Toronto, ON (December 5, 2007) – The Council for Early Child Development has elected Dr. Clyde Hertzman as its new President. Dr. Hertzman replaces Dr. Stuart Shanker, who held the position for eighteen months, and will stay on the Board of Directors. Dr. Hertzman’s term begins January 1, 2008 and extends to December 31, 2010. Dr. Hertzman is a Professor at the University of British Colombia where he will continue to serve as the Director of the Human Early Learning Partnership (HELP), a multi-university network based in the College for Interdisciplinary Studies at UBC.

Dr. Clyde Hertzman joins the Council with many years of international experience. He is particularly well recognized in the global community for his work in population-based measurement and the development of the worldwide standard known as the Early Development Instrument (EDI).

“I am honoured to join the Council’s leadership team,” said Dr. Hertzman of his appointment. “I look forward to working closely with members of the early child development community across the country to improve early childhood research, develop quality programs and ensure greater accessibility. We will continue building partnerships in our communities to develop integrated hubs of schools, community programs, resources and supports that enhance early brain development.”

Dr. Hertzman holds the Canada Research Chair in Population Health and Human Development. As a result of his leadership, the province of BC has become the first jurisdiction in the world to have an established standardized tool for assessing early child development over time. Dr. Hertzman has also taken a leading international role in developing globally relevant monitoring systems for early child development and child rights, and serves as the Director of Knowledge Hub on Early Child Development with the WHO’s International Commission on the Social Determinants of Health.

Dr. Fraser Mustard, Founder and Chair Emeritus, welcomes Dr. Hertzman to his new position. In fact, Dr. Hertzman was a former student of Dr. Mustard’s at McMaster University. “We’re extremely fortunate to have Dr. Hertzman join our team. His commitment and experience will be a huge benefit to the Council and our work going forward. Clyde Hertzman is the best integrator of bio-science knowledge with the study of the life trajectories from a population perspective.”

Upcoming priorities for Dr. Hertzman and the Council include:

• The Fellows Program - continue to bring supporters from across the country together at a community level to expand access to high quality integrated services for young children and their families;
• Community-based Measurement – create comparable, population-based analyses and use the EDI measurement as a national standard;
• The Science of Early Child Development (ECD) – use Canadian researchers more effectively and extend ECD’s findings to more audiences;
• International Initiatives – provide Canadian leadership to strengthen opportunities for early child development globally, in fulfillment of the rights in early childhood provisions of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
  

Dr. Hertzman has been involved with many scholarly committees and consultancies. He serves as a Fellow, Experienced-based Brain and Biological Development Programme of the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIfAR), Advisory Board Member, Institute of Population and Public Health, Canadian Institute for Health Research; Governing Council Member and Team Leader, Measurement and Monitoring, Centre of Excellence in Early Child Development; Member, BC Provincial Child Care Council; and Advisor, BC Minister of State for Child Care. He holds an honorary appointment at the Institute for Child Health, University College, London.

More information, including Dr. Hertzman’s complete biography and photo, can be found at www.councilecd.ca

Founded by Dr. Fraser Mustard in 2004, the Council for Early Child Development is a not-for-profit, non-governmental association of community and scientific networks with a focus on early child development science and community action. Its vision and mission are based on the recommendations of the Early Years Study (McCain & Mustard, 1999). The Early Years Study 2: Putting Science into Action, uses new empirical findings to broaden and deepen the conclusions put forward in the original EYS, and new technologies to more closely examine the processes involved in healthy brain development. The Board of Directors draws from business, education, health, academia, early child development communities, and private citizens. The Council’s operation is supported by foundation and private sector contributions.

• Read Clyde Hertzman's biography here>>
• Dowload press release, click here>>

For further information please contact:

John Doherty
Council for Early Child Development
416-849-1332

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