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What Makes a Good ECE

Recognizing Early Childhood Educators - Our CCCF Awards of Excellence:

Early Childhood Educators (ECEs) are the backbone of Canada’s early learning and child care sector. ECEs embrace the opportunity to care, nurture, guide, and educate Canada’s youngest citizens.

They are professional, thoughtful, kind and caring individuals who are able to multitask and adapt in environments that can change quickly. ECEs reflect on what is occurring and what has happened in order to adapt, learn and grow. As lifelong learners, they are curious and eager to improve their ongoing knowledge, challenging their practice, in order to better engage children, families and communities. A great early childhood educator has a deep respect for the child, their rights, and their families, and shows compassion and empathy in their professional practice each and every day. 

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In our Facebook group we asked you what makes a good ECE. We got some amazing replies from the community: 

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Multi tasking goddess/god Tyley Hitchens (SK)
Kindness....and thoughtful reflection Laura Fowler-Massie (Chelsea, QC)
Willingness to learn, grow and change Andrea James (Vancouver, BC)
Establishing relationships with the families, making solid attachments with the children, the desire to learn continuously, seeing learning through the life of the child Denise Gaulton Morgan (Grand Prairie, AB)
Patience Linda Campbell
Transparency and communication Chayna Lowe (Winnipeg MB)
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Good team player Rhonda Porter ‪(Bay Roberts, NL)
Kindness, love of life, and a desire to be a lifelong learner Valerie Ann ‪ (Moncton, NB)
Good sense of observation and punctuality and knowing how to have fun Sophie Duhaime
Dependability, flexibility, compassion and a good heart Christina Hillier (‪Grand Falls, NFLD & Lab)
A real love and respect for children, an understanding of the role childcare plays in the greater societal good, and a willingness to learn Becca LaRiviere ‪(Winnipeg, MB)
Kindness, patience, respect for all diversity of children, an ability to laugh, smile...and most importantly, someone who is willing to learn along with children...I've learned so much from working with children and their youthful perspectives…Jeanine Plamondon ‪ (Ottawa, ON)
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Love and respect of children as equally human to adults Malyssa Brown ‪(Winnipeg, MB)
A strong, respectful and caring relationship with the whole family has to be mentioned every time. We should never think of the child in isolation Lynn Wilson (‪Toronto, ON)
The ability to see a child as a fully formed human being and meeting them at their level Robin Elson (‪Fort McMurray, AB)
Empathetic, flexible, adaptable to change, resilient and patient - a lifelong learner who reflects on their learning Heather Kerr-Gauthier - (Ottawa, ON )
Energetic Melanie Gamble ‪(Outlook, SK)
A genuine joy in play including the chaotic, risky or messy elements. And the ability to deeply reflect on its value and both plan the program accordingly and advocate the need for play to (a combination of) parents, policy makers and the general community Laura Molly Molyneux ( St. John’s NFLD)
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The Canadian Child Care Federation’s Award for Excellence in Child Care was launched in 1993 to honour individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to the field of child care. This biennial award recognizes achievements in caregiving, new initiatives, quality, research, education, policy and advocacy.

Our Awards page is coming soon. 

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Our heartfelt congratulations to some of our past winners, who continue to raise the bar of excellence in our field: 

The Board of Directors of the Early Childhood Educators of BC

2019

Roni Cahen

2017

Ellen Hamilton

2015

Linda McDonell

2013

Tammy McCormick Ferguson

2011

Pat Wege

2009

Elaine Ferguson

2007

Dr. Sherrill Brown

2005

Sandra Beckman

2003

Beverly Peel

2001

Karen Norman

1999

Karen Chandler

1997

Bernadette Vangool

1995

Sandra Griffin, Rosemary Somers, Sue Wolstenholme

1993

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Early Childhood Educators are also recognized by the following awards:

The PM Awards for Excellence in Early Childhood Education

We encourage everyone to visit our Code of Ethics, and to review the Occupational Standards for Early Childhood Educators

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The CCCF acknowledges that the land on which we are located is the traditional unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishnaabeg People. CCCF affirms that we are all treaty people and are committed to truth and reconciliation.

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Supporter membership rate $45 CAD. Join now!

Annual Membership rate $0 CAD with the code from your local affiliate. Join now!

Anyone working in licensed child care has to apply for certification. You will find certification information for your province or territory on our child care certification page.

With your resume and cover letter ready (we’ll provide guides for this soon), contact child care centres and introduce yourself! You can call, email, or even message them on social media. Don’t be discouraged if you don’t get a reply. Try again a few days later to give them your resume in person. Remember that due to safety reasons you need to call first. Tell them you live in their area, and that you’re looking for a position.

On our provincial and territorial map we link to child care associations in your area. Follow the link to your association and join today. The associations provide valuable information to anyone starting out in their career. Even experienced ECEs can benefit. You’ll also enjoy valuable member benefits like discounts, meet other ECEs, and become a part of the child care movement in Canada.


If you join your provincial or territorial affiliate, you’re automatically also a member of the CCCF.

All licensed and regulated quality child care programs in Canada require these for the safety and security of children and families.

If you’re just starting out:

  1. Get certified!
  2. Find the requirements for your province or territory
  3. Write your resume and begin your job search. We’ll provide tips on this soon. 
  4. Get your vulnerable sector check and first aid training

Join our Facebook Group and meet other ECEs who may be able to answer your questions

Early Childhood Educators (ECEs) are incredible professionals that have rewarding, important and demanding careers. They work with young children (and their families), ages 0-12, nurturing and educating them, observing and planning for their growth and development while ensuring that they are healthy. They create interactive and dynamic learning environments where children develop social skills, develop cognitive skills and foster lifelong learning. ECEs work in child care centres, classrooms, home child cares, preschool, and parent drop-in programs. You do not need a teaching degree to be an ECE, but you do need your ECE diploma.

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