News & Stories: Presentation

Presented by Dr. Shelly Mehta, Dr. Emis Akbari, and Dr. Daniel Foster, Atkinson Centre, University of Toronto, Canadian Association for Social Justice Education, June 1, 2026, Winnipeg.

Presented by Dr. Emis Akbari, Executive Director, Atkinson Centre, University of Toronto, Professor & Program Coordinator, School of Early Childhood, George Brown Polytechnic, Early Childhood Resource Consultant Network on Ontario (ECRCNO), May 29, 2026. Niagara on-the-lake.

Presented by Kelsey Shay Regnier, Red River Ploytech, to the ECE Workforce Roundtable, March 23, 2026.

Presented by Tonya Millsap, Manager, Early Learning & Child Care System Management, County of Simcoe, Social and Community Services; Michelle Schurter, Better Together, founder and lead; Dr. Emis Akbari, Executive Director, Atkinson Centre, University of Toronto, Professor & Program Coordinator, School of Early Childhood, George Brown Polytechnic, OMSSA Webinar, May 14, 2026.

Presented by Anne Hepditch, Toronto Children's Services, at the Quality Counts: Measuring What Matters in Early Learning for Accountability and Quality Improvement webinar, April 24, 2026.

Presented by Julie Gaskin, Child Care and Early Years Division, Regional Municipality of Durham, at the Quality Counts: Measuring What Matters in Early Learning for Accountability and Quality Improvement webinar, April 24, 2026.

Presented by Dr. Michal Perlman, Chair, Atkinson Centre, OISE/University of Toronto, at the Quality Counts: Measuring What Matters in Early Learning for Accountability and Quality Improvement webinar, April 17, 2026.

Dr. Antonia Simon, Associate Professor, University College London - April 30. 2026

England offers an important case study for Canada. It combines a long-standing mixed-market childcare system with sustained large-scale public investment, while continuing to rely heavily on corporate providers. England’s experience allows us to examine not only how systems expand access, but also what happens after expansion: rising market concentration, increasing corporate ownership, mounting public costs, and persistent affordability challenges for families.

Presented by Sophia Akbari, Knowing Our Numbers, to the Early Learning and Child Care Sector, Children’s and Community Services Division, City of Hamilton, February 25, 2025.

Akbari, E. (2025). Knowing Our Numbers: Francophone Workforce at a Glance. Ontario Francophone ELCC Network. February 2025. Virtual.

Akbari, E., & McCuaig, K. (2025). Knowing Our Numbers. Ontario Auditor General. March 2025. Virtual.

Akbari, E. McCuaig, K., & Foster, D. (2025). Supporting Evidence-informed Early Learning and Child Care Policy Across Canada: The ECE Workforce Knowledge HUB. Provincial Territorial Early Learning and Child Care: Officials Working Group. October 2025.