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Our office will be closed from Friday April 18 to Monday April 21, 2025.

Westcoast Child Care Resource Centre

Inspiring & Promoting Excellence in Child Care & Early Learning

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Administration & Management for Child Care

Sign up for our Administration & Management for Child Care (AMCC) courses now!

In partnership with The Province of British Columbia and The Government of Canada, Westcoast Family Centres established another phase of the 40-hour Instructor-Guided Administration & Management for Child Care Course for early learning and child care professionals in BC. This phase will operate from April 1, 2024 to March 31, 2027. Through this funding we are excited to be able to offer this training for $100, reduced from $600. 

Free Access to the AMCC Knowledge Base

Formerly known as the Westcoast INFORM Guide, the WCCRC AMCC Knowledge Base is an online information database for ECE leaders, with detailed guidance on all areas of child care leadership. The Knowledge Base has been completely revised and is under constant revision to reflect current practices and learnings in inclusiveness, Truth & Reconciliation, the BC Early Learning Framework, and inquiry-based approaches. As a valuable tool for all child care staff, it includes comprehensive online resources, as well as tools and forms you can use in your daily practice.

Create your free account in the The Hub now, to access this great resource!

Choosing Child Care

We provide parents and guardians with tools and resources to help find quality child care in Vancouver. From a list of child care providers to help navigating provincial subsidy applications, we are here to help. Explore our site to find more resources and articles on parenting as well as some of the other services and workshops we deliver to families and early childhood educators. Learn More.

Professional Development

WCCRC is a leader in developing and offering professional development opportunities and learning for certified Early Childhood Educators and early years' professionals. Our curriculum covers topics for those just entering the field and for those with years of experience who wish to add to their toolbox and share their experience. For more resources both for educators and children in your care, visit our Westcoast Early Learning Library (WELL).
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Westcoast CCRC

Serving For Over 30 Years

Known and respected for our collaboration and community-building, WCCRC provides consultation and guidance to government, researchers and other organizations to promote and support excellence in early care and learning across BC. We are a trusted source of resources, referrals and information for families looking for child care and those who provide it.

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Vancouver Child Care Resource & Referral

Westcoast Child Care Resource Centre is the host organization  for the Vancouver Child Care Resource & Referral (VCCRR). The Vancouver CCRR program provides a wide range of services to support both child care providers and families seeking child care within the City of Vancouver. Visit the Child Care Resource and Referral Centres - Province of British Columbia (gov.bc.ca) website to find CCRRs in other communities in BC.

THE WORLD OF CHILD CARE

Stay on top of the latest updates and changes at WCCRC and in the world of child care through the latest news and articles below.

BC

BC's Path to Universal Child Care Podcast Season 4, Episode 6: Sharon Gregson

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.

BC

BC's Path to Universal Child Care Podcast Season 4, Episode 5: Bridgitte Alomes & Rory Richards

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 intentionHer 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.

Learn more by listening to the episode now!

BC

BC's Path to Universal Child Care Podcast Season 4, Episode 3: Joan Gignac

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.

Learn more by listening to the episode now!

BC

BC's Path to Universal Child Care Podcast Season 4, Episode 2: Joan Gignac

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.

Learn more by listening to the episode now!