National recognition for Sackville director and educator
Sackville early childhood educator Allison Butcher has been named one of five recipients of the Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Early Childhood Education for 2025.
The national award recognizes leadership and exemplary practices in early childhood education. In Butcher’s case, it highlights her work implementing play-based learning at Playschool Incorporated, a Sackville preschool that has been operating for more than 50 years. The award was presented last month during a ceremony in Ottawa.
A career rooted in early learning
Butcher is the director and one of the teachers at Playschool. She began working there in 2003, after graduating from the Nova Scotia Teachers College in 1989. Over the years, she has worked in early childhood education across Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Ontario, including in school systems and home-based daycare.
She says her understanding of education has evolved over time.
“I discovered throughout my work here that connections with the children is what is really important. It’s about a journey together.”
Finding out about the award
Butcher says she was aware that families in the community had nominated her for the award, but she didn’t expect the outcome.
“In August, I was in my garden and I received a call from the Prime Minister’s office,” she said. “It was this lovely person telling me that I’d been awarded the Award of Excellence.”
She says the news brought an unexpectedly strong emotional reaction.
“I was kind of surprised at how strong my reaction was,” Butcher said. “I was incredibly excited. I called my daughter who is away at university and she could hear the emotion in my voice.”
A team effort at Playschool
Despite the individual recognition, Butcher emphasizes that the award reflects collective work at Playschool.
“I am a part of a team here and we together make Playschool a better place,” she said. “A lot of the fabulous things that happen here don’t happen because they were my suggestion or my idea.”
She credited long-time coworker Crystal Allen and other staff members for the centre’s success.
What play-based learning looks like
A central focus of Butcher’s work is play-based learning. She says it begins with observing children’s interests and building learning opportunities from there.
“What we want is for children to find joy and experience things in a positive manner,” she said. “What we do as educators is watch what the children are doing and where they’re at developmentally.”
She shared an example of creating a logging centre with trucks, straws and scissors to support fine motor development.
“All of a sudden this little guy was cutting,” Butcher said. “We were able to show him in a way that was fun for him.”
Why early learning matters
Butcher says early childhood education is about much more than academic skills.
“The big things that are important here are social skills,” she said. “Being comfortable and happy, emotionally regulate, and being able to interact with their peers.”
Understanding behaviour and inclusion
She says understanding behaviour as communication is key to supporting children.
“Why is this child doing this, and what can we do to assist him with learning a more socially acceptable way of getting that need met?” she said. “Making connections with everyone, not just the easy ones; those are the ones you can really make a difference with.”
Learning alongside educators nationwide
As part of the award, Butcher spent four days in Ottawa with 18 educators from across the country, sharing best practices and experiences.
“We all do the same thing,” she said. “Whether you are teaching four year olds or 14 year olds . . . we all work with people.”
Meeting the Prime Minister
During the trip, Butcher also met Prime Minister Mark Carney.
“We were talking about education,” she said. “It was kind of icing on the cake.”
Looking ahead
Butcher says the recognition reinforces the importance of meeting learners where they are.
“By meeting learners where they’re at, and doing something that brings them joy and is meaningful, is a better way for them to learn.”
Clinton Davis is a community journalist and audio producer covering the people, events, and ideas shaping the Tantramar region.
