Professional Development

Investment in professional development is critical for the early learning and child care sector as it helps to empower the workforce and provide the necessary skills and knowledge supporting high-quality care for children. Through workshops, conferences, seminars and scholarly reading, early childhood educators can stay ahead on the latest research, best practices, and regulations in the field. Continuous learning fosters the holistic development of children, promotes their safety and well-being, and creates a nurturing environment that supports their growth.

Follow the links below to learn more about child care learning opportunities and how to access training.

Board Governance
A variety of leadership and governance training opportunities are available to provide direct support Centre directors and board members to effectively fulfill their responsibilities. These include The Basics of Effective Board Governance online training series, Board Governance Manual and implementation services, and additional board governance learning resources.

Science of Early Child Development (SECD)
SECD bring research and concepts to life with hundreds of readings, videos, links, interactive activities and questions for reflection supporting independent study, personal learning, post-secondary teaching, staff orientation and parent education. Manitoba access only

SECD Resource Portal
Access current and interactive research to learn more about the impact of early experience on lifelong health and well-being.
SECD Self-Study Professional Development Module Portal
Provides a variety of free one hour professional development sessions related to early child development.

Circle of Security / CARE Childcare Attachment and Relationship Education
Circle of Security is an internationally recognized early intervention program designed to strengthen the relationship between a caregiver and a child, supporting child care providers in gaining competence in helping children manage their emotions and hence their behaviors.

Volunteer Manitoba Professional Development Subsidy
Volunteer Manitoba’s Professional Development Subsidy Program helps non-profit organizations access affordable training opportunities across the province. The program covers up to 75% of the cost of training.

Whether you’re looking to develop your own expertise or train your team , this initiative provides financial support for skill-building that helps to strengthen leadership, enhances fundraising, and increases community impact.

https://www.volunteermanitoba.ca/professional-development-subsidy

Winter Intake Deadline: January 15, 2026

Blooming Words® Training for Child Care Staff – No Cost 2026
Blooming Words® is a standardized, evidence-informed early language stimulation program for children from birth to kindergarten age. It was developed by speech-language pathologists in Quebec in partnership with the non-profit organization API-Enfance and is now being offered province-wide through the Children’s Therapy Network of Manitoba (CTNM).

Blooming Words® is being offered for free in 2026 to interested licensed early learning and child care centres (including nursery schools) in Manitoba. Participating centres identify child care staff to take part in Blooming Words® Facilitator training, equipping them to deliver the program directly within their own centre. This program is available in English and French and has been successfully adapted for use in early learning settings by child care professionals and educators.

CTNM Blooming Words® Information Session – for Early Learning &: Child Care Centres
The Education Model: Train Your Team!

June 4 at 1 p.m.

This session is ideal for:

Childcare directors and supervisors
Early Childhood Educators (ECEs)
CTNM Speech-Language Pathologists

Learn more at Blooming Words® Program website: https://api-enfance.ca/en/blooming-words/ or contact: bloomingwords@rccinc.ca

*NEW* Blooming Words® Indigenous Language Workshop

Blooming Words® professional development for Better Speech and Hearing Month in May 2026: ‘Indigenous Languages and Cultures’

May 19, 2026, at 8 - 9:00am CST (Microsoft Teams)

Register HERE!

Understanding & Supporting Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) in Early Learning Settings Training
Be part of the creation of an FASD-informed workforce at a critical time in a child’s development.

Developed by the Canada Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Research Network (CanFASD), this course includes evidence-based information, real-world strategies, one-year access to course materials, and a certificate upon completion.

With support from the MBLL (Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries) this course is free for residents of Manitoba.

For further course details and to register:
CanFASD - Understanding and Supporting FASD in Early Learning Settings.

To access details and registration information for other related FASD e-learning courses applicable to child care providers, visit Courses – CanFASD ELearning.

Nature‑Based Learning for Educators: A Four‑Season Journey in Land‑Led Teaching
Reconnect with learning as it was originally intended—rooted in land, relationship, and the natural rhythms that guide children’s curiosity. Nature-Based Learning for Educators is an immersive, year-long professional development experience designed for Early Childhood Educators, teachers, and anyone working alongside children and youth. Grounded on Treaty 1 territory and shaped by Two-Eyed Seeing, the program weaves Indigenous and non‑Indigenous ways of knowing to support holistic, meaningful learning. Across four seasons, participants explore nature not only as a classroom, but as a teacher, a regulator, and a source of connection and reflection.

The program consists of seven in-person nature sessions and three virtual training sessions over the course of the four seasons at FortWhyte Alive.

2026–2027 Program Dates

April 11
May 23
June 13
July 23 (virtual)
September 19
November 7
December 12
February 6, 2027

Cost: $2,400 (payment plans available)

Workshops and Seminars

Manitoba Child Care Association
Provides professional development opportunities for early learning and child care professionals that are available to both members and non-members throughout the year. Highlights include a fall workshop series and conferences on important topics in the child care sector. A training series is also available for directors and assistant directors through Managing and Leading 2.0.

Fédération des parents de la francophonie manitobaine
Offers a series of educational workshops and conferences for early learning and child care professionals which are presented in French.

St. Amant
Offers workshop series ‘Fulfilling Potential’ supporting children with diverse needs, including topics such as challenging behaviors and Autism Spectrum Disorder. An initiative supported by Canada-Manitoba ELCC agreement.