Premier Pat Binns and Dr. David Wong, Chair of the Premier’s Council on Healthy Child Development, are pleased to announce the recipients of the first annual Champions for Children Awards. The awards, which were handed out tonight in Charlottetown, celebrate the remarkable work that is being done across the province to provide the children of Prince Edward Island the skills and the opportunities to reach their fullest potential in every aspect of their lives.
Premier Pat Binns said that all 22 of the nominees were strong contenders. “The caliber of the nominations was phenomenal,” the Premier noted. “It’s extremely encouraging to know that there are so many people working across the province to make sure that our youngest citizens are provided with the tools and environment in which they can flourish.”
Dr. Wong agreed, “With so many strong nominations, it was a real challenge for our selection committee to narrow it down to just three. Everyone who was nominated should be proud of their accomplishments.”
The three recipients of Champions for Children Awards are:
The Metro Fire Prevention Association – a small volunteer group comprised of people from Crossroads, North River, and the two Charlottetown Fire Departments who have succeeded in providing children from a very young age through to junior high school with fire safety information and education.
Kids West – an Alberton-based family resource centre that provides services for parents and children. Kids West has forged many collaborations and partnerships to address concerns of families – from a children’s car seat check-up program that helps parents ensure that their youngsters are secure in their vehicles to a pilot project for Parents Anonymous, a support program that is expanding across the province.
Dr. Jennifer Taylor – an associate professor in the Department of Family and Nutritional Sciences at the University of Prince Edward Island. Dr. Taylor is well-known to many parents across the province for her work establishing breakfast programs in Prince Edward Island schools, the key role she played in the development of the Healthy Eating Alliance and as co-chair of the Alliance, and her presentations at meetings of parents and other interested parties across the province.
The Premier’s Council on Healthy Child Development was established by Premier Pat Binns in March 2001 as a demonstration of the provincial government’s commitment to the Healthy Child Development Strategy, a Prince Edward Island initiative that focuses on children from the prenatal period to the early school years. The council’s role is to advise the Premier on issues affecting young children in PEI.