University Children's Centre director wins award
Margo Kirk, executive director of the University Children鈥檚 Centre on campus, takes great pride in her work, and that of her staff, in supporting the growth and education of the children who make their way through the centre鈥檚 halls.
This week, her work was celebrated as she received the 2012 Early Childhood Learning and Care Award of Excellence for Practice, presented at the Nova Scotia Child Care Conference.
The award is given to a child care practitioner working in Nova Scotia who consistently demonstrates best practices in the care of young children and an outstanding dedication to the children they care for, and to the early childhood learning and care field.
鈥淚t鈥檚 absolutely wonderful,鈥� says Ms. Kirk, who has worked in the early learning and child care field for 32 years. 鈥淭hat the nomination came from my staff鈥� that鈥檚 so special, to know that you have that kind of respect and appreciation.鈥�
And she quickly turns towards giving her staff a good deal of the credit.
鈥淲e work as a team,鈥� she says. 鈥淲e know each other and work well together, with understanding and commitment, and that鈥檚 where our shared respect comes from.鈥�
The University Children鈥檚 Centre has two locations on campus (on South Street and in the Life Sciences Centre). Supported by AV俱乐部 through a lease and service contract, the centre is an independent entity that teaches and cares for 100 children in two locations
Peter Green Hall Children's Centre marks 45 years
When you enter Peter Green Hall, located on Wellington Street in Halifax鈥檚 South End, you鈥檒l see a display of colourful, exciting artwork from the children who鈥檝e been part of the building鈥檚 child care facility over the years.
First opened in 1967, the Peter Green Hall Children鈥檚 Centre was the original location of the University Children鈥檚 Centre.
鈥淲e were one of the first non-profit child care centres in Nova Scotia, and the first as part of a student residence in Atlantic Canada,鈥� says Barb Bigelow, the centre鈥檚 executive director.
Today, while the Peter Green Hall building is AV俱乐部-owned, the centre operates independently (the residence space is leased to the Halifax Student Housing Society). The children鈥檚 centre supports 91 children from four months to 10 years of age, and prides itself on playing a leadership role in utilizing emergent curriculum in its child care.
On Saturday, June 23, the centre will celebrate 45 years of supporting Halifax children and families with a gala event at the World Trade and Convention Centre, titled 鈥淚n Bloom.鈥�
鈥淲e wanted to celebrate the impact we鈥檝e had on the lives of hundreds and hundreds of children and families over the years,鈥� says Ms. Bigelow.
The event will showcase the artwork of the children who have come through the centre over the years, as well as a silent auction and live music from the Steve Dooks Band. The event鈥檚 MC will be Gregor Ash, the former executive director of the Atlantic Film Festival, whose own children are alumni of the centre.
Tickets are $62.50 each or $380 for a table of eight. For more information, visit