Saturday - Sunday, January 17th - 18th 2026

The ECC Virtual Summit 2026

We're bringing together educators, leaders, and changemakers in early childhood education for a weekend designed to energize, inspire, and equip you for your work.

We're back and bigger than ever with...

Two days of professional learning,

10+ hours of live content, and a lineup of powerhouse speakers

Free

General Admission

✓  full access to all live sessions

✓  downloadable summit workbook

✓  live networking & community access

This experience does not include a professional development certificate or replays.

$39 CAD

VIP Experience

✓  everything in General Admission

✓  downloadable summit workbook

✓  exclusive ECC Professional Development Certificate (emailed post-event)

✓  bonus downloadable tools and session extras

Who is this summit for?

The only requirement is passion about early childhood education!


We welcome:


  • Early Childhood Educators & Assistants
  • Childcare Centre Owners & Directors
  • Early Childhood Leaders & Supervisors
  • EarlyON Educators & Family Resource Teams
  • Home Childcare Providers
  • FDK Educators

Why attend?

  • Walk away with new ideas, practical resources


  • Find your people and connect with like-minded individuals in Canada and beyond



  • Gain a renewed sense of purpose to make a difference in your classroom, program, or community.

10:00

Welcome, ECC House Rules & Intro

10:30

Speaker Sophie Rayner-Grignon
From Tears to Trust: Easing Infant Transitions into Childcare

11:30

Giveaway & Break

11:40

Special Guest

Charlene Dinger, Founder & Creative Director of Kinisi Kids

12:05

Giveaway & Break

12:15

Speaker Nathalie James
First Impressions Matter: Family Relationships for New Educators

13:15

Giveaway & Break

13:25

The ECC Award Winner Interview:  Educator of the Year

13:45

Giveaway & Break

13:55

Special Guest
Saira Remtulla, Founder & CEO of ConnectED Start

14:20

Break

14:30

Final Giveaway(s) & Reflection

15:00

Closing Remarks

Day one

Saturday, January 17th, 2026

10:00 - 15:00 EST   |   Welcome Kickoff + Live Sessions

10:00

Welcome, ECC House Rules & Intro

10:15

Speaker Shelby Secoura
Burn the Rulebook: Leading the Future of ECE

11:15

Giveaway & Break

11:25

Speaker Melissa Malcom
Building Capacity, Leading with Vision: Growth for ECE Leaders & Entrepreneurs

12:10

Giveaway & Break

12:20

Speaker Quaishanna Myers
From Likes to Leads: Turning Your Online Presence into Growth for Your Centre & Biz

13:20

The ECC Award Winner Interview:  Educator of the Year

13:40

Giveaway & Break

13:50

Special Guest
Charlene Dinger, Founder & Creator of Kinisi Kids

14:25

Giveaway & Break

14:15

Special Guest
Saira Remtulla, Founder & CEO of ConnectED Start

14:50

Final Giveaway(s) & Reflection

15:00

Closing Remarks

Day two

Sunday, January 18th, 2026

10:00 - 15:00 EST    |    Live Sessions + Interactive Workshops

Meet your host, Anisha Angella

Anisha is a passionate educator, speaker, and coach dedicated to uplifting early childhood professionals.



Through ECC, she has supported thousands of educators across North America with powerful tools, engaging workshops, and community-rooted professional development.

Bring your whole staff and save

Get the ECE Team Discount

Email us to get your team registered!

Our 2026 lineup

Inspiring ECC-trained facilitators, renowned ECE leaders, and change agents from across the sector

Sophie Rayner-Grignon

ECE Coach & Facilitator at The Early Childhood Coach

From Tears to Trust: Easing Infant Transitions into Childcare

This 1 hour interactive session supports educators in guiding infants through their first childcare experiences with confidence and care. We explore infant emotional development during intake, the role of co regulation and routines, and simple strategies to support separation, reduce distress, and build trust. You’ll leave with practical tools to create welcoming environments, partner meaningfully with families, and honour the essential work of infant educators.

Nathalie James

ECE Coach & Facilitator
at The Early Childhood Coach

First Impressions Matter: Family Relationships for New Educators

New to the field or looking to strengthen family communication? This session helps educators feel more confident and authentic when working with families. We cover practical strategies for welcoming families, navigating challenging conversations, building trust, and maintaining professional boundaries with care. You’ll leave with real world tools to turn everyday interactions into strong, supportive partnerships that help children thrive.

Nathalie James

ECE Coach & Facilitator, Outreach & Partnership Specialist
at The Early Childhood Coach

Burn the Rulebook: Leading the Future of ECE

Leadership in early learning is evolving.
This workshop supports leaders ready to move beyond top-down management and into collaborative, emotionally intelligent leadership. You’ll gain practical strategies to build trust, engage teams, encourage shared ownership, and lead with clarity and confidence. Designed for centre leaders and supervisors who want leadership to feel human, effective, and sustainable.

Educators Burn the Rulebook: Leading the Future of ECE

Leadership in early childhood education is changing, and this session helps leaders step into a more collaborative, emotionally intelligent, and empowering approach. Move beyond the traditional “boss” mentality to build a team culture grounded in trust, connection, and shared responsibility. You’ll learn practical strategies to engage your team, invite feedback, shift language for unity, and lead with confidence and compassion. This workshop is for leaders ready to create a human-centered, growth-focused approach that truly inspires and supports their educators.

Nathalie James

Outreach & Partnership Specialist at The Early Childhood Coach

Building Capacity, Leading with Vision: Growth for ECE Leaders and Entrepreneurs

Join Anisha Angella and special guest Melissa for a candid fireside chat for ECE leaders ready to think beyond the day-to-day.

Melissa, a fractional HR leader, will share insights on identifying growth gaps, strengthening organizational capacity, and navigating complex workplace challenges with confidence. Together, they’ll explore how to balance vision with reality, support sustainable growth, and make strategic decisions that move teams and businesses forward. Designed for supervisors, directors, and ECE entrepreneurs looking for practical guidance, clarity, and a smarter way to lead.

Melissa Malcolm

Founder & HR Strategist
of Malcolm HR

Charlene is a Toronto-based dance educator with over 20 years of experience, trained in multiple styles and performing professionally across Canada and Europe. She is a certified yoga instructor and works from a trauma-informed, inclusive approach.

After co-founding Kinisi Dance Company in London, UK, and running toddler dance classes, she launched Kinisi Kids in 2023 to create a safe, welcoming space for parents, caregivers, and children to connect through movement and music.

Charlene Dinger

Founder & Creative Director
of Kinisi Kids

Educators Burn the Rulebook: Leading the Future of ECE

Saira is an Ontario-certified teacher with over 15 years of experience in early childhood education. She founded ConnectED Start to help children build strong foundations through meaningful connections with caregivers, educators, and each other.

Using music, movement, and play, Saira creates engaging, research-backed learning experiences and supports parents, caregivers, and educators with practical strategies to help children thrive.

Saira Remtulla

Founder & CEO at ConnectED Start

The ECC Virtual Summit 2026 Sponsors

We're proud to partner with brands that believe in the power of early learning

Quality Classrooms is more than a store — they’re a trusted partner in creating vibrant and engaging learning spaces where students can truly thrive.


With a deep understanding of the evolving needs of modern education, they offer a thoughtfully curated selection of durable and safe educational supplies designed to support both educators and learners. Their commitment goes beyond providing quality products; it’s about empowering teachers to build meaningful learning experiences.


Backed by their Unbeatable Price Guarantee, Quality Classrooms ensures Canadian educators have affordable access to the tools and resources they need to make a lasting impact in the classroom.

Kinisi Kids is dedicated to bringing families together through movement and music, offering interactive early years classes that support both children and their caregivers.


Their Yoga and Dance programs provide a safe and nurturing space for mothers on maternity leave to reconnect with their bodies, regulate their nervous system, and build meaningful connections. For toddlers, their dance classes foster key developmental skills like rhythm, coordination, body awareness, socialisation, and gross motor development.


These programs are also offered in early learning settings, including daycares and preschools. Passionate about creating safe, non-judgemental environments, Kinisi Kids inspires a love of movement from a young age, encouraging families to explore, connect, and grow together.

Real Food for Real Kids (RFRK) is a childcare and school catering company serving nutritious and delicious meals across the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area. With over 20 years of experience, they are dedicated to helping children build positive, lasting relationships with real food.


RFRK carefully designs menus using diverse, locally sourced ingredients while accommodating allergies and dietary needs, ensuring every meal is both flavourful and nourishing. More than just a catering service, they aim to foster a culture of healthy eating that supports children’s growth, well-being, and lifelong healthy habits.

Digital Childcare is a Canadian SaaS platform dedicated to empowering childcare providers and administrators with innovative tools that simplify and optimise childcare management.


From registration and enrolment to policy tracking and attendance, the platform offers customizable digital forms that reduce paperwork while ensuring full compliance with the Ministry of Education’s standards.


Designed to enhance productivity and save time, Digital Childcare streamlines processes and replaces outdated practices, providing solutions specifically tailored to the unique needs of the Canadian childcare sector.

Since 1977, Wintergreen has been supporting childcare centres across Canada with innovative play-based materials and premium-quality furniture. From exclusive learning resources to GREENGUARD®-certified furniture lines with a lifetime guarantee, Wintergreen offers complete classroom solutions, including 3D design services, installation, and leasing options.


With a unique selection you won’t find anywhere else in Canada and a hassle-free guarantee, Wintergreen is committed to helping centres create safe, engaging, and inspiring spaces for children to learn and grow.

Mabel’s Labels is a Canadian company dedicated to helping parents, schools, and caregivers keep track of children’s belongings with high-quality, durable, and customizable labels.


Founded over 22 years ago by four mothers in Hamilton, Ontario, the brand has grown into a trusted household name known for labels that are laundry, dishwasher, and microwave safe. Mabel’s Labels offers a wide range of products, including clothing labels, camp gear tags, allergy and medical alert labels, and school supplies, all designed to withstand daily use while remaining stylish and easy to personalise.


Focused on making family life easier and more organized, Mabel’s Labels provides practical solutions that simplify day-to-day routines and ensure children’s belongings stay clearly identified, giving parents peace of mind.

ConnectED Start supports caregivers and educators across Canada with engaging early childhood programs for children from birth to age four. Their play-based classes, featuring songs, movement, puppetry, and hands-on activities, foster strong connections and promote cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development.


They also offer professional training for educators, equipping them with strategies to nurture secure attachments and responsive interactions. ConnectED Start creates joyful, enriching experiences that help children thrive while empowering caregivers and educators to feel confident and inspired.

FAQ's

  • Is this a virtual event?

    Yes! The ECC Virtual Summit 2026 is 100% online via Zoom, making it easy to attend from anywhere in the world.

  • Will I receive a professional learning certificate?

    Certificates are only included with VIP registration. They are emailed within 24–48 hours after the event.

  • Are these PD hours recognized in my region?

    We recommend checking with your specific region, city, province, or country for approval. ECC does not guarantee accreditation across all jurisdictions.

  • I'm not confident using Zoom. What can I do?

    We’ve got you covered! Check out this helpful link

Join hundreds of ECE professionals for the most energizing professional development experience of the year!

Days
Hours
Minutes
Seconds
Countdown finished!