Toronto, ON – The Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO) has presented its 2021 Local Humanitarian Award to Waterloo Region Designated Early Childhood Educator Jenn Wallage, who is also the founding president of the Waterloo Region Designated Early Childhood Educator (DECE) Local. This award recognizes ETFO members who have given outstanding service to supporting children in the local community. 

Wallage has been an active member of Girl Guides of Canada for 40 consecutive years, participating in programs as a girl and now serving in her 27th year as a Guider (leader). With the organization, she was the inaugural chair for their Provincial Awards Ceremonies Committee, and has organized fundraising opportunities, camps and independent unit trips locally and abroad. 

As a fierce advocate for early childhood educators, Wallage is an active member of the Coordinating Committee of the Early Years Coalition | Waterloo Region, and is a member of the board of directors with the Association of Early Childhood Educators, Ontario (AECEO). In this role, Wallage chaired the Kindergarten Summit, which brought together DECEs from across Ontario for professional development and networking. She also helped launch AECEO’s “Transforming Work in Ontario’s Early Years and Child Care Sector” report in 2017. 

As a member of the Early Years Coalition | Waterloo Region, Wallage co-chaired an event that brought Registered Early Childhood Educators (RECE) together for an evening of discussion, networking and engagement related to advocacy. She also co-chaired an event where families and children participated in activities while RECEs discussed the need for quality, affordable child care programs that are well-supported by RECEs with professional pay and decent working conditions. 

“Jenn has devoted time and energy to a number of community activities that have mentored, encouraged, supported and inspired children in her community. She consistently demonstrates leadership within Waterloo Region and provincially, and has worked diligently to raise awareness and support for the early childhood education sector. Her dedication is appreciated,” says ETFO President Sam Hammond. 

ETFO represents 83,000 elementary public school teachers, occasional teachers and education professionals across the province. Its Building Better Schools education agenda can be viewed at BuildingBetterSchools.ca.

Media Contact: Carla Pereira, ETFO Media Relations, 416-576-9074 or cpereira@etfo.org.