edmonton (10135 100 St NW, Edmonton, AB). Ever Active Schools has secured a discounted conference rate that can be accessed below!

Hotel Cancellation Policy: You may cancel your reservation for no charge until 72 hours prior to the arrival date.

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PHOTO CREDIT: THE WESTIN EDMONTON

Frequently Asked Questions

General Inquries and Questions  

Where and when is Shaping the Future 2026?

Will food be provided?

Is there any more information, like an agenda?

Is there any financial support available to help me attend?

What if I need to cancel?

All cancellations are subject to a $50 cancellation fee. Registration details may be modified until January 15, 2026, after January 15, 2026, no cancellations with a refund will be accepted. Contact events@everactive.org for assistance in modifying or cancelling your registration. Please note that Ticket Tailors fees are non-refundable and are not included in the $50 cancellation fee.

The ATA Educational Trust offers bursaries and grants to Alberta teachers and educational researchers. Learn more.

Shaping the Future 2025

After a year at the wonderful and magical Jasper Park Lodge, we found ourselves back where Shaping the Future has called home for so many years: the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise. With the help of our wonderful sponsors, Teach Nutrition, Belair Direct, SIECCAN, and the Alberta Medical Association, we welcomed over 550 delegates from across the country and beyond to Shaping the Future 2026.