Premier Robert Ghiz and Dr. David Wong, Chair of the Premier’s Council on Healthy Child Development have named the 2007 recipients of the Champion for Children Award as Melissa Brownlow, the Catholic Family Services Bureau, Ray Doiron and Danny and Martie Murphy.
The 2007 Champion for Children Award recipients and nominees were saluted today at the Annual Children’s Think Tank hosted by Premier’s Council on Healthy Child Development. There, Premier Ghiz recognized that Prince Edward Island has many committed individuals, organizations and businesses working to support children and families.
“Everyone who was nominated recognizes the collective responsibilities we have as a society to promote and support the healthy development of our young children and families of Prince Edward Island,” he added.
This year, the Premier’s Council introduced a new annual award to recognize an Island business that supports best practices for work and family balance and community programs for children.
Council chair Dr. David Wong said one of the goals of the provincial healthy child development strategy is to increase the number of employers who provide family-friendly workplace policies in the province.
“It’s important for parents and employers to understand that the actions they take in support of work/life balance have tremendous impact on healthy child development and the health of the family,” he added.
For more information about healthy child development initiatives in Prince Edward Island, visit www.gov.pe.ca/hcd.
BACKGROUNDER
The role of the Premier’s Council on Healthy Child Development is to advise the Premier on issues affecting young children in the province and to work with government and community to advance the Healthy Child Development Strategy. The strategy aims to ensure that every child in Prince Edward Island from the prenatal period to eight years old is safe and secure; healthy; successful at learning; and benefits from strong supportive relationships. Members of the Premier's Council on Healthy Child Development include Dr. David Wong, Chair; Cindy Shepard; Alice Taylor; Charles Sark; BJ Willis; Debbie Montgomery and Frank MacAulay.
The Annual Champion for Children Awards celebrate the outstanding work and contributions made by individuals, organizations, communities and businesses who directly and positively impact the daily lives and future outcomes of young children and their families. The 2007 recipients of Champions for Children Award were selected by a committee of peers, as follows:
Melissa Brownlow of South Granville has been committed to excellence in preschool programming for more than 20 years and is presently a kindergarten teacher at Gulf Shore School in North Rustico. She is passionate about learning and, as a life-long learner herself, is continuously exploring new approaches in early childhood education.
Brownlow is an active volunteer of the Central Queens School Home and School Association where she serves as the healthy snack coordinator. She is also a Roots of Empathy volunteer and has presented the program to students for the past three years. She is a former volunteer with the Project L.O.V.E. program which provides reading support for students in grades one and two.
Last spring, Melissa began a family math program for parents and children aged 4 to 8 years old at Gulf Shore School that continues this year with great success.
The Catholic Family Services Bureau has deep roots in the community and more than 75 years of history. It was established in 1931 by the Congregation of the Sisters of Saint Martha of Prince Edward Island as the Catholic Welfare Bureau. It has evolved from the first social services agency in the province providing for the poor during the Great Depression to the voluntary, not-for-profit, accredited, family service agency that it is today.
The purpose of the agency is the promotion and strengthening of the quality of family life on Prince Edward Island. This purpose is carried out through the provision of professional counseling to individuals, couples, families, children and groups as well as educational and advocacy services. Newer services added to their complement include the Families and Schools Together Program, a specialized Play Therapy counseling service for children ages 4 to 12 years, and a group program for children who have witnessed domestic violence.
Dr. Ray Doiron, PhD, Faculty of Education, UPEI
Ray Doiron is a former public school teacher who has been a professor in the Faculty of Education at UPEI since 1994. In recent years, he has done much to champion the cause of literacy and health literacy for children. Doiron has established countless initiatives and programs that involve children, parents, teachers, early childhood educators, community organizations and associations in learning about healthy living and learning. A sample of research projects to his credit include Eating Between the Lines: An early literacy healthy eating program for preschool children and their families, the impact of Project L.O.V.E. on elementary children’s literacy achievement, and Literacy in the Lives of Boys; A school-wide, community-based study.
Ray Doiron spends much time advocating healthy child development issues including literacy and nutrition to policy makers. He was past chair of the PEI Literacy Alliance and co-director of PEI’s Literacy Research Network.
Danny and Martie Murphy
As the successful owner of DP Murphy Inc, businessman Danny Murphy, with the support of his wife Martie, has created and helped to sustain many children’s activities and events in Prince Edward Island. One of their largest contributions is the operation of the Oak Acres Children’s Camp in Murray River, Prince Edward Island. Each year, approximately 480 local children are selected by school guidance counselors to enjoy this camping experience at no cost to their families.
Through DP Murphy Inc., the Murphys sponsor the Easter Seals Ambassador School Tour (for over 20 years), the Autism Society of PEI, TimBit Island Minor Hockey, KidSport, the Wendy’s Annual Classic Achiever Scholarship program and Special Olympics, to name a few. The Murphys not only generously provide money, but also time. Mr. Murphy’s leadership and philanthropy helps to set a standard for the Prince Edward Island business community.