37 DR MAVIS Burke, founder of the Toronto-based Project for Advancement of Childhood Education (Canada) – P.A.C.E. Canada, has died. She was 93 years old. Responding to the call from then Prime Minister Edward Seaga to assist community-based pre-schools, also known as basic schools in Jamaica, Burke establishedWomen for PACE Canada in 1987, later renamed PACE Canada. The organisation is involved in a number of programs, in Jamaica and Canada, which enhance the overall development of young children at the critical age of three to six years. It does not receive any government funding, but relies on the generosity of individuals to continue providing these vital programmes. The mission of PACE Canada is to promote early childhood education for socio-economically disadvantaged children through responsive community efforts. The organisation informed of her passing on July 7, noting that a memorial service was held on July 22 at MarkhamChapel in Markham, Ontario. “Dr Burke had a vision and passion that will live on through PACE, and we each were blessed to have had the opportunity to contribute in our own way to this vision. Over the years, we came to know how much PACE and Early Childhood Education meant to her. She will be missed by many but never forgotten,” a release from the PACE Board, its president Diana Burke and Mardi South, noted further. PACE Canada expressed its condolences to the family on behalf of its sponsors, patrons, members, and friends. “Since 1987 when Dr Mavis Burke responded to an appeal by then prime minister of Jamaica, the Most Hon. Edward Seaga for support of early childhood education in Jamaica, the impact of her tremendous legacy continues to be felt by generations. In forming P.A.C.E., Dr Burke brought people of all walks of life together with a simple yet brilliant approach that has resulted in thousands of young children in hundreds of schools having access to certified teachers, educational aids from workbooks to playground equipment, healthy meals and a range of other opportunities, all providing the foundation required for greater success in life. As a consummate educator, hers was a life truly dedicated to the enrichment of the lives of others,” said Mary Anne Chambers, a former president of PACE Canada and the new Chancellor of the University of Guelph in Ontario. Burke was born to Jamaican parents in Caimanera, Cuba, on September 10, 1928. She grew up in Jamaica, where she attended Gerry Hall’s school in Old Harbour, St Catherine; and Suthermere Prep School, and St Andrew High School for Girls in Kingston. She taught at several schools in Jamaica, including Kingston College. Burke was also a lecturer and teacher trainer in comparative education, history and social studies with the Department of Education, The University of the West Indies. The educator migrated to Canada in 1970 on contract to Professional Development Associates of Ottawa, an educational consulting firm. While in Ottawa, she undertook a number of research assignments and later completed her doctoral studies at the University of Ottawa in 1975. “Coming to Canada at the time when an increasing number of immigrants from developing countries were arriving, Dr Burke focused on ways in which to bridge the gap between Canadians and newcomers. The announcement of the Multiculturalism Policy (1971) made it clear that there would be a need to find ways to accommodate diversity,” notes a profile of Burke in the Jamaicans in Canada: When Ackee Meets Codfish, a coffee table book published in 2012 by Jamaica 50 Celebration Inc. to celebrate Jamaica’s 50th anniversary of Independence. After moving toToronto, she became involved in a number of projects relating to the Caribbean, some of which were student studies, such as Project School to School, an initiative of the Ontario Ministry of Education. She was employed by the Toronto Board of Education as a special immigration consultant in 1976 and initiated a process involving staff, parents and community members to encourage participation in the school system by newcomers and improve relations between teachers and students. When Burke joined the Ministry of Education in 1977, she introduced several initiatives that succeeded in changing learning resources in the schools as well as relations between teachers, students and community leaders. Her leadership of the Ontario Advisory Council on Multiculturalism and Citizenship provided an opportunity for the 60-member provincial group to advise the government on policy and procedures that would assist ethnic minorities to participate more fully in Canadian mainstream institutions, notes the commemorative book. Speaking at the 25th anniversary of PACE Canada in 2012, Burke said the organisation had survived because of volunteers and she was pleased with its achievements. She obtained a Bachelor of Arts with a major in education from The University of theWest Indies, a Master of Education from the University of London, UK, and a PhD in philosophy from the University of Ottawa. Burke was a recipient of the Order of Ontario in 1999, and holds the Order of Distinction (Officer Class) presented by the Government of Jamaica to her in Toronto in 2004. In June 2017, she was awarded the Prime Minister of Jamaica’s Medal of Appreciation for Service to Education, in recognition of her outstanding service. A champion of early childhood education in Jamaica has died ‘Since 1987 when Dr Mavis Burke responded to an appeal by then prime minister of Jamaica, the Most Hon. Edward Seaga for support of early childhood education in Jamaica, the impact of her tremendous legacy continues to be felt by generations.’ THE MONTHLY GLEANER | JULY 31 - OCTOBER 21, 2022 | www.jamaica-gleaner.com | FEATURE
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