Nova Scotia

April 4, 2014

The Chronicle Herald, by Margaret Norrie McCain

Excerpt: "Across Canada, it is a familiar scene: parents lined up in the cold to get their children into a preferred slot at a preschool. Whether motivated by a desire to give their child a head start for school or the need for care so they can work, the challenge is the same — too many children for too few good spots.

But in Nova Scotia, the scene is changing. The province is showing how schools can fill the breach by opening Early Years Centres; places offering early learning for four-year-olds ...

April 2, 2014

The remarks of Margaret Norrie McCain, given at Mount Saint Vincent University on April 2, 2014. Ms. McCain argues for the centrality of early learning experiences in providing children with a strong foundation for their future health, academic success, and wellbeing. By integrating new services and policies into the existing public education infrastructure, Ms. McCain believes we can foster vibrant community-based schools that will support young children and their families. Ms. McCain was at Mount Saint Vincent to open the Margaret Norrie McCain Centre for Teaching, Learning and Research.

Smart Public Policy Includes Early Childhood Education Presentation ...

August 22, 2013

Nova Scotia - The province is opening early years centres in four communities to provide families with more access to services and supports for young children.

Education and Early Childhood Development Minister Ramona Jennex announced the locations of the province's first early years centres today, Aug. 22, at Rockingstone Heights School, the site for the Halifax Regional School Board's centre.

The other centres will be located at Jubilee Elementary School in Sydney Mines, Cape Breton-Victoria Regional School Board; East Antigonish Education Centre in Monastery, Strait Regional School Board; and Yarmouth Central in Yarmouth, Tri-County Regional School ...

July 10, 2013

Families of young children in some Nova Scotia communities will soon have early years centres to add to their resources thanks, in part, to the support from the Margaret and Wallace McCain Family Foundation Inc..

Premier Darrell Dexter and Education and Early Childhood Development Minister Ramona Jennex welcomed Margaret McCain, at Joseph Howe School in Halifax today, June 26, as she announced the $500,000 grant being issued to help establish the province’s first early years centres.

“As a parent, I know how important it is for families of young children to have a place to ...

The MWMFF is joining with the government of Nova Scotia to establish three early years centres across the province that will provide support for young children and their families at accessible community locations.

These centres will build on the highly successful SchoolsPlus model being used in schools that help bring seamless access to regulated child care, early learning programs, early intervention and parent education.

Early Years Centres in PEI, Nova Scotia and Ontario have proven invaluable in demonstrating the integration of early childhood services and public education to better serve children and families. “We’re confident the same lessons will ...