Minister Paradis Congratulates Five Outstanding Early Childhood Educators and Caregivers From Quebec Recognized at 2010-11 Prime Minister's Awards for Excellence in Early Childhood Education

OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Oct. 6, 2011) - The Honourable Christian Paradis, Minister of Industry, today announced that five early childhood educators and caregivers from the Province of Quebec have won 2010–11 Prime Minister's Awards for Excellence in Early Childhood Education. One of the winners was recognized with a Certificate of Excellence, the national-level award.

"Compassion and creativity are key to instilling a love of learning in preschoolers' minds," said Minister Paradis. "On behalf of all Quebecers, I extend my congratulations to these five educators and caregivers on their tremendous accomplishment, and thank them for their devotion and commitment to ensuring our youngest citizens get the best possible start in life."

The winners from Quebec are as follows:

• Alma Crane-Hennessey, McGill Childcare Centre, Montréal (Certificate of Excellence)
  
  
• Sabine Bergeron, Centre de la petite enfance Les Bonheurs de Sophie, Sainte-Sophie (Certificate of Achievement)
  
  
• Hélène Boudreau, Garderie Le Monde Enchanté inc., Québec (Certificate of Achievement)
  
  
• Julie Vachon, Centre de la petite enfance Les Petits Semeurs, Saint-Hubert (Certificate of Achievement)
  
  
• Maryla Zylicz, West End Childcare Centre / Centre de la petite enfance du Quartier Ouest, Montréal (Certificate of Achievement)
  
  

All award recipients were recognized as leaders who have been exceptionally innovative in helping students excel and young children get the best possible start in life. Award winners receive a certificate, a pin and a letter from the Prime Minister.

Certificates of Excellence are presented for educational excellence at all levels, from preschool through to secondary school. Certificate of Excellence recipients were honoured at a ceremony in Ottawa, fittingly held on October 5, World Teachers' Day. Certificate of Excellence winners receive $5,000, which is to be shared equally between the winner and his or her school or childcare institution.

The Certificate of Achievement award is worth $1,000 and is given directly to the recipient. The school or childcare institution in which the award recipient works also receives a certificate recognizing its support of, and contribution to, the educator's achievement.

Industry Canada delivers this awards program on behalf of the Prime Minister, in partnership with Human Resources and Skills Development Canada, Health Canada, and Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada. The RBC Foundation is a corporate partner of the program.

Information on all of the 2010–11 award recipients, along with guidelines and nomination forms for the 2011–12 Awards, can be found on the Prime Minister's Awards website (www.ic.gc.ca/epic/home.nsf/html/pma_site-select-eng.html).

Backgrounder

Prime Minister's Awards for Excellence in Early Childhood Education

The early years of a child's life are of critical importance. The educators who partner with parents to teach and nurture young children in those years have an impact that will last for the rest of the children's lives. For many children, at least one educator will stand out as someone who encouraged, enabled and inspired them to be their very best at a young age.

The Prime Minister's Awards for Excellence in Early Childhood Education honour outstanding and innovative early childhood educators who excel at fostering the early development and socialization of the children in their care and at helping build the foundation children need to make the best possible start in life.

Award recipients are selected by an external committee composed of early childhood education experts from across Canada. Recipients are chosen based on their innovative approaches and outstanding ability to engage and support the development of children in their care and on their commitment to the development of children and the early childhood education and care profession. While an exemplary project or practice may form part of a nomination, nominees are judged on their overall merits as educators. The selection committee looks for clear evidence that nominees have excelled in all of the following four areas:

• support of child development
  
  
• innovation
  
  
• involvement with parents, families and the community
  
  
• commitment and leadership in the field
  
  

Early childhood educators are eligible for two awards: the Certificate of Excellence and the Certificate of Achievement. All winners receive a certificate, a pin and a letter from the Prime Minister. The Certificate of Excellence award is worth $5,000 and is shared equally between the winning educator and his or her childcare facility. The Certificate of Achievement award is worth $1,000 and is given directly to the recipient. Award funds may be used for professional development, equipment, resource materials or other tools that improve developmental programming and children's experiences related to the educator's work. The childcare facility in which the award recipient works also receives a certificate recognizing its support of, and contribution to, the educator's achievement.

Up to 10 Certificates of Excellence and up to 15 Certificates of Achievement are awarded per competition. At least one of each type of certificate is awarded to the top-ranked Aboriginal early childhood educator. For the 2011–12 competition, a new award will be presented to a full-time director in recognition of the unique contribution that administrators make to the overall quality of care provided within their childcare facility.

For more information about the program, please visit the Prime Minister's Awards website (www.ic.gc.ca/epic/home.nsf/html/pma_site-select-eng.html).