2026 TAPHE - Waves of Wellness

This session is intended for the tasks of ONLY the planning and hosting team(s) of the Professional Association.

Join Astrid Kendrick, PhD for a full day session exploring teacher burnout and compassion fatigue. Through research informed strategies and practical tools, educators will gain insights into recognizing the signs of chronic stress, building resilience, setting boundaries, and developing sustainable well-being practices. This workshop offers actionable takeaways to support both personal wellness and a healthier school community.

Ever since the first disc golf basket was planted in Atlantic Canada in 2015 our region has been on the path of steady growth.  In just over a decade we have gone from 1 course to 101 courses, we have run 5 National Championships (the most anywhere in the country) and well over 300 official PDGA events.  We have sent players to World Championships and had competitors from all over the world compete on our soil.  Despite all the success our region has had there has always been one area that lagged behind; having a formal and robust junior division led by knowledgeable coaches.  This year we aim to change that by offering the first ever official teacher training course led by Flickline Disc Golf and the internationally acclaimed Uplay Disc Golf.

Our training program aims to give teachers the knowledge and support they need to teach the basics of disc golf form and play in a formalized teaching package.  This program has been vetted by professional players and the Professional Disc Golf Association alike.  It has been delivered to students in 40 countries and has made a positive impact on teachers everywhere it has been adopted.  Our program will be extra special as 3 of the world's top 20 professional players will be on site to deliver and train our teachers in person.  

On Friday, Oct 23 at 8: 30 am as a part of the TAPHE conference a select group of teachers will be welcomed to Ski Wentworth and the Wentworth Disc Golf Centre in Northern Nova Scotia to learn the ins and outs of disc golf training.  They will be given lesson plans, demonstrations, and have access to some of the world's most knowledgeable disc golf teachers.  This is a very unique opportunity that is the first of its kind in Canada.  Our program is designed to give teachers all the tools they need to have students properly learn the game of disc golf and to acquire the tools needed to compete in PDGA competitions.  

We will spend roughly 90 minutes in the classroom, followed by 90 minutes of outside instruction.  We will then break for lunch.  At 1pm teachers will then be a part of a skills workshop and demonstration where  they will get to try out some of their skills with the touring pros and have an interactive Q and A..  It will give an up close view of what disc golf looks like at the highest level. Their day will conclude at 2:45.

Once teachers have received this training our goal is to help them run at least 10 weeks of organized disc golf play for their students on local disc golf courses.  Next spring we will once again host a high school doubles event on the mountain and our goal is to create a robust junior division throughout the region which eventually leads to at least one student competing at a World Championship.

After the training is complete Flickline disc golf will offer ongoing support with teacher videos, Q & A’s, and long term development opportunities.  In order to see the game thrive in our area we know a well organized jr program filled with certified coaches is the best way to start.  This is a very rare opportunity that is the first of its kind in Canada.  The cost is $200 per person, but half of that will be provided by Flickline Disc Golf.

Teachers should include the school they teach at, their personal experience in disc golf (don’t worry if you don’t have any) and any food restrictions they might have.

For those of you who are interested, the pro players that will be joining us are Simon Lizotte, Casey White, Ella Hansen, and Zoe Andyke.  We strongly encourage you to look them up so you can better understand just how remarkable this opportunity is.  

Where have physical education, health education, and health promoting schools come from, what matters today, and where might we be heading? This keynote looks to the past to help make sense of changes shaping our field from physical literacy, meaningful physical education to health literacy, well-being, inclusion, technology and AI.  Along the way, we’ll consider what remains fundamental, what is changing and what the trends might mean for our profession, our schools and the young people we teach.

Kamryn Robichaud This session will be focused on teaching Acrobatic Dance skills & progressions in Phys. Ed. Teachers will learn how to teach the various skills & progressions safely and how to help all kids feel successful when trying Acro for the first time!

Sharon Martin Boccia is a Parasport that can be played by anyone with or without a physical disability or mobility challenge. It is played recreationally and competitively. Boccia is a co-ed sport, it can be played one on one, in teams of three, or in pairs. Boccia is played indoors, on a court that is similar in size to a badminton court. Boccia can be played by everyone. What to expect from our session: Learn how to play Boccia with our experienced volunteers, try out the equipment and have a great time!

Ms. Kaitlyn Murray In this interactive session, participants will engage in ways to meaningfully include adolescent identifying female students more effectively in a Physical Education setting. Presenters will bring in current research, best practices and hands on experiences to help participants remove barriers in their Physical Education settings. Participants will be able to implement strategies immediately following this session to better meet the needs of their female identifying students.

Zachary Dickson This presentation will give PE teachers a base level understanding of what Parasports are, how they can be integrated into Phys Ed curriculums, and what resources are available to them to offer more accessible and inclusive learning environments moving forward.

Matt Smith Rookie Rugby brings non-contact flag rugby into elementary and middle school PE. This fun, inclusive program builds physical literacy, teamwork, and confidence through simple, game-based activities that align with curriculum outcomes and make rugby easy for any teacher to deliver.

Ms. Sandra LeBlanc Tims Classrooms offers a high quality, evidence-based program free of charge, to schools and community groups that serve youth from under-resourced and disadvantaged neighbourhoods. The program focuses on youth leadership and prosocial skill development and is intended for students, in grades 5 and 6. * The program is typically offered over several sessions but can be customized to meet school/community group needs. Tims Classrooms was intentionally designed around the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) framework. This framework was specifically built to support the school and classroom environment.

Mr Kevin Holland Barrington Municipal High School has started an interactive program that focuses on financial literacy and budgeting skills called “Reality Check”. All students in Grade 10 participate in the activity during early June as a complement to the financial literacy unit. The program takes approximately 2 hours during the afternoon of a regular school day. In “Realty Check”, each student will be randomly assigned a career, income and family status. They will also be given a monthly budget sheet to record their purchases throughout the event. Students then must visit a series of 18 stations to purchase household services/items until their budget is completed.

Erin Carter In this interactive session, focused on collaboration and discussion, we will share how our student chapter at StFX is building leadership skills and connections, along with examples from our experiences. Participants will engage in team-building activities that model the importance of building relationships and communication. They will also take part in small-group discussions to share any programs within their own schools that promote student leadership or student-led opportunities, as well as explore ideas that could be implemented. Participants will leave with ideas and strategies to support student leadership and create meaningful opportunities for students to take on active roles within their schools.

Sarah Reicker Boys today face increasing pressures from social media, online influencers, peer expectations, and harmful messages about masculinity that can impact their mental health, relationships, and sense of self. This session explores how schools can support healthy masculinity through evidence-informed approaches that foster emotional literacy, empathy, resilience, and respectful relationships. Participants will learn about Guys Work, a ten-week program that provides boys with a safe space to explore identity, emotions, mental health, media influences, consent, and social pressures while developing practical skills for wellbeing and positive connection.

Jillian MacNutt Incorporating music activities into your program can go way beyond your Dance unit. Music activities help students focus on a skill, automate before adding the next step, and monitor their part within the rest of the group, giving everyone something to do. This presentation will include activities appropriate for P-9 students. Adaptations and extensions provided. Come ready to have FUN and move!

Ani Bravo A practical guide for teachers to promote healthy habits while balancing life and teaching workload. Tips and tricks to create routines, productivity and keep motivation in their journey to a healthy lifestyle to avoid body burnout and promote longevity.

Jenn Moriarty Teaching in 2026 is not for the faint of heart. We will walk through what the speed bumps of life feel like and the tools we have to help us brace for impact. And when the impact feels bigger than we expected, what we can do not just to survive but thrive.

Linda Gallagher Join colleagues for a relaxing and engaging craft experience that highlights the important role leisure plays in supporting wellbeing. Participants will leave with both a finished creation and practical ideas for incorporating restorative leisure activities into their lives.

Kathryn Rand & Michael Janczyszyn CardiacCrash is an interactive, gamified CPR and AED learning experience led by a teacher or facilitator. It is designed to help students overcome their fear and reluctance to take action when they see someone experiencing a cardiac arrest. Students engage with a film that portrays an emotional cardiac arrest scenario, meant to reflect a true-to-life experience. Students participate in a team challenge where points are won by answering questions and putting learning to practice during hands-only CPR sessions. https://cardiaccrash.ca/pages/what-is-cardiaccrash.

Jonathan Young from Kitchen Party Cycles Build your confidence and keep your wheels rolling with this practical bike maintenance session. Participants will learn basic bicycle care and repair skills, including safety checks, tire inflation, fixing a flat, brake adjustments, and routine maintenance. Whether you are supporting a school cycling program or simply looking to expand your knowledge, this hands-on session will provide the skills and confidence needed to keep bikes safe, functional, and ready for the road or trail.

Presented by Ski Martock and Cape Smokey, learn step-by-step how to organize a ski or snowboarding trip for your students and leave with a complete plan containing everything you need to hit the slopes. 

Megan Conroy Teachers would be given some basic Smashball Info, then we would learn by doing - leading the participants through some Smashball Activities.

Sharon Martin Boccia is a Parasport that can be played by anyone with or without a physical disability or mobility challenge. It is played recreationally and competitively. Boccia is a co-ed sport, it can be played one on one, in teams of three, or in pairs. Boccia is played indoors, on a court that is similar in size to a badminton court. Boccia can be played by everyone. What to expect from our session: Learn how to play Boccia with our experienced volunteers, try out the equipment and have a great time!

Nicole Spinney This presentation explores how integrating physical education with math and French enhances student engagement and learning. Through movement-based activities and games, students build numeracy and language skills while staying active, making lessons more interactive, meaningful and memorable across subjects.

Zachary Dickson This presentation will give PE teachers a base level understanding of what Parasports are, how they can be integrated into Phys Ed curriculums, and what resources are available to them to offer more accessible and inclusive learning environments moving forward.

Ms Remi Myers With a focus on giving educators the tools and experience to confidently integrate rugby into their PE curriculum, Rugby Nova Scotia will guide you through an introductory school session to show how easy it can be.

Ms. Sandra LeBlanc Tims Classrooms offers a high quality, evidence-based program free of charge, to schools and community groups that serve youth from under-resourced and disadvantaged neighbourhoods. The program focuses on youth leadership and prosocial skill development and is intended for students, in grades 5 and 6. * The program is typically offered over several sessions but can be customized to meet school/community group needs. Tims Classrooms was intentionally designed around the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) framework. This framework was specifically built to support the school and classroom environment.

Mr Kevin Holland Barrington Municipal High School has started an interactive program that focuses on financial literacy and budgeting skills called “Reality Check”. All students in Grade 10 participate in the activity during early June as a complement to the financial literacy unit. The program takes approximately 2 hours during the afternoon of a regular school day. In “Realty Check”, each student will be randomly assigned a career, income and family status. They will also be given a monthly budget sheet to record their purchases throughout the event. Students then must visit a series of 18 stations to purchase household services/items until their budget is completed.

Erin Carter In this interactive session, focused on collaboration and discussion, we will share how our student chapter at StFX is building leadership skills and connections, along with examples from our experiences. Participants will engage in team-building activities that model the importance of building relationships and communication. They will also take part in small-group discussions to share any programs within their own schools that promote student leadership or student-led opportunities, as well as explore ideas that could be implemented. Participants will leave with ideas and strategies to support student leadership and create meaningful opportunities for students to take on active roles within their schools.

Sarah Reicker Boys today face increasing pressures from social media, online influencers, peer expectations, and harmful messages about masculinity that can impact their mental health, relationships, and sense of self. This session explores how schools can support healthy masculinity through evidence-informed approaches that foster emotional literacy, empathy, resilience, and respectful relationships. Participants will learn about Guys Work, a ten-week program that provides boys with a safe space to explore identity, emotions, mental health, media influences, consent, and social pressures while developing practical skills for wellbeing and positive connection.

Jillian MacNutt Incorporating music activities into your program can go way beyond your Dance unit. Music activities help students focus on a skill, automate before adding the next step, and monitor their part within the rest of the group, giving everyone something to do. This presentation will include activities appropriate for P-9 students. Adaptations and extensions provided. Come ready to have FUN and move!

Ani Bravo A practical guide for teachers to promote healthy habits while balancing life and teaching workload. Tips and tricks to create routines, productivity and keep motivation in their journey to a healthy lifestyle to avoid body burnout and promote longevity.

Jenn Moriarty Teaching in 2026 is not for the faint of heart. We will walk through what the speed bumps of life feel like and the tools we have to help us brace for impact. And when the impact feels bigger than we expected, what we can do not just to survive but thrive.

Linda Gallagher Join colleagues for a relaxing and engaging craft experience that highlights the important role leisure plays in supporting wellbeing. Participants will leave with both a finished creation and practical ideas for incorporating restorative leisure activities into their lives.

Joe Bishara RCT & Lori Munro-Sigfridson This professional development session is designed to support educator wellbeing through gentle yoga-based movement, mindfulness practices, and crystal singing bowl sound therapy. Participants will engage in accessible movement, breath awareness, and guided relaxation activities that promote stress reduction, emotional regulation, self-awareness, and overall wellbeing.

Jonathan Young from Kitchen Party Cycles Build your confidence and keep your wheels rolling with this practical bike maintenance session. Participants will learn basic bicycle care and repair skills, including safety checks, tire inflation, fixing a flat, brake adjustments, and routine maintenance. Whether you are supporting a school cycling program or simply looking to expand your knowledge, this hands-on session will provide the skills and confidence needed to keep bikes safe, functional, and ready for the road or trail.

Ready to cut down on planning and get back to moving? Join a P.E. and Technology  teacher to discover how custom Gemini "Gems" can automate lesson planning, streamline assessments, and instantly build adaptations or individual plans. Ride the AI wave to bridge the gap between curriculum outcomes and active student success! Crafting Custom Gemini Gems for Planning, Adaptations, and Assessment in Physical Education.

Josh Burke

Presented by Ski Martock and Cape Smokey, learn step-by-step how to organize a ski or snowboarding trip for your students and leave with a complete plan containing everything you need to hit the slopes. 

Presented by Ski Martock and Cape Smokey, learn step-by-step how to organize a ski or snowboarding trip for your students and leave with a complete plan containing everything you need to hit the slopes. 

Ty Riddick How can we create more meaningful experiences in Physical Education? Participants will engage with both the theoretical and practical applications of the Meaningful PE framework through a progression of zone games. The MPE framework is student-centered and adaptable to your context. Whether you are dipping your toe into MPE, or ready to take the plunge, this session is for you

Brian DeMone This session is all about movement, laughter, and connection. With Brian’s guidance, you’ll dive into the colorful world of Omnikin, where oversized balls, fast-paced action, and creative games come together to build teamwork, fairness, and fun. From energetic classics, you’ll discover how easy it is to get every child involved.

Heather Beaton We will provide information on youth track and field and practical applications to include children with physical disabilities in track and field programming

Dr. Emily Bremer This presentation will introduce the quality participation framework including the six building blocks of autonomy, belongingness, challenge, engagement, mastery, and meaning. We will provide an interactive opportunity for educators to co-develop strategies on how to support the quality participation experiences of their students experiencing disability within physical activity settings. We will also introduce positive behavioural approaches that can help to facilitate these experiences.

Ms. Jaz Barnett Are you thinking about ways to get your students to be more active during the school day? Are you wondering if your students want to move more in classes, intramurals, after school programs, or at recess? Join us for this session where participants will take part in a walk and talk regarding student engagement and physical activity. Participants will get to hear about best practices, research, and strategies on ways to get your student voices heard at school in a meaningful way. Come get some physical activity with us as we address this issue.

Ms Remi Myers With a focus on giving educators the tools and experience to confidently integrate rugby into their PE curriculum, Rugby Nova Scotia will guide you through an introductory school session to show how easy it can be.

Jace Ferguson Join us to explore Passport for Life, PHE Canada’s powerful resource for educators. Discover practical tools, sound pedagogical practices, ready-to-use resources, and other supports that can make planning easier, enhance instruction, and bring meaningful learning to life in your daily practice.

Ryan Fahey We will explore taking a student-centered design process when designing healthy school initiatives and provide an overview of student-led initiatives happening across Canada. Connecting with the Healthy School Standards and wise practices for youth engagement, we will storify the experiences from youth themselves while surfacing strategies and resources for engaging youth in meaningful ways.

Dr. Mickey Jutras This session is designed to support physical education teachers with little or no wrestling experience. The session will cover important safety considerations and introduce developmentally appropriate, safe, and engaging games to help teachers confidently introduce wrestling into their programs.

Join Jocelyn Podolsky from the Healthy Tomorrow Foundation to engage in an active session outlining the Kids Run Club Program and how it can apply in your school community.

Julien Boudreau This presentation explores the dual role of a Physical Education teacher as both an educator and a coach, highlighting how these responsibilities complement one another while serving different purposes. Drawing on 20 years of experience coaching high school hockey, practical examples of activities and strategies will be shared, with a strong emphasis on the importance of the student-athlete. Participants will also have opportunities for discussion, allowing them to reflect, ask questions, and connect the concepts to their own teaching or coaching experiences.

Misty James Schools hold unique capacity to support physical activity, wellness, and belonging for students and families. Children spend a large portion of their day sedentary, and most meaningful activity occurs after school. Families seek affordable, accessible recreation, but urban areas face space-cost barriers while rural settings lack adequate facilities. Partnerships between schools, RCE’s and Municipal Recreation to remove barriers to community use of school spaces, can create sustainable hubs for wellness, recreation, and physical activity that boost student outcomes, strengthen school-community relationships, and contribute to healthier, more connected communities.

The presentation will explore the various programs available through the NSTU that may help NSTU members achieve their personal wellness goals.
Presented by NSTU Executive Staff Officer, Paul Boudreau.

Amanda McKay Take a break from the busy pace of the day and experience the benefits of creativity for personal wellbeing. In this hands-on session, participants will create their own gemstone bracelet while exploring the role of leisure, mindfulness, and self-care in supporting overall wellness. This relaxing and engaging activity offers an opportunity to connect, reflect, and leave with a meaningful reminder of the importance of making time for personal wellbeing.

Kathryn Rand & Michael Janczyszyn CardiacCrash is an interactive, gamified CPR and AED learning experience led by a teacher or facilitator. It is designed to help students overcome their fear and reluctance to take action when they see someone experiencing a cardiac arrest. Students engage with a film that portrays an emotional cardiac arrest scenario, meant to reflect a true-to-life experience. Students participate in a team challenge where points are won by answering questions and putting learning to practice during hands-only CPR sessions. https://cardiaccrash.ca/pages/what-is-cardiaccrash.

Ty Riddick How can we create more meaningful experiences in Physical Education? Participants will engage with both the theoretical and practical applications of the Meaningful PE framework through a progression of zone games. The MPE framework is student-centered and adaptable to your context. Whether you are dipping your toe into MPE, or ready to take the plunge, this session is for you

Brian DeMone This session is all about movement, laughter, and connection. With Brian’s guidance, you’ll dive into the colorful world of Omnikin, where oversized balls, fast-paced action, and creative games come together to build teamwork, fairness, and fun. From energetic classics, you’ll discover how easy it is to get every child involved.

Dr. Shannon Kell This session will explore team teaching in the physical education (PE) setting and its implications for teachers, learners, pre-service teachers, and teacher education physical education (PETE) programs as well as teacher wellness and retention. PE specialists who are implementing team teaching in a grade 5-8 school will share their learnings, collaboration processes, and challenges of a full year using the model. This pilot is the start of a case study research project collaboration between the school and the StFX B.Ed program. Participants of the session can contribute ideas, share experiences, and ask questions to inform their own practice.

Dr. Emily Bremer This presentation will introduce the quality participation framework including the six building blocks of autonomy, belongingness, challenge, engagement, mastery, and meaning. We will provide an interactive opportunity for educators to co-develop strategies on how to support the quality participation experiences of their students experiencing disability within physical activity settings. We will also introduce positive behavioural approaches that can help to facilitate these experiences.

Ms Remi Myers With a focus on giving educators the tools and experience to confidently integrate rugby into their PE curriculum, Rugby Nova Scotia will guide you through an introductory school session to show how easy it can be.

Ryan Fahey We will explore taking a student-centered design process when designing healthy school initiatives and provide an overview of student-led initiatives happening across Canada. Connecting with the Healthy School Standards and wise practices for youth engagement, we will storify the experiences from youth themselves while surfacing strategies and resources for engaging youth in meaningful ways.

Dr. Mickey Jutras This session is designed to support physical education teachers with little or no wrestling experience. The session will cover important safety considerations and introduce developmentally appropriate, safe, and engaging games to help teachers confidently introduce wrestling into their programs.

Join Jocelyn Podolsky from the Healthy Tomorrow Foundation to engage in an active session outlining the Kids Run Club Program and how it can apply in your school community.

In today’s digital world, helping students navigate online spaces safely is an essential part of health education. This session will explore current issues related to internet safety, digital citizenship, online relationships, privacy, cyberbullying, and healthy technology use. Participants will gain practical strategies, resources, and classroom-ready approaches to support students in making informed, responsible, and safe decisions online while promoting their overall wellbeing and digital resilience.

Julien Boudreau This presentation explores the dual role of a Physical Education teacher as both an educator and a coach, highlighting how these responsibilities complement one another while serving different purposes. Drawing on 20 years of experience coaching high school hockey, practical examples of activities and strategies will be shared, with a strong emphasis on the importance of the student-athlete. Participants will also have opportunities for discussion, allowing them to reflect, ask questions, and connect the concepts to their own teaching or coaching experiences.

Misty James Schools hold unique capacity to support physical activity, wellness, and belonging for students and families. Children spend a large portion of their day sedentary, and most meaningful activity occurs after school. Families seek affordable, accessible recreation, but urban areas face space-cost barriers while rural settings lack adequate facilities. Partnerships between schools, RCE’s and Municipal Recreation to remove barriers to community use of school spaces, can create sustainable hubs for wellness, recreation, and physical activity that boost student outcomes, strengthen school-community relationships, and contribute to healthier, more connected communities.

The presentation will explore the various programs available through the NSTU that may help NSTU members achieve their personal wellness goals.
Presented by NSTU Executive Staff Officer, Paul Boudreau.

Amanda McKay Explore a fun, hands-on activity that can spark meaningful conversations about personal hygiene, self-care, and overall wellbeing. In this session, participants will create a simple sugar scrub while discussing ways to integrate practical health education experiences into the classroom. Learn how this engaging activity can be used to support lessons on personal hygiene, healthy habits, and self-care while encouraging student participation, discussion, and skill development.

Joe Bishara RCT & Lori Munro-Sigfridson This professional development session is designed to support educator wellbeing through gentle yoga-based movement, mindfulness practices, and crystal singing bowl sound therapy. Participants will engage in accessible movement, breath awareness, and guided relaxation activities that promote stress reduction, emotional regulation, self-awareness, and overall wellbeing.