Child Care in BC: Learning from an Expert
Greetings colleagues,
Last week, I opened my column with a comment about summer being behind us; in many parts of the province, it appears we have shifted straight to winter, as this photo from Board Director Darren Danyluk (SD6, Rocky Mountain) shows!
It was a different weather story in Kelowna last week, as those attending the Connecting Leaders Conference enjoyed networking, connecting, sharing, and learning together under warm and sunny skies. Our members’ social media posts showed that our colleagues participated in, or led, a range of wonderful professional learning opportunities. I hope you were able to return to your schools on Monday refreshed and ready to lead the learning in your community.
I was able to engage in learning of a different kind recently when, as a guest of the Ministry of Education and Child Care, I attended an Early Learning & Child Care Summit. The summit’s theme was Supporting a Child Care Ecosystem, and sector leaders from multiple disciplines and environments – members of Indigenous communities, including FNESC and Metis Nation BC, alongside representatives from health, child care, education, local government, and private and community organizations – heard from Tove Mogstad Slinde. Tove is a Senior Policy Advisor in the Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research, and is a world-renowned advisor to the OECD (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development), the European Union, and various European governments on topics related to the successful implementation of an inclusive and quality ECEC (Early Childhood Education and Care).
Brian with Minister of State for Child Care, Grace Lore
We still have work to do in BC, and it was helpful to hear from a leading expert about the challenges and successes of creating a successful Early Learning and Child Care system. It gave participants a notion of where government – at both the provincial and federal levels – is hoping to take the childcare file. It also provided a roadmap of the necessary steps, and the pitfalls, as childcare expands in communities, often in schools or in conjunction with schools.
Hearing from Tove about the path ahead provided insight on ways that the BCPVPA can continue to advocate for our members, as the successful introduction of childcare into the school setting requires resources, time, and expertise. I was immediately able to advocate with the Ministry for the continuation in next year's budget of funding for the Child Care position for each district and, in some cases, an increase to the funding on a per capita basis, based on the size of the district and the hoped-for expansion.
Over the next few weeks, I look forward to a series of meetings, conferences, and workshops on a number of topics, including discussions of the ongoing workforce challenges. However, I would be happy to travel to your community and hear about your experiences in the field, and I encourage Chapter leaders to reach out to Sharon North to arrange a Chapter visit. Understanding your successes, and your challenges, gives our Association momentum in supporting your vital work, and sharing your stories with government and our education sector partners.
Have a great weekend,
Brian
Bleonard@bcpvpa.bc.ca
Bleonard@bcpvpa.bc.ca