Honorary degree recipient

Jane Bertrand is an internationally respected expert in early childhood development. She has provided leadership to early childhood practitioners, researchers and policy thinkers to ensure that early childhood practice is grounded in evidence that helps to inform progressive child- and family-centred policy. She is an expert advisor to the early learning advisor of Ontario, the Atkinson Charitable Foundation, and the Margaret and Wallace McCain Family Foundation. She is also a member of the directing committee of the Centre for Excellence for Early Childhood Development. Bertrand was the principal researcher/writer of the Early Years Study 1 and 2, a member of the Toronto first duty research and development team from the Atkinson Centre, and is a contributing author of Science of Early Childhood Development.

Before joining George Brown College in 1986, Bertrand worked for 16 years in child care programs with infants and school-age groups. With an educational background in child development and early childhood education curriculum (B.A., Psychology; Queen’s University; M.Ed., Early Childhood Education, O.I.S.E.), she has been active in early childhood pedagogy, advocacy and policy development, having recently authored the following textbooks: The Essentials of Early Childhood Education and Understanding, and Managing and Leading Early Childhood Programs in Canada. She is also the author of the textbook, Essentials of Early Childhood Education.