Advertise on podcast: BC’s Path to Universal Child Care

Welcome to Season 5 Episode 3 of our BC's Path to Universal Child Care Podcast!  During this episode we explore the BC Early Years Professional Development Bursary Program—what it is, why it matters, and how it’s shaping educators' learning across the province of British Columbia, in Canada. Our guests are two impactful leaders—Kathreen Riel, who manages the bursary fund, and Maryam Naddaf, Director of Frog Hollow’s Reggio-Inspired Learning Centre.   Kathreen is a Community Engagement Consultant, currently managing the Federal‑Provincial ECE Professional Development Bursary Project through Westcoast Family Centres, working to ensure educators have access to ongoing high-quality professional learning, often with financial barriers removed. Before that she was instrumental in the development of the Early Years Professional Development Web Portal with BCcampus, helping to coordinate and promote training opportunities across the province. Her work has been focused on building capacity, relationships, and equity in early childhood education. Maryam is Director of the Reggio‑Inspired Learning Centre at Frog Hollow Neighbourhood House in Vancouver, where she worked for over 10 years. Her work is rooted in the Reggio Emilia philosophy—facilitating workshops, communities of practice, designs curriculum with educators, children, and families, and leads study groups for educators across Metro Vancouver and beyond. Her passion lies in social justice, children’s rights, and creating reflective, inquiry-based learning environments, which led her to a B.A. in Community Rehabilitation Management and many years of working with infants, children, youth and adults with diverse abilities. If you are interested on attending a shorter version of the ELF series as Maryam talks about on this episode, register for ELF Off the Shelf, a dynamic series designed to bring the BC Early Learning Framework (BCELF) to life. Instead of just reading the ELF, participants will engage in active reflection, critical dialogue, and hands-on exercises to explore key concepts like the image of the child, educator roles, and pedagogical narration. Session Dates: In-person: March 7, 2026 (9:30 AM – 3:30 PM)Virtual: March 31, April 14, May 7 (6:30 PM – 8:00 PM)In-person & Frog Hollow Tour: May 29, 2026 (8:30 AM – 5:30 PM)Location (for in-person sessions): Westcoast Child Care Resource Centre, 2772 E. Broadway, Vancouver, BC., and at Frog Hollow's Learning Centre. Who Should Attend: ECEs, ECEAs, school-age care educators, elementary teachers, Strong Start facilitators, district principals, Supported Child Development staff, and all early learning professionals. Space is limited so register today here: https://www.wstcoast.org/workshops/elf-shelf-4810-8100 Questions? Email: [email protected] Funded through the Canada–BC Early Learning and Child Care Agreement. Listen now at BC's Path to Universal Child Care Podcast Season 5, Episode 3: Kathreen Riel and Maryam Naddaf or wherever you get your podcasts.

Welcome to Season 5, Episode 2!  During this episode we're excited to kick things off with a special guest who has dedicated much of her career to advocating for the rights and well-being of children and families, especially those from equity-seeking communities. We were honoured to spend time with Gabriela Cervantes, a public policy, and advocacy specialist with OXFAM Canadaand The Coalition of Child Care Advocates of BC.  Tune in to learn: How inclusive child care policies advance gender equity.Why community-driven solutions matter in policymaking.Gabriela’s journey from Ecuador to shaping Canadian social policy.Look at the Where's Childcare? campaign.Help push for a Quality $10aDay Child Care Systemnow!Have a look at THROUGH THE LENS: A Photographic Exploration of Exclusion, Inclusion, and Belonging in the Child Care System  by PIRS.Gabriela is a public policy and advocacy specialist with over eight years of experience driving gender equity, child care, and social protection initiatives across Canada and globally. Originally from Ecuador, Gabriela immigrated to Canada at 18 and has since earned degrees from UBC and Maastricht University, shaping her career around justice-centered, evidence-based policymaking. Gabriela currently leads the Inclusive Child Care for All project at Oxfam Canada, influencing federal policy through research, movement-building, and advocacy. She also serves on the board of the Coalition of Child Care Advocates of BC, championing universal child care as a cornerstone for gender equality and societal well-being. Her work bridges grassroots voices with systemic change, centering women, children, and equity-seeking communities in decision-making. Outside of her professional life, Gabriela enjoys crocheting, cycling, weightlifting, and exploring human-centered design.

Welcome to Season 5! We’re kicking things off with a powerful conversation featuring longtime advocate Sharon Gregson. Sharon, spokesperson for the $10aDay Campaign, returns to share exciting updates from the Coalition of Child Care Advocates and ECEBC as they relaunch their push for universal, affordable, high-quality child care in BC. Sharon Gregson is the provincial spokesperson for the successful $10aDay Child Care Campaign working with the Coalition of Child Care Advocates of BC. She was twice elected as a Trustee to the Vancouver Board of Education. She represents British Columbia on the Board of the Child Care Advocacy Association of Canada (Child Care Now), and previously on the Child Care Human Resource Sector Council and Canadian Child Care Federation.  Sharon is a feminist with a demonstrated history of working across sectors with stakeholders, including non-traditional allies, in child care public policy. She is skilled in campaign strategy and campaigning, government and stakeholder relations, and in working with traditional and social media. She was nominated for a YWCA Women of Distinction award in 2018 for her work on the successful $10aDay Child Care Plan and for developing Indigenous cultural competency resources for the ECE sector. Business in Vancouver (BIV) named Sharon in the Power 50 in Vancouver in 2022 - and one of the top 500 most influential business leaders in British Columbia in 2022 and 2023. She received the King Charles Coronation Medal in 2025.   She is a past Director of the Early Years at a large unionized agency in East Vancouver managing human resources and child care operations, and she co-chaired the Vancouver Joint Childcare Council of public partners and non-governmental organizations. Sharon is also an ethical vegan and supporter of credit unions! We are grateful to have Sharon Gregson on our podcast once again, and we are delighted to her share more about her work within the childcare sector. Tune in to hear about the campaign’s renewed momentum and why this moment is so critical for children, families, and the future of child care in our province. NEW Legislation: Province to remove barriers, make way for more child care at schools To take action visit the 10aDay.ca site Click here to select a region to see your odds of getting a $10aDay space! Wage funding - BC’s 2024/2025 Operating Funding Model (OFM) 

 BC’s Path to Universal Child Care Episode S04E07 – Building on Momentum: Creating Scalable, Community-Led Child Care Spaces Recorded live at the ECEBC Conference – May 8, 2025 Guests: Bridgitte Alomes (Natural Pod), Rory Richards (NUQO Modular) Hosts: Nora, Crystal, and Gyda In this inspiring live episode, recorded at the ECEBC Conference in Richmond, we return for Part Two of our conversation with Bridgitte Alomes of Natural Pod and Rory Richards of NUQO Modular. Together, we explore how their powerful collaboration is addressing the urgent need for high-quality, sustainable, and community-rooted child care spaces—especially in underserved communities. Building on our first conversation, we dive into the real-world lessons, challenges, and momentum that have emerged as their work evolves. Topics covered include: New projects and partnerships since their initial collaboration Leadership and transformation in early learning Navigating timelines, funding, and government processes Designing with equity, sustainability, and Indigenous leadership at the core Scaling their model to meet the diverse needs of communities across BC and beyond What’s fueling their hope and determination as they look ahead Whether you're a policymaker, child care provider, designer, or advocate, this episode offers tangible insights into how bold, values-driven collaboration can shape the future of child care. 🔗 Resources & Links: Natural Pod naturalpod.com NUQO Modular nuqo.ca 🎧 Listen to Part One: S04E05 – Designing with Purpose: A New Vision for Early Learning Environments Don’t forget to follow the podcast and share it with colleagues who care about creating an inclusive, equitable, and sustainable child care system.

Tune in to Episode 6 in Season 4 of our BC's Path to Universal Child Care Podcast. Today we welcome you back to our podcast with our special guest: Sharon Gregson, the provincial spokesperson for the $10aDay Child Care Campaign, working with the Coalition of Child Care Advocates of BC. In this episode, we discuss the current state of childcare in BC, highlighting that only 10% of childcare programs are officially $10-a-day programs, leaving 74% of children without access to licensed childcare.  We encourage you to visit their websites to explore the many resources available, and urge you to get involved by becoming a member of the Coalition of Child Care Advocates of BC. Whether you’re a parent, an educator, or an advocate, there are ways to get involved —whether by signing petitions, joining community actions, or simply staying informed about the latest developments in child care policy. Child care is not just a personal issue; it’s a societal one. A well-funded, high-quality, and accessible child care system benefits everyone —helping families thrive, supporting early childhood educators, and strengthening our communities and economy. The progress we’ve seen in recent years has been the result of decades of advocacy, and it’s clear there is still more work to do.  Sharon Gregson is the provincial spokesperson for the successful $10aDay Child Care Campaign working with the Coalition of Child Care Advocates of BC. She was twice elected as a Trustee to the Vancouver Board of Education. She represents British Columbia on the Board of the Child Care Advocacy Association of Canada (Child Care Now), and previously on the Child Care Human Resource Sector Council and Canadian Child Care Federation.  Sharon is a feminist with a demonstrated history of working across sectors with stakeholders, including non-traditional allies, in child care public policy. She is skilled in campaign strategy and campaigning, government and stakeholder relations, and in working with traditional and social media. She was nominated for a YWCA Women of Distinction award in 2018 for her work on the successful $10aDay Child Care Plan and for developing Indigenous cultural competency resources for the ECE sector. Business in Vancouver (BIV) named Sharon in the Power 50 in Vancouver in 2022 - and one of the top 500 most influential business leaders in British Columbia in 2022 and 2023. She received the King Charles Coronation Medal in 2025. She is a past Director of the Early Years at a large unionized agency in East Vancouver managing human resources and child care operations, and she co-chaired the Vancouver Joint Childcare Council of public partners and non-governmental organizations. Sharon is also an ethical vegan and supporter of credit unions! We are grateful to have Sharon Gregson on our podcast once again, and we are delighted to her share more about her work within the childcare sector.

Tune in to Episode 5 in Season 4 of our BC's Path to Universal Child Care Podcast. Today we welcome you back to our podcast with our special guests: Bridgette Alomes, the CEO and founder of Natural Pod, and Rory Richards, the President & CEO of NUQO. In this episode we dive into the latest innovations shaping early childhood education and child care. Gyda guides this conversation with two incredible women entrepreneurs —Bridgitte Alomes, founder and CEO of Natural Pod, and Rory Richards, founder and CEO of NUQO. These two B Corp-certified companies are partnering to tackle one of the biggest challenges in child care today—access to high-quality learning environments. With demand for child care spaces surging and over half of families in B.C. struggling to find care, their collaboration couldn’t come at a better time. NUQO brings expertise in modular, culturally grounded construction, while Natural Pod specializes in sustainable, non-toxic, and durable school furniture. Together, they’re streamlining the process—from funding applications to fully furnished classrooms—ensuring that communities, especially those underserved, get the support they need. Bridgitte Alomes is the CEO and founder of values-based learning solutions company Natural Pod, a local BC business. Natural Pod strives to enhance the well-being of students by addressing the needs of learners and educators from early childhood into elementary and beyond in educational environments. Bridgitte is a thought leader in the design of learning spaces that encourage the development of agency, foster collaboration and promote open-ended play and has given talks around North America on sustainable furniture including a TED Talk on space and intention. Her focus is on the creation of inspiring spaces for learners and educators regardless of location, pedagogy or demographic.  Rory Richards is the President & CEO of NUQO Modular, a female-led, proudly Indigenous construction company recognized for its sustainable and culturally grounded approach to modular building. Rory's dedication to affordable, culturally appropriate Indigenous design and her unwavering community-first approach, exemplify the spirit of true leadership. Rory remains a dedicated advocate and a passionate voice for a number of important issues, including Indigenous housing and affordable childcare. Committed to community empowerment, NUQO partners with top architects and partners to deliver high-quality, environmentally responsible, and culturally significant child care and other building solutions. We are grateful to have Bridgitte Alomes and Rory Richards on our podcast, and we are delighted to them share more about their work with the early childhood education and child care sector.

Tune in to Episode 4 in Season 4 of our BC's Path to Universal Child Care Podcast. Today we welcome you back to our podcast with our special guest: Viveca Ellis, the Executive Director of The Centre For Family Equity. Viveca is a founding member of the organization; in 2014, she banded together with other lone mothers impacted by poverty and lack of access to legal aid, housing, and child care, to mobilize grassroots leaders and advocate for public policy solutions to lone-parent family poverty in BC. The Centre for Family Equity is a membership-based organization of low-income parents and caregivers across BC. Through research, advocacy, and legal action, they work to address family poverty with a focus on affordability, livable incomes, labour market access, and resilience. Their initiatives, including the Parental Mental Health Initiative, directly support parents impacted by gender-based violence. In past roles, Viveca has worked for the BC Poverty Reduction Coalition as the founder and coordinator of the BCPRC's Community Action Network, then led the Coalition through the pandemic as Interim Community Organizer until her departure to create the first staff role at what was then the Single Mothers’ Alliance in 2021. In 2017, Viveca was nominated to the Minister's Advisory Forum on Poverty Reduction to design BC's first poverty reduction strategy and resulting legislation.  In her spare time, Viveca can be found trying to keep up mountain biking with her 15-year-old son and paddling her canoe on BC's remote lakes and rivers.  We are grateful to have Viveca Ellis on our podcast, and we are delighted to have her share more about her work for the community. Listen now at BC's Path to Universal Child Care Podcast Season 4, Episode 4: Viveca Ellis or wherever you get your podcasts.

Tune in to Episode 3 in Season 4 of our BC's Path to Universal Child Care Podcast. Today we welcome you back to our podcast with our special guest: Joan Gignac, from the Sagamok Anishnawbek Nation, an Early Childhood Educator for 34 years who has been dedicated to advancing and promoting Aboriginal Head Start and First Nations Head Start philosophy and programs in BC and Nationwide.  We are honoured to welcome back Joan Gignac from the Aboriginal Head Start Association of BC for part two of a deeper conversation about the LOVIT Way (Learn, Observe, Value, Inspire, Transform). The Aboriginal Head Start Association of BC has been a cornerstone for early childhood development in Indigenous communities, fostering holistic growth through culture and language. Joan’s extensive experience as an Early Childhood Educator and her dedication to advancing early years programming have made her a vital advocate in this field. We are grateful to have Joan Gignac on our podcast, and we are delighted to have her share more about the LOVIT Way and Aboriginal Head Start programs in BC. Listen now at BC's Path to Universal Child Care Podcast Season 4, Episode 3: Joan Gignac or wherever you get your podcasts.

Tune in to Episode 2 in Season 4 of our BC's Path to Universal Child Care Podcast. Today we welcome you back to our podcast with our special guest: Joan Gignac, from the Sagamok Anishnawbek Nation, an Early Childhood Educator for 34 years who has been dedicated to advancing and promoting Aboriginal Head Start and First Nations Head Start philosophy and programs in BC and Nationwide.  Joan is committed working with others, values collaboration, and working together to find new and empowering ways to advance and uphold the Early Childhood and AHS Profession and quality Early Years programs in BC and beyond. We are grateful to have Joan Gignac on our podcast, and we are delighted to have her share more about the Aboriginal Head Start programs in BC.

Welcome to Episode 1 in Season 4 of our BC's Path to Universal Child Care Podcast. Today we welcome you back to our podcast for a new season with our special guest: Michelle Mungall, who has dedicated much of her career to advocating for the rights and well-being of children and families in her community.  We are honoured and grateful to welcome Michelle Mungall to share insights, experiences, and her vision for the future of child care.  Michelle Mungall served as British Columbia’s Minister for Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources from 2017-2020, and then as Minister of Jobs, Economic Development and Competitiveness in 2020. She was the first female MLA for Nelson-Creston from 2009 to 2020, and the youngest City Councillor for the City of Nelson from 2002-2005. She is now a senior advisor in the energy sector, monthly opinion writer for the Vancouver Sun and proud mom of two. As a lifelong feminist advocating for gender equality, Michelle's insights couldn't come at a more critical time.  Learn more by listening to the episode now!

Welcome to Episode 5 in Season 3 of our BC's Path to Universal Child Care Podcast. During this episode we welcome back a familiar guest, Sharon Gregson the provincial spokesperson for the $10aDay Child Care Campaign as it is time for an update. We are grateful to have Sharon Gregson, the spokesperson for The Coalition of Child Care Advocates of BC - CCCABC as our special guest, so we can learn more about the improvements we have seen over the last little while and the positive impact these have had in the ECE world. Learn more by listening to the episode now!

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 Care Resource and Referral (CCRR), in Williams Lake, BC.  I was born in Williams Lake, grew up in the 100 Mile House area and then jumped on a Greyhound bus headed for Vancouver, about an hour after graduation.  I worked with TELUS (formerly BC Tel) for 20 years, BC Parks and The Terry Fox Foundation before returning to Williams Lake to support a career opportunity my husband had.  Full circle moment!   I am a big hearted, passionate and silly Grandma to 2 grandchildren, a partner and friend to my funny guy, Ron, a Mom, a sister, a daughter to Metro (Ukrainian) and Shirley (Huron Nation and French Canadian) and a friend to most everyone and those creatures that don't scare me too much.  I love sharing food and having a table full of family, friends, or the many strays my children brought home over the years.  I attended University in 2019 to begin my Human Services education.  I gained a certificate as a Community Support Worker/Education Assistant, after year 1, and completed my practicum at Women's Contact Society.  I was offered the position of Program Coordinator for CCRR and accepted it with excitement and little apprehension. Age and experience have taught me that if I want to continue to grow and enjoy life’s continuous surprises, I should always take the path that is a little uncomfortable, unknown or even a little awkward.  So right after I said yes to working with the ECE Bursary Team my first thoughts were, "What exactly does a Program Coordinator do? Who is ECE Pro D Bursary? and What's an ELF Communities of Practice?  ELF must be a game they teach us to play with children!" Here I am, over three years later wrapping up our fifth Communities of Practice on April 20th, 2024.  I can’t wait to spend time in person with this group and Katie Crosby, Occupational Therapist, who has been working with us for over two years now.  It feels more like I’ll be attending a high school reunion than a professional gathering as we have created such deep connections, support, trust in each other after sharing our stories, lots of laughs and some tears.     I am so grateful to the ECE Pro D Bursary team for their encouragement and support over the past three plus years.  The debriefs after each COP session were game changers for me and impacted the way I approach training and sharing information.  And to the participants who showed up for me, the children, their families, themselves.  Thank you for showing up, sharing, leading, questioning and impacting my heart, my work, my life.  What a gift you all have been.      I will close with this thought.  Prepare, plan, set the table and serve an appy (topic of discussion or something to ponder) and then let go and immerse yourself in the dinner conversation.  And maybe…just maybe, someone might ask about something that’s not on the table.  Wowzer!  If you’re interested in starting your own community of practice with child care educators in your region reach out to us by visiting the ECE Professional Development Bursary website at eceprodbursary.org.

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!

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!

Welcome to Episode 1 in Season 3 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!