Red Deer's Ashley Crosby wins national early childhood teaching award
Crosby, a pre-kindergarten teacher at Normandeau School, was chosen from 221 nominees across Canada for the honour.
Ashley Crosby, a pre-kindergarten teacher at Normandeau School in Red Deer, has received the Prime Minister's Award for Excellence in Early Childhood Education, one of just 60 given out annually across Canada. She was selected from a pool of 221 nominees.
Crosby told rdnewsNOW she values being among the first teachers a child encounters, and that her goal is to help every student feel safe, supported and excited about school. She said she tries to look past surface behaviour to identify each child's individual needs and find strategies to help them succeed.
Crosby said recognition was never her motivation, describing her work as driven by love for the children and trust from their families. Prime Minister Mark Carney issued a statement congratulating the 2026 recipients, calling teachers central to shaping Canada's future.
The award, established in 1994, is decided through a multi-stage review process involving more than 100 volunteer evaluators.
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