The MRC du Haut-Saint-Laurent unveiled a collection of colourful mobiles created by some of the area’s youngest citizens during a brief ceremony commemorating the 10th edition of Early Childhood Week in Huntingdon on November 20.
The mobiles represented the collective work of children attending different early childhood centres (CPE) or drop-in daycare installations, including the CPE Abracadabra in Ormstown, CPE Kaleidoscope in Hinchinbrooke and Saint-Chrysostome, the CPE Les Petits Pieds in Huntingdon, the Centre des Ressources Familiales du Haut-Saint-Laurent, and Une Affaire de Famille.
“Today we are celebrating much more than artistic creations,” said MRC du Haut-Saint-Laurent director general Pierre Caza, who highlighted the important network of loved ones and early childhood workers who advocate for the rights of young children while encouraging them to flourish. He referred to the mobiles as symbols of a collective movement, “where each thread, each colour, and each shape tells the story of a child who is learning to spread their wings.”
“Parents, educators, your role is essential. You are the wind beneath these children’s wings. With your support, they will reach their full potential, realize their dreams, and become confident, fulfilled adults,” said Caza. “Together we are a community that believes in the power of imagination and the importance of giving every child the opportunity to soar.”
Artist Audrée Bourdeau animated several artistic workshops with the children, transforming the creative time into a magical adventure. Dressed as a giant fairy, Bourdeau explained to the youngsters that she had lost her wings. With the help of the children and their magical crafts, she was able to find them. “I received lots of hugs,” laughed Bourdeau. “The work of educators is so wonderful. To have seen this from the inside, and to have felt it as well, was such a beautiful opportunity,” she said.
“The children really enjoyed it,” said Martine Joannette, the director of the CPE Abracadabra in Ormstown, while emphasizing the significance of early childhood development. “Children have the right to grow up in a safe, healthy environment, where they can develop all their skills over the years,” she explained. “For us, it’s about contributing to the future. It’s important,” she said of the special week, before adding that these rights are respected every day by the region’s educators.
The main objectives of Early Childhood Week are to raise awareness about the benefits and impact of collective measures and actions in early childhood and perinatal care, as well as the importance of early intervention. The week also represents an opportunity for those working in connection with early childhood care to advocate for the implementation of programs or public policies that promote the development of young children and their families.
More than 450 municipalities and towns held activities throughout the week including Ormstown, where a flag-raising ceremony took place on November 17at the town hall. The mayors and councillors of local municipalities including Franklin, Saint-Anicet, and Sainte-Barbe also took advantage of the week to tour early childcare centres and drop-in installations where they visited with their youngest citizens.