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Manitoba Early Childhood Educator Awards of Excellence

Click HERE for the 2025 ECE Awards of Excellence Winners!

Deadline to Nominate: June 19, 2026

The Early Childhood Educator Awards of Excellence honours Early Childhood Educators (ECEs) who play a vital role in shaping the lives of children under the age of twelve. The awards celebrate early learning and child care professionals who exhibit standards of excellence in early childhood education and recognize home-based providers for their contributions to enhancing children’s growth and development.

A reception honouring all recipients will be hosted in Fall 2026. Each award recipient will be presented with a certificate of recognition and a cheque for $500.

The Early Childhood Educator Awards of Excellence are presented annually in the following categories:

Awards, Criteria and Eligibility

Awards categories, criteria and eligibility for nominees and nominators are below:

Previous award recipients are eligible to be nominated again; however, individuals who have received an award in a previous year are not eligible to be nominated in the same award category.

Outstanding Early Childhood Educator Award

These awards are presented to Early Childhood Educators in a child care centre who demonstrate exemplary professional, inclusive practices and an ability to inspire children, families and colleagues by going above and beyond expectations. This award acknowledges an Early Childhood Educator’s exceptional commitment to ensure the health, safety and well-being of children while creating developmentally appropriate, stimulating environments for children to explore, play and learn.

  • One of the Outstanding Early Childhood Educator Awards is designated for an Indigenous Early Childhood Educator.
  • One of the Outstanding Early Childhood Educator Awards is designated for a Francophone Early Childhood Educator.
  • One of the Outstanding Early Childhood Educator Awards is designated for a Rural and/or Northern based Early Childhood Educator *NEW*

Criteria

An Early Childhood Educator in a child care centre who displays outstanding professional practices in the area of children’s learning and development by:

  • demonstrating knowledge and skills that provide or support high-quality early learning and child care that fosters children’s holistic development.
  • fostering strong relationships with parents, families, and their community.
  • engaging in ongoing learning and reflection in support of Truth and Reconciliation, and applying these principles to promote respect, inclusion, and equity.
  • provides inclusive care, accommodating the diverse needs and backgrounds of all children participating in their program.
  • One of five awards will be presented to an Early Childhood Educator who self identifies as an Indigenous person (First Nation, Métis or Inuit) and incorporates high quality, culturally specific Indigenous perspectives (language, land-based teachings, culture, traditions, values)into the daily curriculum.
  • One of five awards will be presented to an Early Childhood Educator working in a child care centre that has declared programming status as Français, French Immersion or Bilingual with the Early Learning and Child Care Division and is focused on the development and implementation of high-quality early childhood programming that promotes the French language and Francophone culture.
  • One of the five awards will be presented to an Early Childhood Educator working in a rural and/or northern child care centre who has contributed meaningfully to the development and delivery of high quality early childhood programming that responds to the unique needs of their community .
    • For the purposes of the Manitoba Early Childhood Educator Awards of Excellence:
      Rural or Northern Manitoba refers to licensed early learning and child care facilities that are located outside of Winnipeg.

Nominee and Nominator Eligibility

  • An Early Childhood Educator who holds a valid Early Childhood Educator II or III certification with the Government of Manitoba may be nominated.
  • At the time of the nomination, the nominee must be working directly with children under the age of twelve in a licensed child care centre on a daily basis.
  • Two nominators/descriptions required. Nominators may be any person with direct knowledge of the nominee's contribution and daily practice, such as: colleagues, centre director, assistant director, supervisors, board of directors, Early Childhood Education instructors, elders and school representatives (if the nominee works in a child care centre located in a school).

The following are not acceptable nomination methods:

  • Self-nominations 
  • Nominations from parents with children attending the program, unless they are involved with the program as outlined in Eligibility
  • Posthumous nominations 
  • Nominations from immediate family members*
  • Nominations from nomination review panel members
  • Nominations from employees of the Early Learning and Child Care Division

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Community Collaboration Award

This award honours Early Childhood Educator teams collaborating with schools and/or community organizations to enhance early childhood learning and development in innovative ways. These teams are based in licensed child care facilities and have developed an exceptional collaborative partnership to benefit the early learning and child care program and/or the community.

Criteria

A team of Early Childhood Educators that demonstrate excellence in their partnership with schools or community organizations by:

  • working toward shared goals or sustaining ongoing collaborative practices that demonstrate effective communication and meaningful partnership in support of children, families, and the community.
  • engaging in innovative partnerships to support or deliver services, ensure inclusion
  • encouraging diversity and support community efforts and continuous improvement of child care practices.

The nomination package for the Community Collaboration Award must include two nominators and two written descriptions. A nomination form must be submitted by each nominator and completed for one designated representative of the team, with the names of all other team members clearly identified in the nomination description.

Nominee and Nominator Eligibility

  • Early Childhood Educators who hold valid Early Childhood Educator II or III certification with the Government of Manitoba may be nominated.
  • At the time of the nomination, the educators must be working directly with children under the age of twelve in a licensed child care centre on a daily basis.
  • Two nominators/descriptions required.
  • Nominators may be any person with direct knowledge of the nominee's contribution and daily practice, such as: colleagues, centre director, assistant director, supervisors, board of directors, Early Childhood Education instructors, elders and school representatives (if the nominee works in a child care centre located in a school).

The following are not acceptable nomination methods:

  • Self-nominations 
  • Nominations from parents with children attending the program, unless they are involved with the program as outlined in Eligibility
  • Posthumous nominations 
  • Nominations from immediate family members*
  • Nominations from nomination review panel members
  • Nominations from employees of the Early Learning and Child Care Division

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Outstanding Early Childhood Leadership Excellence Award

This award recognizes a centre director, assistant director or supervisor who is certified as an Early Childhood Educator II or Early Childhood Educator III and who embodies leadership by encouraging and guiding others, displaying exceptional dedication, collaboration, creativity, and vision. They also demonstrate knowledge and skills that support the delivery of high-quality child care.

Criteria

A director, assistant director or supervisor who is responsible for program management within a child care centre and demonstrates an exemplary commitment to:

  • fostering a positive work environment that strengthens the centre’s environment for children, families, and educators.
  • Participating in ongoing continuous improvement activities and supporting staff within the centre to do the same.
  • Supporting staff teams to provide high quality programming
  • Fostering the development of the board of directors or parent advisory committee to ensure the facility is advancing its priorities
  • developing creative and innovative methods to support the recruitment and retention of staff and ensure the integration of all staff well-being into overall operations

A minimum of two years of experience as a director, assistant director or supervisor is required.

Nominee and Nominator Eligibility

  • An Early Childhood Educator who holds a valid Early Childhood Educator II or III certification with the Government of Manitoba may be nominated.
  • At the time of the nomination, the nominee must be working directly with children under the age of twelve in a licensed child care centre on a daily basis.
  • Two nominators/descriptions required.
  • Nominators may be any person with direct knowledge of the nominee's contribution and daily practice, such as: colleagues, centre director, assistant director, supervisors, board of directors, Early Childhood Education instructors, elders and school representatives (if the nominee works in a child care centre located in a school).

The following are not acceptable nomination methods:

  • Self-nominations 
  • Nominations from parents with children attending the program, unless they are involved with the program as outlined in Eligibility
  • Posthumous nominations 
  • Nominations from immediate family members*
  • Nominations from nomination review panel members
  • Nominations from employees of the Early Learning and Child Care Division

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Premier’s Award for Early Childhood Education Excellence

The recipient(s) of this award will be selected from among the award recipients for the above-mentioned categories and must be classified as an Early Childhood Educator(s). This Early Childhood Educator or team distinguishes themselves by their most remarkable contribution to early childhood education.

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Special Recognition Awards

Exemplary Home-Based Early Learning Environment Award

This award celebrates a licensed home-based child care provider who demonstrates exemplary commitment to play-based programming that nurtures children’s growth and development while promoting early learning. The recipient demonstrates professionalism in a home based, high quality and inclusive environment and shows the utmost dedication to providing remarkable child care services.

Criteria

A licensed home-based provider that demonstrates an exemplary commitment to :

  • facilitating play-based learning that nurtures children while supporting their growth and development
  • demonstrating professionalism in a home based personalized, inclusive environment.
  • creating and maintaining a high-quality and inclusive environment for children.

Nominee and Nominator Eligibility

  • Must be a licensed home-based child care provider in good standing.
  • At the time of the nomination, the nominee must be working directly with children under the age of twelve in a licensed child care home on a daily basis.
  • One nominator/description is required. A nominator may be parents/guardians of child who attend the nominee’s family child care home and/or colleagues in a group-home child care setting, or home-based child care network.

The following are not acceptable nomination methods:

  • Self-nominations 
  • Posthumous nominations 
  • Nominations from immediate family members*
  • Nominations from nomination review panel members
  • Nominations from employees of the Early Learning and Child Care Division

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Early Learning and Child Care Impact Award *NEW*

This award recognizes an early childhood educator in the early learning and child care sector whose primary role is not within a licensed child care centre or licensed home-based child care provider (e.g., post-secondary Early Childhood Education instructor, researcher, sector advocate, health or community partner, etc.). The recipient demonstrates exceptional commitment to strengthening Manitoba’s early learning and child care sector by advancing evidence informed practice, supporting workforce excellence, or supporting licensed early learning and child care programs across Manitoba to thrive.

Criteria

The nominee must demonstrate an exemplary commitment to:

  • making a meaningful contribution that supports or strengthens Manitoba’s early learning and child care system and/or workforce through research, education, advocacy, policy, or sector support.
  • supporting high quality, inclusive early learning and child care through leadership, collaboration, or innovation.
  • building effective partnerships and sharing knowledge, resources, or expertise that benefit the sector.

Nominee and Nominator Eligibility

  • An individual who holds a valid Early Childhood Educator II or III certification with the Government of Manitoba may be nominated.
  • At the time of the nomination, the individual must be directly contributing to the improvement of Manitoba’s early learning and child care sector.
  • Two nominators/descriptions are required. Nominators may be any person with knowledge of the nominee's contribution and daily work that makes exceptional contributions to improving Manitoba’s early learning and child care system.

The following are not acceptable nomination methods:

  • Self-nominations 
  • Posthumous nominations 
  • Nominations from immediate family members*
  • Nominations from nomination review panel members
  • Nominations from employees of the Early Learning and Child Care Division

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How to Prepare and Submit a Nomination

Submit a complete nomination package that includes the following completed documents, no later than June 19, 2026. Please, no handwritten submissions.

  1. Award nomination form (PDF) – The nominee and nominator(s) must complete and sign this fillable form. Signatures are required from the nominee and nominator(s).
  2. A nomination description is required from each nominator. Nominators must complete award-specific questionnaire and use their responses to explain how the nominee demonstrates the criteria for the selected award category as outlined in the criteria and eligibility section. All text must be typed and include the name of nominee(s) and nominator.

View questions required for award nominations

Only a complete nomination package, including complete and signed nomination form(s) and required nomination description(s), will be considered by the nomination review panel. Multimedia files (ex: DVD, CD, USB key) will not be considered.

Please submit nomination package by mail or email no later than June 19, 2026, to:
Manitoba Early Childhood Educator Awards of Excellence
Early Learning and Child Care Division
210-114 Garry Street
Winnipeg MB, R3C 4V4
Email: eceawards@gov.mb.ca
 
Note:  A nomination package that is emailed after the deadline will not be accepted. Mailed nomination packages postmarked on the day of the deadline will be considered if they are complete.

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Nomination Process and Selection

All nominees and their nominator(s) will be notified by email when their nomination package has been received.

A Nomination Review Panel will assess all submissions. The panel comprises representatives from Manitoba’s early learning and child care sector, including:

  • Manitoba Child Care Association (MCCA)
  • La Fédération des Parents de la Francophonie Manitobaine (FPFM)
  • Manitoba Métis Fédération (MMF)
  • Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs (AMC)
  • Child Care Coalition of Manitoba (CCCM)

A letter will be sent to all selected award recipients and will include further details about the Awards recognition and event to follow. Each of the nominee’s nominators, director and board of directors (when applicable) will receive a copy of this letter.

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Contact

For additional inquiries about the Manitoba Early Childhood Educator Awards of Excellence, email: eceawards@gov.mb.ca

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*Immediate family is defined as a nominee's father, mother (or stepfather, stepmother, or foster parent), brother, sister (including step or half sibling), spouse (including common law partner), child (including child of common law partner), stepchild or ward of the employee, grandparent, grandchild, father in law, mother in law and relative permanently residing in the employee's household or with whom the employee permanently resides.

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