Every year for the past eight years, the Fédération des parents has presented the Award of Excellence in Early Childhood Education in British Columbia during the opening evening of its annual conference.

This prestigious award is intended to highlight the contributions of an educator whose work is particularly appreciated in their community. Christine Binion, from the Garderie et prématernelle Les P’tits lutins in Port Coquitlam, has won the honour for 2017/2018.

The preschool’s parents point out that Ms. Binion has always put her love of children at the centre of her professional activities. She is always looking for new ideas and new ways of approaching different topics, so that children can learn while having fun.

Her professionalism, her attention to detail, and her reputation with regional health authority licensing staff have been very much appreciated by the preschool centre’s board members. Her skills helped facilitate the changes necessary to obtain a new type of license for the preschool centre.

She has been a preschool educator for 10 years, and her contributions were invaluable when the centre decided to expand its services and also offer child care for ages from birth to 5 years old. She also provided invaluable support working in the child care centre to ensure the continuity of a much appreciated service.

In addition to her commitment to provide quality service for a new clientele, Ms. Binion had another large-scale project added to her responsibilities: not only moving the centre to a new space, but doing this in the middle of the school year. With great devotion, Christine actively participated in the move, and in only a few days she was able to recreate four play areas and learning centres for the young children. Her efforts have helped the little ones experience a smooth transition as they quickly adapted to their inviting new spaces.

In the photo, Ms. Binion is joined by Danielle Fakim and Marie Perron, preschool parents (left), and Suzana Straus, Président of the Fédération des parents (right).

Congratulations, Christine!