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univeristy of british colombia robson square blurred

Canadian Conference on Research in Education

August 15, 2026

8:15am - 4:30pm

UBC Robson Square

COURAGEOUS AND CREATIVE PRACTICES 

Come join us in person or online (hybrid) for a day of learning, networking, and sharing of ideas in the heart of Vancouver! This year, we will be exploring educational practices that are courageous and creative in nature. Come be part of this amazing event!

UBC Robson Square

Registration:

In-person Fees

C$249 Attendee

C$399 Presenter

C$199 Student Presenter/Attendee 

 

Online Fees

C$ 49 Attendee

C$199 Presenter

C$149 Student Presenter 

UNICEF logo
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Proceeds of the conference will go to sending girls to school for a year through UNICEF.

Sponsored by Princeton Tutoring

Keynote: Dr. Hilda Freimuth 
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This keynote examines the use of pedagogical play in adult education. It highlights a recent Canadian study on the use of pedagogical play to introduce background knowledge in an academic English as an additional language (EAL) reading class. Findings revealed that all students in class agreed or strongly agreed the use of this type of pedagogy was enjoyable. The use of humour by the teacher was cited as the most welcome of all strategies. Gamification was the second highest enjoyable form of pedagogical play. The use of thought-provoking facts, pictures, and videos came in third with the use of personal stories from the teacher a close fourth. In fifth place was the use of the ‘whimsical’ or ‘unusual’ in class. This research is viewed as ‘courageous’ in that it contradicts the research in the field claiming pedagogical play is best used in primary school and not in adult education. Part of the keynote will have attendees actively exploring different forms of pedagogical play to experience it firsthand.

Guest Speaker
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Kevin Wong is the co-founder of Princeton Tutoring and PrepMaven, education companies that provide tutoring, test preparation, and college admissions support to students and families across North America and internationally. Over the past two decades, he has helped grow the organization from a small tutoring initiative into an established educational community serving students and families across North America and beyond through a network of educators and advisors.

Kevin graduated from Princeton University with a degree in engineering and began his career in finance, working at Merrill Lynch before later co-founding a quantitative investment firm focused on systematic investing and financial modeling. Although his early career centered on analytical and financial work, he maintained a lifelong love of teaching, coaching, and mentorship, which eventually led him toward education entrepreneurship and student development.

Drawing from his family’s multi-generational immigration journey—from China to Burma, and later from the United States to Canada—Kevin’s work increasingly centers on the relationship between education, agency, and human potential. Through his work with students and families, he has become deeply interested in how environments, teaching processes, and mentorship shape a person’s sense of what is possible in their life and help them move toward that possibility.

We invite scholars, researchers, educators, and graduate students in the field of education to submit proposals for an academic research presentation (online welcome), interactive workshop, panel or round-table discussion, or poster session on courageous and creative practices used in the classroom or other educational settings.

 

We welcome all kinds of topics related to this theme and more, including but not limited to language teaching, teacher training, primary education, secondary education, technical education, assessment, policy, and more.

Please submit an abstract of no more than 150 words with a title of no more than 15 words by May 15, 2026 - extended to May 29, 2026.

9.7/10 OVERALL RATING FOR 2025 CONFERENCE!

WHAT PEOPLE SAY ABOUT OUR CONFERENCES

Conference attendees at a table, tinted blue

A fantastic space for networking, sharing ideas, and professional development!

Doctor Hilda Freimuth presenting, tinted blue

It was an honour to be among great  scholars and influencers!

presentation at previous conference, tinted blue

An unforgettable and enriching experience!

round-table presenters, tinted blue

What a wonderful time and learning experience!

Conference attendees at a table, tinted blue

Amazing and heartfelt presentations!

Doctor Hilda Freimuth presenting, tinted blue

[Loved] the art gallery surprise!

presentation at previous conference, tinted blue

[Nice] diversity of speakers!

round-table presenters, tinted blue

[Loved]  the interactive components!

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