BC’s Path to Universal Child Care Westcoast Child Care Resource Centre

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!

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!

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 meaningful work in the lives of children.
In this episode, we discuss Debra's career, the best ways to introduce and engage preschool age children with Métis people, resources, and more!