A Red Deer woman was honored for her work with children at a ceremony at the Government House in Edmonton on Monday.

Nicole Morrell is a hard worker who wears many hats, including splitting her time being a coordinator at Johnstone Daycare and Pines Day Care in Red Deer, as well as part time facility at RDC, and working for the Alberta Resource Centre for Quality Enhancement in Edmonton, which helps industry professionals excel in their programs that support community, children and families.

The 12th annual Child Development Professional Awards of Excellence were handed out in a special ceremony which honours those Albertans who provide exceptional child care, and also contribute to the development of youth.

She says she got involved in child care inadvertently, and it's led to a lifelong passion that she's honored to be recognized for.

“I fell into the field by chance, this actually wasn’t my plan to work in early childhood education, it was something that I randomly came across and decided to try it out. I went home after my first day of working with school aged children when I first started, and went home that first day and said, ‘I can’t believe I just got paid to do that.”

She was nominated for the Child Development Professional Award of Excellence by Sharleen Win, who is an Administrator at Red Deer Child Care, which operates both the Johnstone and Pines day care centre.

Win explains why Morrell deserves this award.

“She’s quite involved with the educators, the family, and the children at her program. With the stuff that she does, she teaches the children to explore indoor and outdoor activities and challenges, and she’s innovating teachings.”

Morrell was recognized in the individual category, and was presented the award by the Minister of Children's Services Danielle Larivee.

There were 84 nominees across the province with three winners in each category of individual, team and program.

(Photos provided by Nicole Morrell)