News Article

Devotion to children garners recognition


3/24/2004 10:48:33 AM


Dr. Wayne Eastman, Coordinator of Applied Arts, Access and Early Childhood Education at Corner Brook campus, will receive the 2004 Friends of Children Award from the Canadian Association for Young Children.

Dr. Wayne Eastman, Coordinator of Applied Arts, Access and Early Childhood Education at College of the North Atlantic's Corner Brook campus, has been named the winner of the 2004 Friends of Children Award.

The national award, presented annually by the Canadian Association for Young Children (CAYC), was established as a way of recognizing outstanding contribution, by individuals, to the well being of young children.

Eastman, a native of Glenwood, Newfoundland and Labrador, holds two undergraduate degrees, as well as three Masters from Memorial University of Newfoundland and a Doctorate of Education from Boston University.

A member of the CAYC since 1995, Eastman believes in the rights of children, the importance of fitness and health in young children, and the relevance of all children being afforded the opportunity to receive excellent early-years educational opportunities. These beliefs are reflected in his 40-plus publications in both national and international scholarly and educational journals. He has been selected twice - 1993/94 and 1998/99 - for publication in the Early Childhood Education Annual Editions. The preceding publication selects the best articles for that year premised on the adjudication of an
international advisory board.

Eastman, in collaboration with a colleague from Nepal, was the recipient of the 2003 World Forum on Early Care and Education Networking Project Research Grant. He traveled to Kathmandu, Nepal and conducted a project on early education learning in conjunction with Nepal's Tribhuvan University. He has presented research papers in such countries as Nepal, New Zealand, Mexico, Greece, Malaysia, Panama, Ecuador, England, France, and the United States, to mention a few. He has also presented at the World Forum on Early Care and Education for the past three years. Eastman was also the theme designer on The Affects of Media Violence on Young Children presentation at both the 2001 World Forum on Early Care and Education, Athens, Greece and the 2002 World
Forum in Auckland, New Zealand.

As a dedicated member of the Canadian Association for Young Children, Eastman has spent time as a provincial director, national treasurer, as well as the current vice president/publications. He is the editor of Inside CAYC, the national newsletter of the CAYC. He recently moved into the role of Publication Chair of Canadian Children.

As Mabel Higgins, editor of Canadian Children, states, "Wayne's many years on
the Canadian Children Editorial Review Board as well as his contributions as an author, have primed him well for this position."

Eastman says he is just one of many individuals across Canada who put in the time and effort for young children.

"Across our country, there are countless Canadians who influence the direction and quality of policies and programs that affect the development and well-being of young children," he says.

"Many of these individuals are never recognized for their outstanding contributions. I feel extremely honored that the selection committee of the Canadian Association for Young Children deems me one of those countless Canadians who works on the behalf of children."

Eastman is also a co-editor of the Journal of Early Childhood Development, a publication of Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal. His national and international contributions in research particular to young children have benefited the development of appropriate practices, particularly in movement and brain research and school readiness.

Eastman is a devout family person who enjoys spending time with his wife Karen and son Matthew, and participating in outdoor activities. His family continues to be the inspiration that drives his daily pursuits.

Dr. Eastman will be presented the Friends of Children Award at the CAYC 2004 spring meetings in Vancouver, British Columbia, May 7/8.


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