KHALSA Childcare Centre, Satnam Education Society of B.C., Surrey, was among the outstanding child care professionals who received the 2018 Child Care Awards of Excellence at a ceremony last Saturday in Richmond.
“Today, we honour the hard-working people at the heart of our child care system in B.C.,” said Premier John Horgan. “Early childhood educators bring professionalism, kindness and care to their work every day – and for that we can’t thank them enough. These dedicated workers are essential partners as we continue to make high-quality child care a reality for more families around the province.”
After an open call for nominations and a review by an external selection committee, 10 recipients, including organizations and individual child care providers in British Columbia, were selected to receive Child Care Awards of Excellence in five categories: provincial, Indigenous, innovation, partnerships and leadership.
Khalsa Childcare Centre was selected in the Provincial Award category.
The Provincial Award recognizes early care and learning (ECL) professionals or teams who work in child care settings throughout the province and demonstrate excellence in at least one of the following areas: working collaboratively with others; creating cultural safety through culturally competent practice and inclusion of Indigenous language, culture and traditions; ensuring inclusion / encouraging diversity; supporting community efforts and continuous improvement / excellence in early learning. This year there were four winners.
“Parents entrust child care providers with their kids each and every day as they head to work or school,” said Katrine Conroy, Minister of Children and Family Development. “The time spent away from their children is made easier by knowing their child care professional is invested in making their child’s day full of fun, learning, exploration, comfort and kindness. This year’s award recipients embody the hallmarks of what parents are looking for and deserve from educators in B.C.’s child care system: innovation, leadership, dedication and caring.”
Every two years, the Child Care Awards of Excellence recognize the contributions that early childhood educators, licensed child care providers, non-profit and private organizations, businesses and local governments make throughout British Columbia.