For 20 years, Kids Can Fly has hosted an annual celebration event to showcase the accomplishments of early childhood educators in Brantford and Brant County. The ECE Awards Celebration includes a prestigious awards ceremony, with awards showcasing rising stars, outdoor education, literacy promotion, and leadership in the early childhood education sector.
Some awards can be won by a childcare program, while others are meant for individual early childhood educators.
Barb Vanry, who won the Sharon Brooks Leadership Award in 2024, shared that winning the award had a huge impact on her. “I won Sharon Brooks Leadership Award for demonstrating leadership within their organization, business and community,” shared Vanry. “My colleague Debbie Eberth won the Early Learning Award of Excellence for upholding and surpassing the values of Code of ethics and standards of practice of CECE.”
The award is named after Sharon Brooks, the long-time executive director at Kids Can Fly who retired in the fall of 2022 after 22 years leading the organization. Brooks is also the founder of the ECE Awards Celebration event.
Shannon Lisk, RECE with Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School Board, expressed gratitude for her award. “I am extremely honoured to have been nominated and humbled to be selected as the recipient of the inaugural Team Player award,” says Lisk. “Teamwork is a core value I strive for daily, not only in the classroom but also in life and I wouldn’t be able to do it without my amazing teammates.”
Additionally, people who are celebrating multiple decades of commitment to the early childhood education sector can self-nominate to receive recognition pins at the event. Those celebrating 5 years of service will receive certificates at the 2025 Awards Celebration, and those celebrating 10, 20, 30, and 40 years of service to children will receive pins.
“The ECE awards are so important for our community as a whole. Not only does it honour, celebrate and recognize our hard-working RECEs and early learning professionals, but it also allows members of the community to take part by nominating those who have made a difference in their lives and/or the lives of their children.” — Katrina Macri, Kids Can Fly Board Chair
The event is run by a committee of volunteers with the support of Kids Can Fly staff. This year’s sponsors include the City of Brantford, Grand Erie District School Board, Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School Board, and Tandia Financial Credit Union.
The 2025 event will take place Thursday, November 6th, 2025, at the TownePlace Suites.
If you know an early learning professional or program that deserves to be nominated, nominations are now open on Kids Can Fly’s website. There are eleven awards available to be won, all of which are sponsored by local organizations, groups, and families.
All nominees received a letter congratulating them on their nomination, and highlighting the wonderful things that were said about them. Winners of each award were announced at the awards ceremony.
Winners in 2024 include: Banelly Manzo (Rising Star Award), Shannon Lisk (Team Player Award), Janelle Gladding (Early Learning Spirit Award), Nicole Armstrong-Whitworth (Nancy Corke ‘Joy of Nature’ Award), Susana Pedrosa (Wee Watch Commemorative Memorial Award), Cindy Fiebiger (Donn Zver Love of Reading Award), Debbie Eberth (Early Learning Award of Excellence), Karen Bulmer (Making Every Kid Matter Award), Sonali Sharma (Parents Choice Award), Florencia Lucero (Resiliency Award), and Barb Vanry (Sharon Brooks Leadership Award).