Holland College officially opened the doors of its new Early Learning Centre today, marking the establishment of a centre of excellence that will support the professional development of early years centre staff across the province, and enable Early Childhood Care and Education students at Holland College to train with a team of highly-skilled early years educators. In addition, the centre will play a role in conducting evidence based research which will contribute to exemplary practice.

The college hosted a privately run childcare centre for more than 15 years, but implementation of the province's PEI Preschool Excellence Initiative provided an opportunity for the college to become more involved in the provision of services and training. The establishment of a fully integrated early years centre at Holland College provides a true demonstration model for best practice in an exemplary setting. The new centre features a $500,000 renovation, funded with equal contributions from the PEI Department of Innovation and Advanced Learning and Wallace and Margaret McCain.

"The college wanted to undertake a leadership role in early years training. To this end, we developed an on-line training program for childcare providers currently working in the field across PEI, and established a learning centre to provide our students with the opportunity to put into practice the theory they learned in the classroom," said Holland College President Dr. Brian McMillan. "We want to ensure that all children in the province have the best possible start in life."

The Hon. Margaret Norrie McCain, who is nationally recognized for her work on behalf of children and families, said the Early Learning Centre will be an invaluable tool for student training and professional development.

"Educators and their knowledge of early human development determine how effective the program is and how much children and families benefit. Investing in the education of the educators is the necessary precursor to investing in the education of the child," she said.

"We are so pleased to have a college in our own backyard that offers an early learning and child care centre that reflects the principles and foundations taught in the early childhood care and education program at Holland College, "said Premier Ghiz. "Not only does the centre provide service to parents and their children it also serves as a training lab for up and coming early childhood educators."

In this pictureL Hon. Margaret Norrie McCain accepts a painting presented to her by one of the children in the Early Learning Centre.