On Saturday, Sept. 26, at the Sechelt Longhouse, the Sunshine Coast Childcare Providers Association (SCCCPA) gave its deepest appreciation to four well-deserving honourees: Marg Pearson, Anita Bathgate, Lori Dixon and Jocelyn deVries.
Each received a lifetime achievement award for their work as licensed childcare providers and early childhood educators.
The Kwamsot Drum Group, under the leadership of Andy Johnson, performed honouring ceremonial songs and dances. Artist Anthony Paul presented each honouree with an original wood carving of the wolf, symbolic of family care-givers. Powell River-Sunshine Coast MLA Nicholas Simons praised the women for their important accomplishments and spoke about the ongoing challenge of funding support for childcare providers.
The SCCCPA recognized these women as childcare entrepreneurs, visionaries and pioneers on the Sunshine Coast. Individually each has filled a great need by creating nurturing environments where children were safe, welcomed and made to feel special and where their families were supported. They successfully provided a "home away from home" experience and fostered child development. Throughout each day these childcare providers juggled many roles: early learning teachers, referees during toy tussles, gourmet chefs for discriminating tastes, healers for upset feelings and nurses of bumps and scrapes.
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