BTC 2026 - Calgary: Full Schedule

WELCOME TO THE 2026 CALGARY BEGINNING TEACHERS’ CONFERENCE!

Teachers new to the profession are invited to attend the 2026 Beginning Teachers’ Conference, October 2-3, Best Western Premier Calgary Plaza Hotel & Conference Centre, Calgary. There is no registration fee. Space is limited; apply early.

School principals, school jurisdictions and local associations work together to provide substitute teacher coverage as per the collective agreement to facilitate the attendance of beginning teachers at the conference. Substitute teacher coverage must be organized and approved in advance. Please ensure you meet with your school principal to discuss release time and obtain the appropriate absence code to attend this conference.

Teachers in charter, federal and private schools must be associate members of the Association to be eligible to attend the Beginning Teachers Conference.

12:30pm MDT

The Power of the Science Journal: Reflection, Practice, and Deeper Learning (7-12)

LIMITED

Friday October 2, 2026 12:30pm - 1:45pm MDT

Plaza 4

Limited Capacity seats available

In this session, teachers will explore the structure, purpose, and practical use of science journals in the secondary science classroom. Designed to support Assessment for Learning practices and meaningful FNMI connections, these journals serve as both a guided home study resource and a portfolio of student learning that can be shared with parents and guardians during conferences. Session participants will view student exemplars and leave with practical tools to begin developing science journals for their own classrooms. Teachers will receive ready-to-use templates, handouts, strategies, and ideas that can be implemented immediately in diverse learning environments. While Science 9 and 10 examples will be featured, the resources and approaches shared can be adapted across a variety of secondary subject areas. If you value student organization, accountability, pride in learning, and strong study habits, this session is for you!

Speakers

Erin Montgomery

Secondary Science Teacher, Elk Island Catholic Schools

Erin is a veteran Secondary Science Teacher with Elk Island Catholic Schools in Sherwood Park, AB. She currently teaches Science 9 & 10 but has also taught Gr. 5-8 Science over her 20-year career. She holds a Master's Degree in Secondary Science Education in Assessment and Resource... Read More →

Friday October 2, 2026 12:30pm - 1:45pm MDT
Plaza 4

Science, Division III and IV | Indigenous Education, Division III and IV

12:30pm MDT

Teaching Computer Science and Computational Thinking in Any Classroom (4-9)

FULL

Friday October 2, 2026 12:30pm - 1:45pm MDT

Deerfoot

Limited Capacity full

Computer science and computational thinking are becoming increasingly important components of K–12 education, yet many teachers are unsure where to begin. This hands-on session introduces educators to a collection of accessible, classroom-ready tools that can be used to teach coding, problem solving, creativity, and computational thinking across subject areas. Participants will explore free resources from Code.org, visual programming through Scratch, and constructionist learning approaches using LEGO Robotics. The session will highlight practical classroom examples, curriculum connections, and strategies for implementation with students of varying experience levels. Attendees will leave with lesson ideas, resource links, and a clear pathway for introducing computer science concepts into their own teaching practice.

Speakers

Quinn McCashin

Educator, University Of Alberta

Quinn McCashin is a Doctoral student in the Faculty of Education, University of Alberta. He previously worked as a high school science and math teacher in Edmonton, Alberta and most recently completed his Master of Education in the field of educational technology.

Friday October 2, 2026 12:30pm - 1:45pm MDT
Deerfoot

Science, Division II and III | Technology in the Classroom, Division II and III

2:00pm MDT

Bringing Science Fiction into Science Classes (4-12)

LIMITED

Friday October 2, 2026 2:00pm - 3:15pm MDT

Plaza 3

Limited Capacity seats available

Sometimes engagement in science classes can be something that we struggle to get across all of our students in a science classroom. So how can science fiction (and superheroes, who are arguably a subset within science fiction) brought into your class help out? In this session, Nate Siler, who has taught science at the middle school, high school, and post-secondary levels will look at many various ways that a wide array of science fiction (and superheroes) can be brought into your science classrooms to re-engage those students whose interest sometimes seems to be lost.

Speakers

Nate Siler

Friday October 2, 2026 2:00pm - 3:15pm MDT
Plaza 3

Science, Division II, III and IV

9:00am MDT

Walking Together: Collaboration, Reconciliation, and Lived Experiences in the Alberta Classroom (K-12)

LIMITED

Saturday October 3, 2026 9:00am - 11:45am MDT

Deerfoot

Limited Capacity seats available

How can foundational shifts toward reconciliation authentically take root in our daily teaching practice? Join educators Omarla Cooke and Mya Penney for an inspiring, deeply personal session that explores the transformative power of collaboration, mentorship, and genuine friendship. Designed specifically for beginning teachers, this session moves beyond theory and policy. Through the art of storytelling and the sharing of their own lived experiences, Omarla and Mya model how diverse cultural backgrounds can weave together to enrich school leadership and classroom community. Participants will engage in holistic learning by exploring traditional Indigenous medicines and cross-cultural literature. The session concludes with a hands-on, experiential grounding activity: crafting a traditional medicine bag to serve as a meaningful, tangible guide for your future teaching practice.

Speakers

Mya Penney

Omarla Cooke

Saturday October 3, 2026 9:00am - 11:45am MDT
Deerfoot

Indigenous Education, Division I Division II Division III Division IV | Science, Division I Division II Division III Division IV | Social Studies, Division I Division II Division III Division IV

BTC 2026 - Calgary

12:30pm MDT

Erin Montgomery

12:30pm MDT

Quinn McCashin

2:00pm MDT

Nate Siler

9:00am MDT

Mya Penney

Omarla Cooke

Get help with the event