Sonya Corrigan

After graduating from the Early Childhood Care and Education program in 1990, Sonya worked in a variety of areas within the early childhood community, including kindergarten, special needs and toddler care. Sonya established her own child care centre in 1995 and developed a highly regarded program. It was evident Sonya believed in true partnerships with the entire family and the community. Every family was greeted with the same smile and inviting welcome, encouraged to be involved and a partner in the program. Parents were welcome to join their children at any time, parents of infants were welcome to come by and nurse, kindergarten parents were welcome to come and share a talent. The program was an opportunity for families to meet other families as well as the opportunity to get to know their community through guest speakers at parent nights or field trips.

Sonya stands behind the research promoting the early years as children’s most critical developmental years, and positively encourages everyone to pay attention to this. The leadership and innovation skills Sonya developed while operating her own business made for an easy transition into her current position of Executive Director with the Early Childhood Development Association (ECDA) of P.E.I. Sonya is the first person to fill this role for the ECDA of P.E.I. Sonya has developed policy and programs within the organization that continue to promote and support high-quality early years programs and services to Island children and families. Sonya developed and implemented programs such as the annual Learning Centre Challenge, an opportunity for licensed child care programs to enhance the quality of their programs in a meaningful and somewhat competitive manner, and the ECDA annual Early Childhood Awards and banquet celebrations.  

Sonya works closely with the community to ensure the best programs and services are available for P.E.I.’s children. Sonya has also been involved in various research initiatives to further P.E.I.’s understanding of our children’s needs and Island communities. She was one of the project coordinators with the P.E.I. Understanding the Early Years Research Initiative, and has continued involvement with the UPEI Centre for Education Research, and the collection of the Early Development Instrument with P.E.I.’s five year olds. Sonya is currently the co-chair of the P.E.I. Children’s Secretariat, P.E.I. representative on the Canadian Child Care Federation Member Council, chair of the Early Childhood Education and Care Network, and is a member of the Kindergarten Transition Team for the seamless transition of kindergarten from the community-based system to the public school system.

Sonya is committed to lifelong learning and continues to participate in formal and informal training at the post-secondary level herself while promoting the same within the early childhood community. Sonya played a key role in working with partners to ensure another successful delivery of the ECCE Accelerated Training Model currently being offered at Holland College.  Sonya’s passion for the early years is evident in the content and delivery of the many professional development workshops she has delivered, as well as the keynote addresses and facilitation she offers toward strategic planning and the long-term vision for P.E.I. and a well-funded system of early years programs and services.  To further this, Sonya recently led a successful strategic marketing campaign on behalf of the ECDA that promoted licensed, professional, certified child care.

Sonya believes beyond any doubt every child deserves the best possible chance for a fantastic future, and that tomorrow begins today, in a quality environment which encourages every individual to explore, learn and develop to be the best they can be. Sonya believes this begins at home and in our community, but also that professional early childhood educators play an important role as partners with families and communities to create these environments.

Sonya also contributes her time to the PEI Literacy Alliance Board of Directors and the Charlottetown Ringette Association. Sonya is the proud mother of three daughters, Katie, Sidney and Alysha.

Sonya received a Distinguished Alumni Award in 2009.