Ann Douglas will be the keynote speaker at the Toronto Public Library's Tutor Conference 2017 (a professional development day for tutors volunteering with the Toronto Public Library system). She will be speaking on "The Power of Connection: A mental health toolkit for tutors working with child, youth, and adult learners."

Workshop description: Wondering what you can do to make a difference for a learner who is struggling with a mental health challenge? Eager to learn more about managing challenging behaviours? This thought-provoking and highly interactive session will provide you with the tools you need to forge powerful relationships—and in ways that support mental health. 

You’ll learn
• The importance of taking a “learner’s eye view” of the tutoring process as a means of better understanding and meeting the needs of each individual.
• The best ways to respond to challenging behaviours in learners and their family members (everything from missed appointments to angry outbursts to extreme anxiety). 
• The power of relationship (why relationships are fundamental to the success of the tutoring process—and how to seize the opportunity to make a difference for each learner).