Name: Keynote - Bubbling Up
Start: 2026-04-21T09:00:00-0600
End: 2026-04-21T10:15:00-0600

This is the Sched site for the uLead 2026.

Welcome to uLead 2026. We are thrilled you will be joining us at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel for our annual school leadership conference hosted by the Council for School Leadership of The Alberta Teachers’ Association.

If you have any questions during the event, we will have uLead team members throughout the venue wearing red and black plaid. The registration desk will also have our team available throughout the conference. This table can be found just outside of the Van Horne Ballroom, where all of our keynote presentations are taking place.

If you need a digital map of the facilities, you can click here

In order for our team to best determine room allocations for breakout sessions would ask that delegates log in (top right corner of this page) and select sessions that they are interested in attending.

Finally, if you are interested in earning University credits for attending uLead, please visit the uLead website

Keynote - Bubbling Up

Tuesday April 21, 2026 9:00am - 10:15am MDT

Van Horne Ballroom (Conference Centre)

Dr. Sean Lessard shares stories from a life spent working with young people in and beyond school communities. Bubbling Up, a reflection on the feeling of possibility, identity, and belief that lives inside us, serves as the opening for a broader conversation about how we support youth.
Drawing from his experience as a youth worker, teacher, counsellor, administrator, and professor, Dr. Lessard explores his approach to working alongside young people through community, relationship, and what he describes as a pedagogy of tea. He reflects on the importance of presence, trust, and consistently showing up for youth - academically, socially, and emotionally.
With honesty, warmth, and humour, Dr. Lessard highlights the role educators and leaders play as advocates and allies, and the impact of holding an unwavering belief in young people, even when they struggle to find their voice.
Bubbling Up is both a reflection and a call to action, reminding us that when youth are supported through relationship and community, powerful things can rise to the surface

Speakers

Sean Lessard

Professor of Indigenous Education and Core Studies, University of Alberta

Dr Sean Lessard is from Montreal Lake Cree Nation he is a former youth worker, teacher and counsellor. He is currently a Full Professor at the University of Alberta in the Faculty of Education. He is an award winning researcher, writer and speaks internationally about his approach... Read More →

Tuesday April 21, 2026 9:00am - 10:15am MDT
Van Horne Ballroom (Conference Centre)

Keynote

uLead2026 - The Summit of Educational Leadership

Sean Lessard

Get help with the event

uLead2026 - The Summit of Educational Leadership

Sean Lessard

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