In Memory of Dr. Fraser Mustard

The College of Early Childhood Educators (the College) mourns the loss of Dr. Fraser Mustard, a champion of early childhood development and one of Canada’s biggest advocates for young children and families.

Dr. Mustard passed away on November 16, 2011, just days before the release of the Early Years Study 3, co-authored by the Hon. Margaret McCain and Kerry McCuaig from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto.

Born and raised in Toronto, Ontario, Dr. Mustard began his career as a medical doctor and scientist. He was a founding member of McMaster University’s medical school in Hamilton, Ontario.

In 1999, Dr. Mustard co-authored the first Early Years Study: Reversing the Real Brain Drain with the Hon. Margaret McCain. To continue the work that was begun by this study, Dr. Mustard set up the Council for Early Child Development in 2004. In 2007, Hon. Margaret McCain and Dr. Mustard, along with Dr. Stuart Shanker, followed up their first report with the Early Years Study 2: Putting Science Into Action.

Dr. Charles Pascal acknowledged Dr. Mustard in his 2009 report to the Premier of Ontario, With Our Best Future in Mind: Implementing Early Learning in Ontario, for his guidance and “for recognizing the critical importance of the early years”.

College President, Lois Mahon agrees, “The College recognizes the contribution Dr. Mustard’s research and advocacy in early learning has made to the field of early childhood education and to early childhood educators (ECEs) as professionals.”