In Canada, we revere our national icons who have championed transformative social programs and shaped our collective identity and welfare in the process. Tommy Douglas, often hailed as the Father of Medicare, laid the foundation for a universal healthcare system that is a point of national pride. Today, as we navigate the evolving landscape of early childhood education and care, another trailblazer stands out: Margaret Norrie McCain. No one deserves the title of the 'Parent of Canada's Early Learning and Child Care System' more than she does. Margie’s contributions, rooted in her profound understanding of social work and early childhood development, have set the stage for a new era in Canadian childcare.

As a young mother and politician in New Brunswick in the 1990’s, I remember reading with excitement about the national childcare program being proposed by the federal government. Thirteen years later, I got hopeful again when then-Prime Minister Paul Martin got so enticingly close to a deal with the provinces, before the 2006 federal election brought a change in government. In the years since, the enormous benefits a national program would provide to Canadian children, their families, and our society were never far from my mind.

The benefits were clearly never far from Margie McCain’s mind, either. By this point, Margie had already spent decades travelling the country, meeting with political leaders and pushing the importance of early childhood education. With her husband, Wallace, she had also established the Margaret and Wallace McCain Family Foundation. Their Foundation’s guiding principle is that early childhood education provides children with the best possible start in life and that it is foundational for a literate, pluralistic and democratic Canada.

As Frank McKenna said to me last year, “without Margie McCain there would be no national Early Learning and Child Care system in Canada”. The exception is Quebec, of course, where they had the good sense and vision to establish their own program in 1997. Margie's advocacy recognizes that early childhood is a critical period for shaping children's cognitive, emotional, and social development. Her vision has always been to promote the best evidence to inform practice, policy, and research to cultivate increased public investment in high-quality early learning as an entitlement for every child.

One of the most significant outcomes of her efforts is the federal government's commitment to a Canada Early Learning and Child Care Act, enacted in 2022 to provide universal access to quality care. This system, grounded in principles of inclusivity, equity, and excellence, reflects Margie’s lifelong dedication to social justice and children's well-being. It is the result, in large part, of Margie’s and her colleagues’ steadfast and determined research, cajoling, and lobbying every level of government. Margie describes the day it was passed by the Canadian Senate as one of the best days of her life. This was, after all, her life’s work. It took a lot of effort, but, as Stephen Lewis so eloquently put it "sometimes, the greatest act of courage is simply to keep going." Margie simply kept going.

Margie’s journey towards becoming a pivotal figure in early childhood education began with her academic pursuits at Mount Allison University. It was here, under the guidance and mentorship of psychology professor Dr. Jim Tuck, that she experienced a transformative shift in her educational trajectory. Initially focused on the study of history, young Margaret Norrie’s exposure to the intricacies of child psychology broadened her perspective, emphasizing the critical importance of the early years in a child's development. This pivotal moment not only altered her academic focus, but also planted the seeds for her future endeavours in early childhood education. She continued her education at the University of Toronto where she completed a bachelor’s degree in social work in 1957. With a strong foundation in social work and psychology, and a healthy dose of good old Maritime common sense and work ethic, Margie decided to devote her career to understanding and improving the lives of young children across Canada.

Margie would be the first to acknowledge that she is one among many who have dedicated their careers to achieving this goal. She would insist on highlighting the invaluable contributions of Dr. Fraser Mustard and others, whose research and advocacy she supported. Margie would also emphasize that her accomplishments were made possible by an extraordinary education at both her alma maters. And she would be the first to point out her great luck at being born into a caring and supportive family, and to have the unwavering support of her husband and children. This allowed her to not only fund much of the critical research in this field, but also allowed her the opportunity to travel often to every provincial capital and speak with every Prime Minister and Premier in Canada. Imagine how much further we would be as a country if our leaders had listened to Margie when they first met with her.

As we celebrate the strides made in early childhood education and care in Canada, and even as we fine-tune the details of a national program, it is essential to acknowledge the pivotal role played by Margaret Norrie McCain in this tremendous achievement. Her vision of and commitment to, a national, accessible, affordable, and high-quality system, both rooted in her Maritime values, academic background, and family support, will benefit generations of Canadians far into the future. Just as Tommy Douglas is revered for his contributions to Medicare, Margaret Norrie McCain's legacy as the 'Parent of Canada's Early Learning and Childcare System' will be remembered as a cornerstone of our social fabric.

Margie recently celebrated her 91th birthday — a wonderful milestone.

On behalf of all of us, thank you for all you’ve done Margie; we offer our deepest admiration and appreciation.

Carolle de Ste-Croix (‘90)