In response to this need, the Montessori Society of Canada ("Society") was formed in September 1998. It was federally incorporated in December 1999. The Society is registered federally as a charitable organization.

The founding members who became the Founding Board of Directors are:
Leslie Alvarenga, Felix Bednarski, Mark Berger, Jim Brand, Claudette Debbané, Mary Ann Dickhoff, Jane Erskine Stewart (Treasurer), Anna Filia (President), Anne Laws, Caroline Loughran, Nancy Lowden (Chair), Beth Mackay, Nicole Marchak and Olive Mirchandani.

The goals of the Society are:

1. To organize a national conference to benefit the professional development of its members in keeping with the AMI principles and standards,
2. To organize AMI Primary and Elementary refresher courses in cooperation with the Canadian AMI Training Centres,
3. To work towards establishing an AMI Elementary training in Canada,
4. To support the AMI training Centres in Canada,
5. To bring Montessori graduates from across Canada together.

Current Executive (2006-2008)

• Beth Mackay - President
• Felix Bednarski - Vice-President
• Marty Collins - Treasurer
• Leigh Remington - Secretary

Office Manager - Teresa Dorgan

Beth Mackay (Ontario)

Beth Mackay has over 30 years of Montessori teaching experience, having received her AMI Montessori Diplomas from London, England in 1969 (Primary) and Bergamo, Italy in 1973 (Elementary). She has previously served as Vice President of the Canadian Association of Montessori Teachers. Beth completed her undergraduate degree at Carleton University and has completed the first phase of the AMI Consultants training. She has experienced Montessori education as a Directress, Administrator, Board Member, Volunteer Coordinator and Parent. Beth is presently working as a Directress at Ottawa Montessori School.

Felix Bednarski (Ontario)

Felix Bednarski has an M.A. in Architecture from Warsaw Technical University in Poland. He came to Canada in 1977. In 1987, he and his wife Amalia Molly Galle founded Humberside Montessori School, which now welcomes 160 children (ages 3-12) attending primary and elementary classes. He obtained his AMI Primary diploma in 1995 in Toronto under supervision of Mrs. Renilde Montessori. Finally, as a father of two grown-up daughters, he has completed a full cycle and has gained experience in all planes of development.

Marty Collins (Ontario)

Marty Collins has been involved in Montessori education for over 30 years in the role of directress, administrator and as a parent, working in Canada and in U. S. schools. She served on the board of CAMT and CCMA in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s, as well as organizing conferences and acting as writer and editor for the newsletter. She has attended the last four AMI Annual General Meetings in Amsterdam, and participated in the Second Assembly of Educateurs sans Frontieres in Burgos, Spain in the summer of 2004. She also participated as a delegate for the 25th AMI Congress held in Sydney, Australia. Her passion for, and knowledge of, Montessori education has only been growing stronger over the past number of years .Marty is currently working at Fieldcrest MontessoriSchool in Canton, Ohio.

Leigh Remington (Ontario)

Leigh Remington was born and raised in Kincardine,Ontario, and has been living in Toronto for over 25 years. She is the mother of 2 sons, ages 21 and 18 who are both graduates of a Montessori elementary school. Leigh received a B.A. in Psychology and B.P.E. (Bachelor of Physical Education) from McMaster University in 1973. She received her AMI Montessori Teaching Diploma the following year. Leigh also holds a Black Belt in Karate. From 1974 to 2002 Leigh has worked as a Casa directress in various Montessori schools in Peterborough, Hamilton and Toronto. She is currently the proud owner, operator and a Casa directress of Ellesmere Montessori School in Toronto, Ontario. The school presently has one CASA class and one 6-12 Elementary class. Leigh is a member of AMI, The Montessori Society of Canada and T.A.M.I.A.

MSC DIRECTORS

Click here to read about the Montessori Society of Canada directors.

WHAT IS AMI?

AMI stands for the Association Montessori Internationale, founded in 1929 by Dr. Maria Montessori and her son, Mario M. Montessori. They were respectively President and General Director during their lifetime. The AMI is the oldest international Montessori organization in the world. In founding this, Dr. Maria Montessori's aims were two-fold: to safeguard her original contribution on behalf of the child against diluting influences, and to maintain the standards of training for those wishing to apply or to teach her methods. AMI has functioned without interruption since its foundation and is the most reliable authority on authentic Montessori theory and practice in existence.
AMI is governed by a Board consisting of a Chairman and 21 members, of which two-­thirds are pedagogues. From this Board an Executive Committee is elected and this Committee is assisted by an Advisory Committee, proposed by the Board, and elected at the Annual General Meeting. The pedagogical work of the AMI is carried out by the Pedagogical Committee, the Material Committee, and the Sponsoring Committee. The Pedagogical Committee, assisted by the Material Committee, is responsible for pedagogical decisions; the Sponsoring Committee is in charge of Training of Trainers. Since 1974, the members of these committees worked closely with the General Director (Mario Montessori) and took over his duties after his death in 1982. Members are proposed by the Board and elected at the Annual General Meeting.

Much of AMI's international work is supported by affiliated Montessori Societies or Branch Offices in various countries. Established all over the world are AMI Training Centers for people to work with children from birth to 3, 3-6, 6-12, handicapped and emotionally disturbed children. For information on these centers, please contact the Head Office.

AMI is a non-subsidized organization subsisting exclusively on membership fees, gifts, donations, a percentage of trainees' fees from each AMI Training Centre and AMI recognition fees from schools.
AMI is a non-governmental organization collaborating with others with similar aims, and admitted to UNESCO.

WHAT ARE AMI's AIMS?

To propagate, maintain and further the Rights of the Child, more specifically by:

• propagating the Montessori method, spreading knowledge of the physical, intellectual, moral, social and mental development of the child, at home as well as at school and in society;
• demonstrating the importance of the child in and for the progress of civilization;
• safeguarding the real objectives of the educational method of Dr. Maria Montessori;
• promoting general recognition of the Rights of the Child and this irrespective of race, religion or political conviction;
• co-operating with other bodies and organizations which fight for Human Rights, for the development of the method of education and for the furtherance of peace.

AMI ACTIVITIES INCLUDE:

• Providing guidance for AMI training courses.
• Co-ordinating a Training of Trainers programme.
• Encouraging the creation of Montessori schools.
• Guiding the manufacturers recognized by AMI in the production of approved Montessori materials.
• Overseeing the publication of Dr. Montessori's books.
• Organizing congresses and study conferences.
• Affiliating Montessori Societies.
• Publishing the magazine. 'Communications' and a website, and
• Organizing Educateurs sans Frontieres.

MEMBERSHIP

With your membership in the Montessori Society of Canada you are given all of the benefits, rights and privileges that AMI membership provides you with which includes two annual issues of AMI Communications and two AMI Bulletins. Most importantly It provides you the opportunity to join the Montessori movement and to actively participate in and contribute towards its endeavors on behalf of the child.