Over a 15‐year period, one Western Canadian province, British Columbia, has been exploring the potential of inquiry learning networks to deepen teacher professional learning and to influence the system as a whole. During this time, we have learned a great deal about shifting practice through inquiry networks. In this article, we provide a description of the key features of the inquiry framework that has evolved through this work, offer suggestions for creating and sustaining influential educator networks and provide some observations about how this approach is shifting practices at the classroom, school, university and policy levels.