(ID 358593813 © Kaloyankostadinovdimitrov | Dreamstime.com)

By rdnewsNOW staff

$3.3 million investment

Provincial and federal governments create bursary to support early childhood educators

Aug 20, 2025 | 10:29 AM

The provincial and federal governments have launched a new bursary program aimed to help early childhood educators advance their careers.

This week they invested $3.3 million through the Canada-Alberta Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement to create the new Early Childhood Educator Bursary program.

The bursary, which will be managed by Norquest College, was formed to grow the province’s skilled early childhood educator workforce.

“Alberta families deserve high-quality child care and we know quality care begins with a skilled workforce,” said Demetrios Nicolaides, Minister of Education and Childcare, in a media release. “As part of our ongoing commitment to grow the child-care workforce and retain the highly skilled staff we already have, we are making it easier than ever to pursue a rewarding career in this dynamic sector.”

The province says early childhood educators have an important role in delivering high-quality and safe early learning for kids in Alberta.

WHAT'S ON

Here is what's on this weekend in Medicine Hat: December 5-7

18h ago

WHAT'S ON

Top five things to do at the Medicine Hat Public Library in December

Nov 30, 2025

WHAT'S ON

Here is what's on this weekend in Medicine Hat: November 28-30

Nov 28, 2025

Since 2001, Alberta has grown the number of early childhood educators in the province by more than 13,000 to a total of 31,200.

“Early childhood educators are the cornerstone of the Canada-wide early learning and child-care system,” said Anna Gainey, federal secretary of state for Children and Youth. “With this bursary program, Canada’s new government and the Government of Alberta are opening doors to 300 new educators who will strengthen this workforce and help keep child-care centres staffed.”

The Early Childhood Educator Bursary program, which is designed to cover the cost of tuition, books, and some living expenses, will provide up to 300 one-time bursaries of $10,000 to eligible students over the next three years.

The first $5,000 instalment will be awarded once applicants have been accepted to an approved program. In addition, the remaining $5,000 instalment will be disbursed once applicants complete their program, begin working in the licensed child-care sector, and gain Level 2 early childhood educator certification.

“Alberta’s government is building a workforce that meets the labour market demands of today and the future,” said Myles McDougall, Minister of Advanced Education. “This program will make it easier for students to become early childhood educators through a number of Alberta institutions, helping to address an important economic and societal need.”