Languages Without Borders 2027

Public Speaker, Host, and Author

Michael Redhead Champagne

Michael Redhead Champagne is an Ininew speaker, host, author, on-screen personality and advocate for children, youth, and families. He is committed to systems change through love, equity, and justice. Originally from Shamattawa First Nation, Michael has spent most of his life in the North End of Winnipeg and now travels to different territories sharing stories, community organizing models, and published works including his first children’s book, We Need Everyone, and a graphic novel/creation story about him, Little by Little: You Can Change the World, both with HighWater Press.

A sought-after public speaker, event host, critical thinker, systems challenger, and community organizer, Michael has also appeared on various political panels, podcasts, and television shows, including APTN’s First Contact & Michif Country. He is knowledgeable in various subject areas including youth engagement, health, child welfare, education, and creating action plans. An avid volunteer, co-founder of Zoongizi Ode Inc., and community curator for North End History, Michael also organizes the Ininímotán Language Table and hosts the annual North End Graduation Walk. He applies strength-based perspectives and humour to solve complicated challenges and believes that Indigenous knowledge will save the world.

Assistant Professor, University of Alberta

Dr. Ava Becker

Ava Becker is an assistant professor of language and literacy education in the Faculty of Education at the University of Alberta. Her research on heritage language development and multilingualism more broadly is motivated by her desire to foster conditions for language learning and use that are responsive to a fuller range of human experience, including intergenerational trauma. In her recent projects, she has brought trauma-informed principles into conversation with multimodal research methods to better understand the complexities of multilingualism, migration, and student voice in contemporary secondary education.

Professor, University of Calgary

Dr. Wei Cai

Wei Cai is a professor in the School of Languages, Linguistics, Literatures and Cultures at the University of Calgary and the Director of the Graduate Program in Languages, Literatures and Cultures. She previously served as Chair of the Division of Chinese Studies and Japanese Studies, Director of the Language Research Centre, and President of the Chinese Language Teaching and Research Association. Her main research interests include second language listening, second language acquisition, artificial intelligence in language teaching and learning, and teacher education. Wei received the Robert Roy Award from CASLT in 2023, and the Leadership and Mentorship Award from the University of Calgary’s Faculty of Arts in 2025. Her book Teaching and Researching Chinese Second Language Listening was published by Routledge (Taylor & Francis Group) in 2022. The edited volume Researching and Teaching the Chinese Language: Voices from Canada was published by Springer in 2024. Her forthcoming book, Using Artificial Intelligence in Language Education, will be published by Bloomsbury.

Program Director and Associate Professor, University of Regina

Dr. Stephen Davis

Dr. Stephen Davis is the director of the Baccalauréat en éducation française program and an associate professor in the Faculty of Education at the University of Regina. His research interests include French immersion programs, multilingualism, inclusive education, language ideology, language policy, refugee studies, and plurilingual pedagogical approaches. Through his teaching, research, and service, Stephen advocates for more equitable and inclusive language education programs across Canada and beyond.

Manager of EAL and Language Programs, Edmonton Catholic Schools

Dr. Sarah Fedoration

Dr. Sarah Fedoration is the Manager of English as an Additional Language (EAL) and Language Programs at Edmonton Catholic Schools. Dedicated to strong language programs in her school division, Sarah recognizes that creating thriving programs requires vision and both strategic and systems thinking. Through collaboration with multiple departments and organizations, Sarah aims to have thriving language programs where all students receive strong linguistic and cultural experiences.

Program Coordinator, Edmonton Public Schools

Stephanie Jackson

Stephanie Jackson is an educator with Edmonton Public Schools. She has worked as a French teacher, consultant, and program leader. Stephanie is passionate about language learning, technology, and helping teachers create engaging and inclusive classrooms. She enjoys supporting educators in areas such as language teaching, assessment, and technology integration and has contributed to a variety of educational initiatives through both her professional and volunteer work.

French Immersion & Student Literacy Support Teacher

Kim Lockhart

Kim Lockhart has been an elementary French Immersion classroom educator and Special Education teacher in Kingston, Ontario for over 20 years. She holds a Master of Education degree from Queen’s University, specializing in evidence-based practices that support students with learning difficulties in French as a second language programs across Ontario. In 2019, Kim completed her Orton-Gillingham Classroom Educator training and was later certified as a Structured Literacy Classroom Teacher by the Centre for Effective Reading Instruction (CERI). For two years, Kim worked as a Structured Literacy Coach for the International Dyslexia Association of Ontario. In 2022, she was hired by the Ontario Ministry of Education as a Content Contributor to revise the province’s new Grade 1-9 science-based Language Curriculum. While balancing her work as a part-time French immersion classroom teacher and part-time Special Education teacher, Kim has also been working as a part-time course instructor at Vancouver Island University’s (VIU) Faculty of Education in the Language, Literacy and Learning Graduate Diploma program for the last two years. Through presentations, webinars, and podcasts, Kim aspires to share reading research with both current and future classroom educators to prepare and empower them to meet all children’s right to read in public education.

Author, Educator, and Advocate for Decolonizing Language Education

Adriana Ramírez

Adriana Ramírez is a Colombian author, keynote speaker, and Spanish teacher with over 23 years of classroom experience. She has taught English language learning (ELL) and Spanish in both elementary and high school and previously worked as a clinical psychologist in Colombia. As a curriculum consultant and teacher trainer, Adriana is deeply committed to anti-racist, decolonial, and culturally inclusive education. Her novels reflect her passion for sharing the richness of Colombian culture and advocating for #OwnVoices narratives. Find her at adrianaramirez.ca, on Instagram at @veganadri, and on YouTube at @learnthroughreading.