The 3rd NAREA Fall Conference

We welcome you, in person, to the 3^rd NAREA Fall Conference in Vancouver, British Columbia, “Possibilities and Complexities: Reconnecting, Reimagining, Relaunching.”

We recognize Vancouver as the traditional territory of the Coast Salish, Squamish, Musqueam, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations. The Coast Salish people call this place their ancestral home, and their history, traditions, and spiritual ethos intertwine in the host city’s cultural foundation. We wish to highlight our belief in and commitment to the value of embracing history, identity, and cultural diversity and differences as essential aspects of personal and professional development. We honor and encourage each program and every group of colleagues to invest in an ongoing approach that includes permanent study, research, collaboration, innovation, transparency, and exchange.

Since last summer, we have had the privilege of offering many professional development opportunities with wonderful hosts: The 13th NAREA Winter Conference – Livestream, the Fundamentals of the Reggio Emilia Approach fall and spring webinar series, and the 18th NAREA Summer Conference in Atlanta, Georgia with the presence of two exhibitions from Reggio Emilia, Mosaic of Marks, Words, Material and Bordercrossings: Encounters with Living Things /

Digital Landscapes. These experiences energize us as we continue bringing educators together to sustain and strengthen all those interested in Reggio Emilia’s experiences and ongoing research. We hope this initiative serves as a rich and significant contribution to your continuous professional development and provides educational nourishment as you return to your home contexts to live daily with children, families, and co-educators.

With great pleasure and deep gratitude, we welcome our colleagues Mirella Ruozzi, Massimo (Max) Ghirardi, and Jane McCall. Their openness in sharing the experiences of children and adults in Reggio Emilia and desire for exchange is indicative of the principles and values of the Reggio Emilia Approach. We wish to extend our thanks to the Vancouver Reggio Association, the Vancouver host community, and all those who collaborated and supported the conference’s planning. The Vancouver Reggio-inspired community has a long history of advancing the educational formation of teachers through the ongoing study of the Reggio Emilia Approach. Their work motivates others to unite and envision new possibilities in early childhood education and beyond.

Please enjoy the delight of thinking together as we connect, imagine, and move forward to create an enhanced future for all children, families, and educators.