Jennifer Vardy: A strong advocate and ally for Indigenous families

Note: Some footage used in this video was filmed prior to the pandemic and may not depict social distancing measures.

Transcription – Jennifer Vardy – 2020 Prime Minister's Award for Teaching Excellence in Early Childhood Education

[Close-up of woman in an interview setting. Music playing.]

"It's so wonderful to be surrounded by you know, little learners. And you know, little humans."

[Fade to black and then up to white with medium shot of woman, smiling, on the left side of the screen, with the following words appearing, line by line, on the right: Jennifer Vardy, Fort McMurray #468 First Nation Childcare Services Department, Fort McMurray, Alberta. Fade to black and then up to close-up of Jennifer in the interview setting.]

"The number one factor that would contribute to any child being successful in an early learning program, or even successful in life in my opinion would be relationships. We want to make sure that we are that healthy relationship for children."

[Fade to black and then cut to photo, with voice over. Photo: Jennifer and colleagues with child standing in front of a sign.]

"I'm the Treaty 8 representative for Indigenous Early Learning and Childcare."

[Cut back to Jennifer in the interview setting.]

"And my whole platform is making sure that regardless of where a child is whether it be in a city, on a First Nation, in a rural area they have the same access to information, they have the same access to services. And our families feel just as supported regardless of where they are."

[Fade to black and then up to Jennifer in the interview setting.]

"In July we were able to social distance and get a photographer for our little graduation photos."

[Cut to photo, with voice over. Photo: Jennifer hugging a child in a graduation cap and gown.]

"That's something that we do every year for all of our graduates."

[Cut back to Jennifer in the interview setting.]

"It's a pretty big and impactful time you know, in Indigenous and rural communities. We definitely want to make sure that we celebrate all of our accomplishments."

[Fade to black and then up to Jennifer in the interview setting.]

"One of the best practices that I like to follow, and I like to see in other educators is just the reflection and talking about emotions."

[Cut to photo, with voice over. Photo: Jennifer and child dressed in costumes for Hallowe'en; Jennifer and children dressed up.]

"What was want to do is we went them to recognize their impact on themselves and their impact on others."

[Fade to black and then to Jennifer in the interview setting.]

"The best teachers that we have I really do believe give a piece of their health to every child."

[Cut to photo, with voice over. Photo: Jennifer in front of her office door.]

"When you see you know, a child that's been struggling to you know, matched you know…"

[Cut back to Jennifer in the interview setting.]

"…shapes, or to name colours. Or to even speak. And then they get it and you're a part of that. It's just there is – it's euphoric. There's almost no words for it."

[Fade to black, with the Government of Canada FIP and then the Canada Wordmark appearing in white.]

Year: 2020 — Province: Alberta
Certificate of Excellence Recipient

Fort McMurray #468 First Nation Childcare Services Department
Aboriginal Head Start and daycare for children ages 12 months to 5 years (Brighter Beginnings Academy)
Fort McMurray, Alberta

Jenn always goes above and beyond to help my family and all members of the community. She is always asking parents for their feedback and listening.

parent

Jennifer Vardy is a passionate advocate for early childhood education, in particular for Indigenous families living on reserve. She created the Fort McMurray #468 First Nation's first-ever Aboriginal Head Start in 2016—from the ground up. She opened an on-reserve daycare two years later. There has been an increase in families with full-time employment—taking a step to get out of poverty—because they have a childcare option.

Philosophy of care

Jennifer believes Indigenous children deserve the support their parents and grandparents were denied, so she ensures they get three times the hugs, three times the cuddles and three times the understanding. "The best way to heal trauma is with compassion, understanding and empathy," she says.

Support of child development

  • Adapted the centre's curriculum in response to the 2018 provincial Indigenous Early Learning Framework to ensure her program could embrace First Nations culture, language and traditions to their fullest.
  • Combines Vygotsky theories of social importance in children with Montessori's dramatic play to build lessons and elevate play: children curious about the x-rays a classmate had to have tried out a cardboard x-ray machine and got a photocopy of what a real x-ray looks; later they "x-rayed" all the classroom animals.
  • Transformed facility into a nature-inspired centre, including hand painting a support beam to look like a tree, so the many children who attend the Head Start but spend their summers, falls and springs outside are comfortable in the learning environment.
  • Focused on ensuring children are ready for school: is doing study of how the Head Start has improved the academic success of First Nations children; Head Start staff have yearly meetings with a neighbouring school on how to improve their program to better fit the Alberta government's academic requirements.

Involvement with parents, families and the community

  • Actively supports parents of children with high needs with monthly meetings to provide them with developmental support; set up a committee so parents can have a say in the curriculum; holds quarterly gatherings of parents and staff to enjoy a meal together.
  • Founded the Fort McMurray #468 Early Years Coalition to promote early childhood development: provides parenting classes, workshops on topics such as developmental delays, grandparents' raising toddlers and traditional parenting, and family fun days focused on child development.
  • Secures funding to ensure all children—especially those from low-income families—have everything they need while attending Head Start, such as birthday parties, with cake, decorations and gifts at no cost; organizes a charity drive so all community members have Christmas gifts, toiletries and winter clothes.
  • Supports her staff so they can provide the best education for children: secured sponsorship so staff could attend the early childhood education program at Portage College debt free; helped write applications for bursaries and grants; opens her home so staff can do their assignments on weekends.

Get in touch!

Fort McMurray #468 First Nation Childcare Services Department
PO BOX 6130
Fort McMurray AB  T9H 4W1

780-381-6703
Facebook: @brighterbeginningsacademyheadstart