At our Annual Parent and Community Meeting on Monday, October 29, 2018, PLASP was pleased to recognize staff with the Kathleen M. Stroud Award and the Sylvia Leal Leadership Award.

The Kathleen M. Stroud award was established to acknowledge the contributions of Kathleen Stroud, who assisted PLASP in becoming a licensed child care provider. In honor of her legacy, PLASP recognizes a staff each year who exemplifies the values and standards that Kathleen represented during her career as a child care worker and program advisor with the Ministry of Children and Youth Services.

This year, PLASP presented the Kathleen M. Stroud Award to Debra Cato, a Special Needs Support Staff who supports children in two different schools in Brampton. A PLASP employee since 2004, Debra’s nominating peers described her as a person who is always willing to support other staff in the program and is a true team member. She assists with programming, provides new and creative ideas and often brings in activities and materials for the engagement of children.

Sherry Fodor, President of the PLASP Board of Directors, and Lynn Hiebert, PLASP CEO, were pleased to present the 2018 Kathleen M. Stroud award to Debra Cato.

In her acceptance speech, Debra talks about what it means for her to help, encourage, support and guide children to develop to their maximum potential in programs, therefore helping them to realize their worth and value. Watch Debra’s acceptance speech online here.

The Sylvia Leal Leadership Award is a tribute to the life and legacy of PLASP’s founding CEO and executive leader for 33 years, Sylvia Leal. This award recognizes a PLASP staff who demonstrates exceptional leadership in supporting PLASP communities, families, children, colleagues and partners, in achieving outstanding results. The recipient receives a one-time grant towards their professional or personal development and a one-time monetary award towards their team’s development and/or their program’s enrichment.

The Sylvia Leal Leadership Award was presented to Stephanie Bowyer, the School Age Program Director at St. Eugene Catholic School in Toronto. Stephanie has been working with PLASP since 2014. Her peers described Stephanie as an outstanding leader who takes the time to listen, teach and engage with the staff and children in her program. A positive person, she fosters creativity in children and embraces the How Does Learning Happen? pedagogy and the Child Care and Early Years Act in her programs.

Lynn Hiebert, PLASP CEO, presented the Sylvia Leal Leadership Award to Stephanie Bowyer.

In her acceptance speech, Stephanie shared how she has always aspired to work for a large organization that helps their staff to develop professionally and become great leaders. With this award, Stephanie plans to go back to school and obtain her ECE. She is grateful to PLASP for always encouraging her, helping her to appreciate her worth, and recognizing that she can become much more. Watch Stephanie’s acceptance speech online here.

Congratulations to Debra and Stephanie for their achievements and recognition. We are proud of you, and the work that you do daily to help the children in our programs!