Ordinary Magic is built on a simple belief
Better outcomes for children begin with supporting the adults around them
MEET OUR FOUNDER
A research geek who gets
that life is messy
Hi! I'm Angela — founder and lead consultant of Ordinary Magic. I’ve spent over twenty years obsessed with finding out what helps big and little humans flourish… and bounce back when hard things happen. I’m geeky about child development science, but I also get that life is messy. So what I bring is research-based insights that have been challenged and shaped by working with folks on the frontlines of education, social work and healthcare, … and my daily (mis)adventures of parenting two outspoken neurodiverse gen-Z kids in a fast changing world. The learning never ends!
THE LENS WE BRING
We ask: what works for whom?
At Ordinary Magic, we don't assume a universal answer to how children should be raised, educated, or supported.
Some things are true for all of us. Like, we all do better when we feel connected, seen, and safe.
But some things don't work for all of us, because we're different — in how we grew up, what we have access to, how our bodies and brains work, the color of our skin. Universal approaches work for many... but can also deepen inequities certain groups already face. So in everything we do we ask: what works for whom?
Why this is a Big Deal for us
Our founder Angela is a Chinese-Malaysian woman who rebuilt her life across seven countries and is raising 2 mixed-race, neurodiverse kids in Vancouver far from her extended family. She wrestles daily with the gap between how she was raised and how she chooses to parent now.
Her immigrant experiences makes her acutely aware that many families we work with in BC are raising kids without a village- extended family, cultural community and informal support systems- leaving parents feeling isolated, confused and overwhelmed. Education and healthcare systems often design for support structures that don't exist for many families. Raising a neurodiverse child who struggles in school also taught her a lot about advocating for kids and caregivers in systems that weren't built for them.
We recognize these gaps and strive to improve equity in everything we do.
This is also why our work travels- with clients across France, Dubai, New Zealand, China, the US, and Canada.
"We have had the opportunity to work with Angela Low on several occasions, and it has always been an enlightening and engaging experience. The thing I value most about Angela's work is that she offers tools and ideas our staff and clients can practice and apply in their real lives right away. Would highly recommend."
- Jennifer Bateman, Program Coordinator, Single Mothers' Services, YWCA Metro Vancouver
ABOUT ANGELA LOW, PHD - FOUNDER & LEAD CONSULTANT
20 years of research. A career built at the intersection of science and real life.
Angela holds a PhD in Human Development, Learning and Culture and is an adjunct lecturer at the University of British Columbia and a researcher at Simon Fraser University. She has delivered training to thousands of professionals across sectors and countries. Here's the formal part, because it matters.
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PhD in Human Development, Learning & Culture: focusing on social and emotional growth of caregivers, specializing in caregiver shame, guilt and their impact on the capacity for learning and connection. University of British Columbia, 2021.
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Masters in Human Development - specializing in children's social and emotional development.
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Adjunct Lecturer, Faculty of Education, University of British Columbia.
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Research manager, mental health promotion in school communities, Simon Fraser University.
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Member, Scientific Education Committee, Babilou Family - global early childhood provider operating in 10 countries.
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Advisory, MindEDU - non-profit bringing early childhood research to education and communities.
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Former Provincial Lead, Health Promotion in the Early Years, BC Provincial Health Services Authority.
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Mitacs Post-Doctoral Fellow, joint appointment at UBC and Child Health BC.
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UBC Faculty of Education Lecturer and Sessional Teaching Excellence award winner.
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UBC Public Scholars Award recipient.
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Delivered workshops and keynotes across Canada, the United States, France, Dubai, and China.
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Presented to audiences ranging from intimate parent groups to conferences of 1,000+.
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Fluent in English and Mandarin, and conversational Cantonese.
THE TEAM
Ordinary Magic is growing
Ordinary Magic began with two convictions: that to help children thrive, we need to support the adults around them, and that the best tools for doing that are already within reach.
We are a collective of researchers and practitioners across BC who share those same convictions and are passionate about bringing their wisdom, experiences, and tested strategies to the table.
Jenna brings deep expertise in child development and social-emotional learning (SEL) research, with a PhD and MA from UBC and a background in behavioural neuroscience. She specializes in measurement and evaluation, and has coordinated several large-scale research studies on SEL programs in BC elementary schools. Jenna has taught as a sessional instructor at UBC and works as a research and educational consultant for organizations across and beyond BC, alongside her work as a CALM facilitator and infant and child development consultant. She's passionate about grounding SEL work in solid evidence — helping both young people and the adults who support them thrive. Behind the scenes, she lives SEL daily with her husband, her wonderfully neurodivergent daughter, and two kitties.
Coming soon!
Coming soon!
Coming soon!
Coming soon!
WHAT WE HAVE IN COMMON
Our team members hail from different disciplines- play-based learning, psychological assessment, early childhood education, parent engagement, social-emotional learning, and school-based teaching practices, to name a few.
Each one of us joined OM because we have something we’ve been thinking deeply about and want to share…because we know it will make a difference. It’s always about boosting our capacity to thrive and be well, it’s always based on science and using tools that are accessible and practical, and it always begins with meeting people where they are at.
Every one of us has spent a lifetime caring about people's inner worlds. We know that to change what's on the outside - a behaviour, a habit, a hard moment in the classroom or at the kitchen table- we have to work with what's on the inside first.
As a collective, our goal is to support the adults—the parents, educators, and professionals who show up for children every day — because a child's wellbeing starts with the wellbeing of the grown-up beside them.
If you're a researcher, practitioner, or consultant whose work aligns with our philosophy, we'd love to hear from you.
Get in touch about joining the Ordinary Magic team.
"It was our pleasure to have you back as our keynote, Angela. Your passion for what you do and your care for others were felt through your ability to connect, engage, and inspire the audience. Everyone enjoyed such an uplifting presentation."
- Flora Lopez, District Pro-D Event Organizer, Richmond School District
