About Us
Our Purpose
To provide support, professional development, opportunities for dialogue, information and resources to individuals and organizations interested in the Reggio philosophy.
As an organization inspired by the Reggio Approach to education, we advocate for education grounded in democratic principles where children have rights of citizenship from birth. We support an image of children as curious, imaginative, resourceful, capable, and intelligent, who construct their understandings from rich educational environments in dialogue with peers and responsive educators. We advocate for schools that provide environments where children are protagonists in their learning and where there are opportunities for children to express their thinking in diverse ways that include the arts.
We believe that although the principles which ground the Reggio philosophy were originally developed in centres for young children, these principles are relevant to learners of all ages.
We are inspired by the work which began in Reggio Emilia, Italy. The Reggio Approach is not a method to be replicated but serves as a provocation and challenge to educators around the world. The context in which we work is a Canadian context where community, culture and perspective differ from the Italian context. We respect the frame of reference that each individual and organization brings to our association. This association respects the original philosophy from Reggio Emilia while being mindful of the communities of learning with whom we interact.
2023 - 2024 Board of Directors
The Calgary Reggio Network Association wishes to honour and respect that the land in which we live, work and play is upon the traditional territories of the peoples of the Treaty 7 region in Southern Alberta. This region includes the Niitsitapi (Blackfoot) Nations, which includes the Siksika, the Piikani, and the Kainai. We also acknowledge the Tsuut’ina, Iyarhe Nakoda and the Métis Nation.
We are situated on land where the Bow River meets the Elbow River, and the traditional Blackfoot name of this place is “Mohkinstsis” which we now call the City of Calgary.
We share this land and water with all the people, plants, animals, trees and rocks. We acknowledge and are greatful for those who have gone before us and appreciate their traditional knowledge, stories, songs, truths and roles as original caretakers of the land.
Our work centres on children, families and educators acknowledging community and diversity. We wish to walk together as an organization advocating for the calls to action to be realized from the truth and reconciliation initiative.
