Niagara College’s Early Childhood Education (ECE) program team was recently recognized by the Early Childhood Community Development Centre (ECCDC) at the Early Learning and Child Care Awards of Excellence celebration, held on November 23 at Club Roma in St. Catharines.
The annual awards highlight the significant contributions that high quality early childhood education programs make to children and families in Niagara. This year, ECCDC honoured 89 early learning professionals, programs, volunteers, and students for their dedication and commitment to supporting Niagara’s youngest citizens.
NC’s ECE team – Professors Angela Hayes (ECE Program Coordinator), Drew Kean, Cathy Teixeira, Kelly Wilcox and Lindsay Milligan, and Placement Officers Jodi Noble and Roxane Hendrie – received the 2023 Exceptional Volunteer and Contributor Award, which recognizes the outstanding efforts, dedication, and commitment to the growth and development of Niagara’s early learning and childcare sector.
The team was honoured for their role in developing the College’s Accelerated ECE program, created in partnership with ECCDC in 2022 through funding from the Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development to support the need for more Registered Early Childhood Educators (RECEs) in Niagara.
Through the one-year program, staff who were already employed within Niagara’s early learning programs in assistant positions earned their ECE diploma and the necessary credentials to become a RECE, while maintaining their employment. In total, 63 individuals graduated from the program in June 2023.
“ECCDC was excited to recognize Niagara College for the planning, development and delivery of the 2022 Accelerated Early Childhood Education Program at this year’s Annual Early Learning and Child Care Awards of Excellence,” said Lorrey Arial Bonilla, Executive Director of ECCDC, a local charitable organization providing pedagogical resources, training and coaching supports for the sector. “Coordinator Angela Hayes and the ECE faculty led the charge in developing the program, facilitating the courses and supporting students through the process.”
Carol Phillips, NC’s Dean of Community Services, Justice and Fitness Studies, and Rebecca Nicholls, Associate Dean, Workforce Development and Community Partnerships, accepted the award on behalf of the ECE team.
Phillips and Nicholls co-wrote the Skills Development Fund proposal for the Accelerated ECE program along with Bonilla. The funding allowed the students to enroll in the program tuition-free and provided financial support to the child care centres supporting their employees to complete the program.
“Carol and Rebecca were instrumental in outreaching to the early learning sector to understand the staff shortage and need for the program and spent considerable time researching a possible program and writing a grant to secure funding,” said Bonilla.
The recognition is a point of pride for Phillips, who congratulated the ECE team.
“Congratulations to the outstanding Early Childhood Education team for their exceptional achievement bestowed by the Early Childhood Community Development Centre,” she said. “Their passion for nurturing student minds and contributing to community capacity-building shines brightly, and this recognition is a testament to the team’s unwavering commitment.”
Also among the recipients honoured at the celebration was Shayla Rutledge, an alumna from the Accelerated ECE program. Rutledge received the Margaret Hamilton Graduating Student Award For her outstanding efforts while enrolled in the program.
The award is presented by NC’s ECE program each year at the Early Learning and Child Care Awards of Excellence, honouring a graduating student who has excelled in both academics and field placements and who is likely to make a major contribution to the early learning and child care profession during the course of their career.
“Margaret Hamilton, the namesake of the award, was once the coordinator the Early Childhood Education program at NC,” said Phillips. “Legend has it that she had very high standards, was a champion in the field, and held all her students accountable to the professional expectations that she had for herself.”
NC’s Accelerated ECE graduates have made a significant contribution to Niagara’s early learning sector in supporting a critical workforce shortage and building the capacity of the 25 partnering child care agencies.
NC’s ECE Program Coordinator Angela Hayes (right) presents the Margaret Hamilton Graduating Student Award to NC alumna Shayla Rutledge. Event emcee Aiko Iwashita from Niagara’s Move 105.7 stands at the side of the stage.
Accelerated ECE program alumna Shayla Rutledge with her award certificate.
ECCDC’s Awards of Excellence celebration drew over 460 guests, including government representatives, community leaders and industry professionals. One of the special guests in attendance was Megan Robinson, Unit Manager, Community Services at Six Nations Polytechnic.
Robinson spoke about the partnership between the College, Six Nations Polytechnic, the Fort Erie Native Friendship Centre and the Region of Niagara Children’s Services Division to offer an Indigenous-led Early Childhood Education Pilot Program.
The program launched in January 2023 and is helping to train Indigenous early childhood educators for First Nations communities in Niagara, widening opportunities for cultural learning while at the same time filling staffing gaps faced by licensed child care service providers. Through the partnership, an instructor from Six Nations Polytechnic delivers lessons remotely and in person at the Fort Erie Native Friendship Centre. Students enrolled in the program will complete their studies in April 2024.
