OCHEC Convention

Have you been home schooling for just a short time or have you been walking this journey for a while? Do you ever get weary and wonder how you can keep going? Join Louise as she shares some insights on homeschooling for the long haul. Louise will share lessons and tips she learned during 20 years of homeschooling her four children and through many years of helping homeschool families find their way in the journey. Find out why there is no win in comparison, how to keep commitments from overtaking your life, and so much more. Come and let your heart and soul be encouraged.

Louise and her husband Harold reside in scenic Goderich, Ontario. In 1994 they founded The Learning House, a homeschool supply company. They home educated their four children from preschool through high school. Three of their children had learning struggles. Since the sale of the company in 2020, to Mark and Cori Dean, Louise has continued working with The Learning House. She counts it a privilege to minister to homeschooling families through curriculum counseling, speaking and encouragement on a one-to-one basis.

The Bible is the true record of human history. But did we all come from Adam? Does the evidence from genetics and archaeology support a real, historical Adam? Can we trust what the Bible says about our ancestry?

Henry was born in Taiwan and grew up an atheist and evolutionist. After moving to Costa Rica at the age of 12 and then 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, schools, and conferences.

What do we do when one or more of our children are considered “outside of the box”? Perhaps your child(ren) has been diagnosed with a serious challenge or learning difficulty. Perhaps your homeschool is tougher because your home is affected by the ramifications of trying to schedule appointments, therapies, and/or navigate ongoing challenging behaviour. You may feel judged, overwhelmed and oftentimes, quite alone in your journey….Whether your child has been diagnosed formally or not, you are wanting to know that there’s hope. Through sharing stories, scriptures, & practical resources, from my special needs parenting and homeschooling journey, I will share how God carries us through each season and that He is faithful through it all- the highs, the lows, & the in-between.

Rachael is a mother of 7 precious children and now a grandmother to 3. She has been married to Jeff for over 20 years. Greatly motivated by a love for teaching children about Jesus and the Word, she serves as a leader and teacher in her church children’s ministry team. Part-time, she is a Forest School teacher. Rachael has a passion for prayer that grew while walking through numerous challenging life circumstances over the past few years, including the diagnosis of various special needs in several of her children, marital challenges, a traumatic joint injury, and seasons of battling severe depression. She remains thankful for God’s continual faithfulness and care.

In this seminar we will look at ways to enrich the basics that you are studying in your math curriculum so that your family can move beyond the theoretical study of a pure science into the realm of everyday life through practical application. Enhancing teaching through the use of games, literature, activities and manipulatives as well as through unit studies, and various subjects, such as science and art, are just starters to helping your family enjoy their math studies.

Cori Dean is an author, speaker, and owner of The Learning House and Maple Tree Publications as well as an NILD Educational Therapist. 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 alongside their youngest at home and in the learning nook at their store in Bradford, Ontario. She believes there’s nothing better than a good book, some dark chocolate, and a cup of tea.

What are handicrafts? How can you teach handicrafts if you don’t feel creatively qualified? In this workshop we’ll discuss these questions and more. Learn what Charlotte Mason had to say about handicrafts in the home and their value in home education. Discover how to realistically and practically implement handicrafts within your life and homeschool routine. You and your children can learn to enjoy the satisfaction of creating with your hands. No art experience required!

Lindi Cowan is a wife, mother, artist, and homemaker. She has been homeschooling her five children for eleven years. Lindi teaches Handicrafts and “The Riches” (Artist/Composer study, Hymns, Folksongs, and Poetry) part time at Kingsway Christian Academy, a Charlotte Mason Cottage School in Balmoral, Ontario. She is passionate about teaching the “slow arts“, and enjoys watching students discover the satisfaction of creating with their hands. Besides homeschooling and teaching, Lindi spends her time leading worship at Church, restoring her old house and painting heritage toys and heirloom pieces. She blogs about her historic home and creative projects at BlytheHouse1860.com

Grateful Heart Motherhood is an encouraging, faith-filled workshop that challenges the cultural mindset of simply “surviving” motherhood. Rooted in Scripture and real-life experience, this session invites parents to pursue a joy-filled, Spirit-led posture that remains grateful even in the midst of chaos. Drawing from the heart behind her Grateful Heart Motherhood podcast, Chelsea Dyan explores how gratitude shapes perspective, rhythms, and relationships within the home, and offers tangible, easy-to-implement practices that help cultivate joy, presence, and purpose in everyday family life. Participants will leave refreshed, equipped, and inspired to nurture a grateful, Christ-centered atmosphere in their homes.

Chelsea Dyan is a creator and mom of four who believes faith is often formed in everyday moments – sometimes even before the coffee kicks in. She and her husband Andrew have been homeschooling their kids for the past six years, learning alongside them and embracing the joyful and loud reality of family life. Serving as Director of Children’s Ministry at her local church, she partners with parents and volunteers to help point the next generation to Christ. She is also known through Grateful Heart Collective for her practical and creative Mom Hacks, sharing simple ideas to help home rhythms run smoothly and joyfully.

From the kitchen table to the nations. Parenthood isn’t a pause in ministry — it *is* ministry. In the midst of daily homeschool life, it’s possible to lose sight of the eternal impact happening within our own homes. This breakout session will encourage you to cultivate a missional mindset in your family, drawing from personal experience on the mission-field, behind the scenes of international organizations, and leading homeschool co-ops locally. Discover practical ways to cultivate a passion for making a difference, praying for the nations, engage in meaningful outreach, and raise children who shine brightly for Christ in their communities and beyond.

Stacy Foresteri is a devoted wife, and homeschool mom of three boys, who believes that raising children with strong character and unwavering faith can change the world. As the founder of Forest Kids, Stacy hosts learning co-ops and other outreach programs to support families in her community. Her heart for children also extends into her volunteer work in children’s ministry at her church, where she joyfully invests in the next generation. As an author, Stacy has written seven children’s devotionals that help kids engage in Scripture and experience God in a personal way.

In this session, Tracy Fast will encourage homeschoolers to embrace the Arts: poetry, picture study, music, Shakespeare, and drama, which are sometimes treated as extras but are essential to a full and vibrant home education. Drawing on Charlotte Mason’s philosophy, she will show why the arts matter, how we need beauty, and how they cultivate a full life and wide interests, while offering practical ways to make them a natural and joyful part of family life.

In this session, Tracy Fast will encourage homeschoolers to embrace the Arts: poetry, picture study, music, Shakespeare, and drama, which are sometimes treated as extras but are essential to a full and vibrant home education. Drawing on Charlotte Mason’s philosophy, she will show why the arts matter, how we need beauty, and how they cultivate a full life and wide interests, while offering practical ways to make them a natural and joyful part of family life.

In this workshop, we will explore how Scripture memorization shapes the Christian mind and trains our children to think biblically. You will learn practical memorization techniques that fit naturally into your homeschool routine, along with Charlotte Mason-style methods of review and repetition. We will also take a brief look at how memory works and why repeated recall is so effective. Most importantly, this workshop is not about cramming as much Scripture as possible into the early years, but about inspiring a lifelong love for God’s Word and giving your children a plan for memorizing and meditating on Scripture long after they leave your home.

Wesley DeVries has had the joy of pastoring Sweets Church for over 30 years. Sweets Church meets each week on a beautiful 50-acre campground right on the shores of Lake Erie. Wesley is married to his wife, Angela, and together they have two sons, two daughters, and four grandchildren. They homeschooled their children, strengthening their conviction that faith must be taught and lived out daily in the home. Wesley’s passion for Scripture memorization began in eighth grade, growing into a lifelong emphasis on Joshua 1:8. In his free time, he enjoys kite surfing, mountain biking, and time outdoors with family.

Dual enrollment allows students to earn high school and college credits simultaneously, fast-tracking their education while saving time and money. This workshop will break down, in simple terms, how it works, key institutions offering courses, GPA calculations, and transcript conversion. Learn how to navigate course selection, manage high school and degree requirements, and avoid common pitfalls. We’ll also discuss real-life benefits, including financial savings, early career opportunities, and academic flexibility. Whether for university, college, or alternative learning paths, discover how dual enrollment can work for your child.

Catherine Dellerba is a wife of 27 years, mother of four (ages 16–23), 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, 2 received their degrees by age 19. She leads a GTA homeschool group serving 140 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 part-time for a Christian non-profit.