Upcoming Events

A calendar of upcoming events featuring Ann Douglas, author of Happy Parents, Happy Kids — a guide to thriving alongside your child — and Parenting Through the Storm — a guide to parenting a child with a mental health, neurodevelopmental, or behavioural challenge.

For book talks and workshops related to Ann’s brand new book, Navigating the Messy Middle: A Fiercely Honest and Wildly Encouraging Guide for Midlife Women, please visit the events page of Ann’s other website.

Interested in having Ann speak to your group? Please get in touch. She'd love to brainstorm the possibilities and provide you with information about purchasing copies of her books at a significant discount. 

Looking for ideas and inspiration?
     Descriptions of Ann's most popular parenting presentations 
     List of recent speaking engagements focused on parenting (2015-2023)

Filtering by: community

Kaleidoscope 2021 hosted by the Lumara Grief and Bereavement Care Society, New Westminster, BC
Nov
19
1:30 PM13:30

Kaleidoscope 2021 hosted by the Lumara Grief and Bereavement Care Society, New Westminster, BC

Ann Douglas will be speaking at Kaleidoscope 2021: a virtual grief convention for families and professionals. You can register via the Lumara Grief and Bereavement Care Society website.

Presentation description: The Umbrella Workshop: Helping Families to Weather the Storm

Wondering what you can do to make a difference for a child or a family who is struggling? Eager to learn how you can communicate your caring and support in a way that recognizes and builds upon the strengths of that family? In this practical and inspiring presentation, Ann Douglas will connect the dots between the growing body of research about family support and engagement and the real-world needs of children and families. After all, if it takes a village to raise a child, it takes a village to support that child’s parent. Here’s how to be that village….

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Aug
27
7:00 PM19:00

Canadian Mental Health Association and Parents for Children's Mental Health - Webinar

Ann Douglas will be the keynote speaker at this special back-to-school webinar for families in Waterloo-Wellington and beyond. (All parents are welcome to register for and participate in this event.)

Event description:
”Join us on August 27th from 7-8:30pm to explore tools and tips on supporting your children as they return to school. Register here! Returning to school in the fall is an anxious time for both parents and students. These feelings are only magnified when your child suffers from mental health challenges. “Supporting our Children’s Mental Health as they Return to School” is a web-based discussion, aimed to help parents use the tools and skills they have to support their children this fall. Parenting author and mental health advocate, Ann Douglas, will be the keynote speaker for the discussion, followed by a panel of educators and parents, to share their knowledge about supporting children and youth exhibiting mental health struggles as they get ready to return to school.”

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Aug
18
8:00 PM20:00

Twitter Chat: Children's Mental Health Ontario

Ann Douglas will be co-hosting a special back-to-school Twitter chat for members of the #kidscantwait community (a group of youth, parents, professionals, and others who care about the wellbeing of parents and kids and who are advocating for increased investment in child and youth mental health). To join the chat, just follow the #kidscantwait hashtag on Twitter.

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Toronto District School Board, Toronto, Ontario
Jun
22
6:30 PM18:30

Toronto District School Board, Toronto, Ontario

Ann Douglas will be presenting at the first of three events for parents and caregivers hosted by the TDSB's Parent and Community Engagement Office and Parent Involvement Advisory Committee.

Mental Health, Well-Being & Routines in the Early Years
Speakers: Ann Douglas, Author, Happy Parents, Happy Kids and Parenting Through the Storm
Afroze Anjum, Psychologist, TDSB
Moderator: Heather Johnson, Social Work, TDSB Monday, June 22, 2020 6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Registration details.

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May
20
7:30 PM19:30

Erin Mills Connects: Online Event (Part II of II)

A free online event for parents in the Erin Mills community and beyond. (Yes, this event is open to parents in other communities, but pre-registration is required.)

SESSION TWO
Wednesday, May 20, 2020 @ 7:30 pm
The Virtual Village Part II: Caring for Your Kids

We started out by talking about caring for you. Now let’s talk about caring for your kids: what you can do to make life easier and better for them during this extraordinarily challenging time.
You’ll learn
• why so many children are struggling right now—and what parents can do to make things better
• why routines matter and why prioritizing the health fundamentals (sleep, activity, good nutrition) is more important than ever
• how to tell when a child is feeling anxious or stressed
• how to respond to a child who is feeling really anxious—and in ways that help to make the anxiety better, not worse
• how to help children to acknowledge and accept all their emotions (and why it’s important for you to accept their emotions, too)
• how to encourage children to turn to other people for support in managing emotions that feel too big to handle on their own
• some strategies for encouraging children to open up about their feelings—and some social-emotional learning activities you might want to try together
• what children need most from their parents in this moment—and what other things can be placed on the back burner for now.

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May
14
7:30 PM19:30

Erin Mills Connects: Online Event (Part I of II)

A free online event for parents in the Erin Mills community and beyond. (Yes, this event is open to parents in other communities, but pre-registration is required.)

SESSION ONE
Thursday, May 14, 2020 @ 7:30 pm
The Virtual Village Part I: It Starts With You

This session is all about taking care of you: acknowledging the many challenges you are facing in this moment and reminding you that you have what it takes to tackle those challenges head on.

You’ll learn
• how to manage your own feelings of anxiety
• how to feel less guilty and less out of control during a strange and uncertain time
• how to recognize and celebrate your many strengths as a parent
• how to parent in a way you can feel good about and that will actually strengthen your relationship with your child
• how to give yourself permission to be a gloriously imperfect parent and to give your kid permission to be a gloriously imperfect kid
• how to practice the art of relationship repair and otherwise keep your relationship with your child on track
• how to set healthy boundaries in your key relationships—at work, at home, and elsewhere • how to focus on what matters most and let go of all the rest.

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Positive Parenting Waterloo Region and Parenting Now: Online Event
May
12
8:00 PM20:00

Positive Parenting Waterloo Region and Parenting Now: Online Event

Celebrated Canadian author and parenting expert Ann Douglas shares strategies for helping parents navigate the difficult challenges of parenting through a pandemic.

Presented by Positive Parenting Waterloo Region, Parenting Now, and the Early Learning Alliance of Waterloo Region.

This event is free, but pre-registration is required.

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Children's Mental Health Ontario - Twitter Chat
May
5
8:00 PM20:00

Children's Mental Health Ontario - Twitter Chat

You told us that you wanted to keep talking, so we're going to keep talking. Join us tonight for another Twitter chat hosted by Children's Mental Health Ontario. Just search for the #kidscantwait hashtag to join in the conversation, which will be starting at 8 pm ET. We'll be speaking from the heart about the challenges we're facing as parents and sharing strategies for taking the best possible care of ourselves and our kids during this strange and uncertain time.

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Children's Mental Health Ontario - Twitter Chat
Apr
7
8:00 PM20:00

Children's Mental Health Ontario - Twitter Chat

You told us that you wanted to keep talking, so we're going to keep talking. Join us tonight for another Twitter chat hosted by Children's Mental Health Ontario. Just search for the #kidscantwait hashtag to join in the conversation, which will be starting at 8 pm ET. We'll be speaking from the heart about the challenges we're facing as parents and sharing strategies for taking the best possible care of ourselves and our kids during this strange and uncertain time.

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ONLINE COMMUNITY: The Village
Oct
1
12:01 AM00:01

ONLINE COMMUNITY: The Village

A six-month online community of support and discovery for parents: October 1 to March 31

Hosted by Ann Douglas

Cost: $149 for the full six months

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Eager to take a deep dive into all things parenting while tapping into support from “the village”? This is your opportunity to be part of a small, intimate group of parents who will be embarking on a shared journey of discovery over a six-month period. (Why six months? It takes time for trust to emerge and for people to feel safe enough to truly connect with one another. In “The Village,” we’re going to take that time.)

How things will work: Our conversations will be taking place in a private discussion area on a state-of-the-art community platform. This will allows us to do our thinking and learning in an environment of mutual support and encouragement, away from the noise and distraction of social media. You’ll also have the opportunity to participate in monthly live chats and small-group video/audio calls with Ann Douglas.

Ready to learn and grow alongside your fellow villagers? Just fill out this form to let Ann know why you’d like to be part of this group. Once your application has been reviewed and accepted (please give Ann a couple of days to review it: hey, it’s a busy time of year!), she’ll be back in touch with details about payment and to tell you everything you need to know to get yourself up and running before we officially launch on October 1.

NOTE: Registration is now closed. Please sign up for Ann’s parenting courses and communities newsletter to be notified when this community is open for registration again.

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ONLINE COURSE + COMMUNITY: How to Trick Yourself into Writing a Book
Oct
1
12:01 AM00:01

ONLINE COURSE + COMMUNITY: How to Trick Yourself into Writing a Book

How to Trick Yourself into Writing a Book: A Reassuring Roadmap for Anxious Authors

A six-month online course and community for non-fiction book writers hosted by Ann Douglas
October 1 to March 31

Cost: $199

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Struggling to get that book out of your head and on to the bookstore shelves? This online course and community is for you!

You’ll learn

  • How to spot the difference between a good book idea and a great book idea, and what you can do to make that great book idea even better

  • How to find the courage to start writing and keep writing

  • How to stay motivated and on track during each stage of the book writing process – and what each of those stages actually involves

  • How to manage the emotional highs and lows that are baked into the experience of becoming an author.

How things will work: Our conversations will be taking place in a private discussion area on a state-of-the-art community platform and our course materials will be hosted on a best-in-class online learning platform. This will allow us to do our thinking and learning in an environment of mutual support and encouragement, away from all the noise and distraction of social media. You’ll also have the opportunity to participate in monthly live chats and small-group video/audio calls with Ann Douglas.

Ready to make your book-writing dream a reality? Just fill out this short application to let Ann know why you’d like to be part of this group. Once your application has been reviewed and accepted (please give Ann a couple of days to review it: hey, it’s a busy time of year!), she’ll be back in touch with details about payment and to tell you everything you need to know to get yourself up and running before we officially launch on October 1.

NOTE: Registration is now closed. Please sign up for Ann’s writing courses and communities newsletter to be notified when registration opens up again.

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ONLINE COURSE: How to Tame the Overwhelm & Create More Wriggle Room in Your Life
Oct
1
12:01 AM00:01

ONLINE COURSE: How to Tame the Overwhelm & Create More Wriggle Room in Your Life

A six-week online course: October 1 to November 12

Hosted by Ann Douglas and Christine Hennebury

Cost: $96 for the full six weeks

Feel like you’re being swept up by the hurricane that is back-to-school? Struggling to find time for yourself in a schedule that’s jam-packed with obligations to other people? This course is for you.

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Ann will be teaming up with creative life coach and storyteller Christine Hennebury to offer a one-of-a-kind opportunity to apply a mix of creative and science-backed strategies to taming those feelings of overwhelm.

Here’s how things will work. Our conversations will be taking place in a private discussion area on a state-of-the-art community platform. This will allow us to do our thinking and learning in an environment of mutual support and encouragement, away from the noise and distraction of social media. You’ll also have the opportunity to participate in live chats and small-group video/audio calls with Ann and Christine.

Think you might want to be part of our group? Here’s how to apply. Once your application has been reviewed and accepted, we’ll be back in touch with details about payment and to tell you everything you need to know to get yourself up and running before we officially launch on October 1.

NOTE: Registration is now closed. Please sign up for Ann’s parenting courses and communities newsletter to be notified when this community is open for registration again.

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#RaisingCanada Twitter Chat hosted by Children First Canada
Sep
22
8:00 PM20:00

#RaisingCanada Twitter Chat hosted by Children First Canada

Join us for an online conversation about the top ten threats to the health and wellbeing of Canadian kids and what to do about them. It’s a timely conversation that will be happening in the midst of a federal election, so please plan to join us. All you need to do is to hop on Twitter at 8 pm ET on Sunday, September 22 and follow the #RaisingCanada hashtag.

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Hastings Highlands Library, Maynooth, Ontario
Sep
21
10:00 AM10:00

Hastings Highlands Library, Maynooth, Ontario

Eager to make this the best school year ever for yourself and your kids? Ann Douglas will be dropping by to share some parent-proven advice drawn from her latest book, Happy Parents, Happy Kids, and she’ll be answering your questions about all things back to school. Join us for a fun, lively, and 100% guilt-free conversation about parenting.

ABOUT ANN DOUGLAS

Ann is the weekend parenting columnist for CBC Radio, the author of numerous bestselling books about parenting, and the mother of four young adults.

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Parents for Children's Mental Health: Durham Region
Jun
19
to Jun 20

Parents for Children's Mental Health: Durham Region

Ann will be speaking about Parenting Through the Storm. Presentation description: “Having a child who is struggling doesn’t make you a bad parent, just as being a child who is struggling doesn’t make your child a bad kid.” That’s a powerful and reassuring message to hear if you happen to be the parent of a child who is struggling with anxiety, depression, ADHD, an autism spectrum disorder, or a related challenge. In this encouraging and story-rich workshop, Ann Douglas shares some of her own hard-won wisdom about thriving as a family while weathering one of life’s many storms (the focus of her recent book Parenting Through the Storm). The workshop is based on interviews with more than 50 parents who have walked this walk and who are eager to share their best advice with other parents. Expect a workshop that is kind, encouraging, and real and that leaves you feeling anything but alone.

This event is free and open to all: Registration and ticket information.

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Cootes Paradise Elementary School, Hamilton, Ontario
Jun
6
7:00 PM19:00

Cootes Paradise Elementary School, Hamilton, Ontario

Ann Douglas will be speaking about Happy Parents, Happy Kids.

Parenting doesn’t happen in a bubble. As parents, we can’t help but be affected by what’s happening in the wider world. Is it any wonder then that so many of us are feeling anxious, guilty, and overwhelmed? In this thought-provoking presentation, Ann Douglas highlights the broader cultural forces that have made everything about parenting feel incredibly high stakes. Then she pivots to solutions, explaining how parents have the unique opportunity to serve as agents of change in their families and their communities. Her takeaway message is clear, powerful, and potentially life changing: you can tame the anxiety, embrace the joy, and thrive alongside your kids while building a better world.

You’ll learn….

• how to boost your enjoyment of parenting while maximizing the health and happiness of your entire family at the same time

• how to minimize stress, boost your mood, increase your energy level, and safeguard your physical and mental health — and how to encourage your kids to do the same

• how to zero in on the most effective parenting strategies (parenting strategies that work for parents and kids as opposed to parents or kids).

BIO FOR ANN DOUGLAS

Ann Douglas sparks conversations that matter about parenting and mental health. She is the weekend parenting columnist for CBC Radio and a bestselling parenting author. Her most recent book is Happy Parents, Happy Kids. A passionate and inspiring speaker, Ann delivers keynote addresses and leads small-group workshops at health, parenting, and education conferences across the country.

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St. Christopher Catholic School, Mississauga, Ontario
Jun
5
7:00 PM19:00

St. Christopher Catholic School, Mississauga, Ontario

Ann Douglas will be speaking about “Parenting in an Age of Anxiety: A Stress and Anxiety Toolkit for Parents.”

Focus: Stress management and coping skills for parents and kids

All kids experience stress and anxiety. These emotions are part of being human, after all. But one in eight children experiences such a high level of anxiety that the child finds it difficult to manage at home or at school. In this thought-provoking presentation by Ann Douglas (a bestselling parent author who also struggles with anxiety), you’ll learn how to tell the difference between stress and anxiety (and why this matters); stress management skills for kids and adults; and anxiety management skills for kids and adults (what makes anxiety better, not worse).

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