Spring 2015

Spotlight on...
Long-time Members
This occasional series features the ECE careers and AECEO experiences of long-time members, many of whom have
retired but continue to renew their memberships and support the AECEO year after year.
The AECEO would not be the strong and vital organization that it is today without their ongoing partnership. Their
stories will inspire you!
Velma Doran AECEO.C
Member no. 422 Peel Branch
My involvement in the AECEO originated in the early 1970’s as a keen, motivated
ECE college student. It has been (and continues to be) a wonderful journey as my
involvements with the AECEO have taken me to places and events I only dreamed about.
After the completion of my Certification, I became involved initially with the local branch
where I worked, (Halton) as the Newsletter Chair, Branch President, and Provincial
Board Member. When my job took me to Peel, I transferred my membership. Colleagues
encouraged me to move forward provincially, which I willingly did. Advocacy and the
desire for quality child care policies in Ontario was a strong motivator for me. The AECEO
seemed the best way to do this. In my volunteer provincial capacity I fulfilled such roles
as Public Relations Chair, Vice President, and ultimately President of the organization.
I attribute my role in all of these positions as the foundation for the life skills I learned
– leadership, presenting, press interviews, editorial publications, teamwork and collaboration, networking and
connecting with colleagues across the country.
The initiatives of the AECEO during this time in the 80’s and 90’s were so many, as the field itself was ‘coming of age’ and
advocacy for children, families and the profession was moving into the forefront – Family Violence and Child Abuse
training manuals, Pay Equity presentations, federal organizations initiated of which AECEO was a key player, legislative
recognition for the profession in Ontario, Advocacy with legislators at Queen’s Park, Week of the Child celebrations
and receptions, Equivalency for out-of-country training, restructuring of AECEO from an operational to a governing
board, ongoing recruitment for new student members, a revised Certification process, policy position papers, to name
a few. I willingly participated and in some cases, initiated, in all of this while maintaining a family, obtaining additional
educational qualifications, and full time jobs as an Early Childhood Educator followed by a faculty position in the
college system. Through all of this advocacy work with the AECEO, the colleagues I met and relationships I developed
have been most memorable and inspiring. As I read the list of current certified members in the AECEO, many of the
names bring fond memories of events and conferences we attended together, press conferences we initiated at Queen’s
Park, late night scrambles to produce a position paper, and professional dialogue we have engaged in. An impressive
list indeed. Definitely there is the potential for synergistic energy to keep children, families and quality early education
front and centre with legislators and policy makers for the future.
I continue to maintain an interest in AECEO initiatives, as I strongly believe in the continued renewal for new leaders in
any organization to continue the huge responsibility of being a voice for the profession. It is with a strong conviction
that I urge all of the early childhood educators I meet currently to join the AECEO – it is a life-changing experience.
Many thanks to the AECEO and all of the colleagues I met for the privilege of advocating and participating in such vital
work. I am optimistic this work will continue to grow and make a difference in our profession for children and families.
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