Forty award finalists recognized in early learning and child care

Two Pincher Creek nominees make list of finalists

Alberta’s Early Learning and Child Care Professional Awards of Excellence has selected 40 finalists who inspire children and families. These individuals work in child care, early childhood services or Parent Link Centres across the province.

More than 140 nominees were scored on their leadership, creativity, innovation and collaboration in their work; and their contribution to positive and stimulating learning environments that motivate children and families to exceed their own expectations.

Samantha Bonwick and Catherine Oczkowski of Pincher Creek made the list of finalists in the Licensed Day Care category.


A selection committee of past recipients and other well-respected early learning and child care professionals now has the difficult job of determining the successful recipients in each of the 14 categories. These individuals will be honoured at a special celebration in Calgary on May 10.

“Being nominated in 2012 was an honour, and I was overwhelmed with joy to be selected as the successful recipient in the urban preschool category,” said Nancy Fritsche from the Discovery Time Preschool program. “Now experiencing the opportunity of sitting on the selection committee and benefitting from reading so many spectacular nomination packages truly humbles me and reinforces how rewarding it is to be chosen among so many worthy nominees.”

Alberta Human Services and Alberta Education co-host the awards, in partnership with the Alberta Child Care Association and the support of CTV and CTV Two Television, Wintergreen Learning Materials, Built to Learn Furniture - a division of the Excel Society, Groundwater Communications and Butter Bean Books.


2013 Early Learning and Child Care Professional Awards of Excellence Finalists:

Licensed Day Care

Samantha Bonwick, Pincher Creek
Catherine Oczkowski, Pincher Creek
Michelle Jean May, Medicine Hat
Mila Chan, Calgary
Azar Najafi, Edmonton
Jenette McLennan, Edmonton

Licensed Preschool

Eileen Borchert, Slave Lake
JoAnn Keir, Cochrane
Anita Bruce, Brooks
Jennifer Tse, Calgary
Amoriza Gunnink, Calgary
Wanda Stefanyshyn, Calgary
Meghan Hetherington, Sherwood Park
Melissa Steed, Edmonton

Family Day Home

Glenda Montgomery, Calgary
Helen Sreekumar, Calgary
Veronica Paul, Calgary
Kathryn Lowther, Edmonton
Vera Telleria, Edmonton
Sara Elizabeth Johnston, Vermilion
Shauna Moore, Sedgewick

Licensed Out-of-School Care

Barb Losie, Calgary
Roxanne Plischke, Edmonton
Jamie Greene, Edmonton
Glenda Bouvier, Lac La Biche
Janet Huffman, Fort McMurray

Special Needs

Jolene Doig, Camrose
Lee Stachniak, Edmonton

Cultural Practices

Ginette Clément, Calgary
Devlet Kaya, Edmonton

The Alberta Child Care Association Award of Distinction

Michele Serpanchy, Calgary
Sharon Green, Slave Lake

Parent Link Centres

Jane Donnelly, Cochrane
Eleanor Marr, Cochrane

Early Childhood Services

Isabelle Plomp, Lethbridge
Joan Green, Calgary
Kim Doig, Calgary
Joan Svederus, Lacombe
Shilo Thorne, Edmonton