Six Nations Polytechnic bringing early childhood education to Fort Erie

Six Nations Polytechnic will launch a two-year Early Childhood Education diploma program in Fort Erie in fall 2026, offering 15 seats and training students locally to help address an early childhood educator (ECE) shortage across Niagara.

Classes will run from September to April each year at the Fort Erie Native Friendship Centre, with applications due May 1, 2026.

The satellite program follows Niagara College’s ECE curriculum and adds Haudenosaunee and Indigenous ways of Knowing Teaching and Learning, with the goal of preparing Indigenous and non-Indigenous students for work in early learning settings across the region.

Megan Robinson, senior associate dean of community services, and Carrie Washburn, field placement specialist and instructor, said in an emailed statement to Fort Erie Radio that the program aims to increase the number of qualified early childhood educators and support local childcare staffing while strengthening Indigenous early learning in Fort Erie.

Classes will be held at the Fort Erie Native Friendship Centre, which has a dedicated education wing where students can access tutoring and other academic supports. Students will also have access to services and supports from both Niagara College and Six Nations Polytechnic.

Placements are planned with each student and will primarily be located in Fort Erie, Ridgeway and Stevensville, totalling more than 600 hours across four semesters.

Students will complete placements in childcare centres, EarlyON programs and school board environments, with experience in infant, toddler and preschool rooms as well as kindergarten classrooms.

The program’s Indigenous context includes land-based learning, holistic practices, teachings on traditional roles and the impacts of colonization on children and families. Students will also be exposed to ceremonies, foods, arts and crafts, with assessments that allow learning to be shown through art-based, oral and written formats.

Robinson and Washburn said the Indigenous curriculum is built into its programs through community consultation and Indigenous-informed instruction. The partnership with the Fort Erie Native Friendship Centre will provide access to centre-led workshops as well as elders, knowledge keepers, community members and centre staff who contribute to student learning.

Demand for early childhood educators remains high locally due to turnover and the opening of new centres, with some unable to operate at full capacity because of staffing shortages, according to Robinson and Washburn.

The previous cohort had a high retention rate, with students pointing to close relationships with instructors and the accessibility of the Fort Erie location, especially for those without reliable transportation.

Most graduates enter the workforce within weeks of completing the program, while others continue on to university. Admission requirements include an Ontario Secondary School Diploma or equivalent, with Grade 12 English at the college or university level. Mature testing is also available.

Students can apply online through Niagara College or contact admissions@snpolytechnic.com for help with the process, including support with funding applications.

For application support or questions, Six Nations Polytechnic said residents can contact Kari Hill at admissions@snpolytechnic.com.

Online drop-in sessions are scheduled for February 5 and March 12 from 6 to 7 p.m., and residents can join at any time to ask questions. To get a link for either session, email communityservices@snpolytechnic.com.

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