Parenting Ed-Ventures

Today, Lara sits down with Brenda McGaw , the founder and Executive Director of Shea-Lynn’s Butterfly Effect —a St. Albert–based charity created in memory of her daughter, Shea-Lynn , and devoted to helping young people (and all of us) make safer choices on the road. What began as unimaginable loss has become a powerful mission rooted in one simple message: somebody loves you and wants you home sa...

Today, Lara sits down with Rachel Rogers (she/her) to unpack what ADHD really is—and why so many kids (and parents) struggle even when they’re trying their best. Rachel spent decades with Edmonton Public Schools as a teacher, school counsellor, and school psychologist, and after retiring in 2020, she continued supporting families through private practice, working closely with parents of children w...

Today, Lara sits down with Carmen Leibel —a former CTV news anchor and journalist turned entrepreneur, coach, and founder of Project Five , a program built around five practical steps to help kids (and adults) become confident communicators. Carmen launched Project Five after noticing how much youth communication shifted online during the pandemic—and how many students were quietly losing the skil...

Today, Lara sits down with Paige O’Dwyer , a pediatric speech-language pathologist and mom of two who’s on a mission to change how parents think about language and communication—especially when you’re watching your child and quietly wondering, “Should they be talking more by now?” Paige helps families ditch the pressure, move away from drills and flashcards, and understand what truly comes before...

Today, Lara sits down with Sarah Melville , a Registered Psychologist and Clinical Director at Onyx Assessments in Sherwood Park, Alberta , to unpack a topic that many families hear about—but don’t always fully understand: psychoeducational (“psych-ed”) assessments . Sarah holds a Master of Education in School and Applied Child Psychology from the University of Calgary and specializes in comprehen...

Today, Lara sits down with Dion Matheson —an educator, counsellor, parenting coach, and mom of three who has spent her career helping families move from overwhelm to clarity when school challenges, emotional struggles, and psychoeducational assessments start piling up. Dion brings both deep professional expertise and real-life parenting insight, with a Bachelor of Education , a Master’s in Educati...

Today, Lara sits down with Tina Geers , a leader in early childhood education and one of Canada’s most passionate advocates for protecting and promoting play in the early years. With nearly 25 years of experience as an Early Childhood Educator, coach, mentor, and facilitator of play, Tina helps parents and educators move from “Am I doing this right?” to “I can trust what I’m seeing in my child.” S...

Today, Lara sits down with Dr. Marissa Nivison, a Banting Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Calgary in the Determinants of Child Development Lab, to unpack one of the biggest questions parents carry (often silently): “Am I doing enough to build a strong bond with my child—and will it matter later?” Marissa completed her PhD in Developmental Psychology at the University of Minnesota, where h...

Today, Lara sits down with Tamara Neufeld Strijack —therapist, consultant, educator, author, keynote speaker, and passionate advocate for children’s emotional health and well-being. Tamara is the Academic Dean of the Neufeld Institute , where she develops and delivers courses that help parents, teachers, and professionals make sense of children through developmental science. She’s also the co-auth...

Today, Lara sits down with Dr. Brent Davis , a professor of mathematics education whose career bridges real classrooms and groundbreaking research. Brent began as a middle school math teacher before completing his PhD at the University of Alberta. Since then, he has served as Canada Research Chair in Mathematics Education at the University of Alberta, the David Robitaille Chair at UBC, and is now...

Today, Lara sits down with Ali (Alison) Canning —Founder and Executive Director of Let’s Get Together , a women-led Canadian non-profit making education accessible by helping every person in Canada own a computer and closing the digital divide through reuse, repair, and refurbishment of donated tech. After growing up an introvert who struggled with focus and confidence, Ali found resilience throug...

Today, Lara sits down with Mohit Rajhans —leading media consultant, founder of ThinkStart Inc. , and Amazon bestselling author of Rethinking with AI: For Educators and Trainers —to demystify AI for busy, concerned parents. For over two decades, Mohit has helped major organizations navigate technological change. Now he’s helping families and schools translate AI from buzzword to practical support s...

What if your child isn’t “difficult”—they’re different? If you’re navigating meltdowns after school, confusing terminology from professionals, or the constant worry that you’re “missing something,” this episode will feel like a deep breath. Today, Lara sits down with Ruth M. Strunz, RP, CCC —a Registered Psychotherapist, Canadian Clinical Counsellor, and Clinical Supervisor who specializes in neur...

Today, Lara sits down with one of Canada’s most trusted parenting voices to tackle a topic that hits close to home for almost every family: sibling rivalry. Alyson Schafer is an Adlerian family counsellor, internationally acclaimed parenting expert, best-selling author, and familiar face on national media outlets like The Marilyn Denis Show, CTV News Channel, and HuffPost Parents. With a Master’s...

This week, Lara welcomes back one of our most trusted voices on child development and mental health: Dr. Zia Lakdawalla. A seasoned clinical psychologist and founder of Foundations for Emotional Wellness , Dr. Lakdawalla brings over a decade of experience supporting children, teens, and families through anxiety, emotional dysregulation, and relationship struggles. In this episode, we dive deep int...

Lara sits down with an expert who’s dedicated her career to empowering parents, educators, and future teachers to understand the true impact of second language learning in childhood. Dr. Katherine Mueller is an Assistant Professor at the Werklund School of Education at the University of Calgary, where she’s been shaping future language educators since 2013. With a background in teaching everything...

Have you ever found yourself unsure how to handle your child’s emotional outbursts or wondering if their impulsive behaviour is something more serious? In this episode of Parenting Ed-Ventures , host Lara Courtepatte sits down with award-winning author and emotional health expert Maureen Healy to unpack what’s really going on beneath the surface of those big behaviours. Maureen is an international...

Lara sits down with Dr. Michele Morningstar, a clinical psychologist and leading researcher on how children and teens learn to understand and express emotions—especially through nonverbal communication like facial expressions, tone of voice, and body language. Dr. Morningstar is an Assistant Professor of Psychology at Queen’s University and leads the Development of Social & Emotional Communica...

Today, Lara sits down with a truly remarkable guest whose mission is to put joy and emotional growth at the centre of childhood. Shalini Samtani is the founder of Open the Joy , a toy company backed by therapists and science that helps children develop emotional intelligence through play. She’s also the force behind the Spread the Joy Foundation , a non-profit that delivers therapeutic activity ki...

Today, we flip the script as host Lara Courtepatte steps into the guest seat for a special episode all about summer learning loss—what educators call the “Summer Slide”—and what parents can do to keep their child’s mind active, engaged, and thriving all summer long. Guest host Jacqueline Ivanc sits down with Lara, the co-founder of Tutor Teach and a passionate advocate for equitable, joy-filled ed...

Do you ever wonder how to raise a child who genuinely loves reading—and keeps loving it, even as screens and distractions pull for their attention? In this inspiring episode of Parenting Ed-Ventures , host Lara Courtepatte sits down with award-winning Canadian author Tanya Lloyd Kyi , whose body of work includes more than thirty-five fiction and non-fiction books for children and teens. Tanya’s cu...

Today, Lara sits down with a truly insightful guest who has dedicated her career to helping families nurture emotional wellness through trust, connection, and expert guidance. Dr. Zia Lakdawalla is a clinical psychologist and the founder of Foundations for Emotional Wellness, where she empowers children, teens, and parents to navigate emotional challenges with confidence and compassion. After earn...

Today, Lara welcomes a passionate advocate for transforming how our children learn—not through rigid systems, but through imagination, emotion, and connection. Dr. Gillian Judson is an Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Education at Simon Fraser University and the visionary behind imaginED. Her research spans imaginative and ecological education, educational leadership, and the role of wonder i...

Have you ever felt overwhelmed by parenting challenges or unsure how to navigate tough conversations with your child? In this episode of Parenting Ed-Ventures, host Lara Courtepatte sits down with Dr. Ashley Miller, a child and adolescent psychiatrist, family therapist, and award-winning educator. Dr. Miller is a clinical assistant professor of psychiatry at the University of British Columbia, co-...

Have you ever wondered how nature can enrich your child’s learning experience and complement what they’re taught in the classroom? In this episode of Parenting Ed-Ventures, host Lara Courtepatte sits down with Anne Beauchamp, a passionate educator and Forest and Nature School Practitioner, to explore the powerful connection between outdoor learning and child development. With over 14 years of expe...