What's New
MWMFF-Pratt partnership featured in Canadian Capital
Canadian Capital Magazine has published an article featuring the partnership between the Margaret & Wallace McCain Family Foundation and the Jimmy Pratt Foundation: "Increasingly, foundations seek to leverage the impact of their grants by partnering with other philanthropic organizations that share their interests.
Congratulations La Boussole!
On December 6, 2011, La Boussole, Centre de la petite enfance et de la famille de Richibucto celebrated its first anniversary. The Hon. Margaret Norrie McCain and Jane Bertrand sent the following message to La Boussole on this occasion
What the research says about Smart Start
Smart Start is a comprehensive program that offers a continuum of services to children, parents and families. At the core are Smart Start Early Years Centres that offer early learning and child care to preschool children and a continuum of services to their families.
Honourable Margaret McCain opens early years programs in Charlottetown
CHARLOTTETOWN: Friday, Dec. 2/ The Honourable Margaret Norrie McCain joined Premier Robert Ghiz here today for the opening of a newly expanded Smart Start program at West Kent School and a new early learning centre at Holland College.
Early Years Study 3 Launched
November 22, 2011. Co-authored by the Hon. Margaret Norrie McCain, Fraser Mustard and Kerry McCuaig, the third edition of the Early Years Study: Making Decisions, Taking Action is launched.
Fraser Mustard passes away - A Tribute to Fraser Mustard
In Early Years Study 3 Fraser Mustard again brings his passion to early childhood development. His reasons were many, but mainly because he believed the future of our country, indeed of the world, depends upon it.
Honorable Margaret Norrie McCain opens new early learning centre, meets with Premier Alward
FREDERICTON, NB: The Honourable Margaret Norrie McCain will be in New Brunswick October 6 to 7.
The Hon Margaret Norrie McCain celebrates the launch of the Jimmy Pratt Foundation
September 6, 2011. The Hon Margaret Norrie McCain celebrates the launch of the Jimmy Pratt Foundation in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador.
Does Preschool Education Really Pay? When do the Payoffs Start and How Big is the Return?
On June 22nd, 2011, an Economic Forum on Early Learning took place in Toronto. Economist Dr. Pierre Fortin of the University of Québec at Montréal discussed his new work that reveals the benefits of Quebec’s full-time, publicly-supported learning and care program begin immediately and the payoffs are more far-reaching than speculated.
Wallace McCain passes away - May 13, 2011
Wallace McCain passed away on May 13, 2011. His leadership, generosity and pragmatic wisdom have made Canada a better place. The Margaret and Wallace McCain Family Foundation led by his wife, the Honourable Margaret Norrie McCain, will honour his memory as we continue to pursue our vision for young children and families. For more information, please visit: www.wallacemccaintribute.ca.
Start SMART provides promising beginnings for rural children
BURTTS CORNER, NB - An innovative new children’s centre officially opened its doors here today at a local school packed with kids, parents, government and community officials. Special guests Premier David Alward and Education and Early Childhood Development Minister Jody Carr toured the facility and chatted with children, parents and staff.
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Margaret McCain the 2010 Egerton Ryerson Award Recipient
Margaret McCain is the 2010 recipient of People for Education’s Egerton Ryerson Award for Dedication to Public Education. The award is named for the founder of Canada's public education system, Egerton Ryerson, a visionary leader in the campaign to ensure that every child had access to education.
Community innovators meet to develop better ways of delivering early childhood services to families
FREDERICTON, NB – How to best meet the early learning and child care needs of families with young children will be the topic of a day-long workshop being held in Fredericton, Nov. 25, 2010.
Participants are part of the Early Childhood Development Centre initiative supported by the provincial government and the Margaret and Wallace McCain Family Foundation (MWMFF).
Foundation hosts roundtable for Government of Nova Scotia
The Margaret and Wallace McCain Family Foundation hosted a one day symposium for the Government of Nova Scotia Thursday, October 28, 2010 to explore how government could expedite its early years policy reforms. The symposium was an opportunity for knowledge exchange between policy makers and experts from across Canada on the formation, implementation, sustainability and outcomes of various approaches to early childhood program delivery.
Participant List
Review of Cost Benefit Research
Program a model for early childhood education
RICHIBUCTO, NB, Oct. 16 /CNW/ - La Boussole, Centre de la petite enfance et de la famille de Richibucto inc. celebrated its official opening today in Soleil Levant School. Elected officials and community leaders from business, culture, health, and education joined children, their parents and caregivers to tour this unique "one-stop" location for children from birth through Grade 8.
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New in-school program welcomes tots to teens
RICHIBUCTO, NB, Oct. 13 /CNW/ - La Boussole, Centre de la petite enfance et de la famille de Richibucto inc. officially opens Saturday, October 16, 10 a.m. to noon, in Soleil Levant School, making the school the first in the community to open its doors to children and families starting at birth.
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The economic benefits of Ontario's full day Early Learning Program
Ontario’s full day learning program is projected to cost $1.5-billion at full implementation but what are the economic payoffs of this innovative plan?
Robert Fairholm, a director of the Centre for Spatial Economics, brings his 20 years of experience in economic analysis, modeling and forecasting to quantify the benefits of new public spending on full day kindergarten to reveal some startling payoffs.
Fairholm released his report August 20 at a seminar well-attended by academics and provincial and regional government officials. The event was sponsored by the Atkinson Centre for Society and Child Development with support from the Atkinson Charitable Foundation, the Lawson Foundation and the Margaret and Wallace McCain Family Foundation.
To access the full report, summary and media release visit
www.oise.utoronto.ca/atkinson/Upcoming_Events/index.html
New Brunswick needs a more seamless, efficient education system
More and more jurisdictions are bringing early childhood development into the school system and consolidating responsibility for children’s social services and education services in one department. Drawing on the lessons of the Early Years Study by Margaret Norrie McCain, Dennis Cochrane, president, St. Thomas University, argues that New Brunswick should learn from these national and international examples and follow suit.
Smart Start joins PEI
Smart Start, the integrated service model demonstrating best practices in early childhood service delivery, is becoming part of the PEI government’s new Preschool Excellence Initiative.
Our Children Our Future
Mission: Twenty years later, Margaret Norrie McCain's focus is still on nurturing the minds of young children. She hopes politicians won't abandon an issue that transcends politics and election campaigns.
Martin Aboriginal Education Initiative
Margaret and Wallace McCain Foundation joins with the Martin Aboriginal Education Initiative to promote literacy in First Nations community.
Building the Future in Atlantic Canada
The Government of New Brunswick and the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development of Prince Edward Island, with support from the Margaret and Wallace McCain Family Foundation, are partnering with community networks to create integrated children’s centres.
MWMFF partners with Govenment of New Brunswick
Margaret and Wallace McCain Family Foundation partner with Government of New Brunswick to demonstrate integrate children’s centres.
Smart Start
An innovative new children’s program got its official launch here today in a school gym packed with kids and parents and government, education, health and community officials.