The PHE Canada Podcast

This is the first episode in a two-part series about PHE Canada's Game Changers program. In this first episode, host Caleb Poulin is joined by Sherra Rogers, physical education teacher and Master of Education student at St. Francis Xavier University, along with PHE Canada’s Programs and Resources Lead, Kelsey Fahie, to discuss the research side of the Game Changers project. They explore how the program was studied, what the research process looked like and the key findings that emerged from the participating schools.

Together, they unpack how Game Changers empowers students of all abilities to co-create inclusive physical activity opportunities in their schools. Drawing on research conducted across schools in multiple provinces, Sherra shares key findings from student and teacher interviews, highlighting the impact of student voice, leadership, belonging, and community connection on participation in physical activity.

Throughout the conversation, Sherra and Kelsey reflect on the power of giving students meaningful choice in their learning experiences and discuss how inclusive, student-centered programming can foster confidence, friendship, and engagement both inside and outside of school. They also explore what educators can learn from the Game Changers model and how its principles can be applied to physical education classes, intramural programs, and school communities more broadly.

This episode dives into conversations around:

• How the Game Changers program supports students of all abilities through inclusive, school-based physical activity experiences;
• Key research findings related to motivation, competence, leadership, friendship, and community engagement;
• The role of student voice and choice in creating meaningful and sustainable physical activity opportunities;
• Practical ways educators can build more inclusive programs that reach students who may not traditionally participate; and
• Resources and tools available to help schools implement student-centered, inclusive programming of their own.

As the conversation reminds us, some of the most impactful programs begin by simply asking students what they need, what they enjoy, and how they want to participate. When students are given the opportunity to lead, contribute, and belong, meaningful change can happen.

A special thank you to Sherra Rogers and Kelsey Fahie for sharing their experiences, insights, and passion for creating more inclusive and empowering physical activity opportunities for students across Canada.

Additional Resources:

• PHE Canada's Resource: School-Based Physical Activity Experiences for Students of All Abilities
• PHE Canada’s Student Centere Learning Toolkit
• Research Article: Game changers: school sport as a resource of hope for students with disabilities
• Research Article: Game Changers: Providing Equitable Sporting Opportunities for Students with Disabilities
• PHE Journal Article: 5 Educator Tips and Resources to Help You Support Students with Diverse Abilities

In this episode of the PHE Canada Podcast, host Caleb Poulin sits down with Aaron Stout, Greg Ogilvie, and Dawn Burleigh from the University of Lethbridge to explore how wellness is being woven into the fabric of their teacher education program.

Together, they unpack the story of the university’s Wellness Committee — how it began, how it’s evolved, and why they believe that “well spaces are learning spaces.” From tackling burnout and attrition to empowering pre-service teachers to prioritize their own wellbeing, this conversation offers a thoughtful look at what it means to nurture wellness as both a personal practice and a professional foundation.

You’ll hear about:

• How the University of Lethbridge is embedding wellness into its Bachelor of Education program.
• The power of student-led initiatives and community-driven approaches.
• Practical ways educators can model wellness, build supportive environments, and sustain their energy for the long term.

As Caleb reminds us, wellness isn’t an add-on — it’s a culture. When educators experience it themselves, they’re better equipped to pass it on.

Special thanks to Aaron, Greg, and Dawn for sharing their insights and passion for creating healthier, more connected learning spaces.

Tune in, reflect, and join the conversation:

• 💬 Share your thoughts with us on social media @PHECanada
• ⭐ If you enjoyed the episode, please subscribe, rate, and share to keep the wellness conversation growing.

Resources:

• https://www.ulethbridge.ca/teachingcentre/redesigning-our-approach-student-wellness 
• https://www.hpec.ab.ca/uploads/files/RunnerVol54No1_2023-05.pdf

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Dans cet épisode du balado d’EPS Canada, l’animateur Caleb Poulin échange avec Aaron Stout, Greg Ogilvie et Dawn Burleigh de l’Université de Lethbridge pour explorer comment le bien être est intégré au coeur de leur programme de formation à l’enseignement.

Ensemble, ils et elles racontent l’histoire du Comité bien être de l’université, comment il a vu le jour, comment il a évolué et pourquoi leur conviction est simple : des espaces où l’on se sent bien sont des espaces où l’on apprend bien. De la prévention de l’épuisement et de l’attrition au soutien des personnes étudiantes en enseignement pour qu’elles et ils priorisent leur propre bien être, cette conversation propose une réflexion riche sur le bien être comme pratique personnelle et fondement professionnel.

Au fil de l’épisode, vous découvrirez :

• Comment l’Université de Lethbridge intègre le bien être à son baccalauréat en enseignement
• La force des initiatives portées par les personnes étudiantes et des approches ancrées dans la communauté;
• Des pistes concrètes pour que le personnel enseignant puisse incarner le bien être, créer des milieux soutenants et préserver son énergie sur le long terme.

Comme le rappelle Caleb, le bien être n’est pas un ajout. C’est une culture. Quand le personnel enseignant le vit lui même, il est mieux outillé pour le transmettre.

Un grand merci à Aaron, Greg et Dawn pour leurs idées et leur engagement envers des milieux d’apprentissage plus sains et plus connectés.

Écoutez l’épisode, prenez un moment pour réfléchir et joignez vous à la discussion :

• 💬 Partagez vos impressions sur les réseaux sociaux à @PHECanada.
• ⭐ Si l’épisode vous a plu, abonnez vous, laissez une évaluation et partagez le balado pour faire grandir la conversation sur le bien être.

Ressources :

• https://www.ulethbridge.ca/teachingcentre/redesigning-our-approach-student-wellness 
• https://www.hpec.ab.ca/uploads/files/RunnerVol54No1_2023-05.pdf

Dans cet épisode, l'animateur Benjamin Boulet s'entretient avec l'éducateur Mitchell Caissy et les élèves Riley et Thomas de l'école François-Buote, sur l'Île-du-Prince-Édouard. Ensemble, ils partagent leur expérience de la mise en œuvre du plan d'action pour la prévention des méfaits liés à la consommation de substances dans leur communauté scolaire.

Cet épisode offre des informations précieuses aux administrateurs, aux éducateurs et aux enseignants en formation, en montrant comment le plan d'actionet l’approche globale de la santé en milieu scolaire peuvent informer et transformer les politiques et les pratiques scolaires. Vous entendrez des exemples concrets, y compris des stratégies adoptées par l'école pour relever des défis courants tels que le vapotage dans les salles de bain et les préoccupations des parents.

La conversation porte sur les quatre approches d'intervention du plan d'action :

• Activités de prévention en amont
• Réduction des méfaits
• Réduction de la stigmatisation
• Orienté sur l'équité

L'école François-Buote a pour but de mener des actions visant à créer des espaces plus sûrs et sans stigmatisation, de faire entendre la voix des élèves et d'établir des partenariats solides avec la communauté. L’école n’en est qu’au début de sa mise en place d’actions mais a déjà des belles initiatives telles que l’ouverture de la salle de sport et de la salle d’art durant les temps de pause pour mettre aux élèves d’avoir un espace d’expression non-stigmatisant. De belles idées sont apparues dans cet échange comme le souhait de faire intervenir des membres de la communauté afin de parler des dangers de la consommation de substance aux élèves de l’école.

Les principaux enseignements de cet épisode sont les suivants :

• Comment tirer parti du cadre de l’approche globale de la santé en milieu scolaire - enseignement et apprentissage, environnement social et physique, politique et partenariats et services - pour soutenir les initiatives de prévention à l'échelle de l'école
• Les stratégies concrètes que les écoles peuvent adopter pour lutter contre les méfaits liés à la consommation de substances
• Surmonter les défis et les obstacles liés à la prévention de la consommation de substances tout en favorisant une culture scolaire positive et inclusive.

Que vous soyez chef d'établissement, éducateur ou enseignant en formation, cet épisode offre des perspectives concrètes sur l'utilisation du plan d'action pour créer un environnement scolaire plus sain et plus favorable. Vous y trouverez des exemples de réussites et des conseils pratiques sur la manière de mettre en œuvre ces bapproches dans votre propre école!

• Ressources pour la prévention des méfaits liés à la consommation de substances chez les jeunes
• Santé Scolaire Globale - Collaboration des gouvernements dans les secteurs de la santé et de l’éducation
• Expériences Santé Canada

Transcription de l'épisode

In this episode, host Caleb Poulin speaks with principal Bryan Gard, educators Collin Dillon and Krystal Woodside, and students Sullivan Gaudet and Mary-Anne Gard from Westisle Composite High School on Prince Edward Island. Together, they share their experiences implementing the Blueprint for Action to prevent substance-related harms in their school community.

This episode offers valuable insights for administrators, educators, and pre-service teachers, showcasing how the Blueprint for Action and the Comprehensive School Health (CSH) framework can inform and transform school policies and practices. You'll hear real-life examples, including strategies the school has adopted to address common challenges like vaping in bathrooms and parental concerns.

The conversation covers the four intervention approaches from the Blueprint:

• Upstream Prevention
• Harm Reduction
• Stigma Reduction
• Equity-Oriented Approaches

Westisle Composite High School has been leading efforts to create safer, stigma-free spaces, engage student voice, and build strong community partnerships. The team highlights initiatives like their Student Leaders Day, where students educate younger peers about vaping, and they discuss how the Blueprint for Action’s key messages are guiding their comprehensive substance use education efforts.

Key takeaways from the episode include:

• How to leverage the CSH framework—Teaching and Learning, Social and Physical Environment, Policy, and Partnerships and Services—to support school-wide prevention initiatives.
• Real-world strategies that schools can adopt to tackle substance-related harms, such as creating trauma-informed practices and offering restorative alternatives to punitive measures.
• Overcoming challenges and barriers in substance use prevention while fostering a supportive, inclusive school culture.

Whether you're a school leader, educator, or pre-service teacher, this episode provides actionable insights into using the Blueprint for Action to build a healthier, more supportive school environment. Tune in for examples of success stories and practical advice on how to implement these approaches in your own school!

To learn more:

• Resources for Preventing Substance-Related Harms in Youth
• Comprehensive School Health - Joint Consortium for School Health

Implementing the Blueprint for Action to Reduce Substance-Related Harms in Schools Episode Transcript

Welcome to The PHE Canada Podcast!

In our last episode of Season 1, we speak with Daniel Stevens, Director of Education for Nipissing First Nation, and Lacy Stevens-Farrel, Nbisiing Secondary School Principal, about land as pedagogy, specifically within Nipissing First Nation.

Alongside our host, Josh Read, Daniel and Lacy share their invaluable perspectives and insights on navigating the nuances of what is called land-based learning in a Canadian context. We highly recommend tuning into this episode as our guests open a dialogue around the learnings taking place at Nbisiing Secondary School in Nipissing First Nation and how they uphold Indigenous culture, perspectives, worldviews, and traditional ways in education.

This episode dives into conversations around :

• Where land-based learning fits into the broader educational umbrella and how land-based learning is not a new methodology;
• Why relationships in their community are central to their school and teachings;
• How Nipissing First Nation and Nbisiing Secondary School are part of the larger picture of what education is, acting as a bridge between educational perspectives; and,
• So much more!

Links relevant to this episode:

www.nbisiing.com

Today's episode is diving into the complexities of student vaping, an issue that schools are facing across the country. We're joined by Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist, Dr. Tea Rosic, from the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) and Ryan Fahey, Lead of Programs and Resources at PHE Canada to share their clinical and school-based perspectives around youth vaping and the crucial information educators should know when supporting students.

In this episode, we explore:

• How withdrawals can impact the school day;
• Challenges educators are facing;
• Strategies educators and schools can use when supporting students;
• Tools to address vaping in your school;

Resources:

• STOMP Hub
• Not An Experiment
• The Ontario Student Drug Use and Health Survey (OSDUHS)
• STOP program by CAMH 
• QUASH App 
• Canadian Tobacco and Nicotine Survey (CTNS): Summary of results for 2021

Join us as we welcome Jessy Wollen, a certified Sexual Health Educator and the founder of SHIFT Education. In this candid conversation, we delve into the world of sexual health education as Jessy sheds light on the pivotal role of educators in providing students with scientifically accurate information to empower them to make informed decisions about their health and well-being.

In this episode, we'll explore:

• What sexual health education looks like from kindergarten to Grade 10, navigating age-appropriate content and discussions.
• Strategies for schools to effectively support educators in teaching sexual health, fostering a safe and inclusive learning environment.
• The importance of incorporating value exercises to foster a sense of community and respect among students.
• An honest examination of the role of pornography in sexual health education and its implications for young learners.

Don't miss this enlightening discussion that promises to challenge perceptions and provide valuable insights into the complexities of sexual health education.

Connect with Jessy

• Website: www.shift-education.com
• Social Media: @shifteducation
• Other Podcasts: Growing up Game Plan Podcast, Episode 8 and 9 

Welcome to The PHE Canada Podcast! In our third episode, we speak with Equity and Inclusion Consultant, Andrea Barrow, from Limestone District School Board around gender inclusive physical and health education spaces. Andrea shares how she consults and works alongside administrators to develop and implement site specific plans to create safer and culturally responsive learning environments.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode

• Supporting and Protecting LDSB Transgender-Spectrum And/Or Gender Non-Conforming Students https://www.gegi.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/LDSB_2020_SupportingprotectingLDSBTransgender-SpectrumAndOrGenderNon-ConformingStudents.pdf 
• Flipping the Script on Gendered PHE: https://phecanada.ca/sites/default/files/content/docs/flipping-the-script-pamphlet-en.pdf 
• 2SLGBTQI Sports Inclusion: Playbook to breaking down barriers: https://egale.ca/awareness/sports-inclusion-playbook/
• Inclusion in Canadian Sports Network: https://inclusionincanadiansports.ca/

Welcome to The PHE Canada Podcast! 

In the second episode of our podcast, we speak with principal, Silvia Speck, and PHE teacher, Lisa Winters, from Avonmore Elementary School. Alongside our incredible host, Josh Read, Silvia and Lisa share their outlook and experience with the importance and benefits of healthy school initiatives, and how they organize and facilitate their Power Hour, Grow Wall and Community Garden, Monthly Wellness Wall, and so much more! 

Whether you are new to running healthy school initiatives, are looking for healthy active living opportunities to begin at your school, are wanting to learn about ways to foster stronger relationships with students and staff, and/or how to engage families and your local community to get involved, we highly recommend tuning into this podcast episode. Avonmore Elementary is taking wonderful steps to enhance and promote wholistic well-being at their school which is encouraging students to bring their own ideas around healthy school initiatives to life.

Check out more from Avonmore Elementary:

• https://avonmore.ucdsb.on.ca/home 
• Avonmore Elementary School is a Two-Time, Gold-Certified Healthy School

In this episode of 'The PHE Canada Podcast,' we dive headfirst into the enchanting world of outdoor play, exploring its transformative impact on education with guests Dr. Louise de Lannoy and Dr. Maeghan James.

Join us as we unlock the secrets to creating dynamic learning experiences beyond the classroom walls. Discover how outdoor play not only enhances physical well-being but also cultivates creativity, problem-solving skills, and a love for learning.

Our expert guests share practical tips for integrating outdoor play into your teaching toolkit, making every lesson an adventure. From nature-inspired activities to harnessing the benefits of fresh air, this episode is your guide to revitalizing education and fostering a lifelong love for movement and exploration.

Tune in, be inspired, and let's embrace the power of outdoor play together.

Resources Mentioned in Episode: 

• Position Statement on Active Outdoor Play: https://www.outdoorplaycanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/position-statement-on-active-outdoor-play-en.pdf
• https://meganzeni.com/
• https://teacher.outsideplay.org/
• https://outdoorlearningstore.com/
• https://www.outdoorplaycanada.ca/

Dr. Louise de Lannoy

Website: https://www.outdoorplaycanada.ca

Twitter: @louisecdelannoy

Other podcast features:

• https://saskoutdoors.org/podcast/ 
• https://open.spotify.com/episode/5LcoSbZzhf024TKwGJ8Js4?si=5681ff1e42184ad7 

Dr. Maeghan James

Website: https://www.haloresearch.ca/ 

Twitter: @MaeghanJames