Tune in to Episode 4 in Season 3 of our BC's Path to Universal Child Care Podcast. Today we welcome you back to our podcast with our special guest: Carrie McCormack, a Program Coordinator with the Child Care Resource and Referral Program in Williams Lake. We are honoured and grateful to welcome Carrie McCormack to share insights on  exploring how to create and sustain meaningful, relevant, and what Carrie describes as “heart changing” professional development through communities of practice: My name is Carrie McCormack and I am the Program Coordinator at Women's Contact Society for Child ..read more

Welcome to Episode 3 in Season 3 of our BC's Path to Universal Child Care Podcast. Today we welcome you back to our podcast with our special guest: Morna Ballantyne, the Executive Director of Child Care Now, Canada’s national child care advocacy organization.  We are honoured and grateful to welcome Morna Ballantyne to share insights on her involvement in the childcare profession, her national organization Child Care Now, and guidance and advice for childcare activists and advocates. Learn more by listening to the episode now ..read more

Welcome to Episode 2 in Season 3 of our BC's Path to Universal Child Care Podcast. Today we welcome you back to our podcast with our special (and familiar) guest: Sharon Gregson, the provincial spokesperson for the $10aDay Child Care Campaign.  We are honoured and grateful to welcome Sharon Gregson to share insights on the wage grid, expansion of new programs, and how to reduce fees to provide accessible, and affordable child care. Learn more by listening to the episode now ..read more

Welcome to Episode 10 in Season 2 of our BC's Path to Universal Child Care Podcast. Today we welcome you back to our podcast with our special guests: Derek Dubois & Tatiana Abi-Farrage, two early childhood education students from Vancouver Community College. We are honoured and grateful to welcome Derek Dubois & Tatiana Abi-Farrage to share insights and personal experiences with us as they continue their education and career path in the childcare field. Learn more by listening to the episode now ..read more

Welcome to Episode 9 in Season 2 of our BC's Path to Universal Child Care Podcast. Today we welcome our special guests: Friday Bailey, Norma Stokes and Katie Wahl. We are honoured and grateful to welcome Friday Bailey, Norma Stokes and Katie Wahl to share how all the child care system changes are impacting rural communities from three Early Childhood Educators currently working in the field. Learn more by listening to the episode now ..read more

Welcome to Episode 8 in Season 2 of our BC's Path to Universal Child Care Podcast. Today we welcome our special guest: Minister Debra Fisher, Métis Nation BC. Minister Debra Fisher is a loving daughter and wife who has hosted and cared for numerous international students, as well as children in foster care and short and long term emergency care. For over 26 years, she has worked in the educational setting, primarily as an Indigenous Education Support Worker. When Debra was given the title of Minister of Education (K-12 & Early Years), she was proud to be given this portfolio and continue ..read more

Welcome to Episode 7 in Season 2 of our BC's Path to Universal Child Care Podcast. Today we welcome our special guest: Eric Swanson. Eric Swanson is a founding partner of Third Space Planning, where they support local governments and not-for-profit organizations with planning and policy development. Eric also co-authored the policy note, ‘Child Care and the Environment: Intersections and Opportunities in BC’, with Lynell Anderson for ECEBC and the Coalition of Child Care Advocates of BC. In this episode, we discuss the connections between childcare and the environment, childcare facilities, p ..read more

Welcome to Episode 6 in Season 2 of our BC's Path to Universal Child Care Podcast. Today we welcome our special guest: Grace Lore.  Grace Lore was elected the MLA for Victoria-Beacon Hill in 2020. She is also the Minister of State for Child Care. She has been a dedicated anti-violence advocate, academic instructor and researcher, and community housing organizer. Prior to the election, she taught in the Department of Political Science at the University of Victoria and previously at the University of British Columbia. She taught Canadian politics, gender and politics, statistics, and resea ..read more

Welcome to Episode 5 in Season 2 of our BC's Path to Universal Child Care Podcast. We start off the new year with 2 very special guests: Maria Rodrigues and Linda Fong. Maria and Linda are both recipients of the Prime Ministers Award for Excellence in Early Childhood Education.  In this episode, we welcome back Gyda Chud to help us acknowledge the incredible changes and practices that Maria and Linda have developed for children, families and educators. Throughout the podcast, we discuss Maria and Linda's exciting nominations, their committed history in the ECE profession, best practices ..read more

Welcome back to Season 2! We are so grateful for your support and interest in this Podcast, as we follow BC's Path to Universal Child Care, along with a series of special guests from the child care community.  In Episode 3, Gyda, Nora and Crystal chat with Adrienne Montani - social justice activist, child and youth advocate, past Vancouver School Board chair and Executive Director of First Call Child and Youth Advocacy Society. First Call’s work is guided by the 4 Keys to Success for Children and Youth and these are:  A strong commitment to early childhood development Support in t ..read more