I’m honoured to invite you to participate in Canada’s 11th Canadian EdTech Leadership Summit —“The Future of Learning in Crisis and Beyond.”  

It’s never been a more critical period in our history to gather with national, international and local thought leaders and key community stakeholders to come together to reflect, explore, and envision solving some of the most complex challenges in educating our future leaders due to COVID-19.

I’m thrilled to share that Tom Vander Ark, CEO, Getting SMART along with John Baker, CEO, D2L and Jeremy Hedges, founder, The Canadian Shield and Inksmith will be keynoting at our 11th Canadian EdTech Leadership Summit–The Future of Learning in Crisis and Beyond Task Force Thursday, October 29th, (Online delivery).
I’m further excited to share our Cross Canada Checkup  panel is being finalized as we speak and will include notable global education thought leaders including; Dr. Andy Hargreaves, Dr. Michael Fullan, Dr. Mario Chaisson, to name a few exceptionally visionary experts. And not to be missed, the extraordinary, Katina Papulkus, Dell’s Canadian education strategist and former TDSB teacher leader always inspires us with her passion and insight.

This year, we’re pleased to walk the digital talk and offer a virtual conference online. 

Please don’t hesitate to drop me an email robert@mindsharelearning.com or call me at, 416-569-2106 to discuss how we can partner with you to maximize you and your team’s participation in our national EdTech Innovation Summit.

Until next time, keep the digital learning curve steep!

Best,

Robert Martellacci – M.A. EdTech

Conference Chair

Founder and President, MindShare Learning Technology™

Delegate & Presenter Testimonials

“The Mindshare Learning Ed Tech Summit brings together world class leaders in enhancing learning through cutting edge educational research and resources supported by technology.”

— Patricia Gartland, CEO/Superintendent School District No. 43 (Coquitlam), Co-Chair/Host, 10th Canadian EdTech Summit

 

“Congratulation on another successful event. Loved the lineup of keynote speakers!“

–Peter Singh, Chief Technology Officer, TDSB

“Thank’s to MindShare Learning for another great Canadian EdTech Leadership Summit!”

–Dr. Ron Owston,  Dean Emeritus, York University Faculty of Education

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“Being recognized as a k-12 innovative educator among so many great Canadian teachers is such an a honour! I’m still shocked! I am inspired to continue to keep learning, sharing and teaching! Thank you MindShare Learning.”

— Brian Aspinall, Award Winning Educator, Author and Keynoter

Robert Martellacci – Founder and  Conference Co-Chair 

Robert Martellacci (MA EdTech) is president of MindShare Learning Technology, Canada’s leading EdTech strategy, news & events company he founded in 2001. Mr. Martellacci is also president & co-founder of C21 Canada—Canadians for 21st Century Learning & Innovation.

Mr. Martellacci is a lifelong learner who is committed to connecting business and education to transform learning in the 21st century to support student success. He completed a transformational learning journey as a mature student earning a master’s in educational technology from Pepperdine University in Malibu, California which inspired the creation of the MindShare Learning Report—Canada’s Learning & Technology eMagazine.

Mr. Martellacci has over 25 years of expertise and thought leadership in education as a former university administrator at York University; he also launched The Learning Company School Division for Kevin O’Leary which was the catalyst to forming his start-up MindShare Learning following the Mattel acquisition.

One of Martellacci’s signature slogans, “until next time, keep the learning curve steep.”

Peter Singh –  Executive Officer – IT Services TDSB

Peter brings 23+ years of K-12 sector technology know-how to his CTO portfolio. He has been at the forefront of bringing innovative technologies to the Toronto District School Board. He’s a practitioner of emotional intelligence who is spearheading the TDSB “Information Technology Services” team from a digital era to Quantum Age of Information Technology.

Dilson Rassier –  Dean of Education at McGill

Dilson Rassier is the Dean of the Faculty of Education. Dr. Rassier holds a Canada Research Chair in Muscle Biophysics (Tier 1), and is a Professor in the Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education.

Dr. Rassier’s research interests focus upon muscle physiology and biophysics, with a special interest in the molecular aspects of muscle contraction in health and disease.

Tom Vander Ark –  CEO of  GETTING SMART

Tom Vander Ark is an advocate for innovations in learning. As CEO of Getting Smart, he advises schools, districts, networks, foundations and learning organizations on the path forward. Tom is the author of Getting Smart, Smart Cities That Work for Everyone, Smart Parents, Better Together and The Power of Place. He previously served as the first Executive Director of Education for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and was a public school superintendent in Washington State.

John Baker – President & CEO at D2L

Jeremy Hedges –  CEO of InkSmith an ed-tech company that retooled to manufacture The Canadian Shield face shields to protect healthcare workers!

A born innovator with a passion for helping others, Jeremy Hedges is the Founder and CEO of The Canadian Shield, a company dedicated to saving lives through the production of personal protective equipment (PPE).
Founded in the midst of the COVID-19 global health pandemic, The Canadian Shield is Jeremy’s second entrepreneurial venture. He established InkSmith Education in January 2016 to empower students around the world with access to STEM-based 21st century technology tools, including 3D printers, robotics kits, laser cutters and virtual reality.
With the outbreak of the novel coronavirus and subsequent PPE shortage, Jeremy quickly adapted InkSmith’s business operations to begin manufacturing and distributing face shields for frontline healthcare workers. Using its state-of-the-art manufacturing automation equipment, Jeremy and the InkSmith team began producing The Canadian Shield en masse and delivering them to healthcare facilities across Canada.
Acknowledging the critical need for PPE to meet Canada’s present and future healthcare demands, Jeremy has transformed The Canadian Shield from a face mask to a full-fledged advanced manufacturing company, with product expansion plans underway.
Agile and resilient, Jeremy embodies the entrepreneurial spirit by embracing social responsibility, fostering innovation and driving economic growth.

Katina Papulkas –  Canadian Education Strategist at Dell

Experienced educator who supports digital transformations across Canada with K12 school districts and post-secondary institutions. The focus is always on learning amplified through technology. Skilled in Technology Enabled Learning, Education Leadership, Assessment, and Personalised Learning.

Steve Brown –  President &Chief Executive Officer, NELSON 

Steve Brown has made his mark in Canada and Internationally by leading organizations through digital transformation. His career spans a diverse mix of industry and technology experience from multi-media entertainment, logistics services, automotive, and now to learning solutions.
Since joining NELSON in September 2016, Steve has transformed the vision for this 104-year-old company by reimagining the role and purpose of a publisher in 2017 and beyond. Introducing a matrix driven view to the management culture, and unifying a K20 student-centric business division is at the core of this shift to a cohesive customer focused structure. He has reframed the organization’s digital competency by instituting a technology department comprised of some the world’s best and brightest talent based in Silicon Beach California. Additionally, over the past 12 months the company has engaged in various M&A activities, including the acquisition of one of its largest competitors, as well as signing numerous agency and partnership deals to ensure NELSON offers a world class portfolio of learning solution and for all its markets.
Steve’s passion and commitment to transforming education, and the student learning experience, continues to fuel the innovation pipeline at NELSON.

Maxim Jean-Louis –   Chief Executive Officer of Contact North | Contact Nord

Maxim Jean-Louis is President – Chief Executive Officer of Contact North | Contact Nord, Ontario’s Distance Education and Training Network, headquartered in Thunder Bay, Ontario.

Maxim worked in senior management roles for over 15 years at Athabasca University in Alberta, Canada’s open university.
He is also a member of the Comité consultatif en matière d’éducation postsecondaire en langue française dans les régions du Centre et du Sud-ouest.
Maxim is a former Chair of the Board of Directors of the World University Service of Canada and of the Optical Regional Advanced Network of Ontario, as well as a past member of Ontario’s Postsecondary Education Quality Assessment Board, and he served as a member of the Canadian Advisory Mission to support the implementation of the South African National Qualifications Framework (NQF) by the South African Qualifications Authority. He also served as President of Collège des Grands Lacs, one of Ontario’s three French-language community colleges.
In 2011, Maxim was appointed Special Advisor to Ontario’s Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities for an Ontario Online Institute, producing a 125-page report and recommendations to the Minister on opportunities for online learning in the province.

Doug W. Currie –   VP Corporate Services, Strategic Development and Stakeholder Relations, Holland College

Former Minister of Health, Education Early Learning and Culture with a demonstrated history of working in the government administration industry. Former school administrator and educator with 20 years experience in public education.Skilled in Coaching, Leadership, Public Speaking, Team Building, and Public Relations. Strong community and social services professional with a Master of Education (MEd) focused in Counseling Psychology from UNB. 

Bonnie Schmidt, –   CM, PhD, FRSC
Founder & President, Let’s Talk Science

Dr. Bonnie Schmidt is the founder and president of Let’s Talk Science, a national education charity that she started in 1991 while completing a PhD in Physiology. Let’s Talk Science helps children and youth fulfill their potential and prepare for their future careers and citizenship role by supporting their learning through science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) engagement. The organization offers a robust suite of programming for youth, educators and volunteers, engaging over 9 million people since its inception.

Bonnie is very interested in education systems change, and during 2016-18, she spearheaded Canada 2067, an ambitious initiative to shape the future of STEM education.

An active contributor to the scientific and education communities, Bonnie currently serves on the Genome Canada Board of Directors and is a member of the Federal Government’s AI Public Awareness Working Group. In 2020 she was a member of the PISA Expert Strategic Visioning Group to the OECD, which set about developing a new vision for the international science test.

Dr. Jordan Tinney –   Superintendent/CEO, Surrey School District

Dr. Jordan Tinney is currently Deputy Superintendent of Surrey Schools, which is British Columbia’s largest school district and one of the largest in Canada. Previously, he has served as Deputy Superintendent of the Vancouver School District and Superintendent/CEO in Comox Valley School District on Vancouver Island. Dr. Tinney’s passions include the uses of technology to support learning and in exploring the complexities of leadership and organizational cultures. A frequent presenter on leadership and culture, as well as technology as a tool for transformation, Jordan enjoys writing on cultural and educational issues in his blog, Ed Praxis – Philosophy in Education. In January 2014, Dr. Tinney will assume his new role as Superintendent/CEO of Surrey Schools.