2026 AECEA Early Childhood Educator Award of Recognition

Award recipients must have demonstrated strengths in building relationships with children and families.

A practice of relationships describes the complex and dynamic relationships with diverse community members and begins with educators who are willing to learn with and alongside children and families. Educators who engage in a practice of relationships create places of vitality in early learning and child care for the benefit of children, as social learners and citizens.

Reference:
Makovichuk, L., Hewes, J., Lirette, P., & Thomas, N. (2014). Flight: Alberta’s early learning and care framework.

The successful applicant will receive a 50% discount on one (1) year AECEA membership, a plaque, public recognition and acknowledgment in the field.

To be eligible, nominees must:

• Hold a current AECEA professional membership.
• Have a minimum of two (2) years of early learning and child care experience in Alberta.
• Hold a Level 1, 2, or 3 Early Childhood Educator certification in Alberta.
• Be a resident of Alberta.
• Provide consent to the nomination and to sharing the application publicly for recognition purposes.

The Early Childhood Educator Award of Recognition is administered in accordance with the following guidelines. By participating in the nomination process, nominators and nominees are deemed to have read and understood these requirements.

Eligibility of Nominators

• Nominators must:
  • be a resident of Alberta
  • be 18 years of age or older
  • not be related to the nominee
• Nominators must have direct knowledge of the nominee’s contributions to the field.
• Nominations may be submitted by an individual or a group.

Nomination Requirements

• Individuals may nominate an Albertan on their own behalf or on behalf of an Alberta-based organization or agency.
• Nominations cannot be submitted without the digital consent of the nominee.
• Nominations must be complete and submitted by the stated deadline.
• Nominations that are incomplete or do not comply with these guidelines may be disqualified.

Submission and Materials

• All nominations and supporting materials become the property of AECEA and will not be returned.
• AECEA is not responsible for incomplete, inaccurate, lost, or late nominations.

Privacy and Use of Information

• Selection and publicity related to the award will be conducted in accordance with the Personal Information Protection Act.
• Selection and publicity related to the award will be conducted in accordance with applicable privacy legislation.

Consent and Participation

By digitally signing the nomination form, each nominator and nominee:

• agrees to abide by the guidelines that govern the Early Childhood Educator Award of Recognition
• consents to having their photograph taken for award-related publicity purposes
• consents to the use of their name, community, photograph, and nomination materials in any award-related publicity carried out by the Association of Early Childhood Educators of Alberta
• consents to participate in award-related activities and functions, including the award ceremony, if selected as the recipient

• The award recipient is chosen by the 2026 Award Selection Committee, composed of representatives from the AECEA Board of Directors.
• Decisions made by the Award Selection Committee are final.