April 29, 2026
Manitoba Government Honours the Work of Early Childhood Educators
– – –Manitoba Early Childhood Educator Awards of Excellence Celebrate Outstanding Child-Care Professionals: Schmidt
The Manitoba government is seeking nominations for the Manitoba Early Childhood Educator Awards of Excellence, recognizing the outstanding contributions of early childhood educators (ECEs) across the province, Education and Early Childhood Learning Minister Tracy Schmidt announced today.
“ECEs lay the critical foundation for lifelong learning during the most formative years of a child’s development,” said Schmidt. “Celebrating Early Childhood Educator Awards of Excellence is another way our government is supporting and elevating the early childhood education profession, in addition to historic wage increases and education and training grants.”
The awards will recognize excellence across six categories for a total of up to 15 honourees:
- Premier’s Award for Early Childhood Education Excellence (one award);
- Outstanding Early Childhood Educator Award (five awards);
- Community Collaboration Award (one award for a team of three to five ECEs);
- Leadership Excellence Award (one award);
- Early Learning and Child Care Impact Award (one award); and
- Exemplary Home-Based Early Learning Environment Award (two awards).
The awards aim to recognize and celebrate early learning and child-care professionals who exhibit standards of excellence in early childhood education. They will also highlight the knowledge, competencies, pedagogical leadership and specialized training requirements of ECEs, and recognize home-based providers for their contributions to enhancing children’s growth and development.
The Manitoba Early Childhood Educator Awards of Excellence will include a cash award of $500 for each recipient. Applications and nominations can be submitted at www.manitoba.ca/eceawards until June 19. A distinguished panel of early childhood education sector representatives will select the finalists, with winners announced at a recognition ceremony in fall 2026, the minister noted.
For more information about the Early Childhood Educator Awards of Excellence, eligibility criteria or the nomination process, visit www.manitoba.ca/eceawards.
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