George Brown Polytechnic is located on the traditional territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation and other Indigenous peoples who have lived here over time. We are grateful to share this land as treaty people who learn, work and live in the community with each other.
Resilience in Action: Turning Complexity into Opportunities
Date: Monday, June 15th, 2026
Location: Limberlost Place, 185 Queens Quay East, Toronto, Ontario, M5A 1B6 and online
The EvolvED conference, hosted by the Teaching and Learning Exchange (TLX), is an annual event focused on teaching and learning. It is a chance to highlight and celebrate all of the teaching innovation and excellence that is happening across George Brown Polytechnic.
This one-day conference, taking place Monday, June 15th, 2026, at our Limberlost Campus and online, will include a keynote presentation by Dr. Erin Aspenlieder, concurrent sessions led by George Brown faculty, a panel presentation (or structured group discussion), lunch, and a reception at the end of the day. In-person participants will have an opportunity to join online sessions. Likewise, some of the in-person elements will be livestreamed online.
George BrOWN Your Tomorrow – at George Brown Polytechnic – where students are empowered as architects of their own future. How can faculty champion this vision by transforming challenges into opportunities in their teaching and learning, while continuing to build on the strong foundation of excellence they have already established in delivering high‑quality, polytechnic‑ready education?
The EvolvEd 2026 conference invites faculty to imagine what’s possible - exploring diverse answers and transformative solutions for expanding opportunities in higher education, from inclusive practices and applied research to technology-driven strategies.
Through dynamic sessions, meaningful networking, and thought-provoking discussions, participants will exchange ideas, build connections, and collaborate on innovative solutions that showcase George Brown’s evolution and its unwavering commitment to student success, partnerships and communities.
This year's theme is Resilience in Action: Turning Complexity into Opportunities.
This theme celebrates the power of resilience and empowerment in shaping education’s future. It recognizes the outstanding contributions faculty are already making and invites them to showcase the meaningful work that reflects this ongoing excellence. By fostering equity and driving innovation, we can create learning environments where every student thrives.
Centred on collaboration and growth, this theme encourages a mindset that sees obstacles as steppingstones toward progress. It inspires educators to strengthen networks, share ideas, and work together to design inclusive, future-ready learning experiences for all.
Online registration will open soon.
Conference Streams
- Technology-driven transformation
- Resilience and adaptability in education: Indigenous, accessible, and EDI-informed practices
- Collaborative leadership and networking
- Innovation in teaching and learning
- Applied research and evidence-based innovation & scholarship
Technology-driven transformation
Showcasing how educators use digital technologies to enrich learning and teaching by nurturing innovation, flexibility, and meaningful student engagement. Proposals may explore technology enabled course design, data informed teaching practices, and digital research methodologies that strengthen collaboration, experiential learning, and real-world problem-solving across evolving academic, community, and industry contexts.
Resilience and adaptability in education: Indigenous, accessible, and EDI-informed practices
Highlighting how educators build resilience and respond to uncertainty by creating learning environments where students can belong and success across different and changing conditions. Proposals may address accessible and inclusive course design (UDL), culturally safe and anti-oppressive practice, and Indigenous ways of knowing and teaching that strengthen relational accountability, student support, and responsiveness to evolving community and industry needs.
Collaborative leadership and networking
Emphasizing how educators cultivate collaboration and shared problem-solving by creating spaces for open exchange of strategies and reflective dialogue. Proposals may highlight practices that strengthen professional communities, support collective learning, and encourage transparent discussion of both successes and challenges in response to shifting institutional, community, and industry priorities.
Innovation in teaching and learning
Highlighting innovative practices and emerging directions that are transforming educational delivery, while deepening and extending the proven strategies that support polytechnic ready learning. Proposals may explore novel pedagogical approaches, adaptable program models, and forward-thinking instructional methods that respond to evolving learner needs, technological advancements, and shifting industry expectations.
Applied research and evidence-based innovation & scholarship
Focusing on applied research and Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) that generate practical solutions and expand knowledge in ways that meaningfully influence industry, communities, and educational practice. Proposals may highlight evidence-based innovation, collaborative inquiry, and research-informed approaches that enhance teaching and learning while strengthening responsiveness to emerging challenges and real-world needs.
Keynote Speaker
Dr. Erin Aspenlieder
Erin Aspenlieder is the Director of the Office of Teaching and Learning at the University of Guelph, where she leads a team advancing institutional priorities in teaching, learning, and the integration of generative AI. She holds a PhD in English and Cultural Studies and brings over 15 years of experience as an educational developer in post-secondary education.
Erin has held senior leadership roles across the Ontario post-secondary sector, including Associate Vice-Provost, Academic Quality and Teaching Innovation at Sheridan College and Special Advisor to the Provost on Generative AI at McMaster University, where she led institutional AI guideline development. She is co-author of AI Playbook for Teaching and Learning Leaders, an open-access resource for post-secondary educators and administrators navigating AI adoption. Her work sits at the intersection of educational quality, institutional change, and critically engaged AI literacy.