Shows
OCHEC Conference 2025From Chaos to Calm (Organizing) | Chelsea Dyan TuranChelsea is a wife and homeschooling mother of 4 children under the age of 10. She wears many hats: Director of Children’s Ministry at her local Church, Community Manager for a Local Not-For-Profit which assists with instances of perinatal mental health, Musician and Women’s Worship Leader at various events, services, and annual conferences, and owner & content creator at @gratefulheartcollective on Instagram and across social media platforms. Her passion is inspiring parents to have joy in running their households and raising their families by finding the most effective (and most fun) methods to simplifying their daily lives while maximizing their time...2025-06-1859 minOCHEC Conference 2025Teaching Math Without Tears | Jeffrey KnightJeffrey Knight from MathCanada2025-06-1859 minOCHEC Conference 2025Coach Knows Best-Training for Endurance | Vanessa BrobbelVanessa Brobbel from Voice of the Martyrs2025-06-1859 minOCHEC Conference 2025Understanding Your Child’s Learning Challenges | Diana RolstonDiana Rolston from NILD Canada2025-06-1859 minOCHEC Conference 2025Thinking Critically About Creation vs Evolution | Sue WrightSue Wright from Creation Ministries2025-06-1859 minOCHEC Conference 2025Why A Gap Year | Madison EckertMadison Eckert from Act Five Initiatives2025-06-1859 minOCHEC Conference 2025Teaching Canadian History | Rowan AtkinsonRowan Atkinson from Headphone History2025-06-1859 minOCHEC Conference 2025How To Homeschool | Myriam Grimard FugereMyriam Grimard Fugere from Invictus 2025-06-1859 minOCHEC Conference 2025Learn Mechatronics And Stem | Gordon MaretzkiGordon Maretzki from GHM Learn2025-06-1859 minOCHEC Conference 2025Military Secrets: How to Discipline in Peace | Andy LuchiesAndy Luchies, father of 7 (so far), is an ex-military infantry combat veteran who fought in the Iraqi war in 2003. Upon leaving the army he married Jessa, the small town girl he’d known since 9 years old. He got a theology degree from Redeemer University and attended Hamilton Christian Fellowship for 13 years where he led various ministries, becoming an elder and associate pastor before stepping back from paid ministry in 2019.Andy is a homeschooling Christian, freedom-loving, minimal government, Open-womb, carnivore bitcoiner. He loves making new friends and prefers to chat with people who disagree with him. Let’s find...2025-06-1859 minOCHEC Conference 2025Attunement: Deeper Connection with your Child | Christie WarrenChristie is a follower of Jesus, forever changed by His love.She is a wife to her precious Josiah for 17 years now, a homeschooling mama of 5 beautiful wild ones and is the co-founder/Editor of The Sozo Journal, a Christian Canadian Homeschool community and publication.She loves a strong cup of rooibos tea, a good book, and seeking beauty in the every day.2025-06-1852 minOCHEC Conference 2025Raising Readers | Jil KollerJil Koller completed her Bachelor of Arts and Education, her Masters of Education, and her PhD coursework in Literacy Education and is a certified Reading Specialist. She has recently written a Young Adult Christian Fantasy trilogy, scheduled to be released in 2026 and is committed to equipping and encouraging homeschool families to share in a love of literature. She shares free activities, teaching tips, and science experiments on her Instagram page @jil.koller. She has four children and has been homeschooling for over ten years. Jil helps run the children’s program at Redeemer City Church, Orillia. It is her gr...2025-06-1859 minOCHEC Conference 2025AI, Cyber Security and Homeschooling | David RedekopDavid's passion for tech led him to co-found Nerds On Site (1995) and start Adam Networks (2014), thriving on growth challenges. Living in Bolivia and South Africa shaped his belief in entrepreneurialism and free enterprise as economic drivers. He pushes for education reform in a connected world. In cybersecurity, he focuses on incident response and prevention with patented Zero Trust solutions. Born in a Mennonite colony in Mexico, he moved to Canada at 15, speaks 4.5 languages, and with his wife Gredel, raises five sons to better the world through faith.2025-06-1859 minOCHEC Conference 2025Preparing for the Work World and Launching Careers | Rachelle AndersonRachelle is a Career Consultant and Certified Résumé Strategist with 15 years of experience working with teens, university students, homeschoolers and adults re-entering the workforce. In her role as the Career Service Coordinator for the Faculty of Engineering at Western University and as a Career Advisor at Richard Ivey School of Business and Wilfrid Laurier University, Rachelle taught hundreds of students how to take their skills and experiences and put them onto paper in a polished way, how to present their abilities clearly in an interview and how to be successful in the workplace. As a homeschool parent Rachelle ha...2025-06-1859 minOCHEC Conference 2025Dinosaurs and the great flood of Noah | Ian JubyEducator, museum curator and TV producer / host, Ian has traveled all over North America conducting both scientific research and speaking on the Creation / Evolution topic since 1990. He is also the producer and host of Genesis Week, a weekly TV show broadcast internationally since 2013. He collected and built the first Creation Science museum in Canada and has spoken at churches, schools, Bible camps and VBS’s bringing his dinosaurs and displays with him wherever he went. He’ll be bringing his dinosaurs again and some of the latest research into dinosaur blood found preserved in dinosaur bones – research which you can do...2025-06-1859 minOCHEC Conference 2025Faith, Family & Politics: Homeschooling for Impact | Paul LawtonPaul serves as the Director of Grassroots Action for the Association for Reformed Political Action (ARPA) Canada, a grassroots Christian political advocacy organization dedicated to equipping and encouraging Reformed Christians to engage in political action and bring a Biblical perspective to civil governance. As a homeschooling father of nine, Paul is passionate about integrating faith, civic engagement, and education.Paul can be reached at paul@arpacanada.ca.2025-06-1859 minOCHEC Conference 2025Braving History Study Together | Amanda Sisson“But you, O LORD, are enthroned forever; you are remembered throughout all generations.” Psalm 102:12. Amanda and her husband Perry have 3 boys and recently welcomed their first daughter. While venturing through the little years, she is enjoying serving in leadership roles in local homeschool groups – VelosCity, a Charlotte Mason book club, and a co-op – and also being a member of the missions committee at church. She has a degree in History and in Education and a TESL diploma. Amongst cheering on moms who homeschool or who are on the verge of stepping into it, Amanda loves discussing Theology and culture, experime...2025-06-1859 minOCHEC Conference 2025Rooted in Scripture: Growing in Virtue | Esther WeissEsther Weiss from Guard Your Heart2025-06-1859 minOCHEC Conference 2025Thrive With Your Homeschool ANYWHERE in the World | Cheryl KowalskiCheryl Kowalski, missionary and mother of 5, served in Botswana for 8 years and in Uganda for 4 years. She also felt compelled to homeschool her children, and doing it in Africa proved to be an extremely rewarding experience. She offers insights and wisdom gained during that time that will encourage ANYONE to take their homeschool ANYWHERE in the world, even if it just means a move to another area of your province or city. She can help you navigate culture stress, culture shock, and loss, all while successfully homeschooling your tribe. Teens will also enjoy this talk as she shares a...2025-06-1859 minOCHEC Conference 2025Curriculum Approaches | Nancy ManosFeeling lost in homeschool jargon? Nancy breaks down the most common homeschooling approaches—from traditional textbook to Charlotte Mason to unit studies—making it easier to understand your options. Explore the pros and cons of each method to help you choose what works best for your family. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to refine your approach, you’ll gain practical insights and a helpful resource guide to support your curriculum decisions.2025-06-1859 minOCHEC Conference 2025Pillars of our Rock Solid Foundation | Kevin SwansonBuild your children’s education on the Rock. But, if we boil down everything God says about education in Deut. 6:7, Eph. 6:4, Prov. 1:7, Col. 1:18, Luke 6:40, and James 1:22, what are the most basic principles of a good education for your children? What are the four pillars upon which to build something firm and strong for the Level 6 Hurricanes blowing across the Post-modern, Post-Christian world? Kevin Swanson will present on these pillars: Family Discipleship, Biblical Worldview, Good Christian Teachers and Books, and Worship and Life Application.2025-06-1859 minOCHEC Conference 2025What is God’s Calling on Your Life? | Kevin SwansonMore than ever, young people are grappling for purpose and direction in life. Drawing from Proverbs 3:5-6, Kevin Swanson explains how a young person can live a purposeful life, and find the path that God has laid out.2025-06-1859 minOCHEC Conference 2025Equipped for this High Calling | Nancy ManosAre you weary in your homeschool journey? Wondering if you’re equipped for the tremendous task of educating and discipling your children? While homeschooling requires our whole hearts and steadfast commitment, God hasn’t just called us to this vital work—He has fully equipped us for it. In this refreshing keynote, Nancy Manos shares how the investment you’re making today—though often demanding—yields eternal fruit in your children’s lives. You’ll gain renewed confidence, knowing that the One who called you is faithful to equip you for this good work. Discover how God’s Word and presence make...2025-06-1859 minOCHEC Conference 2025Finding JOY in the Homeschool Journey Nancy ManosIs the daily reality of homeschooling leaving you more frazzled than joyful? While teaching our children at home can be messy and emotional, it’s also a precious privilege! Nancy shares inspiration for how to find—and keep—joy even on those challenging days. Discover practical ways to create an atmosphere of delight in learning, protect your joy when things get tough, and embrace this beautiful adventure. You’ll leave inspired and reminded of why you started this journey!2025-06-1859 minOCHEC Conference 2025Biblical View of Family, Church & State | Kevin SwansonWhat are the proper sphere jurisdictions for family, church, and state? Should the state ban spanking or home schooling? Should the church dictate the education of our children? What about Sunday Schools and Youth Groups? When the sphere jurisdictions go haywire, chaos usually ensues. A basic understanding of family, church, and state is essential for the Christian family.2025-06-1859 minOCHEC Conference 2025Tips to Successful Homeschooling | Nancy ManosDrawing from her years of experience, Nancy shares practical wisdom to help you identify and overcome common obstacles, understand what success looks like for your unique family, and implement strategies for organizing your home, time, and schedule. Leave equipped with ideas to create a peaceful, thriving environment where learning and relationships flourish.2025-06-1859 minOCHEC Conference 2025Pop Culture, Entertainment, and the Family | Kevin SwansonHow does a family interact with popular culture? Popular culture is everywhere around us. It influences the peer groups, and sets the worldview and the cultural perspectives of almost everybody today. Very few have the wisdom and the strength to swim against the stream. So, how does a family make its cultural choices? What part should entertainment play in the home? What are the major biblical principles that should govern our discernment of music, movies, tattoos, dress, etc.?2025-06-1859 minOCHEC Conference 2025Intro to Homeschool; Success Factors That Matter Most | Kevin SwansonWhat are the factors that matter most in the homeschool? What are the principles that really make it work? This is a basic introductory talk about homeschooling, based on Kevin’s 45 years of experience in the movement. This is based on Kevin Swanson’s book, “Upgrade, the Ten Secrets to the Best Education for Your Child.”2025-06-1859 minOCHEC Conference 2025Order Promotes Peace: Organizational Tools for Homeschool | Nancy ManosDrowning in endless piles of books, papers, and homeschool supplies? Nancy offers practical strategies to create order that promotes peace in your busy household. You’ll gain ideas for simple, doable systems for organizing your homeschool materials, managing daily tasks, and establishing routines that work for your family. Walk away with implementable ideas to tame the chaos and focus on what matters most—honoring God and enjoying the homeschool journey with your children.2025-06-1859 minOCHEC Conference 2025Recovering the Christian Family in a Broken Age | Kevin SwansonBroken families, broken relationships, and broken lives is pretty much status quo now. And, we’ have never been so sure that Jesus Christ can redeem this. We can rebuild the walls by the grace of God, by tears, prayer, and faith. The Christian family will be a bright beacon to the world around us as we fully experience the Gospel and realize God’s vision for the family again.2025-06-1859 minOCHEC Conference 2025Starting a Small Homeschool Coop: Enrichment for the Learning Adventure | Nancy ManosLooking to enrich your homeschool journey while building lasting friendships? A small co-op might be just what you need! Drawing from her own experience, Nancy shares how partnering with a few families can create an exciting learning environment that motivates both parents and children. Learn practical steps for starting your own small co-op, guidelines for success, and tips for choosing the right families to partner with. Discover how to create a meaningful cooperative learning experience that enhances your homeschool adventure!2025-06-1859 minOCHEC Conference 2025Defying a Culture of Death | Miranda CurryMiranda Curry from Canadian Centre for Bio Ethical Reform2025-06-1859 minOCHEC Conference 2025Story-Driven Career Courses & Life Skills | Larissa HofmanLarissa Hofman from Edge Factor2025-06-1859 minOCHEC Conference 2025Teaching Shakespeare | Sarah Jane HobbsSarah lives and works in Welland with her husband and two of her five children. As well as homeschooling all her kids using the Charlotte Mason Method, she has taught drama at Jubal Cottage School in the Niagara region for almost 20 years. She has edited and adapted numerous plays the group has performed over the years – from Bible stories to Shakespeare. Her love for Shakespeare has grown incredibly over the years and her greatest success is inspiring countless children to love it, too! She has balanced her hats including teacher, staff member and mother for over 20 years and hopes to...2025-06-1759 minOCHEC Conference 2025A Father’s Vital Role in a Successful Homeschool | Peter StockPeter Stock has led the Home School Legal Defence Association since 2017. Prior to leading HSLDA, Peter spent 22 years on Parliament Hill as an advisor to various MPs and cabinet ministers. He and his wife Tarah have homeschooled their 4 children, 3 of whom have now graduated and are living and travelling all over the world. Peter spends his free time playing ball hockey and reading history.2025-06-1759 minOCHEC Conference 2025Homeschool to grade 12? What about Postsecondary? | Peter LindsayPeter Lindsay is a husband, father, teacher, tutor and the high school administrator at Tree of Life School. He has taught and served young people in a variety of settings from elementary to university-level in science, math, science, Great Books, writing, and Bible. Peter is passionate about Christian education that seeks truth, goodness, and beauty, is biblically faithful, and naturally practical. He has been working with Tree of Life for fifteen years, tutoring students locally and online, and has also completed part-time studies in theology. Peter and his wife live in Nova Scotia and homeschool their three children.2025-06-1759 minOCHEC Conference 2025Balancing Work and Home | Sarah Jane HobbsSarah lives and works in Welland with her husband and two of her five children. As well as homeschooling all her kids using the Charlotte Mason Method, she has taught drama at Jubal Cottage School in the Niagara region for almost 20 years. She has edited and adapted numerous plays the group has performed over the years – from Bible stories to Shakespeare. Her love for Shakespeare has grown incredibly over the years and her greatest success is inspiring countless children to love it, too! She has balanced her hats including teacher, staff member and mother for over 20 years and hopes to...2025-06-1759 minOCHEC Conference 2025God’s desire for Discipleship | Richard John SaundersRichard is married to Shelley and has five wonderful kids. He’s a devoted disciple of Jesus Christ and Pastor at Stone Ridge Bible Chapel in Hamilton. Rich loves studying and teaching the scriptures and loves any sport you can name (within reason ;)2025-06-1759 minOCHEC Conference 2025Guiding with Grace | Vanessa BrobbelVanessa Brobbel, a veteran homeschool mom & artist, works alongside her husband Floyd (CEO) for a ministry called The Voice of the Martyrs Canada. Much of her work involves speaking at and developing events, educational and special projects, women’s ministry and writing monthly VOM magazine Table Talk unit studies for families. For the past 24 years she has spoken at conferences & women’s retreats across Canada in this capacity. This ministry purposes to create an awareness of the persecution leveled against Christians around the world, while actively providing tools to mentor the Body of Christ both domestically and internationally to grow...2025-06-1759 minOCHEC Conference 2025HELP! I’m Burned Out! | Klaske KroesbergenKlaske and her husband, Bill, have been married for over 37 years. They have 6 children and 14 grandchildren. For the past 32 years, she has been involved with the homeschooling community – homeschooling from kindergarten through high school with one teenage son now nearing completion of his high school years.Klaske has a heart for lending a listening ear and encouraging and those struggling in their homeschooling journey. She is an executive board member of TEACH, the homeschool support group in Brantford, is actively involved in her church community and has recently started tutoring a few other homeschooled children. She enjoys gar...2025-06-1759 minOCHEC Conference 2025Thriving in Marriage | Lucas SpicerLucas Spicer, a Christ-follower since childhood, has been married to the love of his life, Viviana, for almost 13 years. He is currently a daddy to six children, but thanks to the beautiful and bittersweet ministry of foster care, he has parented more than 20 kids (birth through teens) over the last eight years. He enjoys playing an active role in supporting home education in their family, and thanks to his flexible job as an ER physician, he frequently enjoys many day-time hours with his kiddos. He enjoys sports, board games, a good cup of coffee, and his love language is...2025-06-1759 minOCHEC Conference 2025Encouragement for Parents of Special (Needs) Kids | Taucha InrigTaucha has spent years volunteering in the community with organizations that serve marginalized folk. All members of the church are called to be “family on mission” – inviting our friends, neighbours and acquaintances into deeper meaningful relationships so that they can experience the loving hands and feet of Jesus at work in their lives. Eventually she adopted internationally 4 times, asking God to send her the ones who needed her…because adoption isn’t primarily about parents ‘needing’ kids, but kids needing families. Her children have varying abilities, but they are 100% a blessing to her and our community!! She began homeschooling her oldest at a...2025-06-1759 minOCHEC Conference 2025Dual Enrollment: Fastrack High School & Degree | Catherine DellerbaDaughter of the King | Homeschool Leader | Advocate for FamiliesCatherine Dellerba is a wife of 26 years, mother of four (ages 15–22), and a dedicated homeschool leader. Born in South Africa, she lived there for 30 years before moving to Canada as a missionary. After 12 years in corporate upper management, she chose to homeschool her children, with two now graduated. She leads a GTA homeschool group serving 120 families, has experience in Dual Enrollment (DE), and has run for provincial and municipal office. Passionate about justice, she works with human trafficking survivors, serves in a National Pro-Life group, and currently works pa...2025-06-1759 minOCHEC Conference 2025Living an Exuberant Life Frugally | Heather ZwartJake and Heather learned about and committed to homeschooling when their eldest son was just months old from a homeschool conference. They have homeschooled their four boys from birth to high school completion. Three have gone to university and have obtained engineering degrees. One has since transitioned to become a Pastor. The non-engineer has his own timber framing business. Their passion for homeschooling has resulted in working with OCHEC for over 30 years. Jake is Executive Director and Convention Coordinator. Heather is a board member, Office Administrator and is a vital assistant to the convention committee.2025-06-1759 minOCHEC Conference 2025Just an OINK (1 Income, 9 Kids) in a DINK world. | Jason WeeningJason and Alli have been married for 20 years, homeschooling their 10 kids for many of those years (well, mostly Alli). He speaks to parents encouraging them to be intentional in their most important organization – their family! He recently released a wholesome fiction book for kids, “Danger in the Jungle”, and his comical new book, “Yes, Dear…I’m Watching Them: True Stories of Injury and Adventure from the Frontlines of Dadhood”. He co-hosts the Helping Men Thrive podcast and supervises the care of pigs, hens, cows and vegetables on their hobby farm in southern Saskatchewan. He can be found at HEYDADS.ca.2025-06-1759 minOCHEC Conference 2025Home Science, Dinosaurs and the Flood of Noah | Ian JubyEducator, museum curator and TV producer / host, Ian has traveled all over North America conducting both scientific research and speaking on the Creation / Evolution topic since 1990. He is also the producer and host of Genesis Week, a weekly TV show broadcast internationally since 2013. He collected and built the first Creation Science museum in Canada and has spoken at churches, schools, Bible camps and VBS’s bringing his dinosaurs and displays with him wherever he went. He’ll be bringing his dinosaurs again and some of the latest research into dinosaur blood found preserved in dinosaur bones – research which you can do...2025-06-1759 minOCHEC Conference 2025Jesus: Messiah, Lord, and Savior | Henry HoHenry was born in Taiwan and grew up an atheist and evolutionist. After moving to Costa Rica at the age of 12 and to Toronto at the age of 15, he heard the gospel. As his many doubts and questions were answered one by one, the truth dawned on him- there is a God, and He is the God of the Bible. Contrary to other worldviews, Christianity is based on solid scientific, historical, and archaeological evidence. Henry graduated from the University of Toronto Medical School and works as a family doctor. He regularly preaches and teaches apologetics topics at churches, fellowships, schoo...2025-06-1752 minOCHEC Conference 2025The Porn Plague (And How To Fight It) | Jonathon Van MarenJonathon's writings have been translated into more than six languages and published in the National Post, National Review, First Things, The Federalist, The American Conservative, The Stream, the Jewish Independent, the Hamilton Spectator, Reformed Perspective Magazine, WORLD magazine, among others. He is a contributing editor to The European Conservative.His insights have been featured on CTV, Global News, and the CBC, as well as over twenty radio stations. He regularly speaks on a variety of social issues at universities, high schools, churches, and other functions in Canada, the United States, and Europe.He is the...2025-06-1759 minOCHEC Conference 2025Homeschooling in the Age of AI & Entrepreneurship | Nicole RichardsNicole Richards is a bestselling author, podcaster, Human Potential and Personal Reinvention Coach. She works with faith-focused visionaries and executives seeking the biblical connection between faith and business.Nicole had a successful career as an entrepreneur in the wedding industry, with a retail store and a team of 15 artists. Now she uses the listening skills she’s mastered as an artist to help clients find clarity in life and business. She runs a leadership event called www.mindingHISbusiness.com, connecting the intersection between business, life, and exploring our faith. Nicole homeschools her children in Ancaster, Ontario. www.ni...2025-06-1759 minOCHEC Conference 2025The Authenticity of the Bible | Henry HoHenry was born in Taiwan and grew up an atheist and evolutionist. After moving to Costa Rica at the age of 12 and to Toronto at the age of 15, he heard the gospel. As his many doubts and questions were answered one by one, the truth dawned on him- there is a God, and He is the God of the Bible. Contrary to other worldviews, Christianity is based on solid scientific, historical, and archaeological evidence. Henry graduated from the University of Toronto Medical School and works as a family doctor. He regularly preaches and teaches apologetics topics at churches, fellowships, schoo...2025-06-1759 minOCHEC Conference 2025Bridging Divides & Counting the Cost | Vanessa BrobbelVanessa Brobbel, a veteran homeschool mom & artist, works alongside her husband Floyd (CEO) for a ministry called The Voice of the Martyrs Canada. Much of her work involves speaking at and developing events, educational and special projects, women’s ministry and writing monthly VOM magazine Table Talk unit studies for families. For the past 24 years she has spoken at conferences & women’s retreats across Canada in this capacity. This ministry purposes to create an awareness of the persecution leveled against Christians around the world, while actively providing tools to mentor the Body of Christ both domestically and internationally to grow...2025-06-1759 minOCHEC Conference 2025Media: Navigating Everything | Brett UllmanBrett Ullman travels North America speaking to teens, young adults, leaders, and parents on topics including parenting, mental health, media, marriage, and men. Husband to Dawn, and father of Bennett and Zoe, Brett and his family make their home in Ajax. Brett was a teacher with the Toronto District School Board for ten years before moving into speaking full-time back in 2005. Brett has a Master’s degree in Evangelism and Leadership from Wheaton Graduate School in Chicago and is also a graduate of the Arrow Leadership Program. Brett completed his Masters in Counselling Psychology from Yorkville University and works pa...2025-06-1759 minOCHEC Conference 2025Hope for the Walking Wounded | Brett UllmanBrett Ullman travels North America speaking to teens, young adults, leaders, and parents on topics including parenting, mental health, media, marriage, and men. Husband to Dawn, and father of Bennett and Zoe, Brett and his family make their home in Ajax. Brett was a teacher with the Toronto District School Board for ten years before moving into speaking full-time back in 2005. Brett has a Master’s degree in Evangelism and Leadership from Wheaton Graduate School in Chicago and is also a graduate of the Arrow Leadership Program. Brett completed his Masters in Counselling Psychology from Yorkville University and works pa...2025-06-1759 minOCHEC Conference 2025Homeschool Under Pressure | Stacey WeeksStacey is a ministry wife, mother of three, and a sipper of hot tea with honey. She loves to open the Word of God and share the hope of Christ with women. She is a multi-award-winning author, a home educator, and a frequent conference speaker. Stacey has a Graduate Certificate in Women’s Ministry and a Graduate Certificate in Biblical Counselling from Heritage College and Seminary.2025-06-1759 minOCHEC Conference 2025Homeschooling in the Rearview Mirror: Reflections | Sarah HornblowerSarah has spent the past 20 years homeschooling her seven children, guiding them from preschool through high school. She embraces a relaxed, unschooling approach, tailoring learning experiences to each child’s unique needs and strengths.Beyond homeschooling, Sarah is a small-time farmer who enjoys growing and preserving her own food. When she’s not teaching or tending her farm, she loves playing soccer, reading, and canning. Passionate about helping other families, she shares her experiences to support fellow homeschoolers, ensuring they feel heard and know they are not alone on this journey.2025-06-1759 minOCHEC Conference 2025Special Needs Kids: Encouragement for the Journey | Sarah HornblowerSarah has spent the past 20 years homeschooling her seven children, guiding them from preschool through high school. She embraces a relaxed, unschooling approach, tailoring learning experiences to each child’s unique needs and strengths.Beyond homeschooling, Sarah is a small-time farmer who enjoys growing and preserving her own food. When she’s not teaching or tending her farm, she loves playing soccer, reading, and canning. Passionate about helping other families, she shares her experiences to support fellow homeschoolers, ensuring they feel heard and know they are not alone on this journey.2025-06-1759 minOCHEC Conference 2025Lessons On Leadership From Narnia & Middle-Earth | Jeremy W. JohnstonJeremy is an educator and homeschool dad, serving as an adjunct professor and teacher of history, classical studies, and English at several institutions, including Redeemer University, Heritage College & Seminary, Mohawk College, and Hillfield Strathallan College. He is the author of three books: J.R.R. Tolkien: Christian Maker of Middle-earth (biography, 2023), Undiminished Returns: Poems of a Christian Life (a collection of original poems, 2020), and All Things New: Essays on Christianity, culture & the arts (a series of essays on art and faith, 2018). He and his wife Laurie have homeschooled their four children for over twenty years. He also serves as...2025-06-1359 minOCHEC Conference 2025Coming To Faith | Colleen RichardsonColleen homeschooled her three children through high school, starting the journey before coming to faith in Christ. Having spent much of her adult life as an unbeliever, she has a unique perspective on the importance of teaching children to discern a Christian worldview. She is passionate about equipping parents to help their children recognize worldviews in books, movies, music, and culture so they can stand firm in truth. A lover of classic literature, she believes great books shape great minds when rooted in Scripture. Now, with her children grown, she finds joy in encouraging homeschoolers as they raise the...2025-06-1359 minOCHEC Conference 2025Get It Or Forget It | Matthew TurtonMatthew leads a dynamic team as the Director of Breakthroughs In Learning. As a seminar speaker he shares from his experience of what it’s like on both sides of learning disabilities. Having grown up with multiple learning disabilities he knows firsthand the challenges a struggling learner can face. He worked hard to overcome those challenges and creating breakthroughs for his clients each day is his opportunity to give back. Matthew is a best-selling author and an Educational Therapist with over 20,000 hours of experience working with children and adults with learning difficulties. When not in the office Matthew can be...2025-06-1359 minOCHEC Conference 2025Overcoming Fear, Anger, Overwhelm, & Discontentment in Your Homeschool | Paula MaretzkiPaula has been a wife to Gord for nearly 30 years and a mom to 8 children ages 13-27, with almost two married and almost two grandchildren! They live on a farm in Niagara where they run their family business teaching the endangered craft of stained glass all year round. God has used everything from the business to homeschooling to puppies to marriage and kids to continue the work of sanctification, in not just her life, but her whole family’s. Her favourite thing is to meet with younger moms and encourage them in their spiritual journey. She’s often joked she...2025-06-1359 minOCHEC Conference 2025Breaking Through Your Comfort Zone | Yana ZyskaHi, I’m Yana, a homeschooling parent who believes education extends beyond textbooks, embracing child uniqueness, character development, and spiritual growth. With my husband, we raise our five children in Barrie, Ontario.As parents, we’re entrusted with a sacred task – co-authoring with God in shaping who our children become. Having faced childhood struggles myself, I sought tools to empower my kids. Now a certified kids and youth life coach, I share professional expertise and personal insights with a Christian heart, offering practical strategies for building confidence, integrity, positive mindset and resilience.In my free time...2025-06-1359 minOCHEC Conference 2025Frugal Living | Carla AdamsI was trained as a piano teacher, but used most of my time to homeschool my seven children. I finished teaching my youngest child in 2023 and am currently teaching the high-school science curriculum for several homeschooling families. Part of my journey involved learning how to manage growing most of the berries and vegetables our family needed with my children to help keep our costs down. With 9 people to feed, clothe and educate, my husband and I pooled our energy and ideas together to creatively reach our goals of providing education, nutrition and opportunities for our children. I am excited...2025-06-1359 minOCHEC Conference 2025Does Marriage Plus Homeschooling Equals Stress? | Paula MaretzkiPaula has been a wife to Gord for nearly 30 years and a mom to 8 children ages 13-27, with almost two married and almost two grandchildren! They live on a farm in Niagara where they run their family business teaching the endangered craft of stained glass all year round. God has used everything from the business to homeschooling to puppies to marriage and kids to continue the work of sanctification, in not just her life, but her whole family’s. Her favourite thing is to meet with younger moms and encourage them in their spiritual journey. She’s often joked she...2025-06-1359 minOCHEC Conference 2025Raising Writers | Jil KollerJil completed her Bachelor of Arts and Education, her Masters of Education, and her PhD coursework in Literacy Education and is a certified Reading Specialist. She has recently written a Young Adult Christian Fantasy trilogy, scheduled to be released in 2026 and is committed to equipping and encouraging homeschool families to share in a love of literature. She shares free activities, teaching tips, and science experiments on her Instagram page @jil.koller. She has four children and has been homeschooling for over ten years. Jil helps run the children’s program at Redeemer City Church, Orillia. It is her greatest de...2025-06-1359 minOCHEC Conference 2025Why Homeschool? The Big Picture | Klaske KroesbergenKlaske and her husband, Bill, have been married for over 37 years. They have 6 children and 14 grandchildren. For the past 32 years, she has been involved with the homeschooling community – homeschooling from kindergarten through high school with one teenage son now nearing completion of his high school years.Klaske has a heart for lending a listening ear and encouraging and those struggling in their homeschooling journey. She is an executive board member of TEACH, the homeschool support group in Brantford, is actively involved in her church community and has recently started tutoring a few other homeschooled children. She enjoys gar...2025-06-1359 minOCHEC Conference 2025Post Secondary Alternatives For Homeschooled Grads | Cori DeanCori Dean is an author and speaker and the owner of The Learning House and Maple Tree Publications. With over 20 years of homeschool experience, she has traveled the country bringing support and encouragement to thousands of homeschoolers. Having graduated three daughters, she and her husband Mark continue to learn along side of their youngest at home and in their learning nook at their store in Bradford, Ontario. Cori loves long days of bicycling as well as camping and boating with the family and thinks there’s nothing better than a good book, some dark chocolate, and a cup of te...2025-06-1359 minOCHEC Conference 2025Educating The Heart, An Intro To Charlotte Mason | Tracy FastTracy is a second-generation homeschooling mom from Nanticoke, Ontario. With two children graduated and her youngest nearing completion, she’s passionate about sharing her experiences and insights with others. Inspired by the richness of Charlotte Mason’s educational philosophy, Tracy helped launch Kingsway Christian Academy, a hybrid school in Haldimand County, where she especially enjoys teaching Shakespeare. She’s also developed a Charlotte Mason-based Sunday school curriculum, currently in use at her local church and set for release later this year. When not teaching or writing, Tracy loves country life, watching her daughter tend to her horse and flock of duc...2025-06-1359 min
Cántaro InstituteThe Importance of Worldview Development in Education | Rev. Steven R. MartinsWhy is it important to develop in our children a distinctly Christian worldview? How is a Christian education fundamentally different from non-Christian education? At the presuppositional level, Christian education is not 75 or 90 percent different from non-Christian education, it is totally and radically different. Institute founder Steven R. Martins explains during his lecture at the OCHEC 2024 Convention at Redeemer University in Ancaster, Ontario.2024-05-0840 min
Renewed Mama | Parenting Tips, Reduce Overwhelm, Communicate Better, Speak Life, Strong Mom MindsetMama Truths with Rowan AtkinsonRowan Atkinson, author of ENOUGH ALREADY! Real Help for Home School Burnout, Freak Out, and Zone Out and podcast host of Canada Homeschools invited me on her show and I wanted to share those golden mama truths here with you.
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Resources Rowan referenced in the episode:
Rowan Atkinson
Her book: ENOUGH ALREADY! Real Help...2023-04-2516 min
Canada HomeschoolsS4E1 Speak LifeTo see Rowan and Kimberly in person at the OCEC conference click here: https://www.ochec.org/convention/For the Renewed Mama Podcast and Speak Life Badges, click here:Kimberly's websiteTo get Rowan’s book, click here: https://www.canadian-a.com/books-for-parents2023-04-1040 min
Canada HomeschoolsLarge Family Working Homeschool MomToday Rowan interviews Christine Dittman, who owns a Lego re-sale business and keeps busy homeschooling her ten children. Christine shares how she juggles her business and homeschooling, and also shares tips for homeschooling with a large family such as minimizing stuff in your house and other efficiencies.
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In the intro, we mentioned upcoming homeschool events. Here are some links for the resources mentioned:https://ochec.org/convention-2021/ www.schil.ca Canadian Homeschool Symposium
Heading to a ho...2022-04-101h 03
The Writer's HavenMaking Valuable Connections with Samantha HanniAuthor and Freelance Editor Samantha Hanni joins us as today's guest! A lot of great information is shared on connecting with the right editor and knowing how to connect with people in an increasingly virtual literature world.
SAMANTHA HANNI is a freelance editor and writer. Since 2015, she has authored four books and edited and written more than one hundred articles and posts for clients in the mental health, Christian living, and lifestyle industries. Some of her work has appeared on the YouVersion Bible app, Devotional Diva, To Love Honor and Vacuum, Families
Alive, and the OC...2021-04-2935 min