Events

Colette Squires and Associates provide customized training, workshops, and other events. Contact us!

We’ll help you create an event that will meet your needs. We can also provide webinars, coaching and training online.

The following are examples of training offered prior to the Covid-19 shutdown:

BC Christian Educators Conference

Columbia Bible College, BC, March 7, 2020
Are the kids alright? The effects of trauma and loss on children and youth.

Students today face many life difficulties, including deaths of family members or school friends, and other significant stresses when families break down or face serious struggles. This session provided insight into how students are affected by trauma and loss, and how educational assistants can play a significant role in helping students navigate these challenges in the most troubling of times. Trauma-informed practice is an important competency for today’s educators. This session combined understanding from a theoretical and a practical perspective, with real life stories to bring the skills to life.

Local Government Programs

Capilano University: North Vancouver, BC, November 2019
Effective Leadership in Government

This 3-hour session with students in the Local Government program combined lecture with interactive discussions and activities to explore what it means to have a strong ethical compass when working in government, and what effective leadership looks like. The session was co-led by Dr. Darryl Plecas (who was Speaker of the BC Legislature at that time) and Colette Squires, drawing on the research findings from their book, The Essentials of Leadership in Government: Understanding the Basics.

Queen Elizabeth Elementary School

New Westminster, BC, May 2019
Restorative Justice in School Communities and Child Today, Leader Tomorrow: Building Moral Character and Emotional Intelligence in Children

These two workshops were combined to provide a one-day interactive and engaging Professional Development opportunity for the staff at this elementary school.

Involve Symposium

City of Abbotsford, November 2018
Communicating through Conflict and From Passion to Proof: the Power of Program Evaluation (with guest speaker Dr. Darryl Plecas)

The City of Abbotsford hosted the Involve Symposium to provide a wide array of free professional development workshops to not-for-profit agencies and community organizations from the Abbotsford area. We were pleased to provide two different workshops to support success in our community.

Adult and Teen Challenge of Central Canada

Winnipeg, Manitoba, October 2018
From Passion to Proof: the Power of Program Evaluation

After the success of the Jan 2018 workshop in BC, the Central Canada branch of ATC included this one-day workshop in their provincial staff retreat to train organizational leaders in expanding their mechanisms for internal program evaluation, including the development of a logic model. This workshop is designed to promote evidence-based approaches for work in the not-for-profit sector, which increases credibility and financial support from funders.

Christ the King Church

Snohomish, Washington, October 2018
The Reconciliation Toolkit

This faith community wanted to build increased internal capacity for excellence in communication, problem-solving, conflict resolution and peacemaking within their congregation. This interactive workshop provided training in communication skills, restorative practices, understanding anger and strong emotions, skill-building for conflict resolution and peace-making, and learning about our natural conflict styles. Designed to harmonize with their spiritual values, this workshop provided opportunities for roleplay work, group activities, and personal reflection to increase skills and confidence in practising what was learned.

Artisan Church

Vancouver, October 2018
Child Today, Leader Tomorrow: Building Moral Character and Emotional Intelligence in Children

The Children’s Ministry leadership team wanted to provide support to parents and their families though an engaging learning opportunity.

This interactive, 3-hour workshop for parents and staff explored the cognitive development of moral reasoning and principled thinking in children and how to foster emotional intelligence, empathy, compassion and collaboration to help their children develop into compassionate, caring, and principled adults.

Cornerstone Christian School

Abbotsford, January 2018
Restorative Justice in School Communities

A full day training session that covered restorative practices in schools, trauma-informed approaches, and how implementing restorative approaches helps build empathy and emotional intelligence in children.

Adult and Teen Challenge BC

January 2018
From Passion to Proof: the Power of Program Evaluation

A one-day workshop to train ATC’s organizational leaders in building effective mechanisms for internal program evaluation, including the development of a logic model. Designed to promote evidence-based approaches for work in the not-for-profit sector, which increases credibility and financial support from funders.

InspireEd Convention

October 2017
For independent school educators from British Columbia and Washington State

Building Strength: a trauma-informed perspective on bullying and inner resilience

Helping children deal with conflict and bullying is a hot topic in schools today. This workshop explores how traumatic experiences influence how children experience conflict and bullying, and explores ways parents and teachers can foster resilience, coping skills, and inner strength. Strategies that foster safe, caring, and respectful school communities create the best antidote to bullying, by increasing protective factors and reducing risks through a trauma-informed and restorative approach.

Growing great kids through restorative practices

The practices of restorative justice are transforming not just our legal system but also our schools. Discover how restorative practices can help you create respectful, safe, caring homes and classrooms in which children are encouraged to take responsibility for their actions, have empathy and respect for others, and how to listen and forgive.

City of Surrey Healthy Communities Volunteer Training

2015-2016

Repeat offerings in “Communicating Through Conflict” (3 hrs)

Designed to strengthen our interactions with co-workers, the public, and those in our personal lives, this interactive, skill-building workshop covers:

why conflict occurs
about your own style in conflict, and the styles of others
how to listen and communicate effectively when conflicts arise
how anger and other strong emotions affect our ability to resolve conflicts
to identify triggers, and use self-talk to help you manage yourself in a conflict
how to make requests in a positive, assertive way

Columbia Bible College Annual Educators Conference

2014 - 2017

Child Today, Leader Tomorrow: Building moral character and emotional intelligence in our children

At the heart of every good leader is a principled, ethical core, enhanced by emotional intelligence and people skills. This seminar explores the cognitive development of moral reasoning and principled thinking in children and how to foster emotional intelligence, empathy, compassion and collaboration to help children today become the leaders of tomorrow.

Building Strength: a trauma-informed perspective on bullying and inner resilience

Growing great kids through restorative practices

For the Not-For-Profit Sector

Offered to individual organizations for in-service training, and to large groups from various organizations

From Passion to Proof: The Power of Program Evaluation (7 Hours)

Funders, stakeholders, and government need assurance that not-for-profit and charitable programs really deliver. Join us for an interactive workshop that will help you design your programs to be evidence-based, with built-in tools for ongoing program evaluation. Discover how you can translate your values and passion into measurable results! (includes training manual/workbook)

Has also included:

“Funding Proposals: What Government is Looking For”

from Special Guest: MLA Dr. Darryl Plecas for Abbotsford South, former RCMP Research Chair and Director of the UFV Centre for Public Safety and Criminal Justice Research.

The Spirit Bear Centre

Abbotsford, BC, 2011
“The Spirit of Restorative Justice”

Restorative justice training for youth and youth workers, designed from an Aboriginal perspective. Includes comprehensive manual for participants.
Content includes:

understanding restorative justice
understanding your own beliefs and conflict style
learning communication tools and strategies that support a restorative mindset
how to run classroom or group circles
gaining a deeper understanding of the needs of victims, offenders, and the dynamics of shame
restorative justice interventions for serious harms
Restorative justice interventions for schools or other child/youth-focused communities

Restorative Justice and Processes of Forgiveness

2011 – 2017
Delivered annually to M.A. Counselling Students at TWU ACTS Seminary

Content includes:

What is Restorative Justice?
Needs of victims
Processes of reconciliation
How and why Restorative Justice can help people to forgive
Impact of Restorative Justice for societal change