Marie Marchand Award for Early Childhood Educators

Marie Marchand Award for Early Childhood Educators

Marie Marchand is remembered by thousands of students, teachers, parents, principals, and governors for her outstanding contribution to the betterment of children’s lives. Sadly, at the height of her professional career, Marie succumbed to cancer and passed away October 6^th, 2023.

Building on “Miss Marie’s” outstanding example as a kindergarten teacher, principal, parenting consultant, and child development specialist, Marie’s family and friends are creating The Marie Marchand Award for Early Childhood Educators to recognise the often-overlooked heroes that make a lasting difference in the lives of children everywhere*.

The Marie Marchand Award for Early Childhood Educators will be awarded annually to a teacher, principal, parenting consultant, or child specialist whose contribution to early childhood development is considered by the people whose lives they have touched, to stand above others in their community. We hope to establish this award at each of the schools where Marie worked in Hong Kong and at the McGill Faculty of Education where Marie earned her teaching degree. We also know that Marie impacted many other school communities around the world and if you would like to establish this award in your school community, please let us know.

People wishing to donate to The Marie Marchand Award for Early Childhood Educators may do so here or directly to one of our participating schools, details of which will be forthcoming. We are presently investigating special ways to thank significant donors.

*Why Celebrate Early Childhood Educators?

Students taught by outstanding kindergarten teachers are rated more proactive, prosocial, disciplined, and determined. These four essential character skills, which we learn in kindergarten, are 2-4 times more important than math and reading skills in the success of adults.

As reported by Adam Grant in his 2023 bestseller Hidden Potential, research by award winning economist Raj Chetty found adult success is predicted by looking at who taught their kindergarten class. Not surprisingly, when Marie began teaching, she was influenced by another bestseller entitled Tout se joue avant six ans (Everything Happens by Age Six) by Fitzhugh Dodson. We celebrate early childhood educators because the first six years of a child’s life are the most important. It isn’t “just kindergarten”.

Here is the story before we lost Marie

After announcing her retirement, selling her house, and shipping her stuff to Canada, Marie was diagnosed on Valentine's Day with advanced Pancreatic cancer which had also spread to her liver. Lifesaving surgery in February prepared Marie for Chemo and Radio therapy, but serious infections have interrupted her cancer treatments and planned return to Canada.

Marie’s family set up this crowd funding page to help defray her medical expenses in Hong Kong (beyond those covered by insurance) as well as forecast costs to be incurred by Marie when she returns to Canada (Quebec City) where she will continue her cancer treatments without insurance coverage for a few months.

We welcome donations of any size. Funds received exceeding that required to cover Marie's insurance shortfall will be donated towards child development & parenting at CityKids and elsewhere.

Marie has helped children, teachers, and parents around the world. Now is our turn to help Marie.

Thank you for your donation.

Après avoir annoncé sa retraite, vendu sa maison et expédié ses affaires au Canada, Marie a été diagnostiqué le jour de la Saint-Valentin avec un cancer du pancréas avancé qui s'était également propagé à son foie. Marie a eu une chirurgie en février suivi de traitements de chimio et radiothérapie. Elle a eu aussi de graves infections qui ont interrompu ses traitements et elle a du passer un long séjour à l'hôpital, ce qui a délayé ses traitements contre le cancer et son retour prévu au Canada.

La famille de Marie a mis en place cette page de financement pour l'aider à défrayer ses dépenses médicales à Hong Kong (au-delà de celles couvertes par l'assurance) ainsi que pour prévoir les frais à engager par Marie à son retour au Canada (Ville de Québec) où elle poursuivra ses traitements contre le cancer sans assurance pour quelques mois.

Nous accueillons tous dons. Les fonds reçus dépassant ceux requis pour couvrir le déficit d'assurance de Marie seront reversés pour le développement de l'enfant et formation aux parents et éducateurs à CityKids et ailleurs.

Marie a aidé des enfants, des enseignants et des parents du monde entier. C'est maintenant à notre tour d'aider Marie.

Merci pour votre don.