May 26, 2011
Child-Care Providers Get a Gold Star

VANCOUVER – Vancouver child-care providers were honoured today at the 2011 B.C. Child Care Awards celebrating outstanding service to children and families. Award winners from Vancouver include:

• Leona Antoine winner of the Lenora Pritchard Award of Excellence for outstanding leadership and mentorship by an Aboriginal child care provider.
• Vancouver Native Health Society winner of the Child Care Award of Excellence in Aboriginal services
• United Family Child Care Providers Society Innovation winner of the Child Care Award of Excellence in Innovation
• Discovery Day Care winner of the Child Care Legacy Award
• Marine Garden Child Care Centre winner of the Child Care Legacy Award
• Edenridge Day Care Centre winner of the Child Care Legacy Award
• Happy Corner Preschool winner of the Child Care Legacy Award

Why this matters:

• May is Child Care Month in B.C., a time to recognize the importance of child-care and the extraordinary work of child-care professionals.
• Child-care is a crucial part of early childhood development, by recognizing outstanding providers we encourage excellence in the field.
• Child-care providers are relied on by parents to care for their most important assets, their children, the Province believes it is important to honour these crucial members of society.

Quotes:

"The B.C. Child Care Awards honour amazing members of our society who take care of our most valuable resource, our children, thank you for everything you do!"
                Vancouver-Fairview MLA Margaret MacDiarmid

"Child-care providers make a difference in the lives of families every day. I am proud we are celebrating these unsung heroes of our society, congratulations to all the winners and most of all thank you. "
                Vancouver-Langara MLA Moira Stilwell

“We are delighted  to honour these dedicated, caring, and compassionate individuals, organizations, and municipalities for their outstanding service in the field of child care and early learning in B.C.”
                Mary McNeil, Minister of Children and Family Development

Quick Facts:

• There are over 6,000 licensed child-care facilities in communities across B.C.
• Approximately 60 per cent of licensed facilities are group child-care and approximately 40 per cent are family child-care.
• Across the province, there are more than 11,900 actively licensed Early Childhood Educators and more than 4,000 Early Childhood Educator Assistants.
• There are 35 post secondary training institutes offering early childhood education programs in B.C.
• The B.C. government provides over $65 million for providers annually in child-care operating funding. More facilities are eligible for funding than ever before – with over 5,000 licensed child-care facilities across the province receiving funding.
• The B.C. Government will spend $296 million on child care in 2011/12. That is a 40 per cent increase since 2000/ 01.
• Budget 2011 includes $365 million over three years to establish full day Kindergarten for five year olds – which started last fall. This government is investing in and improving early learning
• In addition, the government made a regulation change last year increasing the maximum capacity of after school child care programs, resulting in the creation of more spaces.
• 97,000 licensed child care spaces are funded in communities around the province.
• More than $35 million in capital funding – including nearly $7 million for Aboriginal communities - has been provided to create more than 6,500 licensed child care spaces since 2001.

Visit MLA Moira Stilwell's website click here or follow her on Twitter
Visit MLA Margaret MacDiarmid's website click here  or follow her on Twitter
Visit MLA Mary McNeil's website click here or follow her on Twitter

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