The B.C. government honoured child-care professionals, organizations, and local governments who have demonstrated outstanding service to children and families at the 2012 B.C. Child Care Awards of Excellence and Child Care Legacy Awards.

The awards, hosted by Minister of Children and Family Development Mary McNeil and MLA for Vancouver-Quilchena Colin Hansen, are held during the month of May to celebrate Child Care Month in B.C. The event featured the Dorothy Lam Children's Centre choir, followed by an award ceremony and luncheon to honour the recipients.

The Child Care Awards of Excellence recognize outstanding contributions made by child-care professionals, innovative individuals, organizations and local governments who support child-care initiatives in their communities. Award recipients were nominated by peers, parents and local governments and chosen by a selection committee made up of individuals knowledgeable in the child-care field and ministry representatives.

The Child Care Legacy Awards recognize child-care facilities which have been serving children and families for 40 years or more.

Quotes:

Mary McNeil, Minister of Children and Family Development -

"B.C.'s child-care and early learning professionals are a dedicated, caring group - and they bring such energy and enthusiasm to their jobs. The Child Care Awards of Excellence and Legacy Awards celebrate extraordinary contributions to children and families, and I would like to personally congratulate all of the recipients!"

Colin Hansen, MLA for Vancouver-Quilchena -

"Today's award recipients have demonstrated a tremendous commitment to young children and to child care and early learning in this province. They absolutely deserve this special recognition for their dedication and outstanding service to families."

Sandra Menzer, executive director, Vancouver Society of Children's Centres -

"Congratulations and thank you to the child-care providers of B.C.! The passion and commitment you demonstrate each day is amazing. Your skilled work, alongside families, provides children the experiences and quality learning opportunities that provide the foundation for their future success."

Quick Facts:

• Throughout the province, there are more than 12,000 licensed early childhood educators and nearly 5,000 early childhood educator assistants.

• There are 34 post secondary training institutes offering early childhood education programs in B.C.

• The Ministry of Children and Family Development will spend $296 million on child care in 2012-13, a 40 per cent increase since 2000-01.

• This funding goes toward operating funding for more than 100,000 licensed child-care spaces in communities throughout the province, child-care subsidies for low- and moderate-income families, and minor capital funding to help licensed group child-care providers upgrade or repair their facilities, replace equipment or help with moving costs.

• Full-day kindergarten for five-year-olds has now been fully implemented in B.C. This is improving early learning, while reducing child-care pressures on families.

• In addition, the government has made a regulation change increasing the maximum capacity of after-school child-care programs, resulting in the creation of more spaces.

Learn More:

For more information on the 2012 B.C. Child Care Awards of Excellence and Child Care Legacy Awards, go to: www.mcf.gov.bc.ca/childcare/awards/index.htm

A backgrounder follows.

Contact:

Shae Greenfield
Media Relations Manager
Ministry of Children and Family Development
250 356-1639
250 508-8403 (cell)

BACKGROUNDER

And the winners are...

Child Care Awards of Excellence:

Ten child-care providers, organizations and municipalities have been awarded 2012 Child Care Awards of Excellence for their outstanding work on behalf of B.C. children and families.

General (four awards): Regional awards for licensed early childhood educators (ECEs) or licensed family child-care providers.

• Vancouver Island Region: Nancy Dobbs, Saanichton

• Interior Region: Linda Roth, Kamloops

• Coast Fraser Region: Maria Rodrigues, Richmond

• Northern Region: Elaine Kopetski, Quesnel

Aboriginal (two awards): One award for an ECE of Aboriginal descent working in a licensed child-care setting and one award for an Aboriginal organization offering care to Aboriginal children.

• Aboriginal ECE: Melanie Chickite, Campbell River

• Aboriginal Organization: Dakii Yadze Centre, Moberly Lake

Innovation (two awards): One award for an individual and one for a facility or organization demonstrating innovation in child-care programming.

• Shyrose Nurmohamed, Richmond

• Clubhouse Child Care Centre, Kelowna

Local Government (two awards): Two awards honour local governments that have demonstrated leadership in the development of initiatives, projects or programs that support the delivery of high-quality child care.

• City of Burnaby

• City of New Westminster

• Honourable Mention: District of Sparwood

Child Care Legacy Awards:

Fifteen child-care facilities have received Child Care Legacy Awards for 40 years of service.

• Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Vancouver Island Fifth Street Club - Nanaimo

• Child Development Centre of Prince George and District - Prince George

• Countryside Preschool - Saanichton

• Hobbit Hill Children's Centre - Castlegar

• Lambrick Park Preschool and Childcare - Victoria

• Maple Ridge Adventure Preschool Society - Maple Ridge

• Oak Bay Parent Owned Preschool - Victoria

• Quesnel & District Day Care Centre - Quesnel

• Simon Fraser University Child Care Society Kahpoo Room - Burnaby

• St. Matthews Day Care Society - Burnaby

• Sunset Preschool and Out of School Care - Vancouver

• University of British Columbia Canada Goose Daycare Centre - Vancouver

• University of British Columbia Tillicum Daycare - Vancouver

• University of Victoria Out of School Centre 6 - Victoria

• Williams Lake & District Daycare Centre - Williams Lake

Contact:

Shae Greenfield
Media Relations Manager
Ministry of Children and Family Development
250 356-1639
250 508-8403 (cell)