ChildCareBC Award Categories

One award per region (North, Interior, Fraser, Vancouver Coastal, and Vancouver Island) recognizes child care professionals or teams who work in a child care setting and demonstrate excellence in the child care priority areas.

Criteria:

• Demonstrates excellence in at least one of the following priority areas: working collaboratively with others, ensuring inclusion or encouraging diversity, and supporting community efforts and continuous improvement of child care practices
• Demonstrates knowledge and skills that provide or support high-quality child care
• Works toward reconciliation by creating cultural safety through culturally competent practice and inclusion of Indigenous language and culture
• Continues to develop and improve child care knowledge and skills
• Values excellence in child care
• Takes steps that have a positive impact on a child, children or child care setting

This award has two subcategories: One award recognizes a child care professional, team or organization that puts unique and creative ideas into action to benefit a child, children or child care setting. The second award recognizes a child care professional or organization who has set an example of unique and innovative practices in staff retention.

Note: The Staff Recruitment and Retention subcategory must include a letter of support from ECEs and/or staff members.

Criteria:

Innovation Subcategory 1: Creative Child Care in Action

Implements a unique idea that:

• Has a positive impact on a child, children or child care setting
• Improves service delivery within a child care setting
• Demonstrates knowledge and skills that provide or support high-quality child care

Innovation Subcategory 2: Staff Recruitment and Retention

• Sets an example of creativity and innovation in implementing successful staff retention practices
• Demonstrates staff satisfaction (via letter of support) and improved service delivery within a child care setting

Three awards will recognize one local government, one school district and one business OR community organization (from outside of the child care sector) that demonstrate excellence in their partnership with a local child care facility.

Note: All recipients will receive an award, including the child care partner and the local organization. One letter of support must come from the other party in the partnership.

Criteria:

• Demonstrates an innovative partnership with the early care and learning sector to support or deliver services, ensure inclusion or encourage diversity, and support community efforts and continuous improvement of child care practices
• Exemplifies a strong partnership, working together towards common goals, collaboration in supporting children, families and their community, and building a respectful relationship
• Works towards reconciliation by creating cultural safety through culturally competent practice and inclusion of Indigenous language and culture
• Collaborates with community members on matters related to child care, including when plans are being sought/drafted for community improvements
• Includes the voices of child care providers and/or families with children attending child care facilities
  • Demonstrates a level of commitment to implementing policies and actions that advance child care in B.C.

This award recognizes a child care professional or organization that has shown leadership in their community, with families or with underserved or vulnerable communities by encouraging and guiding others, displaying exceptional dedication, collaboration, creativity and vision.

• Note: must include a letter of support from outside your organization

Criteria:

• Accepts or seeks leadership responsibilities when opportunities arise, and takes action to improve existing practices or create new opportunities in the field of child care
• Displays leadership in providing services to underserved, remote or vulnerable communities
• Demonstrates knowledge and skills that provide or support high-quality child care
• Embodies leadership by encouraging and guiding others, displaying exceptional dedication, collaboration, creativity and vision

This award recognizes a professional who has been a leader in the child care sector for over 20 years.

Criteria:

• Worked for at least 20 years in the child care sector and has an established history of distinguished service
• Embodies leadership by encouraging and guiding others, displaying exceptional dedication, collaboration, creativity and vision
• Established a lasting contribution to child care practice, while demonstrating knowledge and skills that provide or support high-quality child care
• Accepts or seeks leadership responsibilities when opportunities arise, and takes action to improve existing practices or create new opportunities in the field of child care

This award recognizes a professional with a maximum of three years’ experience in the child care sector.

Criteria:

• Is a new leader in the child care community, with a maximum of three years’ experience
• Accepts or seeks leadership responsibilities when opportunities arise, and takes action to improve existing practices or create new opportunities in the field of child care
• Demonstrates knowledge and skills that provide or support high-quality child care
• Embodies leadership by encouraging and guiding others, displaying exceptional dedication, collaboration, creativity and vision

This award recognizes a child care professional or team who has shown excellence and leadership in providing inclusive practices for children with support needs, and offers a learning environment and programming that reflects the diversity of the children and families served.

Criteria:

• Displays leadership in increasing access to and providing truly inclusive care for children with support needs
• Displays leadership and cultural awareness in providing a learning environment and program that is reflective of the diversity of children and families participating in the program
• Builds capacity across program staff to support meaningful connections with families and the surrounding community to support inclusive, culturally responsive practices
• Displays value in inclusive practices that ensure all children are supported and included
• Displays support and encouragement of practices that demonstrate the true inclusion of the diverse populations of the province

This award recognizes an Indigenous individual who is deeply committed and passionate about serving children, families and their community, mentors others, and works to promote leadership in a child care setting.

Criteria:

• Demonstrates passion and commitment to their role and the children, families and communities they serve
• Consistently makes an effort to mentor others
• Demonstrates leadership by collaborating with co-workers and encouraging cultural values are reflected in the workplace

In addition to these award categories, Legacy Awards will be given to Child Care Operating Funding (CCOF) group facilities that have been licensed for 40 years in 2022 or 2023.