Conference Theme and Keynote Speakers
The 2024 ABEABC Conference is titled “Weaving Wisdom: Integrating Ways of Knowing and Learning in ABE”. This theme was chosen by the ABEABC executive committee in hopes of honoring truth and reconciliation in education, to acknowledge the life experiences and learning of our students, and to celebrate diversity.
For detailed information, please visit our conference information document.
To register, please visit our Eventbrite page
Introducing Opening Keynote Speaker: Ted Gottfriedson
Our opening keynote speaker is Ted Gottfriedson. Ted is from the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc, as are his parents. He and his wife Sharon have been married for over 30 years and have four children and one amazing little granddaughter.
Ted is a passionate lifelong learner of his culture and language. Through the years and wonderful mentors, Ted has learned and experienced the magnificence, the joy, and the interminable knowledge found in the ancient language and culture of the Secwépemc. His journey through experiencing and appreciating our ways of knowing has gifted many things: a sense of belonging, a sense of self, and a sense of dignity — which collectively have helped him in realizing healing and happiness.
Ted has taught in the Kamloops/Thompson School District, Simon Fraser University, and Thompson Rivers University, with a combined experience of 25 years. He also worked for Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc for six years in the Language and Culture Department; through the creation and implementation of programs, documentation and research, and policy development, the department worked—and has continued to work—towards the revitalization of Secwepémc language and culture.
With TRU being located on the ancestral, unceded territory of the Secwépemc, and the Kamloops Campus on the Tk̓emlupsemcúl̓ecw to be specific, Ted looks forward to this excellent opportunity to share the Secwépemc ways of knowing with the participants of this year’s conference. It is his hope for all to gain an understanding of the Secwépemc, while developing a healthy connection to this beautiful land they are visiting.
Introducing Closing Keynote Speaker: Roxane Letterlough
Mixalhíts’a7 a proud member of the St’at’imc Nation and a devoted mother of three, embodies the values of her Indigenous heritage in all facets of her life. She has a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Education degree from Simon Fraser University; a Master’s degree from the University of British Columbia; and is a Doctoral Candidate at the University of Waikato in New Zealand under the supervision of esteemed scholar Dr. Linda Tuhiwai Smith. Her research intertwines academia with ancestral wisdom; centering on storywork, a profound method of healing and reclaiming narratives, focusing on the experiences of her mother and two sisters at residential school and their subsequent journey to healing. Through her research, she seeks to amplify Indigenous women voices, honour intergenerational research and resilience, and contribute to the ongoing process of truth and reconciliation. Mixalhíts’a7 is deeply committed to language revitalization efforts within her community. She is currently entering her third year in the language mentor-apprentice program for St’at’imcets. Her experience as a former classroom teacher in Indigenous-based schools further informs her research and advocacy work, grounding her academic endeavors in the realities of Indigenous education. Guided by Indigenous values of reciprocity, respect, and interconnectedness, Roxane continues to be a trailblazer in the field of Indigenous education, weaving together traditional knowledge with contemporary scholarship to create meaningful change.
Call for Presenters:
We would like to learn from you! The conference is all about teaching, learning and student success. This year’s theme, “Weaving Wisdom: Integrating Ways of Knowing and Learning in ABE” is all about honoring truth and reconciliation in education, acknowledging the life experiences and learning of our students, and celebrating diversity. If you have knowledge to share that is aligned with these topics – great! If you have teaching knowledge or experience to share that doesn’t align with these topics – also great! Please apply to be one of our breakout session presenters.
Presentation sessions can be either 45 or 90 minutes long and the topic should be related to adult basic education. Your session could be a panel discussion, teaching demonstration, sharing a favorite teaching strategy, showcasing open resources, facilitated discussion around an educational “hot topic”, exemplars of indigenization of curriculum or practice, or storytelling session. These are just some ideas – we are happy to hear what you have to share!
If you are interested in presenting, please email your presentation proposal to mark.friesen@ufv.ca and cmiller@tru.ca.
Please include in your application to present:
- presentation title
- presentation format
- presenter bio and photo
- a brief description of your presentation
· any room or space requirements
Host Institution: Thompson Rivers University
Thompson Rivers University is located at 805 TRU Way, Kamloops BC. You can enter the campus from McGill Road, and the East Gate and Campus Drive entrances will both take you to pay parking close-ish to the Old Main building, where most of the conference sessions are located.
Here is a campus map with parking options: (you would want to economy, general and/or visitor parking). If you have an electric vehicle, they are marked in yellow on the map. For a clear map that you can zoom in and out on, go to this link: https://www.tru.ca/transportation/parking.html
Host City: Kamloops, BC
Kamloops and TRU are situated on the unceded and unsurrendered lands of the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc within Secwepemcúl’ecw, the traditional territory of the Secwépemc people. We acknowledge and give honour to the lands that we live, work, play, and welcome visitors to and the people who have stewarded these lands and resources over millenia.
Kamloops is ideally located in the heart of British Columbia’s sunny Southern Interior and is easily accessed by road, air, and rail.
Kamloops is Canada’s Tournament Capital, and hosts more than 100 tournaments each year at world-class sports facilities such as the Tournament Capital Centre, Kamloops Bike Ranch, etc. Kamloops has 10 championship golf courses and 3 golf courses within 20 miles from Kamloops.
There are lots of fun indoor and outdoor family activities, including:
- A visit to the BC Wildlife Park
- A walk around MacArthur Island Park (with a stop for minigolf?)
- A stroll along the river by sandy beaches, playgrounds and pickleball courts at Riverside Park
- A chance to pat goats and feed ducks at the Little Farmers Petting Zoo
- A sciencey good time at the Big Little Science Centre
- Go for a dip, ride the slides, shoot some hoops, or run the track at the Canada Games Aquatic Centre, which is adjacent to campus
- Browse the Kamloops Art Gallery and TNRD Library
- Get some fun local nibbles at the Yew Street Food Hall
- Visit some of the local breweries that Kamloops is known for:
