In the bustling world of professional development, amidst the workshops, seminars, and conferences, a subtle yet profound force often goes unnoticed: professional friendships. These connections, forged through shared experiences, mutual respect, and a passion for growth, can be transformative not only for individuals but for entire communities of learners. Dr. Diane Kashin, a renowned researcher in early childhood education, sheds light on the significance of these relationships and dug deep into this in her final publication before her passing titled: Cultivating Professional Friendships in Early Childhood Education (2023). From this spark, we've had the privilege to witness firsthand the power of professional friendships in enriching our learning journeys.
Why are we (Karen Eilersen, Cindy Green, and Jessica Holder) reflecting so much on this topic? To answer this question, we will begin by sharing stories of our connections with Diane. These stories highlight professional friendships' profound impact on the early learning sector. This book sparked our recent (re)connection with each other but in fact, this has been in motion for decades.
This story begins decades ago at Seneca College. Karen Eilersen, Cindy Green, and Diane Kashin were all connected through the various threads that they had with the college. All three are Early Childhood Educators, all three are passionate about a stronger vision for child care, and all three are professional friends. Although time, distance, and professional journeys lead each of them on their respective paths across Ontario; the web of relationships was a force that kept bringing the three of them into each other’s orbit. Karen, now the operator of Discovery Child Care in Barrie, Ontario, and Jessica, the pedagogical leader at Discovery, had maintained a relationship with Diane through the collaborative work of her publications. Given that Diane was so rooted in research, it was common for Karen to be connected to Diane by way of providing photos, observations, and anecdotes to Diane to support her work. One of Karen’s most beloved photos was the cover of Diane’s book Outdoor and Nature Play in Early Childhood Education (2019). 
This reciprocal relationship existed for decades whereby Diane would make connections to her research using the photos of the day-to-day happenings from Discovery Child Care. This idea-sharing continued into her final publication Cultivating Professional Friendships in Early Childhood Education (2023) and here is where the spark was born. Through collaborative dialogue, Karen, Jessica, and Diane wondered:
How might we bring this research and application relating to the topic of professional friendships to life through a professional learning series for educators across Ontario?
As the summer months were dwindling, Jessica, Diane, and Karen began the dreaming process of bringing a professional learning series to life that would create conditions for educators to make personal connections to the ideas of professional friendships. Through this series, our intention was for folks across the sector to think deeply about how important professional relationships are, and to possibly influence the conditions that could support recruitment and retention across this sector. The vision was that Diane would present on the theory and then Karen and Jessica would present on the application. The goal was to provide educators with new language to describe these powerful connections in our work and find concrete ways to bring these ideas to life in our settings. We were full steam ahead and dreaming of hitting the road with these BIG ideas.
As summer turned to fall, we received the heartbreaking news that Diane was battling cancer again. This caused us all to pause, as we do when the seasons of life change. In her final months, she penned her last blog on December 8, 2023, titled Legacy in Early Childhood Education: Embracing the Season of Giving Back. Here she offered her followers the perspective about legacy and giving back. She wrote, “However, as I grappled with writing what might be my final post, I came to realize that the essence of my legacy lies in the concept of giving back. It’s about how each of us contributes to the communities we are a part of.” She also shared this idea with us when she passionately expressed that regardless of her involvement, we MUST move forward with this work on Professional Friendships. We continued to slow down and sit with this throughout the rest of December and hoped for the best outcome; one where all three of us were involved in putting forth these ideas throughout communities across Ontario. Unfortunately, the story didn’t take shape in this way and we lost our dear professional friend on January 1, 2024. This was when the world of Early Learning stood still. Frozen with grief. Regardless of where you were in the world, her absence was a hole felt in thousands of communities across the planet. Through the grief, there was a dilemma of what to do next. We asked ourselves, How can we honour this legacy in a way that respects her family and friends? Diane made it very clear (as she did so well) that her desire was for us to move forward and so that is what we did. We reflected on the messages in her blog and found the metaphor of carrying the torch as our newfound mission. We reflected on this commitment on our blog, Carrying the Torch, and a new purpose was born.
We moved forward with the series in the municipalities of Chatham-Kent and Dufferin and by way of a promotional Facebook Post, we became quickly and closely reconnected with Cindy Green, Diane’s beloved Professional Friend and editor of the book. She saw that we were presenting on this topic and with a simple Facebook message, it became clear that by having Cindy’s voice as a part of this legacy we all could get an insight into the stories behind this important message of professional friendships. 
During my tenure at a local community college, I (Cindy) first met Diane while working in York Region, Ontario, Canada. She worked at the school board, as a child care coordinator and we sat on numerous committees, planning and strategizing the direction of early learning and care in the community. Diane too became a professor at the college and we sought out endless opportunities to dialogue and collaborate about all things pedagogical. For many years our passion for this profession united us in becoming professional friends and early learning consultants. I was honoured to support Diane during the writing of her latest book Cultivating Professional Friendships in Early Childhood Education (2023).
During the summer of 2023, Diane and I were also strategizing about how we could build this concept of professional friendships into our professional learning work plan for 2024.
I have worked with Karen Eilersen from Discovery Professional Learning in the past and we continued to see one another at various early learning events. I have always admired Karen’s thinking and practice as they relate to nature-based learning and environmental stewardship. I am proud to call her a professional friend. Meeting Jessica Holder from Discovery Professional Learning was more recent. As the pedagogical leader at Discovery Child Care, she truly embraces a culture of respect and reciprocity. Her keen and inquisitive mind leaves me in awe. Our relationship has quickly reached that of professional friendship.
And, it was Diane and her wisdom and her endless quest for learning through relationships that have propelled us to keep her legacy shining brightly.
From there, it was as if a freight train of magic bustled through our lives. Within a matter of two weeks, we completely reimagined the sessions, and put in countless hours of work and a new series was born with Cindy, Karen, and Jessica co-presenting. Throughout this entire time, we would chuckle when we felt Diane’s presence, sending us messages that we were on the right (or wrong) track. This, to me, exemplifies the research of a Seasonal Pedagogy by Dr. Hopi Martin (2021) and that through the season of passing, we can still be connected to the love and friendship of those who have left this Earth. Diane was there every step of the way helping bring this message to life. 
The birth of this series highlights the profound impact that the interconnected web of professional friendships has on the entire sector of early learning and care. The message of the importance of professional friendships has now been heard in Chatham-Kent and Dufferin County. As we have brought this message to the inspiring educators that we have been lucky enough to meet; one thing is certain, our sector is built on a web of relationships and connections. Diane has given us a new theory to reinforce the importance of this life force that keeps the early learning sector alive. 
Throughout the creation and presentation of this series, the three of us have been able to move with and build a personal relationship with these theories, ideas, and language. This has happened through our own experiences with professional friendships and our observations of others engaging with this work. From these experiences, our questions are:
- How do we bring this concept to those who don’t yet feel this in their day-to-day worlds?
- We know that for many, having a professional friend is a privilege that many don’t get to experience. As a province that has set relationships as a value that anchors all of our interactions, how can we ensure that each educator has access to professional friendship?
- How might we experience recruitment and retention differently if we positioned relationships as a right of educators?
- And how might educators be able to more confidently support the diverse relationships that play out in their worlds on a day-to-day basis?
Diane’s research underscores the idea that professional friendships extend beyond mere camaraderie. They serve as pillars of support, sources of inspiration, and conduits for professional growth. In the dynamic landscape of education, where challenges abound and innovation is paramount, these relationships provide solace in times of uncertainty and fuel our passion for continuous improvement. Through collaboration and collective reflection, we navigate complex issues, exchange diverse perspectives, and cultivate a culture of lifelong learning.
This legacy embodies the ethos of fostering meaningful connections among professionals. Through this professional learning series, we have created a vibrant community where educators come together to learn from and amongst others; in parallel practice to the ways that educators nurture learning amongst children. We've had the privilege to witness the transformative impact of these gatherings on educators' professional trajectories.
We witnessed how this professional learning series transcended traditional notions of professional development. It catalyzed the building of authentic relationships grounded in trust, respect, and a shared commitment to excellence. Through intentional invitations for thinking, participants forged deep connections that transcended professional boundaries and enriched their personal and pedagogical journeys.
As facilitators, our role extends beyond imparting knowledge; it's about fostering an environment where individuals feel empowered to explore new ideas, challenge assumptions, and cultivate their unique talents. By embracing an emergent pedagogical approach, we strive to create space for authentic dialogue, reflective practice, and meaningful connections to flourish; the similar values that we aspire for educators to cultivate with children. Whether guiding discussions on pedagogical frameworks or facilitating hands-on activities, we aim to spark curiosity, inspire creativity, and nurture the seeds of professional friendship that fuel collective growth, honouring diverse ideas and perspectives.
Reflecting on our journeys, we are humbled to have had the opportunity to carry Diane’s legacy with us every day. Through moments of collaboration, celebration, and shared inquiry, we've transcended the boundaries of traditional professional development to create a vibrant community of learners. As we continue to navigate the ever-evolving landscape of early education and care, we are reminded of the words of Diane, "Professional friendships are not just a luxury but a necessity for thriving in our profession." In cultivating these relationships, we not only enrich our own lives but contribute to the collective advancement of our profession, one friendship at a time.
Professional friendships, as championed by Dr. Diane Kashin and exemplified in the professional learning series facilitated by Karen Eilersen and Jessica Holder of Discovery Professional Learning and their professional friend Cindy Green, serve as a beacon of hope and inspiration in early education and care. Through authentic connections, collaborative endeavours, and a shared passion for growth, we embark on a journey of transformation, enriching our lives and those of our colleagues along the way. As facilitators, educators, and lifelong learners, let us continue to nurture these friendships, for they are the bedrock upon which our collective success rests. We will strive to continue carrying the torch forward, aspiring to make Diane proud.
