Dr. Kelly Arbour Nicitopoulos is a Professor within the Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education and an Advisory Member of the Mental Health and Physical Activity Research Centre at the University of Toronto. She is also an Adjunct Scientist at the Bloorview Research Institute within Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital and a co-Investigator of the Canadian Disability Participation Project. Kelly leads a program of research that is theory-driven, using both quantitative and qualitative methods to measure, understand, and change physical activity behaviour in persons experiencing disability. Her work is founded in knowledge mobilization, where she collaborate with families and persons experiencing disability as well as community organizations to ensure the research she is involved in is able to address relevant and timely needs of the disability community. 

Neeka Barnes has worked in the early learning and care field for the 46 years. She has a diverse background that includes roles as a home child care provider and consultant, life skills coach, college professor and college program coordinator. For the past 17 years, she has worked as a Director at Andrew Fleck Children’s Services. She is excited and passionate about building partnerships, providing high quality client centric service, creating meaningful and joyful outdoor experiences for children and families, and working with others who are committed to the values and vision of Andrew Fleck Children’s Services.

Dr. Louise de Lannoy completed her PhD at Queen’s University in clinical exercise physiology. Her interests in population health and knowledge translation led her to join the Healthy Active Living and Obesity Research Team at the CHEO Research Institute where she became involved in and helped grow Outdoor Play Canada into the not-for-profit organization it is today. Louise is passionate about environmental stewardship, finding daily joy and wonder outdoors, and thinking creatively and collaboratively about whole-of-community challenges.  She can’t believe her luck in finding such a joyous, satisfying, and playful form of work that aligns almost magically with these passions. Outside of OPC, Louise enjoys exploring Ottawa by running, cycling and skiing through it and winding down at the end of the day on the couch with a glass of wine, her partner Jeff, and their geriatric puppy.

Kim Hiscott est une éducatrice de la petite enfance agréée qui vit à Ottawa, au Canada. Elle est directrice générale d'Andrew Fleck Children's Services, une grande organisation multiservice et multisite à but non lucratif qui comprend des services d'apprentissage et d'accueil des jeunes enfants agréés, des services d'aide aux personnes ayant des besoins particuliers et des services de soutien aux parents. Elle est passionnée par les jeux en plein air, l'apprentissage des programmes intergénérationnels, inspirée par les éducateurs collaboratifs et réfléchis et désireuse d'étudier des partenariats non traditionnels pour construire un système qui respecte tous les enfants et toutes les familles. 

Maeghan James est boursière postdoctorale au sein du groupe de recherche sur la vie active saine et l'obésité (HALO) et travaille sous la supervision du Dr Mark Tremblay au Centre canadien pour le jeu en plein air (CCOP). Maeghan a complété son Ph. D. à l'Université de Toronto où son programme de recherche s'est concentré sur la compréhension du rôle des parents dans le développement moteur et l'activité physique des enfants durant la petite enfance. Les recherches actuelles de Maeghan se concentrent sur la promotion du jeu actif en plein air pour tous les enfants et sur la compréhension de l'impact du jeu en plein air sur le développement holistique et le bien-être dans les premières années de la vie. Maeghan est passionnée par la promotion de l'activité physique et du jeu chez les enfants de toutes capacités et a eu le privilège de travailler avec des enfants et des jeunes et d'apprendre d'eux depuis plus de 10 ans. Maeghan s'efforce d'établir des partenariats avec les enfants, les familles et les membres de la communauté afin de mener des recherches significatives et efficaces. En dehors de son travail avec HALO et CCOP, Maeghan aime passer du temps à l'extérieur en faisant du vélo, du sport, en promenant son chien Eddie et en faisant du camping.

Lisa Lalonde est titulaire d'une maîtrise en leadership et gestion de l'éducation de l'Université Royal Roads. Elle est candidate à l'adresse Ph. D. en psychologie appliquée et en développement humain, à l'Institut d'études pédagogiques de l'Ontario, à l'Université de Toronto. Lisa est professeur/coordonnatrice de la licence en apprentissage précoce et développement communautaire au Collège Algonquin. Lisa a plus de 20 ans d'expérience auprès des enfants, des familles et de la communauté élargie de l'apprentissage précoce. Ses domaines d'intérêt et de recherche sont l'examen de l'identité professionnelle et de l'engagement des EPE, ainsi que le rôle du jeu et de la pédagogie dans l'apprentissage précoce, et elle travaille sur un certain nombre d'initiatives communautaires passionnantes.

Professor Mark Tremblay has a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Sports Administration and a Bachelor of Physical and Health Education degree from Laurentian University. His graduate training was from the University of Toronto where he obtained his M.Sc. and Ph.D. from the Department of Community Health with a specialty in Exercise Science. Dr. Tremblay is a Senior Scientist with the Healthy Active Living and Obesity (HALO) Research Group at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute and Professor of Pediatrics in the Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa. He is a Fellow of the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology, Fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine, Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences, President of the Active Healthy Kids Global Alliance, Founder of the Sedentary Behaviour Research Network, President of Outdoor Play Canada, and Adjunct/Visiting Professor at five other universities on four continents. Dr. Tremblay has published >600 scientific papers and book chapters in the areas of childhood obesity, physical activity measurement, exercise physiology, sedentary physiology, outdoor play and health surveillance. According to Scopus, his h-index is 108 and his published research has been cited >49,000 times, consistently placing him on the Clarivate list of highly cited researchers (top 1% in the world). He has delivered or coauthored over 1,000 scholarly conference presentations, including more than 150 invited and keynote addresses, in 22 different countries. Dr. Tremblay received an honorary doctorate from Nipissing University, the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, the Lawson Foundation 60th Anniversary Award, the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology Honour Award and John Sutton Memorial Lecturer Award, the Victor Marchessault Advocacy Award from the Canadian Pediatric Society, the Vic Neufeld Mentorship Award in Global Health Research from the Canadian Coalition for Global Health Research, the International Network of Time-Use Epidemiologists Laureate Award, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research Trailblazer Award in Population and Public Health Research, and the Obesity Canada Distinguished Lecturer Award for his leadership contributions to healthy active living in Canada and around the world. Dr. Tremblay’s most productive work has resulted from his 35-year marriage to his wife Helen, yielding four wonderful children.

Alessia Capone (she/her) is a second year PhD student working under the supervision of Dr. Kelly Arbour-Nicitopoulos in the ADAPT Lab at the University of Toronto, in collaboration with the CCOP. Alessia received a Master of Professional Kinesiology (MPK) at the University of Toronto in 2022.

Bayan Kaid is a Registered Early Childhood Educator (RECE) who recently graduated from the Bachelor or Early Learning and Community Development (BELCD) honours degree program at Algonquin College. Bayan has an advanced diploma in Advertising and Marketing Communications Management and a diploma in Early Childhood Education. With a keen interest in connecting policy, research, and practice, Bayan is elated for the opportunity to refine her skills and carry on the mission of her predecessor, Mallory. Similar to Mallory, her focus is on continuing to build capacity and thought-leadership for outdoor play stakeholders, as well as leading advocacy initiatives for the promotion of outdoor play in the early years. Having a deep passion for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB), Bayan is excited to find ways to make the benefits of outdoor learning accessible for all.

Amy Jo Smith is a Registered Early Childhood Educator and a Resource Consultant with Children’s Inclusion Support Services, seconded to the CCOP for our project supporting children with disabilities in outdoor play and learning in natural spaces.  She has been co – learning alongside children and families in diverse settings for the past two decades, and is passionate about creating accessible, welcoming spaces for children of all abilities to grow, explore and thrive. She has continued her learning journey in becoming a Forest and Nature School Practitioner and Trauma Competent Care Practitioner. She loves to be outdoors connecting, playing, and exploring alongside children, sharing their wonder and joy of discovery,  and learning together from the resilience and beauty of the natural world.  She can be found outdoors in all seasons –   hiking a forest trail,  enjoying Ottawa’s waterways on a bike path or a paddleboard, or skiing on one of the many winter trails!

Paula ter Huurne est une éducatrice de la petite enfance agréée, une passionnée de plein air et une apprenante à vie ; elle est titulaire d'un diplôme en éducation de la petite enfance du Collège Algonquin, ayant effectué son stage final en Nouvelle-Zélande pour étudier le programme Te Whāriki, et d'un diplôme spécialisé en linguistique avec une concentration en psycholinguistique et en troubles de la communication de l'Université Carleton. Paula a plus de dix ans d'expérience de travail avec les enfants et les familles dans divers contextes communautaires et d'apprentissage précoce. Elle est également une bénévole dévouée du Camp Quality, au service des familles d'oncologie pédiatrique, et possède de l'expérience dans l'organisation de programmes en plein air, la collecte de fonds et la coordination d'événements. Paula est passionnée par les changements sociaux équitables, la gestion de l'environnement, les environnements riches en langues pour les jeunes enfants et les opportunités de plein air pour les personnes de tous âges et de toutes capacités.