Global recessions are one thing, but when they affect our conference that’s something else again. This year we had a smaller than usual group, but the interest level was perhaps higher, and many people spoke of the added pleasure of more frequent interactions with people.

The conference this year was held in Simon Fraser University’s Harbour Centre campus in the centre of downtown Vancouver. From the huge rear window on the ground floor one looked out over the dramatic and sparkling harbour and North Shore mountains. We were fortunate in having beautiful weather throughout the week.

The conference began for fifteen or so of us who were involved in the Pre-conference workshop with a two-day session exploring Imaginative Education in theory and practice. The instructors for the two days were Kieran Egan and Kym Stewart. (Left) Kym is setting up one of the interactive activities that were part of the workshop.

Participants came from South Africa, Australia, Brazil, the U.S.A., England, China, and Canada. The theoretical presentations moved immediately into practical activities to improve participants’ understanding of the ideas, and also familiarize them with the planning frameworks for teaching we had prepared. Kym demonstrated, among a number of examples, her elaborate and engaging unit on media education.

The main conference got underway with a reception and talk on Wednesday evening, and began in earnest the following morning with Eleanor Duckworth’s keynote address, which you can enjoy here. Eleanor’s good humour and fascinating talk ensured that she was an object of many peoples’ questions and discussions throughout the conference.

Our other Invited Speaker was Dr. Gladir Cabral from Brazil, who gave a moving presentation about the Museum of Childhood. He spoke about children as makers of culture as well as users of cultural artifacts directed at children. The Museum of Childhood aims to collect and show object produced by and for children.

Sean Blenkinsop, a Director of the Imaginative Education Research Group designed a “soundscape” activity, which involved the whole conference taking to the streets of Vancouver in groups of eight, led by facilitators. The tour was to be conducted in total silence, and we were to attend to the sounds around us as we moved through the streets. On the left is Eleanor Duckworth listening and watching over the railroad yards by the water.

Mark Fettes, the third of IERG’s directorial triumvirate argued for the value of theorists and educators being on the same page when thinking about and working with the imagination. He said, “After decades of systematic neglect, imagination is re-emerging on the educational scene as a significant concept, but a lack of theoretical and philosophical coherence undermines its

impact in the field.”

The conference concluded with a magnificent sunny evening cruise up Indian Arm, a fjord that cuts between the mountains to the north and east of the city. Eleanor surprised many of us by demonstrating a remarkable flair and skill for dancing.

Drs. Vivianne Câmara and Gladir Cabral. Both from Brazil, far north and far south.

Enjoying the sun and the views. Stacey Makortoff, who worked heroically to make the conference a smooth success, in the all red outfit.