Past Winners

Business Champion Award

PoCo Building Supplies

The award was presented to Chris Galer, one of the owners, in recognition of their family friendly business focus in a non-traditional environment and their high level of community engagement and philanthropy.

Leadership Champion Award

Susan Foster

When awarded Susan was on secondment from her position as the Tri-Cities Early Childhood Development Community Development Coordinator. For the last 12 years, Susan has worked tirelessly as a behind the scenes leader for young children and their families.

Champion Group AWARD

United Way Avenues of Change

Avenues of Change – Coquitlam River was a multi-year project focused on creating communities where children can thrive to ensure that children start school ready to learn. They believe strongly in engaging and empowering a community.

Individual Champion Award

Nancy Rasche

Nancy works for Fraser Health in the Nursing Support Services, helping children with extra support needs and, often, multiple challenges. Nancy believes that she is part of each family’s journey with their child and that all children have potential.​​​​​​​

Volunteer Champion Award

Heather Hooton

Heather is the creator and head administrator of the Facebook group #TCMG Tri-Cities Moms Group, an online community of more than 7500 women. She works tirelessly to improve our community and enhance the lives of countless children and families in the Tri Cities.​​​​​​​

Business Champion Award

Bricks 4 Kidz

The award was presented to Agnes Olszewska and Kyla McLeod, owners, in recognition of their responsive, developmentally stimulating programming and their high level of community engagement and philanthropy.

Leadership Champion Award

Diane Lee

Diane Lee is the Program Director at the YMCA Child Care Resource and Referral Program. Over her 35 year career, Diane has led by example and is a true collaborator.

Champion for Children Who Have Special Needs Award

Joanne Perkins

Joanne works as a Program Assistant at Friendly Forest Preschool with children who have extra support needs. Joanne has shown herself to go above and beyond, and she is incredibly resourceful in supporting families with multiple challenges.  ​​​​​​​

Champion Group AWARD

Tri-City Family Place

This long-standing Family Resource Program, provides a strong community for families who are raising young children and gives them amazing supports.

Individual Champion Award

Tazeen Bharucha

Tazeen is a Strongstart Facilitator for SD#43 and goes above and beyond her job description, to make sure families have the supports and connections that they need.

Volunteer Champion Award

Luc Picard

Luc volunteers at Step-By-Step Child Development Society and he is dedicated, caring and passionate about sharing the joy of music with the preschoolers there, every week.

Business Champion Award

Vancouver Tumblebus

The award was presented to Trish Mandewo, Owner, in recognition of her vision of a unique, mobile program that makes kids love being physically active; and also in appreciation of her high level of community engagement.​​​​​​​

Leadership Champion Award

Andrea Hunter

Early Learning Co-ordinator for School District #43. Andrea is very passionate about the early years and has been a big leader in this area at both the School District and community level. ​​​​​​​

Champion for Children Who Have Special Needs Award

Gayle McAllister

Gayle works with children and their families as a consultant through the Supported Child Development Program at the Simon Fraser Society for Community Living. In her long career, Gayle has shown herself to go above and beyond, and she is incredibly resourceful in supporting families with multiple challenges.  ​​​​​​​

Champion Group Award

Childgarden Preschool & Discoveries

This successful program is committed to following students’ interests and creating a strong sense of community for the students and families in the program.​​​​​​​

Individual Champion Award

Julia Punzo

Julia is a Strongstart Facilitator for SD#43 and goes above and beyond her job description, to make sure families have the supports and connections that they need.​​​​​​​

Volunteer Champion Award

Julie Yu

Julie volunteers at the City of Port Coquitlam’s Children’s Services and she is dedicated, caring and passionate about working with preschoolers at City programs.

Business Champion Award

London Drugs – Photo Lab

The award was presented to Sean Stephenson, Photo Lab Manager, in recognition of their contribution to the first phase of the My Neighbourhood, My Future project and also in appreciation of their high level of community engagement.​​​​​​​

Leadership Champion Award

Barb Mancell

Barb, the Tri-Cities Literacy Outreach Co-ordinator is very passionate about healthy child development and early literacy and has taken the lead on many high impact projects.​​​​​​​

Champion for Children Who Have Special Needs

Cindy O’Neill

Cindy works with children and their families as a consultant through the Supported Child Development Program at the Simon Fraser Society for Community Living. In her 30 year career Cindy has shown herself to go above and beyond and she truly cares about the future of our community and the children who live here.

Champion Group AWARD

SHARE – Mountain View Family Resource Program

This successful program serves the Burquitlam area and has a strong parent volunteer mentoring program.

Individual Champion Award

Susan Donald

Susan is a Strongstart Facilitator for SD#43 and goes above and beyond her job description to make sure families have the supports they need. ​​​​​​​

Business Champion Award

Sheehan Plumbing and Heating

The award was presented to Derrick Knee, owner, in recognition of their ongoing commitment to family friendly business practices in the Tri-Cities and also in appreciation of their high level of community engagement.​​​​​​​

Volunteer Champion

Noah Shukyn

The first ever Volunteer Champion award was given to 13 year old Noah Shukyn…the youngest finalist and winner ever for these awards! Noah is an amazing role model to other youth in the community and has dedicated countless hours as a mentor at the Step-By-Step Child Development Society.

Champion for Children Who Have Special Needs

Martine Cutbill

Martine works with children as a program assistant through the Supported Child Development Program in a variety of Early Childhood settings. Martine is very innovative and loves to use animals to work with her kids…this approach has been very successful and has lead to breakthroughs with various children in terms of progress in their development.

Champion Group Award

S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Multicultural Early Childhood Program

S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Multicultural Early Childhood Program was named as the 2014 Champion Group Winner for the second time (they won the award in 2010 also). This successful program is targeted to newcomer parents of young children in the Tri-Cities, offering a variety of supports including one-to-one, group, events, celebrations and a Family Resource Centre.​​​​​​​

Individual Champion

Eunju Kim

Eunju is the Korean speaking worker at the S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Multicultural ECD Program where she provides group activities and one-to-one support. Eunju has been a great support in maintaining the Korean Mothers Support Group and is very accessible to the families she works with.​​​​​​​

Business Champion Award

Coquitlam Centre

Coquitlam Centre won the Business Champion Award of Excellence, for the second time (they also won the award in 2009). The award was presented to Alicia Fruhm,Douglas TannahillandLaurie Karsenin recognition of their ongoing commitment to Family Literacy in the Tri-Cities and also in appreciation of the many family-friendly amenities and services that are offered at Coquitlam Centre.

Leadership Champion Award

Valerie Lavallie

Valerie Lavallie from the Step-By-Step Child Development Society was named Leadership Champion for 2013. Val truly goes above and beyond her role as Program Director and serves as an amazing role model to others working in the Early Childhood field.

Champion for Children Who Have Special Needs

Carol Lindsay

Carol has worked as program assistant through the Supported Child Development Program with the staff at the Friendly Forest Preschool in Anmore for 16 years. Carol works hard to assist families in getting the supports and services they need, to better support the development of children who have special needs.​​​​​​​

Champion Group Award

Port Coquitlam Daycare Society

The staff at the centre emphasize the importance of the relationships between parents and caregivers and they really emphasize outdoor play in their use of emergent curriculum.

Individual Champion Award

Diane Spooner

Diane operates the YMCA Little Scholars Daycare atCABESchoolin Coquitlam and has been doing so for 20 years. Thie program won the Group Champion award in 2011. Diane is very gifted at building relationships with the young parents in her program and she is an amazing resource for them to turn to for support and information about their child’s development. ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Business Champion Award

Kerrigan’s Gymnastics

Kerrigan Gymnastics Academy won the Business Champion Award of Excellence which was presented to owners Sara and Rory Kerrigan. Kerrigan Gymnastics Academy truly puts children and families first in their program development and offerings and has made their facility extremely accessible to children who have special needs.

Leadership Champion Award

Deb Smith & Denise Anderson

Denise Anderson, Manager of Tri-Cities Public Health from Fraser Health and Debra Smith, the former Executive Director of the Step-by-Step Child Development Society were both named Leadership Champions for 2012. Both of these women are committed to community collaboration and to promoting the importance of Early Childhood Development in their roles in the community.

Champion for children who have special needs

Mary Ann Nelson

Mary Anne Nelson has recently taken on the role of the Supervisor of the Supported Child Development Program at the Simon Fraser Society for Community Living. Mary Anne is persistent and works hard to assist families in getting the supports and services they need, to better support the development of children who have special needs.

Champion Group Award

Friendly Forest Parent Co-operative Preschool

The Friendly Forest Parent Co-operative Preschool in Anmore was named as the Champion Group Winner. Friendly Forest has embraced emergent curriculum and play-based learning. They value children, parents and the community and have dedicated, caring and nurturing staff.

Individual Champion Award

Vicki Lepper

Vicki Lepper has a home-based child care centre called “Terrific Kids” and has been in the field for over 20 years. Vicki was also nominated in 2010 and was a finalist in 2011. Vicki is an extremely flexible, caring and thoughtful early childhood professional and has recently begun teaching other educators.

Business Champion Award

Village Toy Shop

The Village Toy Shop won the Business Champion Award of Excellence which was presented to Kirsten Anderson, owner. The Village Toy Shop is family friendly, community oriented and takes great care to sell products that promote play and learning through play. They have also generously donated train tables to the Port Moody Public Library and the Eagleridge Hospital.

Leadership Champion Award

Maureen Dockendorf

Maureen Dockendorf, Assistant Superintendent for School District #43, was named as the Leadership Champion for 2011. Maureen Dockendorf knows the importance of building relationships in the community in order to do what is best for kids and truly understands the importance of community development. Maureen has been a strong leader within the School District and the Tri-Cities and also at the Provincial Level.

Champion for children who have special needs

Brenda Horton

Brenda Horton has her own Physiotherapy Clinic, called Kidsfirst Physio. Brenda understands play and the importance of using it in a therapy setting. Because of her innovate approach, she has had significant successes and break-throughs with many of the children and families she works with. Brenda never gives up and strives to provide the best care to each child she works with.

Champion Group Award

Little Scholars

The Little Scholars YMCA Daycare was named as the Champion Group Winner. Little Scholars works with infants and toddlers and their teen parents. The work they do gives parents the support and skills they need to be parents, and gives the children an outstanding child care experience. The program has continued to evolve since its establishment in 1993 and is seen by the child care community as a model program.

Individual Champion Award

Jennifer Durkin

Jennifer Durkin won for the 2011 Individual Champion. Jennifer Durkin has been in the field for over 35 years and she still loves what she does at the Kiddies Korner preschool in Port Coquitlam. Jennifer believes strongly in letting children explore for themselves to structure their own learning through play. She is a highly respected early childhood educator in our community and truly a mentor to others in the field

Business Champion Award

Coquitlam Centre

Coquitlam Centre was presented with the Business Champion Award of Excellence which was presented to Deborah Stetz, Marketing Director. Coquitlam Centre gives back to the community in a big way, and they organize a large number of activities to support families across the Tri-Cities.

Champion Group Award

S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Multicultural Family Resource Program

S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Multicultural Family Resource Program was named as the Champion Group Winner and were nominated because they “truly help build a strong and supported community” for newcomer families. They help families understand cultural differences, improve their parenting skills and build relationships with other families.

Individual Champion Award

Gloria Aitken

Gloria Aitken was named as the Individual Champion Award Winner has been working at the Port Coquitlam Happy Times Preschool for 25 years, and has an incredible reputation. One of Gloria’s gifts is her ability to build rapport with families and their children, and her willingness to adapt her program to what is best for the child.