Program highlights

The Prime Minister's Awards for Excellence in Early Childhood Education honour outstanding educators who, through their dedication and skill, are giving children an important head start that helps them succeed at school.

Awards

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 meet life’s challenges.

Certificates of Excellence are awarded to the 10 top-ranked nominees, with at least one award designated for each of the following regions: British Columbia; Prairies; Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut; Ontario; Quebec; and Atlantic Canada. In addition, one of the Certificates of Excellence is designated for the top-ranked Aboriginal early childhood educator.

The next 15 top-ranked nominees each receive a Certificate of Achievement. At least one of the Certificates of Achievement is awarded annually to an Aboriginal early childhood educator.

Financial awards are provided directly to recipients. Recipients may use award funds for professional development, equipment, resource materials or other tools to improve developmental programming and children’s experiences related to the educator’s work.

Recipients receive letters and certificates, signed by the Prime Minister, as well as program pins.

Certificate of Excellence recipients travel to Ottawa for best practices sessions and a ceremony with the Prime Minister at which time they receive their award certificate.

Certificate of Achievement winners receive their awards at local ceremonies, organized by their place of work. Local members of Parliament and Ministers participate in many of these ceremonies.

Selection Committee

Award recipients are selected by a committee of early childhood education and care practitioners and stakeholders from across Canada.

Contact Us

For more information about the program and our next competition, call our hotline at 1-800-575-9200 or e-mail us at eceawards@ic.gc.ca. Click here to go directly to our "Contact Us" section.

Background

Current research consistently demonstrates that experiences in early childhood lay the foundation for health, social development and future learning. Publications such as The Early Years Study - Reversing The Real Brain Drain, by the Honourable Margaret Norrie McCain and J. Fraser Mustard have helped to focus public attention on the importance of early childhood development as a national priority.

In 1999, through the National Children's Agenda (NCA), the Government of Canada, in partnership with provincial and territorial governments, set out a shared vision for Canada's children. Through that work, enhancing early childhood development was identified as an area where governments could cooperate to better support children. Subsequently, in September, 2000, Canada's First Ministers announced the Early Childhood Development Agreement, through which the Government of Canada is transferring $2.2 billion over five years to provincial and territorial governments to enable them to improve and expand early childhood development programs and services.

Talented and dedicated early childhood educators play a critical role in the developmental and learning outcomes for young children. Despite growing understanding of the importance of their contribution, there has been no national mechanism in place to recognize the work of educators at this level.

Last Modified
2006-01-11

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