Training and Education
This training and education hub was created to help Edmontonians come together to support one another in living happier, more meaningful lives. Whether you're caring for family, friends, coworkers, or even strangers, we all play a role in looking out for each other.
These courses are designed to support your growth—whether you're a peer, a service provider, or someone just trying to help. Topics include mental health and addictions, suicide prevention, peer support, poverty and housing, parenting, and more. All trainings emphasize approaches that are fair, trauma-informed, culturally sensitive, and rooted in community values. See a calendar view of upcoming locally offered training →
Best Beginning Program - Alberta Health Services
Best Beginning is a free supportive health service for pregnant women who are facing challenges.
This program is designed for women who:
Need information to make healthy choices during pregnancy
Feel alone and isolated
Face language or cultural barriers
Are living on a low income
We offer:
Support from social workers, nurses, dietitians, and outreach workers
Group health education and peer support
Children's programming (1-6 yrs)
Healthy snacks and time to connect with other pregnant women
Community and Health Resources
To register: AHS - BBP
Introduction to Family Literacy – Centre for Family Literacy
A 2-part training prerequisite for certificate training that covers the fundamentals of building literacy in families.
Part One – Family Literacy Fundamentals
Explore the fundamentals of Family Literacy and expand your understanding of the role literacy plays in the life of children, their parents/caregivers, and the community.
The workshop will explore:
A brief history of literacy
What is literacy?
Core concepts of family literacy
Best practices in family literacy
Explore the different types of family literacy programs
Part Two – Connecting How We Learn
Examine the connection between the family and emergent literacy, early literacy and adult literacy.
This workshop looks at the process of early literacy development in children starting at birth and connects to best practices in working with adults. We will explore why both are important in family literacy programs and how these connections, and therefore the learning, can be strengthened.
To register: CFL – Certificate Training
Rhymes that Bind – Centre for Family Literacy
Rhymes that Bind training provides participants with the necessary information, resources and skills to facilitate their own Rhymes that Bind program in their community.
Rhymes that Bind promotes oral language development in babies and toddlers, as parents/caregivers learn how to support and enjoy learning through rhymes, finger plays, songs and simple movement games with their children in a safe, supportive peer group.
To register: CFL – Certificate Training
Books for Babies – Centre for Family Literacy
Books for Babies training provides participants with the necessary information, resources and skills to facilitate their own Books for Babies program in their community.
Books for Babies is a facilitated program for parents/caregivers and their babies, up to 12 months old. The program introduces parents/caregivers to various ways they can support their child’s early literacy and language experiences, encourages daily book sharing and, in doing so, helps promote healthy family relationships.
To register: CFL – Certificate Training
Books Offer Our Kids Success – Centre for Family Literacy
B.O.O.K.S is a facilitated program for parents/caregivers of preschoolers. This program models book sharing strategies, explores book themes and the connections to everyday life and extends on book content by incorporating a variety of different literacy activities into the sessions.
Some of these activities include: crafts, journaling, cooking and more! Parents/caregivers are given the opportunity to borrow books to share at home with their children along with ideas for extending and practicing the learning. The B.O.O.K.S program provides an informal setting where parents and caregivers develop their understanding of their role in their children’s literacy development.
To register: CFL – Certificate Training
Storysacks – Centre for Family Literacy
Storysacks training provides the participant with the necessary information, resources and skills to facilitate their own Storysacks program in their community.
Storysacks is a program in which parents/caregivers, volunteers and community members work together to make Storysacks as a means of supporting the early literacy skills of preschool children in their community.
Participants learn how to create props and scenery related to a storybook, representations of its main characters, an audio recording and a game based on the book. Storysacks may be used in a variety of settings, including family literacy programs, the classroom, children’s organizations, daycares, libraries and in the home. The program encourages parents/caregivers who may be facing barriers, such as low income, literacy issues, and lack of resources, to spend time together in a safe and constructive environments.
To register: CFL – Certificate Training
Exploring Family Literacy – Centre for Family Literacy
This workshop takes a closer look at what family literacy is and shares ideas on how parents can enhance and build on their child’s emergent literacy and language skills.
Parents and primary caregivers hold the key to early literacy skills for their children.
To register: CFL - Workshops
Science and Literacy – Centre for Family Literacy
Learn about the role science plays in family literacy.
Parents and primary caregivers hold the key to early literacy skills for their children. This workshop takes a closer look at what family literacy is, with the focus on science, and shares ideas on how parents can enhance and build on their child’s emergent literacy and language skills.
To register: CFL - Workshops
Skills for Learning – Centre for Family Literacy
Learn essential skills for your child’s development.
Do you know what the 9 essential skills are and why they have been deemed as skills everyone needs to have to be successful? We use them at work and at home and you may be surprised to learn how often you use them. These are skills that can help your child navigate in their world. The workshop will look at new ways to help you enhance these skills for your child in fun and creative ways.
To register: CFL - Workshops
Numbers are Everywhere – Centre for Family Literacy
This workshop is full of fun and easy ideas and activities to help your little one discover a love of numbers.
Do you need help sorting the socks, measuring for a recipe or finding Family Day on the calendar? Your toddler can help as they learn and understand numbers.
To register: CFL - Workshops
Building Blocks to Literacy – Centre for Family Literacy
This workshop will look at the stages children go through before they become readers and writers.
Can parents and caregivers help their children get ready for literacy? Parents and caregivers will be able to identify the stage their child is in and participate in fun hands-on activities with their child.
To register: CFL - Workshops
Technology and the Early Years – Centre for Family Literacy
This workshop looks at what research says about young children and using technology.
Are children and technology a good combination? We also look at how much time children spend with technology every day and explore what technology is out there for young children and how it is being used.
To register: CFL - Workshops
Bringing Stories to Life – Centre for Family Literacy
Learn how to build your storytelling skills.
Do you read a book or share a story and what is the difference? This workshop explores the strategies parents and caregivers can use to lift the written words off the pages of a book and truly bring the book to life! Participants will be provided with a variety of resources, tools and strategies to take story time to the next level.
To register: CFL - Workshops
Learn Together- How to Build Your Own Family Book Club – Centre for Family Literacy
This workshop will provide participants with everything they need to start their own Family Book Club.
Learning happens best when in the context of a family! Family Book Club is an engaging program that allows family members to develop and strengthen their literacy, numeracy and language skills through interactive and innovative story sharing. The program will provide families with all the tools, activities and materials they need to extend this learning into their everyday lives.
To register: CFL - Workshops
Learning Together- How to Build Your Own 3,2,1, Fun! Numeracy Program – Centre for Family Literacy
Participants will explore the basic concepts of numeracy and how to build them into the curriculum of an 8-10 week program.
Learning happens best when in the context of family! This workshop will provide participants with everything they need to build and start their own 3,2,1, Fun! Numeracy Program. Participants will be provided with simple and engaging ideas and activities to help families discover a love of numbers; you can COUNT on that!
To register: CFL - Workshops
Secret Learning Through Games – Centre for Family Literacy
Learn how to create a game, and discover how children learn through play.
Children want to play games. They look forward to playing with their family and to the challenge of learning new things. This workshop will uncover some of the hidden learning that games teach. It will also let families play many games made with simple materials, and even give them the chance to create a game.
To register: CFL - Workshops
Come Play with Me – Centre for Family Literacy
Learn how to create toys and play with your child.
Play is a child’s job. Everyday children set out to discover how the world works through play. This workshop uses simple household items mixed with a little imagination and a lot of laughter to create tools for learning that anyone can make.
To register: CFL – Workshops
Play Adventures Ages 0-6 – KARA Family Resource Centre
Adventures in Play with play expert Alyssa is a hands-on program that blends STEM and sensory play.
Through fun activities and experiments, children build curiosity, creativity, and key learning skills in an engaging, interactive environment.
To register: KARA – Programs
Lunch Kids in the Kitchen Ages 6-9 – KARA Family Resource Centre
At Kids in the Kitchen, young chefs gain practical life skills and meaningful experiences as they create their own lunch edition meal.
Through hands-on cooking, they’ll explore nutritious foods while learning the importance of kitchen hygiene and safety in a fun, engaging environment.
To register: KARA – Programs
Tween Fun Ages 10-13 – KARA Family Resource Centre
The Tween Fun program is all about exploring self-expression through art while connecting with others in fun and meaningful ways.
Using recyclable and mixed materials, you’ll discover what art means to you and create unique projects that reflect your own voice.
To register: KARA – Programs