Child, Youth and Family Services
May 25, 2015

The following statement was given today in the House of Assembly by the Honourable Sandy Collins, Minister of Child, Youth and Family Services:

Minister Proclaims Early Childhood Educators Week

Mr. Speaker, I rise in this Honourable House today to proclaim May 24-30 as Early Childhood Educators Week in Newfoundland and Labrador. This week is a time to recognize the significant contribution child care professionals make in our province.

Early childhood educators are the skilled professionals that are responsible for planning and delivering effective play-based curriculum to our children in the critical early learning years. Each and every day these educators recognize and build on a child’s natural curiosity and imagination and evoke their learning through activities such as dramatic play, art and social games.

In Newfoundland and Labrador, we are fortunate to have over 1,200 practising ECEs working in many different settings and providing a variety of services. Early childhood educators work in regulated child care centres and family child care homes. They work as business operators, in family resource centres, private consulting practices and government departments. No matter what setting, early childhood educators bring their passion to educate children to the work that they do. Their commitment and dedication truly deserve the recognition that this week places on their profession.

During this week, our province’s early childhood educators will have the opportunity to participate in professional development sessions, as well as open houses at child care centres and also have the opportunity to network with their colleagues share best practices.

Mr. Speaker, I recently had the pleasure of meeting and talking to representatives from the Association of Early Childhood Educators Newfoundland and Labrador to proclaim Early Childhood Educators’ Week. Their commitment and dedication to their profession was very evident throughout our conversation. The Provincial Government is very supportive of our early childhood educators and the work that they do. I look forward to working with them to further develop and improve early learning and child care services in this province.

Today, I ask all Honourable members to join me in recognizing and thanking all early childhood educators in this province for the essential role they have in ensuring the youngest members of our population have the best possible start in their lifelong learning and education.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

2015 05 25                             1:55 p.m.