2020 Award Winners
E.C.E.C.
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The Advocate for Young Children Award
Janice Comrie is an inspiring and passionate advocate for children in Alberta and is currently employed as an Education Lead with the GRIT Program Edmonton (Getting Ready for Inclusion Today), supporting inclusive educational programming for children with significant disabilities and delays and as a Pedagogical Partner (PP) for the Alberta Resource Centre for Quality Enhancement (ARCQE). In her role as a PP she supports the implementation of Flight: Alberta’s Early Learning and Child care Curriculum in Early Learning and Child Care Centres (ELCC) across Alberta, as part of the $25/day child care initiative.
Janice is a leader and mentor in the world of early childhood education. She filled many different roles within Edmonton Public Schools during her 30+ years, including a classroom teacher, pedagogical and administrative leader, assistant principal, and a new teacher and early years consultant. Career highlights include: action research project in family literacy using song picture books, the Early Year’s Pilot, positively impacting the district’s capacity to support children in early intervention programming, a Study Tour in Reggio Emilia, Italy, and a secondment to Alberta Education, as an Education Manager in the School Accreditation and Standards Branch, supporting early learning and care initiatives. Janice was also involved with the ATA’s Early Childhood Education Council at the regional and provincial levels for many years, chairing the 2014 and 2016 ECEC Provincial Conferences and was the provincial ECEC’s first Multi-media Director. She is committed to inspirational, meaningful professional learning opportunities for educators in Alberta and is a strong advocate for quality, inclusive early childhood education. Her mantra “Educate and Advocate”, prompted her to complete her master’s in education, further develop her ability to articulate and advocate for quality, play-based, research informed programming for young children. Janice’s dedication to enhancing quality early childhood education and care opportunities in Alberta is incredibly admirable. Thank you, Janice, for all you have done and continue to do for the children of Alberta. |
Distinguished Service Award
Karin Giszas-Rivard is somewhat of an institution around the Early Childhood Education Council table. She first started volunteering for the council in 1987 as the Rockyview School Division member at large. Since then she has had a number of roles on the council both at a regional level and at a provincial level. Currently, Karin is the provincial treasurer for the council. She does an exceptional job of being our treasurer and continually receives accolades from the ATA on her efficiency and attention to detail. Until recently, Karin was also the treasurer for Calgary Regional. She has worked on every conference that has been in Calgary since she joined the council in 1987 and is always smiling when sitting at the registration desk with her cheque book.
Karin is an exceptional Kindergarten teacher in Calgary Catholic School Division. She has taught both full day and half day programs within her board. Interestingly, Karin did not start out as an Early Childhood Educator. When she first joined Rockyview School Division, she taught at Springbank High School for a year. She then moved to Andrew Sibbald School in Rockyview School Division for 4 years before she started working for Calgary Catholic at Sacred Heart school in 1997. Karin has influenced innumerable lives in her career as a teacher. She engages with her students in a meaningful way, meets them where they are at and takes them as far as they can go. Any student who has had her as a teacher has truly been blessed. Congratulations, Karin on being the recipient of the Early Childhood Education Council's Distinguished Service Award! |
The E.C.E.C.
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The Advocate for Young Children AwardThis award recognizes the contributions of either a member or non member who has shown to be a advocate for young children on a provincial and regional levels.
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The Distinguished Service AwardThis award is presented to a member of the organization who has contributed to the field of early childhood education by exemplifying the ECEC philosophy for their career as a leader in the field of Early Childhood.
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These awards are presented annually at the spring conference. If you are interested in nominating a member, please complete the Award Nomination Form. The deadline for nominations is April 1, 2022.
Grants
The ECEC Grant is subject to budget approval at the annual general meeting and the recipient will be awarded a grant up to $1000 to assist in research or innovative classroom programming in early childhood education. The applications for the award can be sent via letter to the past president, Danielle Kowalchyk at dkowalchyk@me.com The grant recipient will receive half of the grant at the beginning of the research or classroom project and the other half upon completion. This money can be used for materials, release time or any other worthwhile component of the research or classroom project. The recipient will be linked with an executive member who will follow and support the recipients progress over the course of the year. The following criteria must be met in order to be awarded the grant:
- Be a current member of ECEC
- Deadline for applications must be received by May 1st of each year.
- proposed research should adhere to the educational philosophy as outlined by the ECEC position papers found at Barnett House as well as on our website.
- Proposals with school support are encouraged. This support could take the form of matching funding, teacher preparation time, administrative recognition.
- The grant recipient must be willing to share what they have learned with the ECEC members via at least one of the following mediums: an ECEC journal article, conference presentation, or regional workshop.