2026 NSSCA - Renewing the Work: Motivation, Resilience & Counseling Practice
Conference Schedule
8-9am Opening Speaker - Tia Upshaw
9-10:30am Keynote: Dr. Shelley McMain
10:30-11am Break
11-12:30pm Dr. Shelley McMain (cont’d)
12:30-1:45pm **Lunch (AGM)
1:45-3:15pm Dr. Shelley McMain
**Pizza will be provided for AGM Attendees only
Conference Dates
October 23, 2026 8:00 AM — October 23, 2026 3:15 PM
Registration
Opens: September 17, 2026 7:00 AM
Closes: October 9, 2026 11:59 PM
Limit: 750 registrants
Fees
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| NSTU Members | $110.00 |
| Substitutes | $80.00 |
| Pre-Service Teachers | $80.00 |
| Retirees | $80.00 |
| Affiliate/Other | $80.00 |
Payment Methods: Online
Sessions and Workshops
Professional Association Executive and Volunteer Conference Day Tasks
October 23, 2026 8:00 AM — October 23, 2026 4:00 PM
This session is intended for the tasks of ONLY the planning and hosting team(s) of the Professional Association.
Opening Speaker: Tia Upshaw
October 23, 2026 8:00 AM — October 23, 2026 9:00 AM
The work of supporting, advocating for, and pouring into others is deeply meaningful, but it can also be emotionally heavy and mentally demanding. School counsellors and helping professionals often spend so much time carrying the needs of others that they forget to pause and refill themselves.
In this powerful and engaging presentation, Tia Upshaw shares her journey through adversity, resilience, and entrepreneurship while creating space for participants to reconnect with their purpose and remember why they first entered this work. Through lived experience, storytelling, practical reflection, and honest conversations, attendees will be reminded that their work matters, their impact is lasting, and taking care of themselves is not optional.
Participants will leave feeling renewed, motivated, and equipped with a deeper understanding of how resilience is built, sustained, and protected while serving others.
Participants will walk away with:
- A renewed connection to their purpose and "why"
- Practical strategies for navigating emotionally demanding work
- Tools for sustaining resilience and preventing burnout
- A reminder of the lasting impact they make, even when they cannot immediately see it
Keynote: Dr. Shelley McMain
October 23, 2026 9:00 AM — October 23, 2026 3:15 PM
Dr. Shelley McMain’s keynote for the day will be a refresher of Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT) and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) skills, as well as tips and strategies for working with clients with Borderline Personality Disorder.