Keynote Speaker

Monique Gray Smith is an award-winning, best-selling author. Her books cover a broad spectrum of ages, topics and emotions. Woven into all of Monique’s writing, speaking engagements and online courses is the teaching that Love is Medicine. Recently she released her 6th children’s picture book, Dreaming Alongside. Monique also recently adapted Robin Wall Kimmerer's, New York Times Bestselling book, Braiding Sweetgrass for a younger audience, Braiding Sweetgrass for Young Adults. Monique’s novel, Tilly and the Crazy Eights was longlisted for Canada Reads 2021.

Monique is trained as a Psychiatric Nurse and has worked in various capacities in community and as a consultant since 1990. Her focus has been weaving history, resilience and trauma informed training for educators, social workers, librarians and early childhood teams. Monique is Cree and Scottish and has been sober and involved in her healing journey for over 34 years. She is well known for her storytelling, spirit of generosity and focus on resilience.

Learn more about Monique here.

Keynote Address: Sharing the Light: Stories and Reflections

An inspirational keynote focusing on hope, possibilities and lighting a way forward. Monique will share her personal journey and how it was a stranger who said to her, “I look forward to reading your book one day,” that lit a path of possibility. We will focus on the importance of sharing our light with students in educating hearts, minds and spirits. We will also explore strategies/ways of being that foster our light on a daily basis and generate light in our times of darkness. Throughout our time together, Monique will offer readings from her various books, and we will explore the integral role love and joy have in educating hearts, minds and spirits.