Early Childhood Development Association of PEI

Vous soutenez les enfants. Nous vous soutenons.

Dans le secteur de l'apprentissage et de la garde des jeunes enfants de l'Î.-P.-É., les éducateur·trice·s sont soutenu·e·s par des ressources, un mentorat et une communauté.

Le secteur de l'apprentissage et de la garde des jeunes enfants est un milieu où votre carrière et votre cœur s'épanouissent ensemble. Découvrez la passion derrière le travail à ecdaofpei.ca/passion

Financé par le gouvernement de PEI

Today, June 21st, we recognize National Indigenous Peoples Day. A day to honour the histories, cultures, traditions, and contributions of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples.

Indigenous knowledge, stories, and teachings are an important part of our shared past, present, and future. Today is an opportunity to listen, learn, reflect, and celebrate the voices and experiences that continue to strengthen our communities.

At the ECDA, we believe every child and family deserves to feel seen, valued, and a sense of belonging. Through our Hearing All Voices series, we continue to share stories that highlight the cultures, identities, and connections within PEI’s early learning community.

We invite you to watch our newest story, Hearing All Voices: A Place to Belong, featuring the Mi’kmaq Family Resource Centre and Wekatesk Aboriginal Head Start in Charlottetown. This story highlights the importance of culture, connection, and creating spaces where children and families can feel at home.

We acknowledge that the land upon which we play, live, and work, is the unceded Mi’kmaq territory of Epekwitk (Prince Edward Island). Epekwitk is located in Mi’kma’ki, the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq People and is covered by historic Treaties of Peace and Friendship. We pay our respects to the Indigenous Mi’kmaq People who have occupied this Island for over 12,000 years; past, present, and future.

Today we are sharing a new story from our Hearing All Voices series, highlighting the importance of culture, connection, and belonging within PEI’s early learning community. 🤝

In this video, Emily Spencer, Executive Director of the Mi’kmaq Family Resource Centre and Wekatesk Aboriginal Head Start , and parent Jessica Clements, share how Wekatesk creates a safe and welcoming space where Indigenous children and families can connect with their culture, language, and community.

Through songs, drumming, teachings, relationships, and everyday moments of learning, children are supported in building pride, confidence, and a strong connection to who they are.

As we approach National Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21, we invite our community to listen, learn, and celebrate the histories, cultures, and contributions of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples.

Thank you to Emily, Jessica, and the children, families, and educators of Wekatesk Aboriginal Head Start for welcoming us into your space and sharing your voices.

🎥 Watch the video to hear their story. Link in bio!

These are our voices. This is our community.

Hearing All Voices: A Place to Belong The ECDA’s Hearing All Voices series celebrates the many cultures, ...

🎉 Today, we celebrate the incredible role play has in children’s learning, development, creativity, relationships, and well-being! 🎉

Thank you to everyone who shared stories of unexpected moments of play. Your experiences remind us that play is everywhere; and that some of the most meaningful learning happens when children have the time, space, and support to follow their curiosity.

A big THANK YOU to Owls Hollow - Toys & Games for generously supporting this celebration of play with our giveaway prizes, and for championing the power of play every day!

🎉 Congratulations to our gift certificate winners:
🏆 Kayla Wu
🏆 Ishmeet Kaur
🏆 Tammy MacKinnon
🏆 Heather Lynn
🏆 Erin MacDonald

As we celebrate the importance of play today, we’re also excited to share that ECDA is working on something new! Play is foundational to early childhood education and supports learning, creativity, problem-solving, connection, and discovery, in the early years and beyond.

Our upcoming play campaign will help highlight the value of play and celebrate the incredible learning that happens when we start with play. Keep watching for hints and updates as we prepare to share more in the coming months!

Whatever you’re doing, Start With Play!

☀️ A step forward for Pedagogical Support, but our work continues.

Today, we are sharing an important update:

The implementation of the reduction to Pedagogical Support funding has been extended to October 2, 2026.

This extension is a meaningful step forward and a direct reflection of the incredible advocacy, professionalism, and commitment shown by educators, directors, families, and supporters across PEI and Canada.

From the hundreds of stories shared through our Impact page, to the 2,400+ signatures on the official ECDA of PEI petition, to the conversations happening with provincial and federal decision-makers, your voices continue to make a difference.

This campaign has shown what is possible when our sector comes together with a shared purpose. ❤️

We recognize and appreciate the Province’s decision to extend this timeline and the acknowledgement this represents of the importance of Pedagogical Support within our Early Learning and Child Care system. This extension creates an opportunity to continue working collaboratively toward finding sustainable solutions, including federal support, to maintain this essential role.

But we want to be clear: Our advocacy is not finished.

Our goal remains the same: Restore full funding to Pedagogical Support.

Because this role supports:
✨ Children navigating big emotions and important moments of learning
✨ Educators with planning, reflection, and professional growth
✨ Families through stronger communication and support
✨ Centres through mentorship, stability, and quality improvement

Thank you to everyone who has shared your voice, supported this work, and continue to stand together for quality Early Learning and Child Care across PEI. Together, we continue to show what is possible.

An educator’s working conditions are children’s learning conditions.

Are you looking to deepen your social-emotional toolkit? Join us for our next interactive PD session!

Targeted Social and Emotional Supports: Promoting Social and Emotional Competence in Children
👤 Facilitator: Carolyn Porter (ASaP Coach, Kids Included)
📅 Date & Time: Thursday, June 18th from 6:30pm-8:30pm
📍 Format: Live virtual

Discover practical strategies to teach emotional awareness, model respectful behaviour, and build inclusive environments using the Pyramid Model.

🔗 Full details and registration: ECDAofPEI.ca/Events

Together, we are making an impact! Over the past several weeks, families, educators, directors, community members, and supporters from across PEI have come together to advocate for full funding of Pedagogical Support.

✔️ More than 2,400 signatures were collected and submitted through the official ECDA of PEI petition.
✔️ Letters of support were submitted from families, educators, directors, facilitators, and organizations from PEI and across Canada.
✔️ Meetings continue with provincial and federal representatives to discuss solutions and the importance of maintaining this vital position.
✔️ National organizations and advocates have joined the conversation, highlighting the importance of Pedagogical Support for quality Early Learning and Child Care.

This role supports children, families, educators, and entire centres every day. The stories shared through our Impact page, the petition signatures, and the growing support from across Canada continue to demonstrate that maintaining full funding for Pedagogical Support is not simply beneficial, it is necessary.

While there is still work ahead, we are encouraged by the conversations taking place and the growing awareness of this issue.

Thank you to everyone who has signed, shared, written a letter, contacted elected officials, or spoken up in support of PEI's Early Learning and Child Care sector.

Together, we will continue advocating for the supports children, families, educators, and centres need to thrive.

Play has a way of showing up when we least expect it. To celebrate the International Day of Play on Thursday, June 11, we're giving away five Owl's Hollow gift certificates, generously provided by Owls Hollow - Toys & Games!

💬 To enter, share with us in the comments: What is the most unexpected way you've seen children turn an everyday moment into play?

Perhaps:
✨ An ordinary object became something extraordinary
✨ A planned activity/experience took a completely different direction
✨ Children discovered play in a surprising space or situation

We want to hear about those moments that remind us why play is such a powerful part of life!

📅 Contest closes: Wednesday, June 10, 2026 at 11:59 PM
🎁 Winners announced: Thursday, June 11, 2026 - the International Day of Play!

Thank you to Owl's Hollow, a locally owned and operated toy and game store in Charlottetown, for generously supporting this celebration of play and championing the power of play every day!

Share your story in the comments and help us celebrate the creativity, curiosity, and joy that play brings to children's lives every day.

Whatever you're doing, start with play!

*For a chance to win 1 of 5 Owl's Hollow gift certificates, comments must be made on the original ECDA of PEI post. Entries close Wednesday, June 10, 2026 at 11:59 PM. Winners will be selected and announced on Thursday, June 11, 2026.

Have you visited our Events page? It’s the place to find out about upcoming opportunities to learn, connect, and lead with the ECDA!

From network meetings to PD and leadership learning, there’s something for all educators!

To register or learn more, visit www.ecdaofpei.ca/events

When Early Childhood Educators lose hours or jobs, families, centres, and communities feel the impact.

Pedagogical Support positions:
✅Support children
✅Support educators
✅Support families
✅Support the workforce
✅Support strong communities

Reducing these positions weakens all of those things.

And because approximately 95% of PEI’s Early Learning and Child Care workforce are women, these reductions disproportionately impact women across our province.

We’re calling for full funding to be restored.

💬 We need your support. Share your story at: ecdaofpei.ca/impact Link in bio.