BC’s Path to Universal Child Care
By: Westcoast Child Care Resource Centre
Language: en-ca
Categories: Education, Kids, Family
A podcast featuring interviews with child care advocates, government officials, policy makers, educators, parents and child care organisations in BC, exploring the move toward a universal child care system.
Episodes
Season 5, Episode 3: Kathreen Riel & Maryam Naddaf - BC Early Years Professional Development Bursary Program
Jan 09, 2026Welcome 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 Proj...
Duration: 00:53:00Season 5, Episode 2: Gabriela Cervantes - Public Policy & Advocacy in the Child Care System
Nov 18, 2025Welcome 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... Duration: 00:37:34Season 5, Episode 1: Sharon Gregson - Relaunching the $10aDay Campaign
Oct 09, 2025Welcome 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 th...
Duration: 00:23:56S04 E07 – Building on Momentum: Creating Scalable, Community-Led Child Care Spaces Part 2 with Bridgitte Alomes and Rory Richards
May 15, 2025 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 sp...
Season 4, Episode 6: Sharon Gregson - The Current State of Childcare in BC
Apr 07, 2025Tune 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 t...
Duration: 00:40:18Season 4, Episode 5: Bridgitte Alomes & Rory Richards - Latest Innovations in Early Childhood Education & Child Care
Mar 05, 2025Tune 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...
Duration: 00:51:48Season 4, Episode 4: Viveca Ellis - Addressing Family Poverty Through The Centre for Family Equity
Feb 10, 2025Tune 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...
Duration: 00:46:30Season 4, Episode 3: Joan Gignac - Aboriginal Headstart Programs in BC - Part Two: The LOVIT Way
Jan 09, 2025Tune 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, Ob...
Duration: 00:43:16Season 4, Episode 2: Joan Gignac - Aboriginal Headstart Programs in BC
Nov 27, 2024Tune 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 a...
Duration: 00:38:47Season 4, Episode 1: Michelle Mungall - Advocating for the Rights of Children & Families
Oct 10, 2024Welcome 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 J...
Season 3, Episode 5: Sharon Gregson - Recent Changes to $10aDay Child Care
Aug 29, 2024Welcome 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...
Duration: 00:40:46Season 3, Episode 4: Carrie McCormack - Heart Changing Learning Through Communities of Practice
Mar 22, 2024Tune 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 Resou...
Season 3, Episode 3: Morna Ballantyne & Child Care Now - The Importance of High Quality Universal Child Care
Dec 19, 2023Welcome 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!
Duration: 00:49:56Season 3, Episode 2: Sharon Gregson - Advocating for Accessible Child Care
Oct 27, 2023Welcome 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!
Duration: 00:34:39Season 3, Episode 1: Derek Dubois & Tatiana Abi-Farrage - A Student’s Perspective on Early Childhood Education
Sep 27, 2023Welcome 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!
Duration: 00:44:13Season 2, Episode 9: Friday Bailey, Norma Stokes, and Katie Wahl - Child Care System Changes and the Impact on Rural Communities
May 30, 2023Welcome 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!
Season 2, Episode 8: Minister Debra Fisher, Métis Nation BC
Apr 19, 2023Welcome 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 a...
Season 2, Episode 7: Eric Swanson - Founding Partner of Third Space Planning and Co-Author of Childcare Policy
Mar 17, 2023Welcome 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, powering a clean economy and more!
Season 2, Episode 6: Grace Lore - Minister of State for Child Care
Feb 24, 2023Welcome 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 research methods. Her research f...
Duration: 00:28:26Season 2, Episode 5: Maria Rodrigues and Linda Fong - Recipients of the Prime Ministers Award for Excellence in Early Childhood Education
Jan 25, 2023Welcome 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 and more.
J...
Season 2, Episode 4: Inspiring & Insightful Stories with Gyda Chud
Dec 13, 2022Welcome to Episode 4 in Season 2 of our BC's Path to Universal Child Care Podcast. Today we turn the tables on our Interviewer Extraordinaire Gyda Chud, and ask her about her experiences and learning from her many years in the Child Care Sector.
Gyda discusses the importance of sharing stories in retaining and embedding learning, for both children and adults, and then shares with us some of the wonderfully insightful anecdotes she has gathered from her time in the BC early years sector. Gyda also speaks to the many challenges and complexities that come with working in Early Childhood a...
Season 2, Episode 3: Adrienne Montani, First Call Child & Youth Advocacy Society
Nov 15, 2022Welcome 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:
Finding Connection and Meaning through Communities of Practice
Oct 25, 2022In this episode, we explore how we find and sustain professional connections and meaning through communities of practice. We talk with Jacqueline Ewonus, Jen Vanderberg, Lisa Nicholson, and Nicky Byres who are working as community of practice mentors with the ECE Professional Development Bursary Program. They share their powerful stories about participating in and leading communities of practice and the transformation that happens. Follow up with Jacqueline, Jen, Lisa, and Nicky through Instagram or Twitter @bc_communities_of_practice. Find out how to get funding for a community of practice at eceprodbursary.org
Duration: 00:45:40Season 2, Epsiode 1: A look at WCCRC's Beginnings and Impact on Child Care Today
Sep 21, 2022Westcoast Child Care Resource Centre is absolutely thrilled to be celebrating our 35th year and to be able to say that funding child care is finally a priority for all levels of government. We are excited to revisit the government's promises and commitments with a look back at the past 35 years of Westcoast. Our former Executive Directors Maryann Bird, Dianne Liscumb, and Pam Preston discuss how Westcoast both affected change and was impacted by government policy over the past 35 years.
For Season 1 and other previous episodes visit wccrc.ca/news-articles or find us wherever you get y...
Season 2 Update
Jul 20, 2022This is a short update on what to expect with our podcast BC’s Path to Universal Child Care in September. It’s been a couple of months since our last episode and we wanted to let all our listeners know what to look forward to.
Duration: 00:04:07Episode #8: Stephanie Smith - BCGEU
May 26, 2022In Episode 8 Gyda introduces Stephanie Smith from BC General Employees Union (also known as the BCGEU) to discuss the role of Unions in supporting child care sector during this time of change.
Stephanie has been President at the BCGEU since May 2014, but previous to that she had a long career working as both an Early Childhood Educator and as a child care advocate.
Stephanie and Gyda chat about the history of the BCGEU in supporting child care professionals, Stephanie's personal experience in the child care sector, the differences for non-profit and for-profit child care providers, th...
Episode #7: Karen Isaac - BC Aboriginal Child Care Society
Apr 28, 2022Episode 7 of Universal Child Care Podcast welcomes Karen Isaac from BC Aboriginal Child Care Society (BCACCS) to discuss the impacts of the federal Early care and Learning plan and the $10aDay child care plan on Indigenous children and families in BC.
Karen joins us to discuss specific challenges facing early care and learning educators working in Indigenous contexts. We examine the provincial and federal child care plans and how they address the needs of Indigenous families and educators, and where there are gaps.
Karen shares her 3 Rs for moving forward to place the needs of...
Duration: 00:27:08Episode #6: Sharon Gregson - Child Care Activism & Advocacy
Mar 24, 2022
In episode 6 of our podcast charting BC’s Path to Universal Child Care, we explore Child Care Activism and Advocacy with Sharon Gregson, the provincial spokesperson for the $10aDay Child Care Campaign.
Sharon shares her journey to becoming a child care activist and what spurs her on in the campaign for a more equitable child care strategy for children and families.
We discuss the history and successes of the 10aDay campaign, what the Federal Government's commitment and funding means for families and care providers in BC, and next steps for people who are interested in...
Duration: 00:20:12Episode #5: Lynell Anderson - BC's Provincial Wage Grid
Feb 10, 2022Welcome to episode 5! In this episode Gyda welcomes Public Policy Researcher and Community Engagement Specialist Lynell Anderson. In June, 2020 ECEBC and the Coalition published the report Next Step: A Competitive, Publicly Funded Provincial Wage Grid is the Solution to BC’s ECE Shortage which was researched by Lynell. Lynell joins us to discuss the development of a wage grid for the early childhood education sector in BC and to update us on the latest steps toward implementation.
You can find out more about child care advocacy at www.cccabc.bc.ca/ and show your support with 'quick cli...
Episode #4: Rita Chudnovksy from the Coalition of Child Care Advocates of BC
Jan 20, 2022Welcome back to our Podcast and Happy New year! In Epsiode 4, Gyda welcomes her very own 'in real life' sister, Rita Chudnovsky! A tireless child care advocate, Rita talks us through the Roadmap for $10aday Child Care in BC, which is shortly to be released and encompasses over a decade of knowledge and support for high quality, affordable and accessible child care from the Coalition. Rita and Gyda discuss recent updates to the Roadmap, recommendations for action and the next steps in sharing this work with our community and the government.
Duration: 00:26:26Episode 3: Early Childhood Pedagogy Network (ECPN)
Dec 02, 2021Thank you for joining us on the BC’s Path to Universal Child Care podcast! In Episode 3, Gyda welcomes our colleagues from the Early Childhood Pedagogy Network, also known as the ECPN, to discuss the ways their work brings families and early childhood professionals together in purposeful, mutually beneficial learning situations. Supporting professional development and pedagogical networks and partnerships to implement BC’s Early Learning Framework is part of the four building blocks in the 10-a-day Roadmap to universal child care. Kathleen Kummen, Veronica Pacini-Ketchabaw and Teresa Smith join us to discuss how pedagogists support educators to co-construct curriculum with...
Duration: 00:31:43Episode #2: Early Childhood Educators of BC (ECEBC)
Oct 26, 2021Welcome back to BC’s Path to Universal Child Care podcast! In Episode 2, Gyda interviews Emily Gawlick, Executive Director and Sue Irwin, Interim Director of Programs from Early Childhood Educators of BC also known as ECEBC. ECEBC has been the collective voice of Early Childhood Educators in BC since 1969. Emily and Sue give us the current context for issues in the field, the Wage Enhancement incentive, the ECE labour market and also offer some insights into future initiatives and programs from ECEBC.
Duration: 00:33:25Episode #1: Minister Chen
Sep 16, 2021In this episode, hosted by the incomparable Gyda Chud, our longstanding advocate and expert in child care and founding board member of Westcoast Child Care Resource Centre, we interview the Honourable Katrina Chen, Minister of State for Child Care. Gyda and Minister Chen chat about the benefits of a Universal Child Care System to many stakeholders, including parents, child care providers and ECE students.