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Prime Minister's Awards for Excellence in Early Childhood Education
The Prime Minister’s Awards for Excellence in Early Childhood Education honour outstanding and innovative early childhood educators. Awards are selected by an external selection committee comprised of early childhood education experts from across Canada. These experts select recipients based on their innovative approaches and outstanding ability to foster and support the early development and socialization of children in their care, and on their overall commitment to the development of children and the early childhood education and care profession. Nominees are judged on their overall merits as educators.
Nominees are recognized for their excellence in the following areas:
- support of child development;
- innovation;
- involvement with parents, families and the community; and
- commitment and leadership in the field.
Early childhood educators and teams of early childhood educators are eligible for two awards: the Certificate of Excellence (a national award) and the Certificate of Achievement (a regional award). All recipients receive a certificate and pin, along with a letter from the Prime Minister. Certificate of Excellence cash awards are worth $5,000 and are shared equally between the winning educators and their childcare settings. Certificate of Achievement awards are worth $1,000 and are given directly to recipients. Awards may be used for professional development, equipment, resource materials or other tools to improve developmental programming and children’s experiences related to the educator’s or educators’ work. Up to 10 Certificates of Excellence and up to 15 Certificates of Achievement are provided per competition. At least one Certificate of Excellence and one Certificate of Achievement are designated for the top-ranked Aboriginal early childhood educator at each level. Beginning this year, a new Director Award is also being given to a director of an early childhood centre.
A list of all Excellence in Early Childhood Education award-winners can be found at http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/pmaece-ppmepe.nsf/eng/wy00489.html.
For more information about the program, please visit the Prime Minister’s Awards website at www.pma-ppm.gc.ca.
