Our Leadership Network
A collaboration of a wealth of leadership from broader professional networks that enrich the development and delivery of ARCQE’s services.
Enhancing Capacity and Elevating Quality in Early Learning
ARCQE prides itself in supporting the collaboration of a wealth of leadership from broader professional networks that enrich the development and delivery of quality services it provides. Over the years, this has enabled the organization to establish a strong foundation of leadership that is instrumental in ensuring that practice models it supports are based on research-based and recognized professional practice focused on enhancing capacity and elevating quality in early learning.
The leaders in the ARCQE network bring representation from accredited post-secondary institutions, partner organizations, and interrelated professions that cover a diverse spectrum of services and specialized skills and knowledge as authorities on various topics such as pedagogy, leadership, administration, neuroscience, business, health, outdoor play, responsive environments, and global perspectives in early learning.
What sets ARCQE services apart from other consulting services?
As an organization founded by way of a tri-partnership of credible provincial and national associations (Canadian Child Care Federation, Association of Family Resource Programs Canada, and the Association of Early Childhood Educators of Alberta), central to ARCQE’s development was a focus on formalized linkages within the professional community that offered credibility. The structure ensures that services developed and delivered by ARCQE are informed and meaningful, ensuring alignment with recognized practice standards and developed through a lens of theory and practice.
ARCQE’s leaders distinguish the organization with their clear vision, knowledge, and expertise, which drive the development of innovative service models and professional learning opportunities.
Pedagogical Supports Leadership Team
The Pedagogical Supports Leadership group is a longstanding team of academics and community leaders across our province. Their relationship began when Cathy Smey Carston (PhD) and Joanne Baxter (PhD), two long-term colleagues in the Department of Child Studies at Mount Royal University, were invited by the Ministry of Children’s Services to create and support the development of a curriculum framework for childcare in Alberta.
Bringing theoretical understanding to practice was a strength and substantial interest of the two, so they invited like-minded colleagues from across the province to explore ways to bring this exciting opportunity to the early learning community. Bringing theoretical understanding to practice was a strength and substantial interest of the two, so they invited like-minded colleagues from across the province to explore ways to bring this exciting opportunity to the early learning community. Cindy Carter and Therese Wiart Jenkinson have since stepped aside for personal reasons, but the initial team continues to work and grow together.
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Pedagogical LeaderCathy Smey Carston PhDCathy Smey Carston, a longstanding colleague in the Department of Child Studies at Mount Royal University, collaborated with Joanne Baxter at the invitation of Alberta’s Ministry of Children’s Services to create and support the development of a curriculum framework for childcare in Alberta.
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Pedagogical LeaderJoanne Baxter PhD
Joanne Baxter, a longstanding colleague in the Department of Child Studies at Mount Royal University, collaborated with Cathy Smey Carston at the invitation of Alberta’s Ministry of Children’s Services to create and support the development of a curriculum framework for childcare in Alberta.
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Pedagogical LeaderMary Anne Farebrother M.Ed
Mary Anne Farebrother is a long-time part-time faculty member from Mount Royal University, who joined the team in the early phases to help conceptualize the plans.
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Pedagogical LeaderJoanne Keity
Joanne Keity is from Lethbridge College and leads a learning community in Lethbridge.
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Pedagogical LeaderMarilyn Boisvert
Marilyn Boisvert joined the team as a respected community leader in the north.
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Pedagogical LeaderDonna Morrison PhD
Donna Morrison is from Red Deer College and leads a learning community in Red Deer.
In the project’s formative years, the team established a strong foundation of collaboration and inquiry. Practice leaders from the field were invited to work alongside programs, learning together about exciting, emerging early childhood concepts.
The leadership team guided and supported these ‘pedagogical partners ‘through a parallel process that is still integral to the pedagogical support model, where partners meet onsite with program educators to explore the framework concepts in their practice with children and families.
Learning communities were added to the model to create connections and support dialogue amongst learners around the province. The team always intended to build a sustainable model and community capacity.
Twelve years later, these goals have been realized and sustained. The pedagogical team has remained largely intact, and the cadre of pedagogical partners has grown, including many who received program-based support from pedagogical partners themselves. The model of onsite support and a learning community has flourished.
The Leadership team joined forces with ARCQE when the Early Learning Child Care Centers were established in Alberta in 2018. The team recognized that the project needed a provincial reach, and ARCQE was a well-established organization offering professional development support to the community. The leadership group has worked with the ARQCE team to create and sustain a community-based pedagogical support model.
This strong collaboration is evidenced by the additional support from the Ministry for the creation of professional learning series as a means to extend and continue professional learning opportunities accessible for all interested educators and program leaders across Alberta.
These three series, Possibilities for Practice, Supporting Curriculum Practice and Leading through a Pedagogical Lens, and additional learning resources (Digital Story Learning Moments), are joint, creative efforts by the leadership team and many pedagogical partners to continue to serve and support the early learning community. We are excited to see where we will go next!
Cultural Leadership Supports Team
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Cultural LeaderCarole Massing
Carole has enjoyed a long association with ARCQE and is pleased to be working as a Cultural Leader on the Advisory Committee to the Spark Mentorship program.
Carole began her career as an elementary school teacher and developed a special interest in early learning and childcare when her own children were young. She began teaching preschool and kindergarten, then moved to a director position at Lansdowne childcare centre. Since then, she has taught in postsecondary programs at MacEwan University, the University of Alberta, and NorQuest College. She has also consulted, researched, and developed curriculum in early learning and childcare, interculturalism, and human service administration. Carole’s long association with the Intercultural Child and Family Centre, in Edmonton, helped to inspire the book that she co-authored with Mary Lynne Matheson, Introduction to Early Childhood Education and Care: An Intercultural Perspective. She has also co-authored The Educational Assistant’s Guide to Supporting Inclusion in a Diverse Society, now in its second edition (with Bonnie Anderson, Carol Anderson and Sarah Dewhurst). Carole has a PhD in elementary education from the University of Alberta. -
Cultural LeaderMary Lynne Matheson
Mary Lynne Matheson has an MSc in Family Ecology and Practice from the University of Alberta. Over the course of her career, she has taught in the Early Learning and Child Care Program at MacEwan University for over 25 years and in the Bridging Program for Immigrant Child Care Workers, and she also worked as the Education Coordinator at the Intercultural Child and Family Centre at McCauley School and Faculty Liaison at the Intercultural Child & Family Centre at Norquest College. Mary Lynne has also served as a Pedagogical Partner with 10 years supporting Flight in practice and more recently as a curriculum facilitator and content developer with ARCQE.
In 2021, Mary Lynne co-authored the book Introduction to Early Education & Care: An Intercultural Perspective with Carole Massing. This resulted in the two supporting a new pilot initiative with ARCQE as Cultural Leaders for the Spark Mentorship Program guiding implementation strategies for the newly launched culturally responsive practice guide in early learning.
Outdoor Play Specialists
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Leader in Outdoor PlayChristina Pickles
Christina Pickles is the founder of Get Outside and Play, an organization that advocates for more outdoor play for children in early learning and care settings, schools and communities. She delivers professional learning to educators, building their knowledge and confidence to support more outdoor play with children. Christina also explores the challenges to outdoor play facing early learning and care programs from a systems perspective. She led the creation of the Outdoor Play in the Child Care Settings: Recommendations for Child Care Licensing in Alberta.
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Leader in Outdoor PlayAnthony Bourque
Anthony Bourque, a Social Innovation consultant specializing in Playwork and play studies, has been involved with the Play Around the World program at the University of Alberta since 2014. He co-designed the Vivo Play Project, a four-year public health social innovation initiative using unstructured play as a community health intervention. Additionally, Anthony completed his graduate studies on the Vivo Play Project, focusing on parent perceptions of risk in outdoor play.
Business Support Specialist
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Business Support SpecialistKaren Foster-Jorgensen
Karen has collaborated with ARCQE since 2012, supporting early childhood leaders, and their organizations to build effective leadership, strong staff teams, and sustainable finances. Through consulting, training workshops, and conference presentations, Karen shares unique knowledge and inspires confidence in leaders to best deliver their quality missions for children and families. With experience as owner/director of childcare centres, executive director of diverse non-profit organizations and creator of multiple business development projects across North America, Karen has earned a reputation for delivering learning experiences that effect change and build success. She is a regular contributor to early childhood publications and author of the book “It’s More About Strategy Than Math: Childcare Business Financial Success”. Karen invites you to share in her online community of early childhood leaders at community.childcaredirector.com
