advocacy

Description:

Spring is a time for waking up, connecting ideas, and building new alliances. We have seen, and continue to see, corporate control extend over all aspects of our lives: from democratic processes, to essential services, to the basic necessities of life. If we sit back and watch, what will this mean for our futures? How and why are so many people, locally, and around the world waking up to collectively challenge corporate control? How do we nurture, coordinate, and channel people power, across differences, across issues, across generations? We will hear from individuals and communities who are creatively and strategically "fighting for our future", bringing us stories from the front-lines of resource extraction to the boardrooms of billionaires. We will look for common causes in themes ranging from tax fairness and public health care, from challenging austerity and cuts to public services, to international trade deals and food sovereignty. We will hear examples to inspire, from climate justice and indigenous rights to online activism and strategies for mobilizing.

Description:

ECEBC would like to extend an open invitation to our 42nd annual conference "Celebrate the Essence of the Child and Champion a Better Future" happening May 2 to 4, 2013 in Richmond. Please join us as we celebrate and honour what it means to be a child while championing the role  early childhood educators play in securing a bright future for the eld of early care and learning.
The weekend will be an excellent op-portunity to engage with others in personal and professional growth, advocacy, and more than a little fun! Besides an amazing variety of workshops, there will be delicious lunch buffets, snacks, and our gala evening celebration, which sold out last year. You
will also have lots of shopping time at the wonderful Trade and Resource Fair. This year, on Thursday evening we will be offering a chance to visit the child care centres at Simon Fraser  University.
Be sure to sign up early as space is limited, and the tour will ll up quickly. We are thrilled to welcome child care advocate Sharon Gregson from the Coalition of Child Care Advocates of BC for
our opening plenary. New this year will be a closing plenary session with Don Giesbrecht of the Canadian Child Care Federation-an opportunity not to be missed! We sincerely hope that you will come and join us for what promises to be an exciting, inspiring, and unforgettable conference.

-ECEBC's Conference 2013 Committee