The International Symposium on Early Childhood Education was the brainchild of Dr. Glen Dixon, then president of Soong Ching Ling Children's Foundation of Canada (SCLCFC). Dr. Dixon and his students at the University of British Columbia were instrumental in providing academic assistance to establish the Shanghai SCL Child Development Research Centre and the International Department of the Shanghai SCL Kindergarten.

Through their work, it became obvious that early childhood educators in both Canada and China welcome the opportunity to learn about each others' best practices and research. SCLCFC, with the collaboration of Shanghai SCL, then organized the first International Symposium on Early Childhood Education in Vancouver, BC in the fall of 1999. The symposium was a success and encouraged both foundations to establish it as a bi-annual event to be hosted alternately by SCLCFC and Shanghai SCL. To date, five symposia have been held, and a sixth is planned for November 2009.

1999: SCLCFC hosted the first symposium in Vancouver, BC. The theme was "Environmental Awareness."

2001: Shanghai SCL hosted the second symposium in Shanghai, with a theme of "Early Childhood Creativity Education." It attracted educators and researchers from China and Canada, as well as Taiwan, Hong Kong and Italy.

2003: SCLCFC hosted the third symposium in Richmond, BC. The theme was "Cross-Cultural Perspectives on Early Childhood Education." Shanghai SCL sent a delegation of eight educators from various parts of China.

2005: Shanghai SCL hosted the fourth symposium in Shanghai with the theme: Early Childhood Education in Multi-cultural Background. It was attended by over 100 academics and practitioners from eight countries and regions. SCLCFC was represented by an eight member delegation. Directors Nina Halpern and Even Adams as well as advisor Ben Choi presented papers.

2007: SCLCFC hosted the fifth symposium in Richmond Canada. The two-day symposium was themed "The Whole Child". Five Early Childhood Educators (ECE) from Shanghai delivered papers on early childhood development and education to an audience of Canadian ECEs, ECE training faculty, parents and other professionals. The Foundation was extremely fortunate to be able to attract the support of a contingent of seven eminent Canadian presenters amongst who was Dr. Clyde Hertzman, from the University of British Columbia's Human Early Learning Partnership and previous recipient of the SCLCFC's "For the Children Award". Overall, the two-day international cross-cultural exchange of knowledge was supported by a series of inspiring research and educational topics delivered by Canadian and Chinese Early Childhood specialists.

2009: Shanghai SCL is to host the sixth symposium in Shanghai China with "Creativity in Early Childhood Education" as the theme.