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Advocacy all in a day’s work for childcare award winner
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June 26, 2003
She’s best known for speaking for the little people on campus. Watching Sheila Davidson among the frolicking, sun-hatted three-year-olds from Nanitsh, one of 11 SFU childcare centre programs, it’s clear that her advocacy comes from the heart.
"I always knew I wanted to work with children but I had no desire to be a teacher," says Davidson, the recipient of this year’s C.D. Nelson award. The SFU prize is given annually in recognition of contributions to the university outside the academic realm.
Davidson has been executive director of SFU’s childcare centre since 1991. Under her guidance the centre has undergone major expansion of both its facilities and programs. A new hot lunch kitchen — complete with chef — is the latest example.
Davidson recently stepped down after six years as chair of the Provincial Childcare Council. During that time she was one of the founding members of the Childcare Advocacy Forum and has been a tireless activist for quality publicly funded childcare services.
That advocacy stretched through two governments and six different cabinet ministers. Disappointed with the current Liberal government’s approach to childcare, she believes the former NDP government’s initiative called Childcare BC was a step in the right direction.
Still, Davidson is optimistic. "One of the biggest challenges lies in wanting society as a whole to value our children and recognize that when you value them as young people, you will make a difference in the rest of their lives."
Davidson oversees one of the largest university childcare centres in Canada (and the first, with its opening in 1968) with a staff of 40, a budget of $2 million and 210 licensed spaces. In 2002 she received the Gayle Davies award for excellence in early childhood care and education, which recognizes "peace, power, friendship and vision." The award is given annually by the Early Childhood Educators of BC.
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Contact:
Sheila Davidson, 604.291.3226; sheila_davidson@sfu.ca
Marianne Meadahl/Julie-Ovenell-Carter, 604.291.4323
Websites
SFU Childcare: www.sfu.ca/childcare-society/
Provincial childcare council: www.mcaws.gov.bc.ca/childcare/ChildCar/prov_council.htm
Early Childhood Educators of BC: www.cfc-efc.ca/ecebc/
"I always knew I wanted to work with children but I had no desire to be a teacher," says Davidson, the recipient of this year’s C.D. Nelson award. The SFU prize is given annually in recognition of contributions to the university outside the academic realm.
Davidson has been executive director of SFU’s childcare centre since 1991. Under her guidance the centre has undergone major expansion of both its facilities and programs. A new hot lunch kitchen — complete with chef — is the latest example.
Davidson recently stepped down after six years as chair of the Provincial Childcare Council. During that time she was one of the founding members of the Childcare Advocacy Forum and has been a tireless activist for quality publicly funded childcare services.
That advocacy stretched through two governments and six different cabinet ministers. Disappointed with the current Liberal government’s approach to childcare, she believes the former NDP government’s initiative called Childcare BC was a step in the right direction.
Still, Davidson is optimistic. "One of the biggest challenges lies in wanting society as a whole to value our children and recognize that when you value them as young people, you will make a difference in the rest of their lives."
Davidson oversees one of the largest university childcare centres in Canada (and the first, with its opening in 1968) with a staff of 40, a budget of $2 million and 210 licensed spaces. In 2002 she received the Gayle Davies award for excellence in early childhood care and education, which recognizes "peace, power, friendship and vision." The award is given annually by the Early Childhood Educators of BC.
—30—
Contact:
Sheila Davidson, 604.291.3226; sheila_davidson@sfu.ca
Marianne Meadahl/Julie-Ovenell-Carter, 604.291.4323
Websites
SFU Childcare: www.sfu.ca/childcare-society/
Provincial childcare council: www.mcaws.gov.bc.ca/childcare/ChildCar/prov_council.htm
Early Childhood Educators of BC: www.cfc-efc.ca/ecebc/